Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast

Ep 123: ‘Never just a Prostitute” on The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed By Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

Part I: Step into Victorian London, 1888. In the wake of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, a shadow looms over Whitechapel as a series of gruesome murders unfolds. Jack the Ripper, a figure of unimaginable horror, terrifies the East End with his shocking brutality, leaving a trail of mutilated bodies that haunt us still! But who were the five tragic victims: Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly? Hailing from diverse backgrounds, their lives and stories have been largely forgotten—until now. Join Jill as she delves into the chilling murders, the ensuing terror, and the compelling narratives of the women whom history has unjustly neglected. Meet Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols and Annie Chapman in this incredible first part of the series.
 
ANNOUNCEMENT!   JILL WILL BE ON CREATORS ROW AT CRIMECON DENVER 2025, SEPT 5-7, 2025!  NEED TO BUY A BADGE?  USE JILL’S CODE  murdershelf  AND GET 10% OFF!  https://www.crimecon.com/CC25  SEE YOU IN DENVER MURDER BOOKIES!   
 
BUY- THE FIVE BY HALLIE RUBENHOLD ON AMAZON!
 
BUY- NAMING JACK THE RIPPER BY RUSSELL EDWARDS ON AMAZON
 
BUY- JACK THE RIPPER AND THE CASE FOR SCOTLAND YARD’S PRIME SUSPECT BY ROBERT HOUSE
Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com –June 2025.
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube. 
Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!
Get your Murder Shelf Book Club merch!
 

Episode 122: Vacations Can Be Murder Vol 1 NEW ENGLAND by Dawn M. Barclay

Just in time for summer vacation, Jill is thrilled to introduce you to a must-have true crime book, Vacations Can Be Murder! This book is the ultimate treasure trove for true crime enthusiasts who know that ‘seeing is believing’. The brilliant Dawn M. Barclay delves into gripping crime stories, intricate crime scenes, historic courthouses, infamous prisons, and eerie cemetery locations, building itineraries for your next road trip! It even includes fascinating true crime and ghost tours that tantalize the imagination with their paranormal elements. Vol. 1 shines a spotlight on New England, while Vol. 2 will take readers on a thrilling journey through the Mid-Atlantic states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, all set to hit the shelves in August 2025. Join Jill for a delightful conversation with author Dawn M. Barclay —it’s an experience you won’t want to miss! And you'll have a chance to be featured on Dawn’s blog!
 
JILL WILL BE AT CRIMECON 2025 – DENVER!  Buying your badge? Use Jill’s code  murdershelf    and save 10%!
 
 
Buy Vacations Can Be Murder By Dawn M. Barclay on Amazon
 
Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com –June 2025.
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube. 
Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!
Get your Murder Shelf Book Club merch!

Ep 121: “The Exclusive Interview with Arson Prosecutor Diane Marger Moore” Author of 16 MINUTES: Was the Death of Baby Matthew an Accident or Murder? By Diane Marger Moore Pt 4

Part 4: This exclusive interview with Diane Marger Moore, author of 16 Minutes, is a highlight of Jill's podcast! In this heartfelt and honest discussion, Jill and Diane explore the Wise trials and the many obstacles that almost derailed justice. Diane reflects on her 47-year career as a female lawyer in a male-dominated field, discussing her experiences with colleagues who crossed professional boundaries, the challenges of deconstructing opposing experts, and her difficult death penalty trial involving Georgia inmate Jesse May Whittaker.  Do not miss the wisdom, humor, and lifetips from this stellar human being! 
  ANNOUNCEMENT!   JILL WILL BE ON CREATORS ROW AT CRIMECON DENVER 2025, SEPT 5-7, 2025!  NEED TO BUY A BADGE?  USE JILL’S CODE   murdershelf    AND GET 10% OFF!  https://www.crimecon.com/CC25  SEE YOU IN DENVER MURDER BOOKIES!   
Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com –Feb 2025.
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube. 
Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!
Get your Murder Shelf Book Club merch!

Ep 120 2ndCast: “27 seconds” -16 MINUTES: Was the Death of Baby Matthew an Accident or Murder? By Diane Marger Moore Pt. 3

Part 3: The defense of William Wise begins by questioning all the known facts about the night Matthew died; the use of an accelerants and the 16-minute timeframe of the fire itself!  Leading to a contentious back-and-forth filled with tension, Defense experts are challenged by the Prosecution. Ultimately, it will be up to the jurors to decide: Is there justice for Baby Matthew? Is William Wise guilty of his murder? Was Michelle Wise an accomplice? 
With the verdict in, Jill explores the mindset of the arsonist, applying criminal psychology to William Wise and delving into the "why" that continues to haunt us all, and the unsolved murder of Rae Ann Symons.
ANNOUNCEMENT!   JILL WILL BE ON CREATORS ROW AT CRIMECON DENVER 2025, SEPT 5-7, 2025!  NEED TO BUY A BADGE?  USE JILL’S CODE  murdershelf  AND GET 10% OFF!  https://www.crimecon.com/CC25  SEE YOU IN DENVER MURDER BOOKIES!   
BUY 16 MINUTES: Was the Death of Baby Matthew an Accident of Murder by Diane Marger Moore on Amazon!
Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com –Feb 2025.
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube. 
Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!
Get your Murder Shelf Book Club merch!

Ep 119: “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied” - 16 MINUTES: Was the Death of Baby Matthew an Accident or Murder? By Diane Marger Moore Pt. 2

Part 2: Ready for trial in just three months, Marion County Arson Prosecutor Diane Marger Moore begins the case against William J. Wise for the murder of his 8-week-old son, Matthew Dean Wise. However, progress in the case is derailed by shocking twists and turns that hinder the pursuit of justice for the newborn. Tensions rise as the determination and grit of everyone involved are tested. Will they be able to secure a conviction and genuinely send a murderer to prison?
Be sure to listen to Pt 1 before this episode!
ANNOUNCEMENT!   JILL WILL BE ON CREATORS ROW AT CRIMECON DENVER 2025, SEPT 5-7, 2025!  NEED TO BUY A BADGE?  USE JILL’S CODE  murdershelf  AND GET 10% OFF!  https://www.crimecon.com/CC25  SEE YOU IN DENVER MURDER BOOKIES!   
BUY 16 MINUTES: Was the Death of Baby Matthew an Accident of Murder by Diane Marger Moore on Amazon!
Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com –April 2025.
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!
Get your merch!

Ep 118: “Death of a Newborn” -16 MINUTES: Was the Death of Baby Matthew an Accident or Murder? By Diane Marger Moore Pt. 1

Part I: Tragically, 8-week-old Matthew Dean Wise perished in a house fire, which occurred when both parents were home.  Prosecutor Diane Marger Moore takes on the case 2 years later, with her team hurrying to locate witnesses, conduct interviews, find documents, and plan a murder trial. Digging into the horrific death, Diane and Detective Leslie VanBuskirk uncover truths that render them speechless in the face of cold-blooded premeditation and manipulation leading to the death of a baby boy.
ANNOUNCEMENT!   JILL WILL BE ON CREATORS ROW AT CRIMECON DENVER 2025, SEPT 5-7, 2025!  NEED TO BUY A BADGE?  USE JILL’S CODE  murdershelf  AND GET 10% OFF!  https://www.crimecon.com/CC25  SEE YOU IN DENVER MURDER BOOKIES!   
BUY 16 MINUTES: Was the Death of Baby Matthew an Accident of Murder by Diane Marger Moore on Amazon!
Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com –Feb 2025.
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!

Episode 117: A Conversation With Dr. Katherine Ramsland

In this special episode, Dr. Katherine Ramsland, a distinguished Professor of Forensic Psychology at DeSales University and a prolific author of 74 influential books in the fields of crime, forensic science, and investigative crime fiction, engages in a conversation with Jill about her remarkable career. Dr. Ramsland has investigated fascinating cases and conducted significant research, resulting in her book on Wayne Henley, "The Serial Killer's Apprentice," and Dennis Rader, the notorious BTK killer. The discussion also covers a variety of other topics, such as CrimeCon and spree killers, which will captivate anyone passionate about the true crime genre. Don't miss this in-depth conversation with an icon and trailblazer!
ANNOUNCEMENT!   JILL WILL BE ON CREATORS ROW AT CRIMECON DENVER 2025, SEPT 5-7, 2025!  NEED TO BUY A BADGE?  USE JILL’S CODE  murdershelf  AND GET 10% OFF!  https://www.crimecon.com/CC25  SEE YOU IN DENVER MURDER BOOKIES!   
BUY Dr. Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman’s book, The Serial Killer’s Apprentice, Confessions of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer, or any of her other 72 books here!
Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube. 
 
 
 

Episode 116: ‘The Journalist and the Commander Speak!” –Pt. 4, The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides by BR Bates with Gerald Cliff, Ph.D

Part 4: The remarkable series takes an even more thrilling turn as Jill engages in a gripping conversation with acclaimed author and journalist B.R. Bates and Dr. Gerry Cliff, the esteemed commander of the Violent Crime Task Force. Together, they delve into their captivating book, The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides. Step into the heart of the investigation and explore firsthand accounts from the key figures intricately woven into this chilling case. Don’t miss this chance to uncover the truth behind the headlines!
Subscribe so you do not miss a thing!
ANNOUNCEMENT!   JILL WILL BE ON CREATORS ROW AT CRIMECON DENVER 2025, SEPT 5-7, 2025!  NEED TO BUY A BADGE?  USE JILL’S CODE  murdershelf  AND GET 10% OFF!  https://www.crimecon.com/CC25  SEE YOU IN DENVER MURDER BOOKIES!   
 
BUY The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides by BR Bates with Gerald Cliff, Ph.D on Amazon!
Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com –Feb 2025.
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube. 
Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!
 
 

Ep115: ‘Unsafe Harbor– Pt. 3 2nd Cast, The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides by BR Bates, with Gerald Cliff, Ph.D

Part 3: In various ports of call throughout the East, the NCIS and the FBI investigate the alleged murders of John Eric Armstrong. Meanwhile, concerns about a rising body count are growing in Michigan and North Carolina, even as Elizabeth Walker concludes her prosecution of Armstrong. Underway is a detailed inquiry into complex psychosocial questions: Why do women engage in prostitution? What led John Eric Armstrong to commit murder? Was it merely a matter of bad luck? Did a dysfunctional childhood play a role? Interviews with Armstrong's family reveal shocking revelations, exposing disturbing possibilities regarding the factors that contributed to the making of a serial killer.
BUY The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides by BR Bates with Gerald Cliff, Ph.D on Amazon!
ANNOUNCEMENT!   JILL WILL BE ON CREATORS ROW AT CRIMECON DENVER 2025, SEPT 5-7, 2025!  NEED TO BUY A BADGE?  USE JILL’S CODE  murdershelf  AND GET 10% OFF!  https://www.crimecon.com/CC25  SEE YOU IN DENVER MURDER BOOKIES!   
The new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched! Please go explore! As always, Jill appreciates your support of her true crime book club podcast!
Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com –Feb 2025.
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!
 
 

Ep. 114: ‘Savage Truths’ – Pt. 2, The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides by BR Bates, with Gerald Cliff, Ph.D Part 2

Episode 114: ‘Savage Truths’ – Pt. 2, The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides by BR Bates, with Gerald Cliff, Ph.D Part 2
In Dearborn Heights, Michigan, a Good Samaritan reported the discovery of a body in the Rouge River. The victim, a prostitute, had been strangled to death. Who killed the woman in the river? Meanwhile, Detroit’s Violent Crime Task Force is investigating the murders of three women whose bodies were found discarded along the railroad tracks. As these investigations intersect, a massive inquiry unfolds, extending from Norfolk, Virginia, to Hawaii, as well as Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore, involving both the FBI and NCIS. A suspect is arrested, revealing the details of what his victims suffered in their final moments, prompting the legal system to act. Will there be justice for the victims and their families?
ANNOUNCEMENT!   JILL WILL BE ON CREATORS ROW AT CRIMECON DENVER 2025, SEPT 5-7, 2025!  NEED TO BUY A BADGE?  USE JILL’S CODE  murdershelf  AND GET 10% OFF!  https://www.crimecon.com/CC25  SEE YOU IN DENVER MURDER BOOKIES!   
BUY The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides by BR Bates with Gerald Cliff, Ph.D on Amazon!
Sources, photographs, recipes and drink information can be found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com –Feb 2025.
Murder Shelf Book Club MERCH is AVAILABLE!
Contact:  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, or X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  Join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book!