Empire City. Chenjerai Kumanyika takes us on a tour of the history of the New York City Police Department from the days of slave-catchers to the trial of Eric Adams. Spoiler alert: His thesis is that there aren't just a few bad apples but the whole barrel is rotten. 9 parts.
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wonder. Fantasy writer Katherine Rundell looks at the history and purposes of children's literature. It's full of fascinating reflections on the writing process and writers. "It's easier to trust a writer who writes good food. They are a person who has paid attention to the world." Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien intentionally made his lectures difficult to listen to, in the hopes that his students would drop out and he could go back to writing? 5 parts.
Underfoot in Show Business. Helene Hanff is best remembered for 84 Charing Cross Road, her book about a 20-year correspondence with a London bookseller. It was made into a movie. But before that she wrote Underfoot in Show Business, about her attempt to become a Broadway playwright. The BBC recently dramatized it and it's all charming but I point it out here mostly because she talks about breaking into television - by writing for The Adventures of Ellery Queen.
The Blackburn Files. The BBC created this lighthearted private eye series in the 1980s. It is northern England at the time that Thatcher is closing down the coal mines. Stephen Blackburn is a young ex-pitman who lives with his mother and takes over a PI business. The result is comic, sometimes slipping into farce, usually because of our hero's ability to misunderstand people. (When his intern/secretary mentions Nietzsche he replies "Gesundheit.") 5 parts.
Main Justice. This award-winning podcast is hosted by Andrew Weissmann, and Mary McCord, both former high-ranking DOJ attorneys, now legal commentators for MSNBC. The show began as Prosecuting Donald Trump but following his re-election the focus shifted to analyzing the actions of the Justice Department. Fascinating and infuriating stuff.
The Mystery Hour. Have we mentioned this one on the blog before? Prize-winning podcaster Rabia Chaudry grew up on Alfred Hitchcock's and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazines and each week she reads a story from one of those fine journals aloud. Among those whose works have been honored here are R.T. Lawton, Joseph S. Walker, and myself. There are probably more SleuthSayers in here but one flaw in this podcast is that Chaudry only lists titles. You have to listen to find out who the author is. Maybe some kind soul will create an index?
