Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast

Episode 87: “Seventeen Nails”- Levi’s Eyes, by Aphrodite Jones, Pt 1

Part 1: 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 , April 2024.
 
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
"I see you as you hear me!" ~ Jill
 

Episode 86 2ndCast: "Lesser of Two Evils"- Murder on Elm Street- a true story by Jeremy L. Luberts Pt 3

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  Apri 2024!
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
"Trust your gut!" ~ Jill
 

Episode 85: “The Mother Lode” Murder on Elm Street- a true story by Jeremy L. Luberts Pt 2

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, March 2024.
 
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
"Trust your gut" ~ Jill
 
 
 
 

Episode 84: “The Deer Stand” - Part I on Murder on Elm Street- a True Story by Jeremy L. Luberts

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, March 2024.
 
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
See you in two weeks!
 
 
 

Episode 83: “Survivor Thriver”- Frozen in Fear: The True Story of Surviving the Shadows of Death by Jane Carson-Sandler Pt 4

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, Feb 2024.
 
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
 
Did you leave a 5-star review? 

Ep 82 2ndCast: ‘Sister Survivors” Frozen in Fear: The True Story of Surviving the Shadows of Death by Jane Carson-Sandler, Pt 3

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, February 2024.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
 
"I see you as you hear me!" ~ Jill
 

Ep 81: Survivors’ Voices” Frozen in Fear- The True Story of Surviving the shadows of Death by Jane Carson-Sandler, Pt 2

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 -January 2024.
Valentine’s Day is coming!
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
 
See you in 2 weeks!
 
 

Episode 80: “Survival Mode” Frozen in Fear- The True Story of Surviving the Shadows of Death by Jane Carson-Sandler, Pt 1

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 E.A.R., 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 E.A.R. 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.
Sources, photos, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com . January 2024.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
"See you in 2 weeks!" - Jill
 

Episode 79 2ndCast- “A Sugar Coated Interview” Pt. 3, Click, Click, Click by Anne Varner and Karen DeVanie

Happy New Year 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!
Sources, show notes, photographs, news articles, recipe and wine recommendations are on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com Dec 2023.
 
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
"Trust your gut!"
 

Episode 78- “The Guilty Mind” Pt 2 - Click, Click, Click by Anne Varner and Karen DeVanie

Part 2: 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, Dec 2023.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025:  My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched!  Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime book club podcast!
Share your thoughts with me at  jill@murdershelfbookclub.com, on X,  Facebook,  Instagram or YouTube.  OR, join Jill on PATREON for $4 and help pick our next book and talk true crime developments, first Thursday of each month at 8:30 pm EST!
Music- The Pewter Elephant by Blue Dot Sessions.
Trust your gut~!