mystery novel

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There’s always something new to learn about the world.

Author Michael Pronko wears many hats. He’s a professor. He’s a music fan who writes about jazz in Japan. He’s written essays and memoir about living in Tokyo. And in this episode of It’s a Mystery Podcast we’ll talk about his Detective Hiroshi mysteries.

As you’ll hear Michael and I discuss, Detective Hiroshi could be thought of as someone who represents the flip-side of Michael’s experience. Hiroshi is Japanese, but was raised in the US, and is now back in Tokyo working for the local police force. (Where Michael is an American who has long lived and worked in Tokyo.)

After Michael reads to us from The Moving Blade, the first in the Detective Hiroshi mysteries, our conversation ranges from talking about sumo wrestlers as detectives, the secretive American military presence in Japan, and why April is the start of the year in Japan.

This week’s mystery author

Michael Pronko is an award-winning, Tokyo-based author of the Detective Hiroshi mystery series. His first mystery, The Last Train, was selected as the winner of the Shelf Unbound Contest for best independently published book of 2018, and his second novel, The Moving Blade, won the Independent Press Award for Crime Fiction and was named by Kirkus Reviews as one of the best Indie Mysteries and Thrillers of 2018. He also writes about jazz for his own website, Jazz in Japan, and teaches American literature and culture at Meiji Gakuin University.

To learn more about Michael and his books visit MichaelPronko.com

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify.

You can also click here to listen to the interview on YouTube.

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If you’re a Downton Abbey fan, you’ll appreciate this introduction to Clara Benson’s English mysteries set in the ’20s and ’30s.

In the introduction I mention that I’m deep in revision territory on the next Freddie Lark mystery. Then I jump right into this interview and reading from the delightful Clara Benson.

Enjoy!

This week’s mystery author

Clara Benson is the author of the Angela Marchmont mysteries and Freddy Pilkington-Soames Adventures – traditional English mysteries in authentic style set in the 1920s and 30s. 

One day she would like to drink cocktails and solve mysteries in a sequinned dress and evening gloves. In the meantime she lives in the north of England with her family and doesn’t do any of those things.

To learn more about Clara Benson and all her mystery novels go to ClaraBenson.com.

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher.

You can also click here to listen to the interview on YouTube.

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We’re Canadian and we cannot resist talking about the weather!

Fellow Canadian author Mike Martin is back to talk about the latest instalment in his Sergeant Windflower mysteries that are set in and around Grand Bank in Newfoundland.

Mike was previously on the show in episode 45 so after he reads to us we have a catch-up about what Sgt. Windflower has been up to since we last encountered him (including marriage and a baby) and how Mike continues to weave social issues into his mystery novels.

In the intro I also mention that on Valentine’s Day 2020 I finished the first draft in the next Freddie Lark mystery (Lark Underground). It is always a giddy time when the first draft of a book is complete. It feels good to celebrate that milestone. Soon I’ll be getting down to the hard work of revising, revising, revising and hope to release the book in April 2020.

Big thanks to my very first patron of the show, Barbara Kirby!

This week’s mystery author

Mike Martin is the author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, his most recent is Fire, Fog and Water, which is the 8th book in the series. A Long Ways from Home was shortlisted for the Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award as the best light mystery of the year and Darkest Before the Dawn won for the 2018 Bony Blithe Award.

Mike is currently Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers. He is also a member of Ottawa Independent Writers, Capital Crime Writers, and the Newfoundland Writers’ Guild. A freelance writer, specializing in workplace and social policy issues, his first published book was Change the Things You Can: Dealing With Difficult People. Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, he now lives in Ottawa.

To learn more about Mike visit SgtWindflowerMysteries.com

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher.

You can also click here to listen to the interview on YouTube.

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We go back to 1960s Brighton for murderous adventures with journalist Colin Crampton.

In the introduction I mention that you can find the books of most of my guests at your public library. If you can’t find them there, simply ask your librarian and it’s likely they’ll appreciate your suggestion and try to get the book in for you.

I also mention that It’s a Mystery podcast now has a Patreon page. If you’d like to support the show, for as little as one fluffy coffee a month, you can do that at Patreon.com/itsamystery.

As a consumer of podcasts and other art, I really appreciate being able to make small, regular contributions to those artists I enjoy. I offer the option to you, my listeners, and include rewards for patronage like a private mystery readers’ Facebook group, where we can chat about what we’re reading and get recommendations from others around the globe. 😉

Today’s Mystery Author

Peter Bartram brings years of experience as a journalist to his Crampton of the Chronicle crime mysteries. He’s has done most things in journalism – from door-stepping for quotes to writing serious editorials. He’s covered stories in locations as different as 700-feet down a coal mine and Buckingham Palace.

Peter launched his Crampton series in 2015 with Headline Murder. As of now, there are 12 books in the series with well over 120,000 readers around the world.

You can learn more about Peter Bartram, and find all his books, at ColinCrampton.com.

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher.

You can also click here to listen to the interview on YouTube.