Brook and Sarah are joined by mystery expert Frances to discuss other rules of mystery fiction.

Discussed and mentioned

Dashiell Hammett’s Suggestions for Crime Writers: “Suggestions to Detective Story Writers” (New York Evening Post, June 7 & July 5, 1930)

(Raymond) Chandler’s Law: First appeared in a letter to The Atlantic Monthly editor Charles W. Morton and is in his essay "The Simple Art of Murder" (The Atlantic Monthly, December 1944).

"When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand.”

Brian Garfield’s Rules: ‘10 Rules for Suspense Fiction’ Writer’s Digest, February 1973

On Writing (2000) Stephen King

Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules for Good Writing (2001): Excerpted from the New York Times article, “Easy on the Adverbs, Exclamation Points & Especially Hooptedoodle."

“Writing Mysteries” ed. Sue Grafton (2002)

Sue Grafton's Philosophy & Approach to Mystery Writing: Writers Digest (2010) Interview

For more information

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Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah

For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/mystery-rules-part-2/

Related episodes

Noir and Hardboiled: part 1 (released May 24, 2022)

Noir and Hardboiled: part 2 (released May 31, 2022)

Agatha Christie: part 3 (released March 8, 2022)

In today's episode, Brook and Sarah discuss the rules of mystery from the Golden Age, including from the Detection Club, S.S. van Dyne, and Raymond Chandler.

Discussed and mentioned

The Notebooks of Raymond Chandler (1991) Raymond Chandler

"12 Notes on the Mystery Story" (1948) Raymond Chandler

"Twenty Rules for Detective Stories" (1928) S.S. Van Dine

"10 Commandments for Mystery Fiction" (1929) Ronald Knox

Thursday Murder Club (2020) Richard Osman

Marlow Murder Club (2022) Robert Thorogood

Only Murders in the Building (2021) Disney+/hulu

Related Episodes

Interactive Mysteries (released September 29, 2026)

Mysteries Without Murder (released September 27, 2022)

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
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Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/mystery-rules/

In today's episode, Brook and Sarah discuss the role that manor houses had in shaping mysteries and a few of their favorite books featuring them.

Discussed and mentioned

And Then There Were None (1939) Agatha Christie

Rebecca (1938) Daphne du Maurier

"Fall of the House of Usher" (1839) Edgar Allan Poe

The Manor House (2023) Gilly Macmillan

The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) Agatha Christie

Crooked House (1949) Agatha Christie

The Secret at Chimneys (1925) Agatha Christie

The Seven Dials (1929) Agatha Christie

Towards Zero (1944) Agatha Christie

The Christmas Murder Game (2022) Alexandra Benedict

Crooked House (2017 movie)

Death at Morning House (2024) Maureen Johnson

Charleton House Mysteries by Kate P Adams

The Golden Spoon (2023) Jessa Maxwell

Wuthering Heights (1847) Emily Brontë

The Wife Upstairs (2021) Rachel Hawkins

The Villa (2023) Rachel Hawkins

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
Sign up for our newsletter: https://cluedinmystery.com/clued-in-chronicle/
Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/manor-house-mysteries/

Brook and Sarah are joined by Jessica from the Cluedunnit Podcast to discuss Young Sherlock and Enola Holmes, and how those productions explore Sherlock's extended family.

Discussed and mentioned

Young Sherlock (2026) series

Enola Holmes (2020, 2022, 2026) films

Endeavor (2012-2023) series

Inspector Morse (1987-2000) series

Related episodes

Bonus: Young Sherlock (published July 21, 2026)

About Jessica

Cluedunnit Podcast

Instagram

Facebook

Apple Podcasts

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
Sign up for our newsletter: https://cluedinmystery.com/clued-in-chronicle/
Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/enola-holmes-young-sherlock/

Brook and Sarah discuss mysteries where the reader plays the role of sleuth and why these books seem to be enjoying a moment of popularity.

Discussed and mentioned

Cain's Jawbone (1934) Edward Powys Mathers

Solve Your Own Mystery: The Time Thief (2026) Gareth P. Jones

Sherlock Escape Book Series (2021-2027) various authors

Murdle: Volume 1 (2023) G.T. Karber

All This and More (2024) Peng Shepherd

Sherlock Bones series (2023-2024) Tim Collins

Mini Mystery Series (2024-2026) Marci Kay Monson

The Killer Isn’t Alice (2026) Iris Starling

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
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Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/interactive-mystery-books/

In today's episode, Brook and Sarah are joined by Jessica Brody to discuss her new fiction release How to Write a Murder and how she drew on her successful non-fiction books about writing to pen this novel.

Discussed and mentioned

How to Write a Murder (2026) Jessica Brody

The Guest List (2020) Lucy Foley

Death on the Nile (1937) Agatha Christie

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
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Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/interview-jessica-brody-and-how-to-write-a-murder/

Mystery fans are familiar with quirky, unusual characters. They are often what makes a mystery or series memorable. In today's episode, Brook and Sarah discuss the appeal of these characters.

Discussed and mentioned

Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley

Murder at Gulls Nest (2025) Jess Kidd

Department Q (2025) Netflix series

Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series by SJ Bennett

Homemaker (2025) Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare

Retired Assassin's Guide to Country Gardening (2025) Naomi Kuttner

Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman

The Terrarium (2026) Katie Collom

Related episodes

Paranormal Mysteries with Naomi Kuttner (June 9, 2026)

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
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Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/quirky-characters/

What happens when you take a write known for another genre and add mystery? Brook and Sarah discuss authors who have successfully crossed genres into mystery.

Discussed and mentioned

The Red House Mystery (1922) A.A. Milne

The Lost World (1912) Arthur Conan Doyle

Blood on the Dining Room Floor: A Murder Mystery(1948) Gertrude Stein

Tales of the Black Widowers (1964) Isaac Asimov

Holly (2023) Stephen King

Mr. Mercedes (2014) Stephen King

Misery (1987) Stephen King

Alias Grace (1996) Margaret Atwood

The Blind Assassin (2000) Margaret Atwood

The Name of the Rose (1983) Umberto Eco

J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith

Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
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Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/surprising-mystery-authors/

To kick off the next season of episodes, Brook and Sarah discuss what they enjoyed reading and watching over the summer break.

Discussed and mentioned

Brook's List

Marlow Murder Club (2021) Robert Thorogood

The 12:30 From Croydon (1934) Freeman Wills Crofts

The Hallmarked Man (2025) Robert Galbraith

Disclaimer (2015) Renée Knight

The Sheep Detectives (2026) Kyle Balda - director

Sarah's List

One By One (2020) Ruth Ware

His & Hers (2020) Alice Feeney and His & Hers (2026) Netflix

The Killer Question (2025) Janice Hallett

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer(2023) Ragnar Jónasson

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (2026 series) Netflix

Related episodes

Reverse Mysteries (released February 24, 2026)

Freeman Wills Crofts (released June 30, 2026)

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
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Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/summer-2026-mystery-recap/

This episode was originally released May 7, 2024.

Games have long been a way for armchair sleuths to prove their deductive skills. In today’s episode, Brook and Sarah discuss the origins of mystery games, the different types of games mystery fans play, and their enduring popularity.

Discussed

Clue Boardgame (1949) Hasbro

Clue: Harry Potter Edition (2008)

Clue: Brooklyn 99 Edition (2021)

Clue: Downton Abbey Edition (2019)

Jury Box (1937) Parker Brothers

Mafia

Mafia online edition

Mystery House (1980) On-Line Systems

The Traitors (2022-present) BBC

Murdle (2023) G.T. Garber

Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None Game (2005) Big Fish Games

Cherry Ames’ Nursing Game (1959) Parker Brothers

The Great Charlie Chan Mystery Game (1938) Milton Bradley

Cain’s Jawbone (1934) Edward Powys Mathers

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
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Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/re-release-mystery-fun-and-games/

This episode was originally released February 6, 2024

In this week’s episode, Brook and Sarah explore mysteries with bad neighbors who turn your home–the place you should feel safest–into a dangerous place.

Discussed

Rear Window (1954 film) Alfred Hitchock

The House Across the Lake (2022) Riley Sager

The Manor House (2023) Gilly Macmillan

The Watcher (2022 series) Netflix

Those People Next Door (2023) Kia Abdullah

When No One is Watching (2020) Alyssa Cole

Girls in the Garden (2015) Lisa Jewell

And Then She Was Gone (2017) Lisa Jewell

One Little Secret (2019) Kate Holahan

The Woman in the Window (2018) A.J. Finn

The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window (2022 series) Netflix

For more information

Instagram: @cluedinmystery
Contact us: [email protected]
Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
Sign up for our newsletter: https://cluedinmystery.com/clued-in-chronicle/
Order Life or Delft by Brook and Sarah
For a full episode transcript, visit cluedinmystery.com/re-release-when-neighbors-go-bad/