KPL Podcast

This week on the KPL Podcast, we spoke with Edward Schmit about his debut novel, The Open Era.  The story is about two pro tennis players who begin a romance during the US Open.  One is openly gay and the other is not.  The two must navigate their feelings while still playing a match against each other. The book also delves into mental health and the toll it can take on a person. Author ReadsDearly Departed by Chip PonsInternational Relations by  Zac Hammett

The KPL Podcast is back with another great episode. This week we spoke with Wade Rouse about his first novel under his own name.  He also writes under the pen name Viola Shipman.  That's What Friends Are For pays homage to the Golden Girls but also takes on heavy topics, such as aging, homosexuality, the importance of the gay community, and grief with wit and humor. Author ReadsThe Lost Book of Lancelot by John GlynnKeeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa JohnsonAwake by Jen HatmakerThe End of My Life is Killing Me by Annabelle Gurwitch

This week on the KPL podcast we spoke with bestselling author Ruta Sepetys about her latest novel, A Fortune of Sand. Set in 1920s Detroit, about Marjorie Lennox, the youngest daughter of a wealthy automotive family, who joins a mysterious arts program and uncovers dark secrets about her family and the program itself, inspired by real events.Author ReadsWhistler by Ann PatchettScar Island by Dan Gemeinhart

This week on the KPL Podcast, we spoke with Laura Kamoie, the coauthor of A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams.  This historical fiction takes leads you through Abigail Adam's life as is goes from wife to mother, to first lade, and then founding mother.  This book is an eye opening study of the women of the American Revolution. Author ReadsFortune Tellers of Rue Daru by Olesya Salnikova GilmoreAstral Library by Kate Quinn

The KPL Podcast is back with another great episode with historical fiction writer Donna Jones Alward.   Her latest novel, Ship of Dreams, is set aboard the Titanic  and follows two passengers as they navigate complicated relationships and dream of brighter futures. But when the Titanic strikes disaster, their lives and their plans are forever changed.  Author Reads and other books When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones AlwardTitanic Styles: dress and fashion on the voyage by Grace EvansThe Volunteers: How Halifax Women Won the Second World War by Leslie LowThe Fourth Princess: A Gothic Novel of Old Shanghai by Janie ChangThe Third Wife of Faraday House by BR MeyersA Widow's Charm by Caitlyn Paxson

On this week's episode of the KPL Podcast we have Rachel Moore.  Her latest novel Safari Murder Party is fun, fast paced ride through both the corporate world and the natural world.  A billionaire media mogul dies and his will states that his company and wealth will go to the last survivor of the corporate retreat group.Author ReadsHalf City by Kate Golden

This week on the KPL Podcast, we have author Lori Gold.  Her new book, Kiss Marry Kill, takes a new spin on the conversation game.  Three women play the game and end up in a slightly altered reality but are given the chance to make necessary changes to their lives. Listen to learn more. Author ReadsTake Me With You by Steven RowleyThe Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

This week on the KPL podcast we spoke with author Sara Levine about her fun and zany book, The Hitch.  Imagine babysitting your nephew while his parents are away for week. You setup a room for him, plan meals and activities and are excited to get to spend time with him. One day you and the nephew take the dog for a walk.  The dog kills a corgi and the spirit of the corgi possesses your nephew. Chaos ensues and there's les than a week to exorcise the corgi.Author ReadsOne Son Only by Camille BordasOn Morrison by Namwali SerpellAfternoon Hours of a Hermit by Patrick CottrellLeave it to Psmith by PG Woodhouse

This week on the KPL Podcast we have Nina McConigley, telling us about her novel, How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder.  This a story, about sisters who decide to murder their abusive uncle.  Set in the mid 80's the novel explores themes, of sisterhood, abuse, and growing up in Wyoming as a biracial person. Listen to learn more. To win a copy of The Survivalist, write to me at [email protected] readsPrairie Lotus by Linda Sue ParkSabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-AnstineThe Collected Works of Billy the Kid: Left Handed Poems by Michael OndaatjeThe Diaspora Sonnets by Oscar De La Paz

This week on the KPL Podcast we have author Moorea Corrigan to discuss her cozy historical fantasy, Thistlemarsh.  Think Downton Abbey with Faeries. The book is set post WW1 in England. A young women inherits a manor house with certain conditions.  She must renovate the house in one month or lose it.  The renovations aren't simple and cannot be done in the short timeframe. So she makes a bargain with a Fae lord to help restore house.  Challenges arise as the two discover that Thistlemarsh is resistant to Fae magic. To win a copy of The Survivalists by Kashan Cauley, write to me at [email protected] ReadsA Far Better Thing by HG ParryAgnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

This week on the KPL podcast we have author Joan F. Smith and we discuss, Your Soulmail is Attached. A speculative fiction novel about how the world would change after every adult is told the name of their soulmate.  Marriages break apart in some cases and in other situations relationships are stronger. Dating, social media, and even religion are changed. Listen to learn more.Author readsThis Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

This week on the KPL podcast we have author duo Jo Dinkin and Catherine Brinkworth.  Their first novel together is The Pie and Mash Detective Agency.  The book is about two newbie private detectives assigned to solve the recurring disappearance of a woman named Nellie Thorn.  A wonderful addition to the cozy genre.Author ReadsA Murder in Eight Cocktails by Kelly MullenThe Silent Patient by Alex MichaelidesSpoon Full of Murder by JM Hall

This week on the KPL Podcast we have bestselling author Shelley Noble telling us about The Sisters of Book Row.   A historical fiction novel that explores Anthony Comstock and his ruthless campaign against Manhattan’s “Book Row.” Three sisters band together to challenge censorship and fight to preserve the heart of the city’s literary world. Author ReadsFahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury1984 by George OrwellLast Twilight In Paris by Pam JenoffA Founding Mother by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

Bestselling author Marie Benedict is back with another wonderful historical fiction, titled Daughter of Egypt.  We are introduced to two remarkable women whom history nearly erased. One is Evelyn Herbert, who was present at the archaeological discovery of Tutankhamun’s burial site, and the other is Hatshepsut, a powerful woman who ruled as Pharaoh during the 18th dynastyAuthor ReadsWhat We Can Know by Ian McEwan

This week on the KPL Podcast we have local Missouri author and historian Sean Rost.  We discuss his new book, Catching Hell from All Quarters: Anti-Klan Activists in Interwar Missouri.  He's taken a deep dive into rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan during interwar Missouri.  Rost will focus on several notable figures who comprised an interracial, interdenominational, and bipartisan anti-Klan coalition whose opposition to the hooded order largely stymied the Klan’s efforts to wield substantial influence and political power in Missouri. 

This week on the KPL Podcast, we spoke with bestselling author Elizabeth Arnott Her latest novel, The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives tells the story from the perspective of 3 women after their husbands are arrest for murder.  When women begin dying in similar circumstances, they band together to catch the killer.Author ReadsWild Dark Shore by McConaghy

This week on the KPL Podcast we spoke with Izzy Broom about The House of Hidden Letters.  A dual timeline story set on a small Greek Island.  A woman wins a contest to purchase a home on Folegandros for 1 Euro.  As she begins renovations she finds letters belonging to the previous owner from 1940s during the German and Italian occupation. Author readsThe One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh

This week on the KPL podcast we are speaking with author Michelle Maryk about her debut novel, The Found Object Society.  Imagine a secret society that holds thousands of objects from all over the world and from different time periods.  Each object can take you on a voyage to relive the last moments of the person who died holding it. Listen to learn more.Author ReadsPinky Swear by Danielle GirardThe Dream Hotel by Laila LalamiKindred by Octavia E. Butler

This week on the KPL podcast we spoke with author Janie Chang about her latest novel, The Fourth Princess.  This is a gothic mystery set in Shanghai China during the early 1900's about two woman, Lisan comes to work for Caroline.  Slowly, things begin to unravel as both women learn about the people in their lives. Author ReadsIthica by Claire NorthHouse of Odysseus by Claire NorthThe Last Song of Penelope by Claire North

Another exciting week on the KPL Podcast.  This week we spoke with author/attorney Yosha Gunasekera about her debut whodunit, The Midnight Taxi.  The story is about a female Sri Lankan-American taxi driver in NYC.  She picks up a fare late night and he is murdered in the backseat while she is driving the taxi.  Automatically, she becomes the prime suspect and has to solve the murder herself. Author ReadsHistory Lessons by Zoe WallbrookThe God of the Woods by Liz MooreFinlay Donovan Digs her Own Grave by Elle CosimanoMissing White Woman by Kellye Garrett 

This week on the KPL Podcast we have author Kashana Cauley telling us about her latest novel The Payback.  This story is an funny, satirical look at the student system in our country.  Three women are stuck with massive student loan debt that is difficult to pay on their low income retail jobs.  They are stalked by debt police and see no hope at ever repaying their student loans.  They hatch out a plan to erase their student loans by breaking into the building and hacking the computers that store the student loan information.  Listen to learn more. The Survivialists

This week on KPL Podcast we have author LS Stratton with her first YA novel Sundown Girls.  The story focuses on a teenage girl named Naomi who was kidnapped as a toddler.  She is now back with her family and the woman who raised is in jail for kidnapping. Her family goes on a weekend getaway in a former sundown town.  Mysterious things begin to happen. Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye PenelopeHorns by Joe Hill

This week on the KPL Podcast we spoke with Lynn Cullen about her latest historical fiction, When We Were Brilliant.   The book explores the friendship between Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold, the only woman to photograph Marilyn. Written from Eve’s perspective as if she were writing directly to Marilyn, the novel reveals intimate and lesser-known moments from both women’s lives, offering a fresh and deeply human portrait of unusual friendship. 

This week we spoke with Karen Winn about her latest novel The Society.  This story revolves around a secret society known as The Knox.  Two women's lives intertwine as they get involved with the Knox.  Vivian is searching for answers to her heritage and disappears as she digs deeper in her family's involvement with the Knox.  Another woman, Taylor, is pulled into the Knox's orbit when she searches for Vivian.  Author recommendationsAn Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole

On this week’s episode of the KPL Podcast, we spoke with authors Pamela Samuels Young and Dwayne Alexander Smith about their latest novel, Sounds Like Trouble. We had a great time talking about their collaborative writing process and how they first began working together.Sounds Like Trouble reunites readers with Mackenzie and Jackson, who have just opened a PI agency and are still figuring out the basics like how to furnish their new office when trouble comes knocking. A mob boss forces them into a high-stakes search for a file packed with dangerous blackmail information, quickly raising the tension. Fun, fast-paced and highly entertaining, this is a terrific read from two outstanding authors.  Check their first book in the series, Sounds Like a Plan

This week on the KPL Podcast, we’re joined by Tamara Berry to talk about her latest novel, Murder Runs in the Family. When a granddaughter comes to stay with her grandmother in a retirement community, she quickly finds herself helping Grandma dodge a very real murder charge. Packed with laugh-out-loud moments, quirky residents, and an unforgettable pet turtle, this cozy mystery is as charming as it is clever.Author RecommendationsWhat Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome back returning author Eva Jurczyk to talk about her latest novel, 6:40 to Montreal. A clever homage to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, the book is a tightly crafted locked-room mystery set aboard a train traveling from Toronto to Montreal. Packed with intrigue and classic whodunit twists, it’s a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end. The Hunter by Tana French33 Plus Brugmann by Alice AustinPrince of Tides by Pat Conroy

This week on the KPL Podcast, we talk with Jinwoo Park about his latest novel, The Oxford Soju Club. Part spy novel and part exploration of identity, the immigrant experience, and the parent–child relationship, the book is richly layered and deeply engaging, with plenty to keep readers hooked.Red Sword by Bora ChungA Thousand Blues by Cheon Seon-Ran

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we spoke with author Annalee Newitz about Automatic Noodle, their inventive new novel. Set in a future California where robots have won their freedom, the story follows a group of food-service bots in a deserted ghost kitchen who seize control of their old delivery app account. Rebranding themselves as a neighborhood lunch spot, they whip up some of the best hand-pulled noodles in San Francisco. But their success hits a snag when a mysterious force begins review-bombing their page with fake “bad service” reports.Author Recommendations:1. The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong 2. What we are Seeking by Cameron Reed (April 2026)3. News for all the people: the epic story of race and the American media by Juan Gonzalez

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we speak with bestselling author Kristi DeMeester about her new novel Dark Sisters. In this fierce and haunting Southern Gothic, DeMeester unravels an intergenerational curse that binds — and torments — the women of Hawthorne Springs, an affluent town ruled by a powerful church known as The Path. Spanning centuries, the story follows three unforgettable protagonists: a pastor’s daughter in 2007, a trapped housewife in 1953, and a suspected witch in 1750, each confronting the forces that seek to shape their destinies. Author RecommendationsDiavola by Jennifer ThorneWhite is for Witching by Helen OyeyemiGray Dog by Elliot Gish

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we speak with bestselling author Laura Griffin about her latest novel, Innocence Road. Set in the small town of Marfa, Texas, this suspenseful murder mystery opens with Deputy Leanne being called to a fresh crime scene at the edge of the desert, where a nameless woman has been found with no clues to her identity. As Leanne investigates, she must also confront the release of a man wrongfully arrested by her father years ago. Innocence Road is a fast-paced thriller perfect for fans of police procedurals. 

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we’re joined by author Peggy Townsend to discuss The Botanist’s Assistant. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a STEM twist, this one’s for you. The story follows a research scientist whose life is upended when her boss is murdered—and no one seems interested in finding out why. Filled with quirky characters and light-hearted intrigue, this fun mystery will keep you turning the pages. Author Reads1. The light eaters: how the unseen world of plant intelligence offers a new understanding of life on Earth by Zoe Schlanger2. Chasing Hope by Nicholas D. Kristof3. The Handmade God by Rachel Joyce4. The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen

 Lucas Schaefer recently won the prestigious Kirkus Prize for Fiction for The Slip, his debut novel centered on the lives orbiting an Austin, Texas boxing gym and the disappearance of a 16-year-old boy. We talk with Lucas about what it was like to receive such an acclaimed honor, the story behind the book, and parenthood.

This week we speak with journalist Chris Sweeney about his debut book, The Feather Detective Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne. The fascinating and remarkable true story of the world’s first forensic ornithologist, Roxie Laybourne.   She broke down barriers for women, solved murders, and investigated deadly airplane crashes with nothing more than a microscope and a few fragments of feathers. Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder The Front Runner: The Life of Steve Prefontaine by Brendan O'Meara

This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome back author Vanessa Lillie to discuss her latest novel, The Bone Thief.  This gripping mystery blends history, fiction, and cultural reckoning. In the pre-dawn hours at a local summer camp, Bureau of Indian Affairs archaeologist Syd Walker receives a disturbing call: newly discovered skeletal remains have been stolen. A Native teen girl vanished near the same site—and when law enforcement dismisses her family’s fears, Syd is drawn into a chilling investigation that hits close to home. Vanessa Lillie Indigenous book recommendationTo the Moon and Back by Eliana RamageThe Whistler by Nick Medina

This week on the KPL Podcast, we’re joined by debut author Zoe Rankin to discuss her gripping novel The Vanishing Place. Set in the rugged New Zealand bush, this nature-infused thriller begins when an eight-year-old girl emerges from the wilderness—alone, injured, and starving. But there’s something even more unsettling: she’s the exact likeness of a child who vanished without a trace twenty years ago.Author RecommendationsRoom by Emma DonahueThe Book of Guilt by Catherine ChidgeyStrange Sally Diamond by Liz NugentAll Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome back author Julie Leong to discuss her enchanting new novel, The Keeper of Magical Things. Set in the same whimsical world as her debut, The Teller of Small Fortunes, this story follows a novice mage with limited powers who’s been given a deceptively simple assignment—transport and catalog magical artifacts alongside a brilliant (and unfairly attractive) super mage. Their destination? Shpelling, the dullest, least magical village around. But as they wrangle gossipy teapots, temperamental swords, and an unruly catdragon, it becomes clear that something bigger is brewing. With tensions between the Guild and the townsfolk at a breaking point, one wrong move could spark a magical disaster. Reader RecommendationsThe Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome author Kristen Loesch to discuss her latest novel, The Hong Kong Widow. Set in 1950s Hong Kong, the story follows Mei, a young refugee fleeing the shadows of her past in Shanghai. When Mei is invited to compete in a chilling contest among six spirit mediums inside one of the city’s most haunted houses, she must confront both restless ghosts and her own buried secrets. Tune in for a conversation about history, hauntings, and writing gothic thrillers.Author RecommendationsThe Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins GillmanThe Monkey's Paw by W.W. JacobsThe Joy Luck Club by Amy TanDaughters of Shandong by Eve ChungHidden Pictures by Jason RekulukForget Me Not by Stacy Willingham

 In this episode, we dive into Heartland Masala, a vibrant new cookbook that pairs 99 recipes from Indian cooking instructor Jyoti Mukharji with cultural and historical essays by her son, Auyon Mukharji. This joyful collaboration celebrates Indian cuisine, family traditions, and the immigrant experience in the American Midwest. Packed with dazzling recipes, rich storytelling, and stunning visuals, it’s both a feast for the table and for the heart. Recommended CookbookMy Bombay Kitchen Traditional and Modern Parsi Home Cooking by  Niloufer Ichaporia King 

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome author Amanda Chapman to discuss her new novel, Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library. In this spirited mystery, book conservator Tory Van Dyne teams up with a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie—on holiday from the Great Beyond—to catch a killer. The Grand Tour by Agatha ChristieCome, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha ChristieThe Thursday Murder Club by Richard OsmanA Share in Death by Deborah CrombieStill Life by Louis PennyThe Norths Meet Murder by Francis Lockridge

If you love horror, The Whistler is a chilling read that lingers long after the last page. Drawing on the Native superstition that warns against whistling at night for fear of summoning spirits, the novel builds its terror from cultural lore and personal tragedy. Henry Hotard, once a rising star in the world of ghost-hunting videos, sees his future collapse after an accident leaves him a quadriplegic. Returning to the reservation where he grew up, Henry struggles with recovery, dependence, and the unsettling sense that he’s being haunted.His girlfriend, Jade, dismisses the strange occurrences as the byproduct of trauma and adjustment—but Henry isn’t so sure. The book thrives in this space between doubt and belief, grief and dread, leaving readers questioning what’s real and what belongs to the shadows.Bring Her BackThe Eyes are the Best Part by Monica KimMolka by Monica Kim

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we sat down with debut author Ken Miller to discuss his novel High Finance. Miller delivers an eye-opening look at the financial world in the years leading up to the 2008 market crash. The story follows Jed Czincosca, a high-powered dealmaker who rises to the top of Wall Street by orchestrating multibillion-dollar transactions, indulging in drugs and alcohol, and trading on inside information. As Jed’s wealth and influence grow, so do his reckless choices—until the day it all comes crashing down. Author ReadsA Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki MurakamiThe Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David MitchellRules of Civility by Amor TowlesA Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesThe Lincoln Highway by Amor TowlesJeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian FaulksThe Story of a New Name by Elena FerranteUnplugged by Tom Freston

This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome author Daphne Fama to discuss her spellbinding debut novel, The House of Monstrous Women. Set in the Philippines in 1986, this gothic horror tale follows a young woman who becomes entangled in a perilous game after accepting an invitation to the labyrinthine home of her childhood friend—rumored to be a witch. Fama’s lush prose and chilling imagination weave together Filipino folktales and classic gothic horror, introducing a bold new voice to the genre.Author ReadsThe Starving Saints by Caitlin StarlingThe Medium (2021) 

 We’re excited to welcome back author Anne Shaw Heinrich to the KPL Podcast! This week, we’ll be diving into her newest release, Violet is Blue, the second book in her Women of Paradise County series. Listeners will get a chance to meet fresh faces in Paradise County while also catching up with some familiar characters from her debut novel, God Bless the Child. If you love heartfelt stories about the everyday lives of small-town residents, this is a series you won’t want to miss. 

 This week we’re joined by KT Hoffman to talk about his highly anticipated debut romcom, The Prospects. Recently named one of the Best Romance Books of 2024, this sweet and heartfelt queer love story follows two minor league baseball players as they discover that the biggest wins can happen off the field. Hoffman shares how his own love of baseball shaped the story and what it means to write joyful, affirming queer romance. Author ReadsArt of Catching Feelings by Alicia ThompsonNever Been Shipped by Alicia ThompsonWith Love, From Cold World by Alicia ThompsonWe Could Be So Good by Cat SebastianIsn't it Obvious by Rachel Runya Katz

This week on the podcast, we speak with Elyse Graham about her fascinating new book, Book and Dagger. Did you know that modern spycraft was shaped by librarians and professors? Graham uncovers the surprising story of how the OSS—later known as the CIA—took root when the United States entered World War II, blending scholarship with espionage in ways you’ve never imagined.Author reads1. The Art Spy: the extraordinary untold tale of WWII resistance hero Rose Valland by Michelle Young2. Katabasis by RF Kuang

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we explore A History of the World in Six Plagues with historian Edna Bonhomme. Through riveting storytelling and rigorous research, Bonhomme traces the devastating impact of pandemics across centuries and continents—from Port-au-Prince to plantation-era America—revealing how disease and systemic inequality have long gone hand in hand. Don’t miss this powerful look at the hidden connections between contagion and injustice. 

This week on the KPL Podcast, we’re joined by special guest Andrew Kuhlman to talk about Austen’s Pride—the dazzling new musical now playing at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. In this imaginative reworking of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen herself takes center stage, embarking on a journey of self-discovery. As the iconic romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy unfolds in a fresh light, Austen uncovers surprising truths about her characters—and herself. RecommendationsSandstorm by James Rollins (book1 of Sigma Series)

This week on the KPL Podcast: When the Blum family trades Brooklyn for a quiet Maine college town, they expect a fresh start—until a shocking event on Hazel’s first day of senior year shakes everything. Hazel Says No is a warm, witty debut about family, identity, and the ripple effects of change. A small-town story with big heart and unforgettable characters.Author ReadsConsider Yourself Kissed by Jessica StanleyThe Compound by Aisling RawleOn Beauty by Zadie SmithFellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark

In this week's KPL Podcast episode we dive into The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Tully.  A sharp-tongued Boomer sleuth teams up with her eager Gen Z assistant to solve a suspicious death at a wealthy family's estate on Lake Champlain. What looks like suicide might be murder—and the deeper they dig, the messier it gets. Full of wit, twists, and intergenerational tension, this feel-good mystery proves even “just okay” assistants can surprise you. Author ReadsPsychopath by Patric GagneAll the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum and Me by Patrick Bringley