Shedunnit

Caroline Crampton

Unravelling the mysteries behind classic detective stories For advertising enquiries, email [email protected]

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Top 10 Shedunnit Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Shedunnit episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Shedunnit for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Shedunnit episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Howdunnit

Shedunnit

11/30/22 • 25 min

Invert everything you know about murder mysteries.

Mentioned in this episode:

— "The Case of Oscar Brodski” by R. Austin Freeman

— The Mystery of 31, New Inn by R. Austin Freeman

— The Red Thumb Mark by R. Austin Freeman

— John Thorndyke's Cases by R. Austin Freeman

— "A Wastrel's Romance” by R. Austin Freeman

— “The Art of the Detective Story” by R. Austin Freeman

— The Adventures of Romney Pringle by Clifford Ashdown (aka R. Austin Freeman and John Pitcairn)

— Inspecting Psychology by David Cohen

— History of the Psychoanalytic Movement by Sigmund Freud

— The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers

— Speedy Death by Gladys Mitchell

— The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

— The “Florence Maybrick I” and “Florence Maybrick II” episodes of Shedunnit

— The Wychford Poisoning Case by Anthony Berkeley

— The Psychology of Anthony Berkeley episode of Shedunnit

— Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles

— The Case of the April Fools by Christopher Bush

— The 12.30 from Croydon by Freeman Wills Crofts

— Enter a Murderer by Ngaio Marsh

NB: Links to Blackwell's are affiliate links, meaning that the podcast receives a small commission when you purchase a book there (the price remains the same for you). Blackwell's is a UK bookselling chain that ships internationally at no extra charge.

To be the first to know about future developments with the podcast, sign up for the newsletter at shedunnitshow.com/newsletter.

The podcast is on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram as @ShedunnitShow, and you can find it in all major podcast apps. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next episode. Click here to do that now in your app of choice.

Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/howdunnittranscript

Music by Audioblocks and Blue Dot Sessions. See shedunnitshow.com/musiccredits for more details.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 Listeners

The Shedunnit Centenary

Shedunnit

11/02/22 • 41 min

In which Caroline is the guest, not the host.

Caroline Crampton is the host of Shedunnit. You can find out what she does when she’s not hosting this podcast at carolinecrampton.com or on Instagram @cacrampton. Guy Cuthbertson is her husband. His website is guycuthbertson.com and he tweets @guywjc.

Mentioned in this episode:

— The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

— Howards’ Way (TV series)

— The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

— Miranda Sawyer’s review of the podcast in the Observer

— The Allusionist by Helen Zaltzman

— The ‘A Mysterious Glossary’ episode of Shedunnit, featuring Helen Zaltzman

— It Walks By Night by John Dickson Carr

— The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

— Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers

— The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers

— The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

— The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot

— Ulysses by James Joyce

— Cat Among The Pigeons by Agatha Christie

— The Four Just Men by Edgar Wallace

— Evil Under The Sun by Agatha Christie

— ‘The Challenge of Dorothy L. Sayers’ episode of Shedunnit

— Death at the President’s Lodging by Michael Innes

— “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allen Poe

— ‘The Long Shadow of Edgar Allen Poe’ episode of Shedunnit

— 'The First Whodunnit' episode of Shedunnit

— The Bath Mysteries by E. R. Punshon

— The 'Brides in the Bath’ episode of Shedunnit

— Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie

— Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh

— Death in White Pyjamas by John Bude

— Death in High Heels by Christianna Brand

—

7 Listeners

The Kidnap of Elizabeth Canning

Shedunnit

10/19/22 • 31 min

There’s a dark story connecting this 18th century abduction with a 20th century crime novel.

Thanks to my guest, Tana French. The new Penguin edition of The Franchise Affair, which includes her introduction, is available now. And Tana's own latest novel is The Searcher, now available in paperback.

This episode contains minor spoilers for The Franchise Affair.

Mentioned in this episode:

— The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey

— Tom Jones by Henry Fielding

— Amelia by Henry Fielding

— The Canning Wonder by Arthur Machen

— Elizabeth is Missing by Lillian de la Torre

— The Canning Enigma by John Treherne

— The Appearance of Truth: The Story of Elizabeth Canning and 18th Century Narrative by Judith Moore

— Josephine Tey: A Life by Jennifer Morag Henderson

To be the first to know about future developments with the podcast, sign up for the newsletter at shedunnitshow.com/newsletter.

Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/thekidnapofelizabethcanningtranscript

Music by Audioblocks and Blue Dot Sessions. See shedunnitshow.com/musiccredits for more details.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Listeners

Let It Snow (Replay)

Shedunnit

12/14/22 • 22 min

Snow is a very powerful tool for a detective novelist. It can create a sinister atmosphere, keep suspects and murderer stormbound, and preserve the footprints of anyone who dares to escape. What could be more seasonal or festive than that?

This episode of Shedunnit first aired on 11th December 2019. Caroline is currently recovering from Covid; the next new episode will be in January 2023.

Mentioned in this episode:

—Murder on the Orient Express (1934) by Agatha Christie

—Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (1938) by Agatha Christie

—Mystery in White (1937) by J. Jefferson Farjeon

—Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries (2015) edited by Martin Edwards

—The Sittaford Mystery (1931) by Agatha Christie

—The Nine Tailors (1934) by Dorothy L. Sayers

—“The Erymanthian Boar” in The Labours of Hercules (1947) by Agatha Christie

—An English Murder (1951) by Cyril Hare

—Death and the Dancing Footman (1942) by Ngaio Marsh

—Three Blind Mice and Other Stories (1950) by Agatha Christie

—Stairway to Murder (1959) by Osmington Mills

—There Came Both Mist and Snow (1940) by Michael Innes

—The Sad Variety (1964) by Nicholas Blake

—Blood Upon the Snow (1944) by Hilda Lawrence

—The Slype (1927) by by Russell Thorndike

— Hangman’s Holiday (1933) by Dorothy L. Sayers

—Groaning Spinney / Murder in the Snow (1950) by Gladys Mitchell

—The Case of the Abominable Snowman (1941) by Nicholas Blake

—1222 (2011) by Anne Holt

—The Snowman (2007) by Jo Nesbo

—Whiteout (2011) by Ragnar Jonasson

To be ...

4 Listeners

1 Comment

Clerical Crimes

Shedunnit

11/16/22 • 24 min

Why do murder mysteries contain so many vicars?

Mentioned in this episode:

— Measuring religious affiliation in Great Britain by Clive D. Field

— The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers

— Death in Holy Orders by P.D. James

— The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

— Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers

— Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie

— “The Blue Cross” by G.K. Chesterton from The Innocence of Father Brown

— Literary Distractions by Ronald Knox

— The Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters

— Quiet as a Nun by Antonia Fraser

— St Peter’s Finger by Gladys Mitchell

— Close Quarters by Michael Gilbert

— The Black Seraphim by Michael Gilbert

— Holy Disorders by Edmund Crispin

— “The Guilty Vicarage” by W.H. Auden

— Busman’s Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers

— Christianity and the Detective Story edited by Anya Morlan and Walter Raubicheck

— The Simple Art of Murder by Raymond Chandler

To be the first to know about future developments with the podcast, sign up for the newsletter at shedunnitshow.com/newsletter.

Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/clericalcrimestranscript

Music by Audioblocks and Blue Dot Sessions. See shedunnitshow.com/musiccredits for more details.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Listeners

The Nobodies

Shedunnit

07/27/22 • 18 min

Clerks, shop assistants, secretaries, salespeople — we have lots to learn from the lower middle class characters of classic detective fiction.

Thanks to my guest, Dr Nicola Bishop. Her book, Lower-Middle-Class Nation: The White-Collar Worker in British Popular Culture is published by Bloomsbury Academic.

Find out more about this episode at shedunnitshow.com/thenobodies.

To support the podcast, be part of a superb bookish community, and get two bonus episodes a month, become a member of the Shedunnit Book Club now at shedunnitbookclub.

Mentioned in this episode:

— The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith

— The Suburbans by Thomas William Hodgson Crosland

— "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T. S. Eliot

— The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie

— After the Funeral by Agatha Christie

— The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

— The Big Four by Agatha Christie

NB: Links to Blackwell's are affiliate links, meaning that the podcast receives a small commission when you purchase a book there (the price remains the same for you). Blackwell's is a UK independent bookselling chain that ships internationally at no extra charge.

To be the first to know about future developments with the podcast, sign up for the newsletter at shedunnitshow.com/newsletter.

Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/thenobodiestranscript.

Music by Audioblocks and Blue Dot Sessions. See shedunnitshow.com/musiccredits for more details.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Listeners

Death Under Par

Shedunnit

04/19/23 • 26 min

Golf and murder have been close companions for a whole century.

To support the podcast, be part of a superb bookish community, and get two bonus episodes a month, become a member of the Shedunnit Book Club now at shedunnitbookclub.com/join.

Mentioned in the episode:

— The Murder on the Links (1923) by Agatha Christie

— “The Murder on the Golf Links” (1907) by Matthias McDonnell Bodkin, featured in Resorting to Murder: Holiday Mysteries, edited by Martin Edwards

— A Lost Leader (1906) by E. Phillips Oppenheim

— Hints on the Game of Golf by Horace G Hutchinson

— The Book of Golf and Golfers by Horace G Hutchinson

— The Lost Golfer (1930) by Horace G Hutchinson

— Tish Plays the Game (1921) by Mary Roberts Rinehart

— The Viaduct Murder (1925) by Ronald Knox

— The Bunker at the 5th (1927) by Marcus Dods

— “The Red Golf Ball” by Gerald Verner, featured in Settling Scores: Sporting Mysteries, edited by Martin Edwards

— Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1934) by Agatha Christie

— The Murder on the Sixth Hole (aka The Strange Death of Martin Green) by David Frome

— Tragedy at the Thirteenth Hole (1933) by Miles Burton

— Fer-de-Lance (1934) by Rex Stout

— Murder in the Mews (1937) by Agatha Christie

— “The Sweet Shot” (1939) by EC Bentley

— Trent’s Own Case (1936) by EC Bentley

— Trent's Last Case by EC Bentley

— Mr. Malcolm Presents (1932) by Gerard Fairlie

— The Case of the Green Felt Hat (1937) by Christopher Bush

— Unexpected Night (1940) by Elizabeth Daly

— The Body in the Bunker by Herbert Adams

— Death Off the Fairway by Herbert Adams

— Nineteenth Hole Mystery by Herbert Adams

— Death on the First Tee by Herbert Adams

— The Secret of Bogey House (1924) by Herbert Adams

— Unfinished Portrait (1934) by Mary Westmacott

— My Late Wives (1946) by Carter Dickson

— An Awkward Lie (1952) by Michael Innes

— Fair Prey (1956) by William Campbell Gault

— The Big Gamble (1958) by George Harmon Coxe

— Murder at the Open (1965) by Angus MacVicar...

3 Listeners

Miss Marple, Spinster Sleuth

Shedunnit

06/14/23 • 36 min

A feminist take on the gossiping busybody of St Mary Mead.

Thanks to my guest, Leandra Griffith. As well as being Shedunnit's production assistant, she posts about mysteries on her Instagram @leandra_thetbrzero and her YouTube channel.

Become a member of the Shedunnit book club and get bonus audio, listen to ad free episodes and join a book-loving community at shedunnitshow.com/membership.

Mentioned in the episode:

— Nemesis by Agatha Christie

— "The Tuesday Night Club" by Agatha Christie, featured in The Thirteen Problems

— The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

— The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

— The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

— The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

— Agatha Christie's The Complete Secret Notebooks by John Curran

Related Shedunnit episodes:

— Surplus Women

— The Christie Completists

— Queering The Golden Age

To be the first to know about future developments with the podcast, sign up for the newsletter at shedunnitshow.com/newsletter. The podcast is on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram as @ShedunnitShow, and you can find it in all major podcast apps. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next episode. Click here to do that now in your app of choice.

Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/missmarplespinstersleuthtranscript.

Music by Audioblocks and Blue Dot Sessions. See shedunnitshow.com/musiccredits for more details.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Listeners

The Rules

Shedunnit

02/06/19 • 20 min

A good detective story has a recognisable rhythm and plot points. But how did these tropes come about? And what happens when you break the rules?

Find more information about this episode and links to the books discussed at shedunnitshow.com/therules. The podcast is on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Instagram as @ShedunnitShow, and you can find it in all major podcast apps. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next episode. Click here to do that now in your app of choice.

You can donate to the show at shedunnitshow.com/donate and buy books for Caroline to use in the research for future episodes at shedunnitshow.com/wishlist.

Books and articles mentioned in order of appearance:

—The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne

—T. S. Eliot on detective fiction

—The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

—S. S. van Dine's "Twenty Rules for Writing Detective Stories" —Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

—The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

—Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers

—Ronald Knox's Decalogue

—The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards

—Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers

—The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr

—The Eye in the Museum by J. J. Connington

—The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

—"Who Cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?" by Edmund Wilson —Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

—The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham

Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/therulestranscript

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Listeners

All At Sea

Shedunnit

03/04/20 • 20 min

What could be a better place for a murder than a boat, out at sea?

Find links to all the books and sources mentioned at shedunnitshow.com/allatsea.

Get a copy of my book, The Way to the Sea, from Blackwell’s here or request it at your local bookshop or library.

Become a member of the Shedunnit book club and get bonus audio, listen to ad free episodes and join a book-loving community at shedunnitshow.com/bookclub.

Books and sources:

—Several of the short stories I mentioned are collected in Deep Waters: Mysteries on the Waves from the British Library

—And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

—Singing in the Shrouds by Ngaio Marsh

—Nine – And Death Makes Ten by Carter Dickson

—The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie

—"Four Friends and Death" by Christopher St John Sprigg

—"Man Overboard" by Edmund Crispin

—"The Blood Stained Pavement" by Agatha Christie

—Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

—The Plague Court Murders by Carter Dickson

—"Bullion!" by William Hope Hodgson

—"The Thimble River Mystery" by Josephine Bell

—The Floating Admiral by the Detection Club

—Fatal Venture by Freeman Wills Crofts

To be the first to know about future developments with the podcast, sign up for the newsletter at shedunnitshow.com/newsletter.

The podcast is on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Instagram as @ShedunnitShow, and you can find it in all major podcast apps. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next episode. Click here to do that now in your app of choice.

Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/allatseatranscript.

Music by Audioblocks and Blue Dot Sessions. See shedunnitshow.com/musiccredits for more details.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Listeners

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