Revenge and Red Herrings
Revenge and Red Herrings
Calista and Theresa Whitney
Mother-daughter book discussion podcast covering murderous mysteries, twisty thrillers, witty women's fiction, and seriously fucked-up suspense. Come join us for our biweekly deep dive into a new book!
Episode 39 - If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio: Misogyny Strikes Again
We’re talking about If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio. We discuss acting as a career choice and playing the same role versus playing a completely different character in each new production (which do you think is more difficult?). We also give our interpretations of the ending (do you agree?). Let us know what you thought of If We Were Villains!Sources: https://mlrio.com/about/ https://mlrio.com/tag/music/ https://www.theatticoneighth.com/blog/interview-m-l-rio https://crimereads.com/m-l-rio-on-the-connection-between-writing-and-dreams/ https://lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/interview-author-m-l-rio  https://mlrio.com/2024/01/20/new-work-hot-wax/ 
May 19, 2025
40 min
Episode 38 - The Girlfriend by K.L. Slater: Quite a Bit of Delusional Thinking
Join us as we review The Girlfriend by K.L. Slater. We give a brief biography of K.L. Slater (did you know she used to write YA novels?) before mentioning gossip and Eleanor Roosevelt. We talk about hobbies (stamp collecting, anyone?), nesting, and security footage. We also discuss concussions and fancy dress (do you also picture Bridget Jones?). Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the book! Sources:https://www.klslaterauthor.com/https://nottinghamcityofliterature.com/blog/kim-slater-interview-nottingham-voice/https://www.frostmagazine.com/2021/03/my-writing-process-kl-slater/
May 5, 2025
41 min
Episode 37 - The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena: Bar Bros Camaraderie
Join us as we discuss The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. After providing a short biography of Shari Lapena (did you know she used to write literary comedies?), we dive into postpartum depression and kidnapping. We talk about AC vents (they can have more than one use) and the risk of starting a business. We consider paying ransoms and offering rewards. We also give our interpretations of the ending (including what we hope will happen next), and we mention the case of Madeleine McCann. Give your opinion on the book in a comment below! Sources: https://www.sharilapena.com/biohttps://www.sharilapena.com/other-books https://shewrites.com/an-exclusive-interview-with-shari-lapena/ https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-conditions/dissociative-disorders/ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9789-dissociative-amnesia https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-52910472
Apr 21, 2025
33 min
Episode 36 - Between Husbands and Wives by Susannah Glenn: A Man-Child Who Couldn’t Handle His Emotions
In this week’s episode, we’re diving into Between Husbands and Wives by Susannah Glenn. We give our opinions on public proposals (just no), breakups, and egging. We discuss smear campaigns and medical malpractice (there’s a difference between a mistake and gross negligence). We also touch on our desire to visit Australia, and we try to wrap our brains around the climate in the Southern Hemisphere. Let us know what you thought of Between Husbands and Wives!
Apr 7, 2025
33 min
Episode 35 - Find Her by Sarah A. Denzil: Creepy Little Incel F*cker That He Was
We’re talking about Find Her by Sarah A. Denzil in this week’s episode. We discuss jury service (and wanting to get out of it), discrimination, and harassment. We tackle the mentality of incels (it really is nightmare fuel) and our imagined knee-jerk reactions to finding out someone is being abused. We also dive into panic attacks and the related shame. Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the book!
Mar 24, 2025
34 min
Episode 34 - Verity by Colleen Hoover: Team Manuscript or Team Letter?
Join us as we review Verity by Colleen Hoover. We give some hot takes on why we didn’t like the book (unlikable characters, anyone?) and share whether we’re team letter or team manuscript (and if the extra chapter changed our minds). We touch on working with an ex and living in a stranger’s house. We also discuss creepy kids (always with the creepy kids), once-in-a-lifetime job offers, and vigilantism. Give your opinion on the book in a comment below!
Mar 17, 2025
44 min
Episode 33 - Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica: Fantasizing About Killing Your Neighbor Is Never a Good Thing
Join us as we discuss Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica. We briefly talk about ignoring red flags (haven’t we all done it?) and being pregnant or ill in prison. We touch on teaching high school students (that’s some level of commitment) and engaging in predatory behavior. We also question how helpful cameras are in solving crimes and how likely it is not to find an unhidden body. Let us know what you thought of Just the Nicest Couple!
Mar 10, 2025
29 min
Episode 32 - My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing: The Amount of Weird Sh*t That Has Happened in Florida
In this week’s episode, we’re diving into My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. We talk about moving back to a place that holds a lot of bad memories (would you also rather move somewhere new?) and criminals being released on a technicality. We discuss victim blaming, finding out your ex is a murderer (that’s going to be hard to get over), and blackmail. We also put forward our theories about the ending. Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the book!
Mar 3, 2025
30 min
Episode 31 - The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley: Let’s Just Call Them Predators
We’re talking about The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley in this week’s episode. We start off by giving a brief biography of Lucy Foley (did you know that she used to write historical fiction?). We mention unsafe work environments and riots. We also discuss a man’s perceived lack of self-control and destroying pictures of a person (is cutting the eyes out of a picture ever a good sign?). Give your opinion on the book in a comment below! Sources:https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/lucy-foley-20153312312930 https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/lucy-foley-i-love-a-really-well-written-yarn-1.4801106 https://www.thebookseller.com/author-interviews/profile-lucy-foley-i-wanted-read-modern-murder-mystery-so-s-what-i-wrote-874361 https://www.womansway.ie/main-blog/2020/4/7/are-you-on-the-list-we-chat-with-author-lucy-foley
Feb 24, 2025
38 min
Episode 30 - An Inconvenient Woman by Stéphanie Buelens: Pedos in Your Pocket
Join us as we reviewAn Inconvenient Womanby Stéphanie Buelens. We discuss mental hospitals (does anyone else immediately think ofAmerican Horror Story: Asylum?), unnecessary lies, and sin eaters. We touch on people who date those with kids when they don’t want them (how is that going to end well?) and single people living fulfilled lives. We also briefly give our opinions on studying in Paris. Let us know what you thought ofAn Inconvenient Woman!Source:https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/restraining-orders/prohibited-items#:~:text=If%20a%20judge%20grants%20a,%2C%20shotgun%2C%20and%20assault%20weapon.
Feb 17, 2025
31 min
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