Top Shelf at the Merrick Library

These two books by Mark Westmoreland? They are absolutely terrific. Both A Violent Gospel and A Mourning Song feature the Dooley brothers and if you can, start with A Violent Gospel. After the events of A Violent Gospel left Mack Dooley at the bottom of a whiskey bottle, he’s a haunted man and he’s back in … Continue reading Episode 107: Interview with author Mark Westmoreland for A Violent Gospel and A Mourning Song →

“Nate’s morning began like any other. So how could he possibly know that well before the day was over his life would never be the same?” ~The Mother I Never Had by Gary Goldstein. Hook set! I loved talking with former Long Island native Gary Goldstein about his latest book, The Mother I Never Had … Continue reading Episode 106: Interview with Gary Goldstein, author of The Mother I Never Had →

I had the absolute pleasure of hosting author Louise Kennedy for her debut novel, Trespasses. Set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, Trespasses is a shattering novel about a young woman caught between allegiance to community and a dangerous passion. We talk about the inspiration for Trespasses, a possible movie treatment, her award-winning short stories, … Continue reading Episode 105: Interview with author Louise Kennedy for her debut novel, Trespasses →

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark is the masterful story of a lifelong friendship between two very different women with shared histories and buried secrets, tested in the twilight of their lives, set across the arc of the 20th century, and it is magnificent. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve fallen so hard for … Continue reading Episode 104: Interview with Alice Elliott Dark author of Fellowship Point →

The Old Place by Bobby Finger is a bighearted, moving debut about a wry, retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shock waves through her small Texas town and I loved every page. Emma Straub says, “I loved being…in the heads of some wonderfully tangy old Texan ladies.” For this … Continue reading Episode 103: Interview with Bobby Finger debut author of The Old Place →

“Hypnotic.” ~ NYT “Cinematic.” ~ USA Today “A gripping, full-throttle page turner.” ~ Miranda Cowley Heller The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger is an adrenaline-fueled story of lives upended and transformed by an unprecedented catastrophe. Holsinger weaves the story of a well-to-do family around a catastrophic hurricane that strips them of their privilege and exposes their … Continue reading Episode 102: Interview with Bruce Holsinger author of The Displacements →

“I’m very interested in how we define ourselves to other people…” so says author Hayler Scrivenor about her amazing debut Dirt Creek. Dirt Creek is a suspenseful police procedural about a missing girl that takes place in a very small, rural, Australian town and it is riveting stuff! For this episode we talk about the … Continue reading Episode 101: Interview with Hayley Scrivenor author of Dirt Creek →

Welcome to the 100th Episode of the Top Shelf Podcast! I couldn’t think of a better way to spend it than with the brilliant Julia Armfield talking about her debut novel, Our Wives Under the Sea. You may remember that Julia was my guest for Episode 32. Back then we discussed her fantastic book of … Continue reading Episode 100: Interview with Julia Armfield, author of Our Wives Under the Sea →

What a joy to host for the third time author Jess Montgomery for the next book in her Kinship series, The Echoes. Jess and I chatted about her amazing main character Sheriff Lilly Ross, the very personal background behind the title, WWI, keeping the series fresh and more! Remember, you don’t have to read the … Continue reading E 99: Interview with Jess Montgomery, author of The Echoes →

“Madeline Kay Sneed has written a Friday Night Lights for a new generation. The Golden Season is a heartfelt story of finding yourself, coming out, and coming home… A tender, bighearted exploration of family, first love, and faith, with a gorgeously evoked west Texas landscape as backdrop.” —Sarah McCraw Crow, author of The Wrong Kind of … Continue reading Episode 98: Interview with Madeline Kay Sneed →

“Poignant and funny, Crazy To Leave You is chock full of Rothstein’s signature fast-paced, smart dialogue and brimming with wit. A heartfelt, delicious story.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace Marilyn Simon Rothstein‘s latest, Crazy to Leave You, is a funny, bighearted novel about the happy accidents that lead to … Continue reading Episode 97 : Interview with Marilyn Simon Rothstein author of Crazy to Leave You →

“Horse isn’t just an animal story—it’s a moving narrative about race and art.” —TIME A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and racial injustice across American history. Horse … Continue reading Episode 96 : Interview with Geraldine Brooks author of Horse →

Here’s what’s being said about the debut adult fiction novel, Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour: “A love story for our time.” ―Tara Conklin, bestselling author of The Last Romantics “This book is a precious thing.” ―Casey McQuiston, bestselling author of One Last Stop. I mean these reviews for Yerba Buena are so true, I needed to … Continue reading Episode 95 : Interview with Nina LaCour, author of Yerba Buena →

“My Summer Darlings is spicy enough to make you sweat – until the suspense chills you to your core.” ~ Riley Sager, bestselling author of Survive the Night. Named A Most Anticipated Novel of 2022 by Crime Reads, Goodreads, and more. My Summer Darlings is the story of three life-long friends and a dangerous, sexy … Continue reading Episode 94: Interview with May Cobb author of My Summer Darlings →

“The Devil Himself thunders off the page with beautiful writing and a killer sense of place. It’s urgent, triumphant, and unflinching.” — William Boyle, author of Shoot the Moonlight Out and City of Margins What a pleasure to sit down with the 2021 Le Prix Lire En Poche finalist, author Peter Farris. The Devil Himself is a gritty … Continue reading Episode 93: Interview with Peter Farris author of The Devil Himself →

“Libraries and bookstores are the most important spaces in the world to me.” ~ Emma Straub For this wonderful episode I had the pleasure of hosting author Emma Straub for her latest book, This Time Tomorrow. We talked about the book, NYC and Brooklyn of the 1990s, going back in time, and Emma’s love for … Continue reading Episode 92: Interview with Emma Straub author of This Time Tomorrow →

“This book is layered like a napolean…there’s no chuffa in The Good Left Undone!” ~ Adriana Trigiani There is just something special about the latest from Adriana Trigiani that sets it apart from her other remarkable books. Author Lisa Scottoline says of The Good Left Undone, “Adriana Trigiani has written the triumph of her career … Continue reading Episode 91: Interview with Adriana Trigiani author of The Good Left Undone →

“Unlikely Animals is a wondrous and wonderful story filled with unforgettable characters…an instant classic.” – Jeff Vandermeer, author of The Southern Reach Trilogy An instant classic indeed! Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett is a novel about familial expectations, imperfect friendships, and the possibility of resurrecting that which had been thought irrevocably lost. To say more … Continue reading Episode 90: Interview with Annie Hartnett author of Unlikely Animals →

What a thrill to welcome back Cadwell Turnbull to the podcast! Cadwell was here for E41 and his debut THE LESSON. Now he’s back to talk about the first book in his brand new and very exciting Convergence Trilogy, NO GODS, NO MONSTERS. We talk about alot in this episode including what it’s like to … Continue reading Episode 89: Interview with Cadwell Turnbull – No Gods, No Monsters →

HOME OR AWAY is the latest from Kathleen West and for this episode we talked about ice hockey, the #metoo movement, balancing careers, motherhood and more. HOME OR AWAY is about two friends, one Olympic dream, and the choice that stood in the way. I was so fortunate to once again join forces with Cindy … Continue reading Episode 88: Kathleen West author of Home or Away →