book recommendations – The Inside Flap Book Podcast

Ep. 292 Linwood Barclay And The Trouble With Khakis

May 23, 2025May 23, 2025 by Laura Medicus Interiors

A fun chat with Linwood Barclay all about his new book Whistle, taking the leap into the supernatural, train derailments, fish guts, and why he will never wear tan khakis when he has to read in front of an audience again. Plus – Dave acts the fool on FOX45 in Baltimore, Laura is dog training, and Andrew has a giant rattlesnake encounter. We also recommend: Murder at Gull’s Nest by Jess Kidd, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano, and A Thief’s Gift by James Haddock. Audiobook of the Week is The Man in Black: Four Dark Tales by Stephen King.

ITUNES – SPOTIFY

Ep. 271 Fifty Shades Of Plaid With Lauren Willig, Beatriz Williams & Karen White

November 7, 2024 by Laura Medicus Interiors

A fun chat with Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White all about their new book The Author’s Guide to Murder, pantaboots, prosecco, and why they will never divulge who wrote for which characters. Plus – Dave possibly commits election fraud while striking his set, Laura nurses their daughter, and Andrew is outraged at StubHub. We also recommend: Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer, The Bonnie Dead by Andrew Raymond, and The Faded Land by D. E. Sherman. Audiobook of the Week is Dead Simple by Peter James.

ITUNES – SPOTIFY – GOOGLE PODCASTS

Ep. 259 The Problem With Merlin Featuring Lev Grossman

July 18, 2024July 24, 2024 by Laura Medicus Interiors

A fun chat with Lev Grossman all about his new book The Bright Sword, writing battle scenes, why the book took 10 years to write, and the problem with Merlin. Plus – Dave is on puppy duty, Laura recaps her visit to Maryland, and Andrew is cross country driving. We also recommend: Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne, Sunken Spaceship by Anthony J Melchiorri, and Here and Gone by Haylen Beck. Audiobook of the Week is Love Life by Rob Lowe.

ITUNES – SPOTIFY – GOOGLE PODCASTS

Ep. 249 Why Anthony Horowitz Won’t Drop Names

April 17, 2024April 16, 2024 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We’re joined by Anthony Horowitz for a fun chat all about his novel Close to Death, maps in books, name dropping, and playing fair with the reader. Plus – Dave is dismantling stages, Laura is cord cutting and Andrew is looking for schools. We also recommend: The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman, How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin, Star Scrapper by J.N. Chaney & Matt Goodwin. Audiobook of the Week is Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent.

ITUNES – SPOTIFY – GOOGLE PODCASTS

The Lost Art Of Writing Letters With Colleen Oakley

April 4, 2023 by Laura Medicus Interiors

A fun chat with Colleen Oakley all about her new book The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, Salt-N-Pepa songs, video games, leg shakers, and why she makes her kids write letters. Plus – we continue our London trip recap.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 187 Mountain Lions & Coyotes & Robert Crais Oh My!

November 3, 2022November 2, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We have a fun chat with Robert Crais all about his new Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel Racing the Light, his love of cooking, hiking the LA canyons, the best time to drive in Los Angeles, coyotes, and what his go to taco is. Plus – Dave has no time for smack talk, Laura meets an odd duck of a clerk at a music store and Andrew sets up a haunted walk. We also recommend The Max by Ken Bruen and Jason Starr, Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng, and Mockingbird by Walter Tevis. Audiobook of the Week is Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark by Cassandra Peterson.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Typing Like Tom Hanks With Ali Hazelwood

August 29, 2022August 28, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We have a fun chat with Ali Hazelwood all about her new novel Love on the Brain, cackling while writing, the future of brain exploration, playing badminton poorly, and typing like Tom Hanks. Plus – Dave puts his foot in his mouth in front of his students. Again.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 178 Pumping Iron With Mohsin Hamid

August 4, 2022August 3, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

A fun conversation with Mohsin Hamid all about his new novel The Last White Man, how everything changed for him after 9/11, the importance of trying new things, how fiction allows you to become a child again, his workout regimen, and the genius of A Fish Called Wanda. Plus – Dave receives the glass booth treatment, Laura gets a needle shot up her foot, and Andrew is pulled over by cops on the same date three out of the last four years. We also recommend: The Heavenly Table by Donald Ray Pollock, Honor by Thrity Umrigar, and The Interstellar Slayer by Scott Baron. Audiobook of the Week is Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 169 Running Barefoot Through Books With Isabel Cañas

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

A fun chat with Isabel Cañas about her debut novel The Hacienda, how she’s afraid of the dark, why she spend a lot of time in an unfinished basement as a kid, hot priests, and what it means to run barefoot through books. Plus – Dave goes to the track, Laura screams while falling and is laughed at, and Andrew hosts a host of Girl Scouts. We also recommend: Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza, Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka, & The First Born Academy by Isla Frost. Audiobook of the Week is Pet Sematary by Stephen King.

Race Day Uniform

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

How To Terrorize Your Friends With Jennifer McMahon

April 29, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We chat with Jennifer McMahon about her new novel The Children on the Hill, using her childhood and love of movie monsters as inspiration, how her first short story was about a haunted meatball, terrorizing her friends at slumber parties, writing what scares you, and her favorite movie snacks. Plus – Dave rants about trail closures for raccoons.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 166 History, Horror & Spiders With Alma Katsu

April 27, 2022May 6, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We talk to Alma Katsu about her new novel The Fervor, Japanese fire balloons, finding inspiration in civil unrest, and the inanity of the Japanese internment camps. Plus – Dave hides from the deans, Laura is forced to hop on yet another social media app, and Andrew forgets what grade his kids are in. We also recommend: The Hollows by Mark Edwards, City on Fire by Don Winslow, and A Warship Named Sky: A Hero’s Story by Saxon Andrew. Audiobook of the week is The Death and Life of Bobby Z by Don Winslow.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 163 Sharpshootin’ With Kate Quinn

April 6, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We’re joined by Kate Quinn for a fun conversation about her novel The Diamond Eye, the Ukranian sniper known as Lady Death, the timeliness of this book, her “method writing” experience, and how to know when to fictionalize. Plus – Laura needs business help, Dave can’t find the finish line, and Andrew dives deep into his wallet for a birthday dinner. We also recommend: Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, No Second Chances by Rio Youers, and Fast Time At Aldmont High by Laurence Dahners. Audiobook of the week is Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 160 Why You Should Be A Food Critic With C. J. Box

March 11, 2022March 11, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We’re joined again by one of our favorite authors C. J. Box for a fun chat about his latest Joe Pickett novel Shadows Reel, his new favorite Denver Nugget player, incorporating the recent US civil unrest in his book, why he doesn’t save plot points for future books, the reason he spent some time as a food critic, and the delicacy that is the Rocky Mountain oyster. Plus – Dave gets no respect from his Principal, Laura has a horrific incident with Nelson the dog, and Andrew invests in a creative way to deodorize his son’s bedroom. We also recommend: Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain, Dead Silence by S. A. Barnes, and Shadow Sun Survival by Dave Wilmarth. Audiobook of the Week is Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 156 Stalking Martha Stewart With Wendy Corsi Staub

February 10, 2022February 14, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We’re joined by Wendy Corsi Staub for a fun chat about her new book The Other Family, how she stalks Martha Stewart, getting her best ideas from her sons, Victorian death rituals, where you can find her rum cake recipe, and who her Amazing Race partner would be. We also recommend: A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw, The Trees by Percival Everett, and Mother of Learning by Domagoj Kurmaic. Audiobook of the week is Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Kantor. Plus – Dave’s classroom is a house of horrors, Laura readjusts vacation plans after study crime maps, and Andrew makes bank from the airlines due to an “overweight” plane.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 153 When Books Become Trays With Elizabeth George

January 20, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

Today we talk to Elizabeth George all about her new Inspector Lynley novel Something To Hide, teaching the craft of writing, what happens to her books when screenwriters get hold of them, her adoration of Idris Elba, and that time her husband used her book as a tray. We also recommend: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre, and The Eve of Snows by L. James Rice. Audiobook of the Week is Steel Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann. Plus – Dave is publicly shamed while skiing, Laura takes a drugged dog to the vet, and Andrew’s hawking girl scout cookies.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 152 Buttered Popcorn & Stale Raisinets With Stephen Hunter

January 13, 2022January 20, 2022 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We’re joined once again by one of our favorite guests – Stephen Hunter. We chat all about his new book Targeted, his favorite Christmas snack, his aversion to new things, being a terrible short story writer, getting the names of his own characters wrong, and why he prefers old Raisinets. We also recommend: The Dry by Jane Harper, The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade, Date Night on Union Station by E.M. Foner. Audiobook of the Week is The Treatment by Mo Hader. Plus – we discuss our personal COVID outbreaks and supermarket strikes.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 149 The Fine Art Of The “Yes And” With Chip Brewer

December 16, 2021 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We’re joined by Chip Brewer for a fun chat about his debut novel Questions of Iron and Blood, fracturing his foot while running the Boston Marathon, thrillers based in reality, performing improv professionally, and the curse of having to finish reading a book no matter how bad it may be. We also recommend: The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green, Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay, and The Night Ranger by A. C. Cobble. Plus – Dave gives his colleagues a piece of his mind at a holiday function, Laura puts into motion Operation Snowday, and Andrew hits it big with his sports wager. Like really really big.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 144 Silly Questions With Jeffrey Archer

November 4, 2021 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We have a very funny chat with the great Jeffrey Archer all about his new book Over My Dead Body, his love for and bafflement of Americans, being passed by a letter box while running a marathon, why it’s important to write what you know, how his favorite sports teams can’t win, his writing routine, the founding fathers, and what he said to Jack Lemmon that made him cry. We also recommend The Collective by Alison Gaylin, Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon, and Fair Trade by Mackey Chandler. Plus – Dave’s theater students take their pants off while performing for elementary students, Laura is forced to join a marching band, and Andrew shops for clarinets.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 142 Drunken Pool Diving With Josh Malerman

October 13, 2021October 25, 2021 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We chat with Josh Malerman all about his new novel Pearl, having to write with his keyboard at an angle, how he maintains tension in his books, outdoing himself, and why he drunkenly jumped in a pool with his clothes on. We also recommend: The Handyman by Bentley Little, The Quiet Ones by Brandon Massey, and Suited for Life by Daniel Schinhofen. Audiobook of the week is The Prestige by Christopher Priest. Plus – Dave’s students create a fan Instagram page for him, Laura sprints while marching with the band, and Andrew gets an anonymous letter complaining about the plethora of animatronics in his yard.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 135 The Glamorous Art of Cigarette Smoking With Megan Abbott

August 12, 2021August 13, 2021 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We’re joined by Megan Abbott for a fun conversation about her new novel The Turnout, why she bought a pair of used ballet shoes from eBay, glamorous cigarette smoking, the exhaustive nature of showrunning, what it was like writing for The Deuce, and her multifaceted superstitions that affect the way she writes. We also recommend New Girl in Little Cove by Damhnait Monaghan, A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams, and Lost Contact by Nathan Hystad. The audiobook of the week is The Houseguest by Emilie Richards. Plus – Dave breaks down what it’s like to climb a 14er, Laura opens up the crawl space, and Andrew’s cats get locked in the bathroom and exact their revenge.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Inside Chat: The Best Books of 2021 So Far With Amazon’s Sarah Gelman

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021 by Laura Medicus Interiors

Today we chat with Sarah Gelman from Amazon Books about the best books of 2021 thus far, the fights that go down amongst the editors to get their picks on the list, and the real reason she loves cookbooks.

Check out the full list here – https://www.amazon.com/Best-Books-of-the-Year-So-Far/b?ie=UTF8&node=3003015011

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 128 Who Needs Research? With Carter Wilson

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021 by Laura Medicus Interiors

Today we’re joined by Carter Wilson for a fun chat about his new thriller The Dead Husband, how he hates to do research for his books, the comments he gets at book clubs, small towns, and how being bored in a real estate relicensing class led to him becoming a writer. We also recommend: A Death At Seaside by Emma Jameson, What Waits For You by Joseph Schneider, and The Lost Secret by Vaughn Heppner. Our audiobook of the week is Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill. Plus – Dave & Laura do a deep dive on the psychology of Andrew, and we find out his kids are amazing trash generators.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Inside Chat: Thinking Like An Animal With Brian Nelson

March 25, 2021March 24, 2021 by Laura Medicus Interiors

Today we chat with author Brian Nelson about his new thriller Five Tribes, the fine art of biohacking, technology as its own life form, the common bond between honeyguides and orcas, mirror neurons and thinking like an animal, Dungeons & Dragons, and how he gave his freshman English students the Unabomber Manifesto to read.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Episode 102 Writing: A Loathe Story with Jeff Lindsay

December 2, 2020December 2, 2020 by Laura Medicus Interiors

Today we’re joined by the hilarious Jeff Lindsay for a waaaay too much fun chat about his excellent new thriller Fool Me Twice, how he loathes writing, his future one man show Off Book, writing plays for no audience, American archetypes, the lost meaning of Dexter, playing Scrooge in a department store window, and how his wife is Annie Oakley incarnate. We also recommend: The Rook by Daniel O’Malley, The Wicked Sister by Karen Dionne, and The Eons – Lost Orphan by Laer Carroll. Audiobook of the week is Alright Alright Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused by Melissa Maerz. Plus: Dave has horrific RBF, Laura is monitoring Sylvia’s progress as a professional conversationalist, & Andrew preps his giant Christmas inflatables.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

For all your shopping needs use our IndieBound link or click on the banner below. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show as well as independent booksellers everywhere!

Check out our list of every book we’ve ever recommended on the show.

Ep. 92- Pugilism & Poetry with Joshua Bennett

September 6, 2020September 12, 2020 by Laura Medicus Interiors

We’re joined by Dr. Joshua Bennett for a fantastic and lively conversation about his amazing new collection of poetry Owed, how his father was his first hero, improvising 40 minute sermons as a four-year-old, the search for the average bear, and how boxing brings him peace. We also recommend: Kindred by Octavia Butler, Mountain Rampage by Scott Graham, and Legend of the Arch Magus by Michael Sisa. Audiobook of the week is Bye Bye Baby by Max Allan Collins. Plus- Dave’s students have a nickname for him, Laura spies on her daughter’s virtual classroom, and Andrew’s kids are at each other’s throats.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!

You can find any of the books we recommend at any of the fine booksellers below. Clicking on the banner helps to help support the show and doesn’t cost you a cent extra!

For all your shopping needs use our Amazon link or click on the banner. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show! Here you will find every book we’ve ever recommended on the show. (Like, ever!)

Ep. 46 Author Catherine Ryan Howard and More!

October 20, 2019November 28, 2019 by Laura Medicus Interiors

Author Catherine Ryan Howard joins us for a highly entertaining talk about her latest crime thriller Rewind, how to think like a killer, her early love for Patricia Cornwell books and much more! We recommend: The House on Tradd Street by Karen White, Bad Games by Jeff Menapace, and Earthcore by Scott Sigler. Audiobook of the week is Summer of Night by Dan Simmons narrated by multi-talented Dan John Miller. YA book of the week is The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson. Dave gets in trouble sneaking around an Air Force Base, Andrew is literally laying down for the show and Laura describes screaming her way through a “Haunted Mansion.”

To find any of these books (and for ALL your shopping needs) use our amazon link or click on the banner. It doesn’t cost you a cent and helps to support the show! Here you will find every book we’ve ever recommended on the show. (Like, ever!)

Ep. 41 Author Sarah Pinsker and More!

September 15, 2019November 28, 2019 by Laura Medicus Interiors

Author Sarah Pinsker joins us for a chat about song writing versus fiction writing, trashing hotel rooms and her new book A Song For a New Day. We recommend: Craven Manor by Darcy Coates, Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth, and King’s Dark Tidings by Kel Kade. Audiobook of the week is The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson narrated by the incomparable George Guidall. YA book of the week is Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez.