Send us a text

In this episode, we are lucky enough to talk with author Zoe B. Wallbrook about her critically acclaimed debut novel, History Lessons. It's a clever, witty mystery on its surface that touches on deeper, more challenging issues with what the New York Times calls "a satirical bite." It also has a sweet romantic subplot that we are here for!

It was Library Journal's Mystery Debut of the Month in July, and was chosen as one of The Best Debut Crime Novels of 2025 by Crime Reads Magazine and one of The 10 Best Mystery Novels of 2025 by The New York Times Review of Books.

Elizabeth met Zoe in 2019 and since then they have been critique partners and friends, which makes this conversation extra special. Join us to hear about the books Zoe loves, her journey to becoming a writer, how she navigates the publishing industry while still holding onto the joy she finds from writing, and how she feels about her writing being categorized as "cozy." We also chat about diversity in the mystery genre and how Zoe and her publisher, Soho Press, think about all the various threads in her writing as a feature, not a bug.

You won't want to miss this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation with the always insightful Zoe B. Wallbrook and two of her fangirls.

Find Zoe on Instagram @zbwallbrook or at her website: https://www.zoebwallbrook.com/. And buy History Lessons wherever books are sold!

-----------------------
Books we're reading in this episode:

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

In Winter I Get Up at Night by Jane Urquhart

A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Brothers Sinister Series by Courtney Milan

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

The Poppy War trilogy by R.F. Kuang

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Support the show

-----------------------
Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves.

Support us!

If you liked this episode, please consider becoming a monthly supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235482/support.

It also really helps us reach more listeners if you leave us a rating and/or review, especially on Apple Podcasts.

Reach out!

Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at allbooksaloudpod@gmail.com. To learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.

If you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.

Read on!

Send us a text

Something about this season of cold weather and long, dark nights makes us want to read mysteries. Whether you like 'em cozy, hard-boiled, or realistic and by the book, there's something in this genre for everyone. Join us as we follow the clues to learn about the history, make-up, and readers of the mystery genre.

-----------------------
Sources:

https://web.archive.org/web/20090719003858/http://www.historyofthemystery.com/crime_and_punishment.php?page=35

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_fiction

https://americanwritersmuseum.org/many-writers-many-forms-mystery/

https://web.archive.org/web/20090719004017/

https://lithub.com/agatha-christie-is-the-best-selling-novelist-in-history/

https://archive.org/details/sim_publishers-weekly_1929-10-05_116_14/page/1728/mode/2up

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/popular-mystery-tropes-for-writers

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20090504/4567-some-like-it-mild-cozy-mysteries.html

Moser, S. & Xhignesse, M. (2023). A Garden of One’s Own. Feminist Philosophy Quarterly, 9(1). https://doaj.org/article/c742434a58f74246a086d0fcfc90416b

Vester, K. (2015). Bodies to Die for: Negotiating the Ideal Female Body in Cozy Mystery Novels. Journal of Popular Culture, 48(1), 31–43.

https://bookriot.com/diverse-cozy-mysteries/

Support the show

-----------------------
Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves.

Support us!

If you liked this episode, please consider becoming a monthly supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235482/support.

It also really helps us reach more listeners if you leave us a rating and/or review, especially on Apple Podcasts.

Reach out!

Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at allbooksaloudpod@gmail.com. To learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.

If you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.

Read on!

Send us a text

Have you ever wondered why we have "summer reads" but not winter or spring or fall reads? We both had various associations with "summer reading," namely from being kids out of school and having the languorous expanse of the summer stretching out in front of us. But we wondered what is really behind this phenomenon. Join us to find out more and hear about our own summer TBR lists.

-----------------------
Books we're reading in this episode:

Dragon Haven (Rain Wild Chronicles 2) by Robin Hobb
Swift and Saddled by (Rebel Blue Ranch #2) by Lyla Sage
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin

-----------------------

Sources listed in the order they appear in the episode:

• https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/books/a-brief-history-of-summer-reading.html
• https://www.npr.org/2025/05/20/nx-s1-5405022/fake-summer-reading-list-ai
• https://lindac.substack.com/p/why-do-writers-use-ai
• https://lithub.com/50-of-the-greatest-summer-novels-of-all-time/

Support the show

-----------------------
Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves.

Support us!

If you liked this episode, please consider becoming a monthly supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235482/support.

It also really helps us reach more listeners if you leave us a rating and/or review, especially on Apple Podcasts.

Reach out!

Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at allbooksaloudpod@gmail.com. To learn more about the podcast, visit our website at allbooksaloudpod.com.

If you'd like to see more bookish content from Martha & Elizabeth, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @allbooksaloudpod.

Read on!