A very special episode- Host of The Consult- Real Life Profilers podcast, retired FBI Profiler Julia Cowley is joining Jill! The women speak about a range of topics, from most impactful true crime books and career paths, to analyzing the JonBenet Ramsey case, Julia’s profile and insights into the Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo, serial killer Israel Keyes and more—This is not the episode to miss!  Dropped early for your enjoyment, Happy Thanksgiving, Murder Bookies! So thankful for you!   Listen to THE CONSULT !  (Btw, Julia’s episode on the JonBenet Ramsey case just came out! Don’t’ miss it!) Sources, photographs and other information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com – Nov 2024. Contact:  [email protected], or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!    

Episode 105 “Exonerate the West Memphis 3” - An Interview with Dan Stidham, Defense Attorney and co-author of A Harvest of Innocence: The True Story of the West Memphis Murder Case Part 4: In a heartfelt interview, author Dan Stidham and Jill discuss the inside story of defending the West Memphis Three’s Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin as a young, inexperienced attorney, caught up in mass hysteria.  The malignant prosecution that conspired with a biased judge to convict three innocent teenagers for the 3 horrendous murders of 8-year-old boys, left a killer loose in Arkansas. Threatened, attacked, treated as a pariah, Dan suffers from PTSD, even as he receives new tips and information to this day.  With Misskelley and Baldwin out of prison (along with Echols), today Dan pursues the exoneration of the West Memphis Three, and—long overdue justice for the victims, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers, who’s killer has never been identified-- but Dan and Jill both have theories on WHO committed these gruesome murders!.   Buy A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham & Tom McCarthy on Amazon- (highly recommended!  Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com – Oct 2024. Contact:  [email protected], or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  Part 3 In this stunning episode, Jessie Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols languish in prison, as the Paradise Lost films are released, causing the public to become aware of the injustice and wrongful convictions of the West Memphis Three. Claiming ineffective counsel and a violation of Jason and Jessie’s rights, Dan Stidham fights for a new trial, with new attorneys joining the team.  Then, out of the blue, Dan receives a shocking call- an Alford Plea has been accepted and the West Memphis Three, after 18 years and 78 days, are released from prison.  Stunned by the rapid twist of events, Dan strives to understand what happened and why, as devastating revelations come forth.   (Part 4: Join Jill for her interview with Dan Stidham in 2 weeks!)   Buy A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham & Tom McCarthy on Amazon- (highly recommended!) Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com – Oct 2024. Contact:  [email protected], or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!

Part 2: Preparing for trial, against all odds, defense attorney Dan Stidham gathers world-class experts from a variety of fields, ready to prove his client, Jessie Misskelley, did not kill the 3 boys of West Memphis, wasn't at the crime scene, and his confession should be inadmissible according to the law.   But judicial hijinks derail the Defense’s plans as the State repeatedly violates Jessie’s rights. Convicted, a bewildered teenage, Jessie tries to adjust to prison, as Dan vows to never quit until Jessie is out of prison.  Filing appeal after appeal, the court stacks the deck against the defense.  Adapting to his new pariah status, Dan sees the tide begin to change when the film, Paradise Lost is released, exposing judicial malfeasance and a case that rests on sketchy evidence & flawed eyewitness testimony.  Meanwhile, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin remain in prison, with Damien Echols on -death row-.   Ep 104 'Paradise Imperfect" on A Harvest of Innocence, will drop in two weeks! Buy A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham & Tom McCarthy on Amazon- (highly recommended!  Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com – Oct 2024. Contact:  [email protected], or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!    

Part 1:  West Memphis, AR May 5, 1993: After riding their bikes around the neighborhood, three 8-year-old Cub Scouts went missing, Found the next day submerged in a drainage ditch in the woods, this heartbreaking triple homicide would ultimately leave 6 families utterly devastated.  30-year-old attorney, Dan Stidham, would agree to take on 16-year-old accused murderer, Jessie Misskelley, as a client, pro bono, working on a plea deal that would spare Jessie the death penalty.  This choice that would propel him onto a professional path that would test his dedication to his client, his decision to become a lawyer, and his faith, while trampling his marriage and his mental health.  Meet Dan Stidham, victims, Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, their parents, and the 3 teenagers sucked into the judicial abyss- Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, with Dan Stidham struggling against the worst possible confluence of players in the judicial system of West Arkansas, as the Satanic Panic raged.   Buy A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham & Tom McCarthy on Amazon- (highly recommended!  Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com – Oct 2024. Contact:  [email protected], or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!   See you in two weeks!

Part 3: Now a homicide detective, Lindsey continues to change the system as she investigates the Bundy serial murder case, kidnappings, serial rapes, and murders. And all the while, she continued to work the unsolved 1986 Jennifer Bastian case.  When a huge breakthrough occurs, it throws the Bastian and Michella Welch cases into new scrutiny- exposing the monsters, that were hidden in the shadows.   Buy Lindsey’s book on Amazon (highly recommended!) or check out the link on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Contact:  [email protected], or X, Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!

Part 2: Now in the Special Assault Unit, Det. Lindsey Wade and her partner investigate heartbreaking child abuse cases, violent serial rapist cases, and the kidnapping of 12-year-old Zina Linnik.  Connecting the dots across jurisdictions, many perpetrators face justice.  Yet, her attention returned again and again to the unsolved murder of Jennifer Bastian, even as other cases are solved with new technological breakthroughs, and changes in procedure, initiated by Det. Lindsey Wade, who holds SVPs accountable for their crimes. What's a SVP? Listen! You know Jill will give you ALL the details!  Buy Lindsey’s book on Amazon (highly recommended!) or on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Contact:  [email protected], or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!      

1986: Growing up in Tacoma, Washington, 11 yr. old Lindsey Jackson (Wade) remembers no longer being allowed to ride her bike, and the fear of walking home from the school bus after two girls were brutally murdered, Michella Welch and Jennifer Bastian. An adult Lindsey joined the Tacoma Police Dept, honing her investigative skills in patrol, then as a detective in sex crimes, dealing with terrible, frustrating cases, and putting bad guys behind bars, as DNA evidence begins to play a role in investigation.  Raw, respectful of the victims and their families, this is Lindsey’s story, poignant, powerful and not to be missed.   Buy Lindsey’s book on Amazon (highly recommended!) or on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Contact:  [email protected], or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!    

It seems every day there are new horrors in the news; our most trusted members of society are abusing our children and trust, stealing our innocence, security & peace of mind.  Lori Morrison, retired Private Investigator, host of the Unlovely Truth podcast, is also the author of three books- Kick Fear to the Curb, In God We Trust: Everyone Else Gets a Background Check, and her newest- Reclaiming Sanctuary. She offers real world, sound tips for securing yourself, your family, and the institutions that are part of our lives.  And they get into some recent cases that changed our communal perceptions! Do NOT miss this one! It’s a game changer! Links to buy Lori’s books are here (highly recommended!) or on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Contact:  [email protected], or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!

In this exclusive interview, Jill chats with author of Broken and animal law attorney, Fred M. Kray, who offers his insights into the motivation of those involved in the injury Alydar sustained in his stall at Calumet Farm. How did he uncover the evidence he discovered? Are coincidences too coincidental?  What didn’t Fred include in the book? And ---Fred makes his BIG announcement here!     Oh, what does theriocide mean? ‘The killing of a non-human animal by a human.” Ahhhh!  Right?   Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Contact:  [email protected], or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!    

Trials are over, as Fred Kray begins his investigation into the suspicious death of Alydar, tracking down reluctant witnesses even as doors slam in his face. Persistent, determined, Fred continues to connect the dots, that may exonerate an innocent man while providing answers to the many questions surrounded the death of the beloved, magnificent race horse, Alydar.   Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Contact:  [email protected], or on X, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube!

Jill welcomes guest, Christine Dana, an ‘all things’ Long Island Serial Killer expert! A resident of Long Island, Christine has witnessed Rex Heuermann in court, visited his home, Gilgo Beach, Oak Beach- and she shares all of her insights in the case, including his recent court appearance! This is an important update since The Lost Girls, Ep 24, 25 & 26, plus mini-case episode- “Let the Games Begin” (9/27/21)! #LISK #Gilgo Rex Heuermann Bail Application – click! Listen to Christine Dana’s podcast, My True Crime Obsession on Youtube!   LISTEN TO JILL HERE! Contact: [email protected] Find Jill at X,   Facebook, Instagram, YouTube! Jill’s Blog, with sources, photos, recipes and drink information!! www.murdershelfbookclub.com Listen! https://linktr.ee/murdershelfbookclub

Broken- the story for horse lovers continues! Alton Stone’s trial continues and proves to be a revelation for what happened in Alydar’s stall that chilly night at Calumet’s stallion barn, in 1990. Verdict in, federal prosecutors are not done, as the trials of disgraced former President of Calumet Farm, JT Lundy, and former Calumet CFO Gary Matthews takes an unconventional turn, as Jill delves into assumptions, lies, and conspiracy theories in the search of the truth!   If you enjoyed the episode, leave a 5 star review! Share with a friend! Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Contact:  [email protected], or X, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

Suspicions that Alydar had been killed for the insurance money have surfaced, as the Blue Grass Kentucky rumor mill churns. By 1998, the feds have a grand jury investigating, with watchman Alton Stone indicted for perjury. As his trial begins, it's clear Prosecutor Julia Tomala isn’t gunning for Stone, but squeezing him to get to the true bad guy.  (Happy 4th America!)   Leave a 5-star review if you support the Murder Shelf Book Club podcast wherever you listen! Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Contact:  [email protected], or X, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

Nov. 13, 1990: It was a quiet autumn night at Calumet Farm, of Blue Grass Kentucky, home to some of the most valuable thoroughbred racehorses in the USA.  One, Alydar, had settled into his stall, only to be discovered by a nightwatchman, to have broken his leg.  What on Earth had happened? Investigations begin, leading to over 30 years of inquiry, examination, and suspicions, as Jill delves into the oldest cold case in American thoroughbred racing- Was it an accident or where nepharious forces at work, conspiring to kill the horse, and why?   Please leave a 5 star review if you enjoy this episode!  Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Contact:  [email protected], or X, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube or join Patreon for $4.

The anticipation gave way to enthusiastic energy as Crimecon began in Nashville, May 31- June 2, 2024. These are Jill's "Reflections" on an amazing true crime weekend, rooted in ethics, decency and remembering the victims.  Speakers, experts, law enforcement, victims, and family members who represent every aspect of true crime spoke, shared, and educated. The 3 Johns: John Douglas, the original "Mindhunter", John Walsh, honored for founding the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after his son, Adam's murder, and John Ramsey, on a mission to get the DNA from his daughter, JonBenet's murder, to a reputable LAB AND TESTED were the cornerstone of Jill's Crimecon.  Exhibits, podcasters, authors (who simply made Jill's day), were among the VAST numbers that never disappointed. And, most importantly, meeting and speaking with Murder Bookies simply was a mind-blowing experience, leaving Jill humbled.  Thank you to Kevin Balfe, Kelly McLear, Alyse, Tiffany and all of you who make Crimecon possible. See you in Denver!

Bestselling author and true crime superstar, Aphrodite Jones, discusses her new book, Levi’s Eyes with Jill in this exclusive interview! The ladies leave no stone unturned! What did convicted killer, Karl Karlsen tell Aphrodite over two long years!?  What kind of monster IS Karl Karlsen?  AND from deep within the Karlsen homestead, her conversations with Cindy Karlsen, whose story has never been told before. “The depth of this interview is amazing…glimpsing the evil hidden deep within” – Murder Bookie Patreon Danielle      Crimecon 2024 in Nashville was a few days ago!  Aphrodite and I connected in person- which was spectacular! I’ll be dropping a whole CC24 Nashville review next week or so—and holy moly!  There is just so much to say.  So- be on the look out for my bonus episode on Crimecon 2024 Nashville!   Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com.  Contact:  [email protected] or find Jill on X, Facebook or Instagram!    

Look for Jill on Creators Row at Crimecon in Nashville, May 31-June 2, 2024! Check out new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop!  Memorial Day 2024 sale- 25% off!   Part 3: As Cindy and Karl separate, suspicions about Karl’s involvement in son Levi’s death grow, leading Cindy to resort to very dangerous methods to stay safe while getting to the truth. Arrested, a murder trial looms over Karl, who protests his innocence.  And while justice is delayed, its bittersweet arrival provides solace even as the love of money proves to be the source of all evil. Please leave a 5-star review! It really does matter! Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.  

Part 2: Karl and 2nd wife, Cindy, settle into married life, with son, Alex joining the family. But the bad luck that follows Karl strikes again and again, with more trauma and deaths occurring, leaving soot and sorrow in their wake. Growing pains abound, life presents twists and turns, but tragedy is never far behind, as Cindy begins to wonder- Is all coincidence?  (Listen to Part 1- Ep 87- first, this story is complex!)   Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com  Look for Jill on Podcast Row at Crimecon in Nashville, May 31-June 2, 2024! Check out new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop!  Memorial Day 2024 sale- 25% off! Contact: [email protected]  

In 2ndCast: Cecilia’s Curse, Jill wonders if Cecilia Ludwig cursed Mishawaka, Indiana with her dying breath.  Explore the bizarre and twisted legacy of Cecilia Ludwig’s murder by husband, Albin Ludwig, the prosecutor, Joseph Talbot and his family, neighbors and friends alike, following the ripples from the stone tossed in the pond across the century. Did Cecilia get justice? Listen and find out!   Not suitable for the faint-hearted! Sources and show notes for the Potato Masher Murder trilogy are found at www.murdershelfbookclub.com. All Rights reserved. 

Crimecon Nashville 2024 is happening in one month! Come meet Jill, yack about true crime and delve into our books & cases at Crimeon! 11:15ish PM after John Douglas on Friday May 31, 2024, Falls Bar at the hotel! AND, Jill is currently featuring the true crime book, Levi’s Eyes by Aphrodite Jones—the bestselling author and true crime maven, who is ALSO at Crimecon. Listen to series and catch Jill’s interview with Aphrodite too!  Listen! https://linktr.ee/murdershelfbookclub.com Shop! https://murder-shelf-book-club.myspreadshop.com/ Blog! www.murdershelfbookclub.com Contact! [email protected]

Meet the Karlsens, Christina, Karl and their 3 small children. Living in Murphys, California, Christmas 1990 was filled with mistletoe, ribbons and home-made cookies. But the joy was cut short, with tragedy striking. Grieving, the Karlsens move across the country to Romulus, NY, trying to settle into a new life. But back in California, investigators dig into the events of New Year’s Day 1991, where Christina Karlsen lost her life in a devastating fire. With question unanswered, suspicions rise, as Karl moves forward with his life. Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com  Use Jill’s code  murdershelf to save 10% on your Crimecon 2024 badges at https://www.crimecon.com/CC24   Look for Jill on Podcast Row! Check out the new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop! 

Charged with 1st degree murder, Byron Smith’s trial beings for shooting Nicholas Brady and Haile Kifer to death in his basement on Thanksgiving 2012. Armed with damning evidence, the Prosecution presents its case of calculated revenge, as the Defense presents the Defendant as a fearful man, who only wanted to defend himself against violent intruders.  The wheels of justice turn, with some stunning decisions, as debates erupt over the Castle Doctrine vs homicide, with very real consequences for lead investigator, Jeremy L. Luberts. Where is Byron Smith today? Jill updates the case since publication, filling you in on his appeals. Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com  CRIMECON is coming- check out the new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop- free shipping April 11-April 15, 2024!  Use Jill’s code   murdershelf   to save 10% on your Crimecon badges at https://www.crimecon.com/CC24

In Pt 2, with two teenagers dead, the Byron Smith investigation heats up, focusing on the rash of burglaries that had occurred recently, including those at Smith’s previously, with damning conclusions.  Accomplices and witnesses are interviewed, arrests are made, and another search warrant unearths the ‘mother lode’ of evidence that turns this case upside down, causing huge media surge and dividing the town, state and country in this divisive, emotional case of self-defense vs homicidal rage. Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com . Check out the new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop- make your favorite Murder Bookies SMILE. CRIMECON is COMING!  Use Jill’s code   murdershelf  to save 10% on your Crimecon badges at https://www.crimecon.com/CC24

Enjoying a day with the family, Lead Investigator Jeremy Luberts is called into work at the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office to look into a concerning call. Arriving at the Elm Street residence, a retired Byron Smith meets him, telling him two burglars had broken into his house, and he’d defended himself, shooting them.  With 2 dead bodies, Jeremy Luberts begins an investigation that would change the small town of Little Falls, Minnesota and spark contentious debate across the country, changing his life forever. Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com  CRIMECON 24 is coming- check out the new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop.  Use Jill’s code   murdershelf  to save 10% on your Crimecon badges at https://www.crimecon.com/CC24

Headed to Crimecon Nashville 2024?  Visit Jill on Podcast Row and look for Jane Carson-Sandler too!  May 31-June 2, 2024~!   In Part 4 on Frozen in Fear, Jill chats with our author and survivor of the East Area Rapist, Jane Carson-Sandler.  Jane went from being a victim to a ‘Survivor-Thriver’, taking back control over her life, an extraordinary life of service, giving, and caring for others.   You may want to listen to Ep 1 & 2 on Michelle McNamara’s book on the Golden State Killer, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark in conjunction with this trilogy.   Donation Opportunity: Hope Haven of Lowcounty - Child Advocacy & Rape Center, Beauford, S.C.   Sources, photos, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com . Check out the new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop- make your favorite Murder Bookies SMILE!

Going to Crimecon Nashville 2024?  Find Jill on Podcast Row and look for Jane Carson-Sandler too!    Part 3: In this uplifting conclusion of the Frozen in Fear trilogy, the voices of the survivors of the East Area Rapist are raised, allowing us to see how these brave souls overcame adversity, trauma, and worse, taking back control, rejecting fear Updating what’s happened since the 2018 arrest of EAR-the Golden State Killer, Jane Carson-Sandler and her sister survivors reflect on his arrest, and what’s happened since, as they enjoy the best revenge- living productive, satisfying lives. You may want to listen to Ep 1 & 2 on Michelle McNamara’s book on the Golden State Killer, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark in conjunction with this trilogy.   Donation Opportunity: Hope Haven of Lowcounty - Child Advocacy & Rape Center, Beauford, S.C.   Sources, photos, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com  Check out the new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop- make your favorite Murder Bookies SMILE!

Going to Crimecon 2024 in Nashville? Look for Jill on Podcast Row and Jane Carson-Sandler too! May 31-June 2, 2024! In Part 2- Struggling to climb out of the dark hole in the aftermath of rape, other challenges test Jane’s resolve and faith as she finds herself in rehab. With more rapes happening, Jane recounts the lessons learned from counselling & her work with other rape victims. And more voices of other EAR rape survivors are heard, sharing the impact he had on their lives, and their decisions to live their lives fully, on their own terms.    You may want to listen to Ep 1 & 2 on Michelle McNamara’s book on the Golden State Killer, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark in conjunction with this trilogy. Donation Opportunity: Hope Haven of Lowcounty - Child Advocacy & Rape Center, Beauford, S.C. Sources, photos, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com  Valentine’s Day is coming- check out the new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop- On Valentine’s Day -Feb 14th: 22% OFF! Make your favorite Murder Bookies SMILE!    

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Find Jill on Podcast Row, and Jane Carson-Sandler too!  Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    Written by the 5th Victim of the East Area Rapist, Frozen in Fear tells Jane Carson-Sandler’s story of living a normal, fulfilling life in California in 1976- until the day a ski masked intruder, aka EAR, broke in and viciously raped her.  Surviving, Jane shares how the rape impacted her life, the shame and guilt, loss of self-esteem, and anger, all feelings shared by many of other EAR rape victims.  Painful unanswered questions are asked; Who was this guy? Why is he doing this? —And Jill provides some insights into this type of rapist.   You may want to listen to Ep 1 & 2 on Michelle McNamara’s book on the Golden State Killer, Ill Be Gone in the Dark in conjunction with this trilogy.   Donation Opportunity: Hope Haven of Lowcounty - Child Advocacy & Rape Center, Beauford, S.C. Questions? Email Jill:  [email protected] Sources, photos, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com . Valentine’s Day is coming- check out the new designs on Jill’s Spreadshop- make your favorite Murder Bookies SMILE!

Happy New Year 2024!  Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Look for Jill on z, Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!  Part 3: Franklin, Virginia was home to murder victim, Trent Whitley and the authors Anne Varner and Karen DeVanie.  These energetic, dedicated ladies are also the hosts of the Sugar-Coated Murder podcast.  Karen and Ann chat with Jill about how their book came about, their perseverance and determination to tell Trent’s story, and how they managed to get the insider information on the killers!  You won't believe whose advice they rejected and the rush to publish before disaster struck!  And, most importantly to them, how did they memorialize Trent Whitley, the 17 year old young man who had his life stolen away?  Anne and Karen also share what is next- and it’s something to behold! Winter merch designs are out on Spreadshop, so make your favorite Murder Bookie SMILE and support Jill and the Murder Shelf Book club podcast!  Sources, show notes, photographs, news articles, recipe and wine recommendations are on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Look for Jill on Podcast Row in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!   Trent Whitley’s family struggles with his loss and the uncertainty of what happened to their precious son. Certain someone knows something, Delores Whitley makes repeated appeals for that someone to come forward.   Meanwhile, a killer’s life fractures under the weight of the responsibility for killing an innocent classmate. He knows only a confession can save him, but betraying his bloody partner is fraught with peril as paranoia and conspiracy theories plague him. When the truth is finally revealed, disbelief and devastation rock a town. Will there be justice for Raymond Trent Whitley, June 19, 1972 – Feb 23, 1990?   Winter and Christmas designs are out on Spreadshop, so make your favorite Murder Bookie SMILE!  Sources, show notes, photographs, news articles, recipe and wine recommendations are on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com By Jill, All Rights Reserved  

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Look for Jill on Podcast Row zin Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    Blinding flash. BANG- and the target was dead.  A missing person report was filed in Franklin, Virginia by anxious parents, searching for their precious teenager. The investigation would follow lead after lead, to no avail. Suspects would emerge, but those responsible would not fall under suspicion, as the frightened family held vigils, offered rewards, and paced with worry, night after night.  Why a conspiracy to commit murder?  How had 'The Plan' evolved?  How did was the target selected?  Why did this happen?  Join Jill as she delves into the first of the Say My Name series, Click, Click, Click, by the hosts of the Sugar Coated Murder podcast, Anne Varner and Karen DeVanie. Happy Hanukkah!  Enjoy the holiday season! Spread the joy!   Holiday and Christmas designs are out on Spreadshop, so make your favorite Murder Bookie SMILE!  15% OFF Dec 7 -10, 2023! Shipping date holiday cutoff dates are coming! Sources, show notes, photographs, news articles, recipe and wine recommendations are on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Look for Jill on Podcast Row in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    With the families engrossed, the prosecution of Sean Vincent Gillis begins, with the Defense committed to saving his life and avoiding the death penalty. With his 40-hour confession, this should be a slam dunk, but it is far from that! Legal maneuvering, calls for mistrial, and surprise rulings impact the trial’s progression. Then, the battle of the neuropsychologists begins, as they delve into Sean’s mental illness.  WHY did Sean murder and dismember? Why are cardinal human taboos violated? And, if Sean killed 8 women, who killed the other 50?   Source material, show notes, photographs, maps are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com New designs are out on Jill’s spreadshop! Winter and Christmas- the holidays are coming! Make a Murder Bookie happy! Join Jill on Patreon and get the insider info, discuss all true crime, Q&A, tips and tidbits, and help pick our books! $4 a month! By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Look for Jill on Podcast Row in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    In Part 2, They get it.  With over 60 women dead, Baton Rouge Sheriff Offices realize they have a serial killer on the loose! But they’re wrong. There are TWO; the murders of Sean Vincent Gillis are camouflaged by those of Derrick Todd Lee.  No one is looking for Sean Gillis.  As the victims’ families mourn, the investigation intensified, DNA works its magic, and finally, the police follow the tracks to Sean Gillis door. Arrested, he cannot stop talking, sharing the gruesome details of murder and dismemberment, acting like a child sent to the principal’s office instead of recognizing the gravity of his crimes.   Source material, show notes, photographs, maps are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com New designs are out on Jill’s spreadshop! Autumn, Winter and Christmas! Join Jill on Patreon and get the insider info and help pickour books! $4 a month! By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Look for Jill on Podcast Row in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a gruesome murder is discovered, with the Sheriff’s office investigating, but the case goes cold. Repeat this over and over, and over as serial killer, Sean Vincent Gillis, kills and mutilates all over the area.  An elderly woman and a housewife, he mostly preys largely on sex workers. But--no woman is safe-- the fear real. And he’s NOT the only one! WHO is Sean Vincent Gillis?   Source material, show notes, photographs, maps are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com New designs are out on Jill’s Spreadshop! Autumn, Winter and Christmas! Join Jill on Patreon and get the insider info and help pick out our books! $4 a month! By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! See you in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    Now deep into the murder motive, each of the suspects are investigated and the evidence scrutinized fully.  Who had a motive and opportunity to commit murder?  Who benefitted from the death of Amy Robsart? Given the court verdict, what happened to the suspects?  And, Jill shares her theory on how Lady Dudley, Amy Robsart died! 2nd cast looks ahead to 1567: Seven year later, Elizabeth I’s cousin, the King-Consort of Scotland, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley is found strangled to death.  Another cousin, Darnley’s wife, Mary, Queen of Scots, begins an inquiry, with a very, very different outcome from Elizabeth I’s court.  Intrigue, conspiracy, betrayal, corruption, and the choices of the two Queens is examined.  How did Amy Robsart-Dudley die? Who killed Lord Darnley? Jill shares her conclusions about the suspicious deaths of the 1560s!     Sources, snack recipe, suggestions, show notes plus CRIMECON 2023 PHOTOS are found on Jill’s blog www.murdershelfbookclub.com Join Jill on Patreon for our zoom True crime and Book Club discussion!!  Get your merch – Jill’s putting pumpkin spice into True Crime! And- the holidays are coming!  Check out Jill’s holiday designs! By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! See you in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    Jill discusses Crimecon 2023 in Orlando!  Being on Podcast Row, meeting her Murder Bookies and meeting so many in the True Crime community! Then, she continues the story of Lady Amy Robsart, found dead at the bottom of the stairs.  In every royal court in Europe, and across every town and hamlet in England, the people of England wonder what to believe of their beautiful, young and unmarried Queen, Elizabeth I, whose relationship with Amy’s husband, Robert Dudley, is described widely as “most intimate.”  Was Amy’s death an accident or suicide?  Where does the 500 yr old evidence take us?  What does the 1560 autopsy report reveal? And, who had motive if a ‘murder most foul’ was committed?  Sources, snack recipe, wine recommendation, show notes plus CRIMECON 2023 PHOTOS are found on Jill’s blog (soon!) www.murdershelfbookclub.com Join Jill on Patreon for our zoom True Crime and Book Club discussion!  Get your merch – Jill’s putting pumpkin spice into True Crime! By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! See you in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    Episode 71: “The Original Staircase”- The Death of Amy Robsart: An Elizabethan Mystery by Sarah-Beth Watkins Part 1 1560: Tudor England. Amidst rumors of adultery, poisoning divorce, and murder, Lady Amy Dudley, nee Robsart, was found dead at the foot of the stairs. Immediately, suspicion fell upon her husband, Lord Robert Dudley, favorite of the newly ascended Queen of England, Elizabeth I. Had he done away with his wife to marry the Queen?  The investigation, interviews, interrogations, and inquest does little to snuff out the speculation and debate—How did Amy Dudley die?  Accident, Suicide, or Murder? 500 years later, we are still asking these questions. Join Jill as she combines the two passions of her life- The Tudors and true crime! And find Jill on PODCAST ROW AT CRIMECON 2023 ORLANDO!!!  So EXCITED! Sources, show notes, a ton of portraits, family trees, and more are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com   Check out her MERCH shop on Spreadshop! Join Patreon here! By Jill, All Rights Reserved.

Crimecon 2024 is coming fast! Look for Jill on Podcast Row!  We met Russ Faria after he was charged with the murder of his wife, Betsy.  Wrongfully convicted, Russ spend 3 years in prison, until he was  finally exonerated (Ep 40-44). Enter new DA, Mike Wood, who begins investigating the investigators for corruption, determined to right the unbelievable wrongs.  In an alleged effort to derail the investigation, former Lincoln County detective, Mike Merkel is implicated, spirally the investigation. Listen to the latest from Russ Faria, who was in the Missouri court room himself.  And what is new with Russ and Carol McAfee? The story isn’t over yet!   Source material, show notes, photographs are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub- May 2022.(Click here)   By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Our author, the "most prolific cold case investigator in the United States for single-event homicides", Chief Clay Bryant chats with Jill, discussing his cold case investigations and a bit on life itself.  His common sense and down to earth brilliance shines through, as Clay shares moments that simply take your breath away—What were the odds THAT could have happened? Get the inside story of the next book, on yet another cold case he solved and another killer off the streets. Murder Bookies, do not miss this discussion, it is sincere, poignant, and uplifting! AND- Announcement: Look for the Murder Shelf Book Club on Podcast Row at Crimecon 2024 in Nashville!  Sources, show notes, photographs, maps and food and drink information on the Clay Bryant books is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com Get your merch for CrimeCon! By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Episode 68 –2ndCast“ Alls Well that Ends Well”- The Cold Case Murder of Fred Wilkerson: Untangling the Black Widows Web in West Georgia by Clay Bryant Part III In Part III, we see Connie Quedens ensnaring Fred Wilderson in her web, entangling finances, escalating demands, culminating with Fred abruptly vanished, leaving his beloved daughter and son behind. Who had a life insurance policy on Fred?  Connie.  But nothing tied her to his disappearance.  17 yrs later, Clay Bryant begins to investigate this cold case, and he finds a witness that sets the case on fire! Hear justice arrive in all it’s glory, and the truth of who Connie Quedens is comes out, with many wondering what else she did.   Sources, snack recipe, wine recommendation and show notes are found on Jill’s blog www.murdershelfbookclub.com Join Jill on Patreon! HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT!   Get your merch for CrimeCon Nashville, May 31-June 2, 2024! By Jill, All Rights Reserved

A horrendously abused wife, Gwendolyn Moore, is found at the bottom of an old well in 1970. The investigation deliberately went nowhere, for 32 years. Pt 2 tells the story, begun in 2003, with a chance phone call that brought the case to the attention of Investigator Clay Bryant, who not only recalled the case; he watched her body being recovered that terrible day, as a teenager!!   Delving in, Clay would go to extremes to get the evidence to charge her killer, a chance to set the record right.   Just days afterward, a chance meeting with mechanic Tim Wilkerson turns the tides of investigation once more. Tim tells Clay his Dad, Fred Wilkerson, is missing- for the last 17 years.  Suspicions abound, but the evidence lead nowhere, and the case went cold. Could Clay Bryant do it again, and find Fred Wilkerson?   Sources, snack recipe, wine recommendation and show notes are found on Jill’s blog www.murdershelfbookclub.com Join Jill on Patreon!  Get your merch for CrimeCon Nashville, May 31-June 2, 2024!  Look for Jill on Podcast Row!   By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Look for Jill on Podcast Row at Crimecon 2024 in Nashville, May 31- June 2, 2024!   Back in 1970, the beaten body of a young wife and mother was lifted from an old well just outside Hogansville, Georgia.  The victim, Gwendolyn Moore, had long been married to her violent and abusive husband, Marshall Moore.  Yet, mysteriously, this homicide investigation went cold the day Gwendolyn died, with Hogansville Chief of Police, Buddy Bryant, haunted by the case for decades. 32 years later, Buddy Bryant’s son, Clay Bryant, following in his father’s steps, would delve into a new investigation. Would the cold case thaw?   Sources, snack recipe, wine recommendation and show notes are found on Jill’s blog www.murdershelfbookclub.com Join Jill on Patreon! By Jill, All Rights Reserved

Pt 3: What happens when you are on Death Row?  How does the appeal process work?  What is the human toll?  Is it justice?  We will follow Velma’s loved ones as they struggle with new revelations, and hear from the families of the victims’ as human endurance is tested.  Jill walks you through Velma Barfield’s maze of appeals, arguments for a new trial, and the final emotional outcome.  And, Jill tells you what she thinks of Velma Barfield, the Death Row Granny (of course she does!)   Sources, show notes, photographs, recipe and drink information are found on Jill’s blog: www.murdershelfbookclub.com. Leave comments! Email Jill:    [email protected] and leave a 5 star review wherever you listen! AND- Jill is on PATREON! Now you can support the podcast, and zoom with Jill, getting her take on new developments in true crime! Help her choose the next book too!  Check out Jill’s merch store on SpreadShop with new warm weather designs!   By Jill, All Rights Reserved.    

In Part 2, on trial for premeditated murder, Velma Barfield’s attorney, Bob Jacobson has an uphill battle—she confessed to poisoning Stuart Taylor- and 3 other people. With the defense team facing the “World’s most deadly prosecutor” Joe Freeman Britt, only Velma could explain herself. Was she too impaired from her drug abuse to understand what she was doing?  Would she sway the jurors? Could this risky decision save her life? Or was she a cold-calculating serial killer as the Prosecution presents?    Sources, photographs, recipes and wine pairings are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com Email Jill:    [email protected] and leave a 5 star review wherever you listen! AND- Jill is on PATREON! Now you can support the podcast, AND zoom with Jill, get her take on new developments in true crime! Help her choose the next book too! Check out Jill’s merch store on SpreadShop with new Spring designs!   By Jill, All Rights Reserved.

After a childhood of poverty and abuse, 17-year-old Margie Velma Bullard eloped with Senior Thomas Burke while they were both in high school. Building a happy life, they welcomed a son and daughter, becoming a normal American family. That is, until addiction reared its ugliness, triggering a cascade of painful, inexplicable deaths. Why did so many people around Velma die? Then, the world imploded with devastating shock—Velma was arrested for murder, and the investigation would reveal- it wasn’t the only one.   Sources, photographs, recipes and wine pairings are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com AND- Jill is on PATREON- where you can share in behind the scenes zoom with Jill! and get her take on new developments in true crime!   Check out Jill’s merch store on SpreadShop with new Spring designs! https://murder-shelf-book-club.myspreadshop.com/   By Jill, All Rights Reserved.  

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Look for Jill on Podcast Row in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    Jill chats with the author of She Married the Green River Killer, Pennie Wood. The women speak of serendipity in forging friendships and healing, while uncovering lost memories from Judith Ridgway’s life that enabling the construct the book. Truth revealed, they delve into the normality of Gary Ridgway’s dual life, the roots of his murderous deviance, and a marriage made in deception. Do not miss the insights, peeling back layers to expose truths, and how one woman survived catastrophic change and betrayal. Sources, photographs, recipes and wine pairings are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com ANNOUNCEMENT! Jill is on PATREON- where you can share in behind the scenes zoom with Jill!   Check out Jill’s merch store on SpreadShop with new Spring designs! https://murder-shelf-book-club.myspreadshop.com/   By Jill, all rights reserved.

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Look for Jill on Podcast Row in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    Denial shattered forever, Gary Ridgway confesses and is sentenced, enveloping wife Judith with the incomprehensible reality- Her Prince Gary did it.  Ridgway best friends, Jim and Linda Bailey share their remembrances; then Gary Ridgway shares, providing disturbing insights. What did he tell Judith, who emerges from the Dark Ages, reborn as she builds a new life, her personal Renaissance.   AND: Who were the young women strangled by the Green River Killer? All 49 are remembered in this trilogy, updating the case with Jill’s analysis of a serial killer.    What’s our next book? Listen now! ANNOUNCEMENT! Jill is on PATREON- where you can share in behind the scenes zoom with Jill!  Sources, photographs, recipes and wine pairings are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com   Check out Jill’s merch store on SpreadShop with new Spring designs! https://murder-shelf-book-club.myspreadshop.com/   By Jill, all rights reserved.

Crimecon 2024 is coming!  Use Jill's code  murdershelf   and save 10% on your badge! Look for Jill on Podcast Row in Nashville, May 31-Jun 2, 2024!    Happily married, Judith Ridgway settles into being the wife of her Prince, Gary Ridgway, nurturing their dogs and cats, her daughters, grandchildren, and Gary’s son.  Living the American dream, Judith gardens and Gary works hard and attends union meetings, life is good—until it all abruptly ends: Gary is arrested for killing 48 women.  World imploding, with him denying he is the killer, Judith is thrown into years of heartbreak, fear, and dismay.  Where there signs she missed? Red Flags? What do you say to your husband, the serial killer? Will Judith survive having her whole world demolished?   Trilogy sources, photographs, links, recipe and wine pairing are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com Contact Jill:  [email protected]    Check out Jill’s merch store on SpreadShop with new Spring designs! https://murder-shelf-book-club.myspreadshop.com/