My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Book Recommendations

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners.  Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest...

Episodes 1,279
Books 770

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Latest Recommendations

Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains (Anne Schwartz Books) cover

Apples to Oregon

Deborah Hopkinson

Mentioned 1 month ago

534 - Think About the Simulation

They introduced the book as a children's story about a 1800s Midwestern pioneer family traveling west, loosely inspired by Johnny Appleseed.

If you were a kid in the 90s, and in elementary school, a teacher read you a book about a family of pioneers. ... It's called Apples to Oregon by a writer named Deborah Hopkinson, and it follows an 1800s Midwestern family in their westward journey.

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Survivor of the Killing Fields cover

Survivor of the Killing Fields

Haing S. Ngor

Mentioned 1 month ago

534 - Think About the Simulation

They noted that a book titled The Killing Fields had been written and served as the source material for the film about the Cambodian genocide.

They had written the book, The Killing Fields.

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Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris cover

Death in the City of Light

David King

Mentioned 1 month ago

Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 98: Grasp It

The hosts noted that the book covered the dark, twisted tale of Marcel Petiot, providing location maps of Paris and details of his meetings, victims, and trial.

I came across a book in my local library called Death in the City of Light, the serial killer of Nazioccupied Paris. What a dark, twisted tale and man. The book provided location maps in Paris, including the house that neighbors reported burning, which led to Petrois being found out and arrested. The book also covers his meetings with specific victims and how he manipulated them to come to his home in the first place. It also covers the trial of Petrois, which was one of the most frustrating reads I've ever had to get through.

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Drawn to Injustice: The Wrongful Conviction of Timothy Masters cover

Drawn to Injustice

Timothy Masters

Mentioned 1 month ago

Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 98: Grasp It

The episode mentioned that Timothy Masters authored a book recounting his experience of being tried, imprisoned, and ultimately exonerated for Peggy Hetrick's murder.

Timothy Masters wrote a book detailing his experience being tried, jailed, and exonerated for Peggy's murder titled Drawn to Injustice, the Wrongful Conviction of Timothy Masters.

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The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear (True Story of the Historical Battle for Women's and Mental Health Rights) cover

The Woman They Could Not Silence

Kate Moore

Mentioned 2 months ago

533 - An Exercise in Frustration

The hosts highlighted Kate Moore's 2021 book, noting it revived interest in Elizabeth Packard's story and contributed to recent mentalhealth awareness.

Here's Kate Moore's book, she's an amazing author, oh yeah the one they could not silence, very cool.

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The Flowers in the Attic Saga (Boxed Set): Flowers in the Attic/Petals on the Wind; If There Be Thorns/Seeds of Yesterday; Garden of Shadows (Dollanganger) cover

The Flowers in the Attic Saga (Boxed Set)

V.C. Andrews

Mentioned 2 months ago

Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 97: The Hague

They referred to *Flowers in the Attic* as a V.C.Andrews book, calling it problematic and discussing its controversial content.

there's a V.C. Andrews book. Flowers in the Attic? No. It's a problematic book that they talked about and they said it was controversial.

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When a Killer Calls: A Haunting Story of Murder, Criminal Profiling, and Justice in a Small Town (Cases of the FBI's Original Mindhunter, 2) cover

When a Killer Calls

John E. Douglas

Mentioned 2 months ago

Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 97: The Hague

They mentioned that there is a book called *Mindhunter* which the case or show was based on.

there is a book called Mindhunter and that's what it's based on.

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ShadowMan: An Elusive Psycho Killer and the Birth of FBI Profiling cover

ShadowMan

Ron Franscell

Mentioned 2 months ago

Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 97: The Hague

The hosts said Ron Franshell had written the book *ShadowMan* about the case and the birth of FBI profiling, noting it sounded interesting to check out.

there are no case updates, but in January of 2022, journalist and author Ron Franshell wrote the book Shadow Man, an elusive psycho killer and the birth of FBI profiling about this case and the role it played in the FBI's first criminal profile, which I think is so interesting. We should all check that out.

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Nancy Drew Starter Set - Books 1-5 cover

Nancy Drew Starter Set - Books 1-5

Carolyn Keene

Mentioned 2 months ago

532 - We’re Being Artists Here

The hosts explained that the original 1930s Nancy Drew novel entered the public domain and they had annotated it for a $10 purchase.

Nancy Drew went public domain in January, and nobody is talking about what that actually means. The version of Nancy Drew that most of us grew up with, the 1959 version, is not the original version. As of January 2026, that original text is free. It's public domain. So I annotated it. The link is in my bio. Wow. It's $10.

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Shakespeare Comes to Broadmoor: The Actors are Come Hither' - The Performance of Tragedy in a Secure Psychiatric Hospital cover

Shakespeare Comes to Broadmoor

Murray Cox

Mentioned 2 months ago

532 - We’re Being Artists Here

They noted that the primary source for the episode was the book Shakespeare Comes to Broadmoor compiled by Dr. Murray Cox.

The main source for this story is a book called Shakespeare Comes to Broadmoor, which was compiled by the doctor who spearheaded this program, Dr. Murray Cox.

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Parts Work: An Illustrated Guide to Your Inner Life cover

Parts Work

Tom Holmes

Mentioned 2 months ago

532 - We’re Being Artists Here

They referred to a book titled Parts Work while discussing therapeutic concepts.

the book's called Parts Work.

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The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game cover

The Blind Side

Michael Lewis

Mentioned 2 months ago

Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 96: Live at the Hard Rock in Orlando

A brief reference was made to "The Blind Side" as a comparison while discussing a sensational story.

the blind side

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Most Recommended

Home Before Dark: A Novel Cover

Riley Sager

Home Before Dark

A Novel

It was described as a haunted house book about a woman returning to her childhood home, where her father wrote a book about the house being haunted, and she is skeptical, but starts finding out that it might be true.

"

Right now there's this author named Riley Sager, who writes these like straight up haunted house books. The ones I'm listening to is called Home Before Dark.

— Episode: 394 - Shut the House Down

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 394 - Shut the House Down

It was described as a haunted house book about a woman returning to her childhood home, where her father wrote a book about the house being haunted, and she is skeptical, but starts finding out that it might be true.

"

Right now there's this author named Riley Sager, who writes these like straight up haunted house books. The ones I'm listening to is called Home Before Dark.

And it's like, you know, this single woman whose like parents wronged her and so she's going back to the house she grew up in. That's like basically the Amityville story that her dad wrote about the house and she doesn't believe it.

It's just like, she's like fuck arounding and finding outing right now in the book. You're like, she's gonna find out. We know. She's gonna.

It's not like the ending is going to be like, and it wasn't haunted.

It's like, and now I love my dad.

It Gave Everybody Something to Do, Cover

Louise Thoresen

It Gave Everybody Something to Do,

Louise Thoreson published this book in 1974, chronicling her life with her abusive husband, William Thoreson III, offering a glimpse into the challenges faced by women during that era.

"

The 1974 headline of the New York Times article about the book is titled, 'The Way She Tells The Story, It's A Man Hater's Dream'.

— Episode: 393 - It's Not a Meeting

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Episode: 393 - It's Not a Meeting

Louise Thoreson published this book in 1974, chronicling her life with her abusive husband, William Thoreson III, offering a glimpse into the challenges faced by women during that era.

"

The 1974 headline of the New York Times article about the book is titled, 'The Way She Tells The Story, It's A Man Hater's Dream'.

Caught in the Act: A Courageous Family's Fight to Save Their Daughter from a Serial Killer Cover

Jeannie McDonough

Caught in the Act

A Courageous Family's Fight to Save Their Daughter from a Serial Killer

It was written by Jeannie McDonough, along with noted true crime writer Paul Leonardo, and detailed the events of the highway killer's attack on her family.

"

Jeannie McDonough accepts that she might never know why Lane turned out this way or what exactly led him to entering her family's home that hot summer night. But she would never stop wondering. And th...

— Episode: 392 - Hollywood Phony

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Episode: 392 - Hollywood Phony

It was written by Jeannie McDonough, along with noted true crime writer Paul Leonardo, and detailed the events of the highway killer's attack on her family.

"

Jeannie McDonough accepts that she might never know why Lane turned out this way or what exactly led him to entering her family's home that hot summer night. But she would never stop wondering. And this curiosity culminates in her writing a book called Caught in the Act, which she co-authors with noted true crime writer Paul Leonardo.

Hollow Kingdom Cover

Kira Jane Buxton

Hollow Kingdom

It was described as an apocalyptic zombie-style book, narrated from a crow's perspective, where a crow named Shit Turd has to save the world after humans become zombies.

"

I love the premise so much and it's so entertaining and it's an apocalyptic zombie style book which I love and I know a lot of people love.

— Episode: 391 - Adult Hands and Adult Brain

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Episode: 391 - Adult Hands and Adult Brain

It was described as an apocalyptic zombie-style book, narrated from a crow's perspective, where a crow named Shit Turd has to save the world after humans become zombies.

"

I love the premise so much and it's so entertaining and it's an apocalyptic zombie style book which I love and I know a lot of people love.

And the premise, the hero of the book, humans turn into zombies and a domesticated crow named Shit Turd has to save the world.

It's called Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton.

And I'm just enjoying it so much I almost don't care what the ending is. I just wanted to suggest it.

The Silent Twins: A true story of love and hate, dreams and desolation, genius and destruction Cover

Marjorie Wallace

The Silent Twins

A true story of love and hate, dreams and desolation, genius and destruction

It was mentioned as a book that provided more details about June and Jennifer Gibbons, the 'Silent Twins', discussing their childhood, their communication, and the events leading to their hospitalization in Broadmoor.

"

Main sources for this story are a 2000 New Yorker article by Hilton Alves called We Too Made One, a 1994 BBC documentary and a book called The Silent Twins by Marjorie Wallace.

— Episode: 391 - Adult Hands and Adult Brain

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 391 - Adult Hands and Adult Brain

It was mentioned as a book that provided more details about June and Jennifer Gibbons, the 'Silent Twins', discussing their childhood, their communication, and the events leading to their hospitalization in Broadmoor.

"

Main sources for this story are a 2000 New Yorker article by Hilton Alves called We Too Made One, a 1994 BBC documentary and a book called The Silent Twins by Marjorie Wallace.

The Pepsi Cola Addict Cover

June-Alison Gibbons

The Pepsi Cola Addict

It was mentioned as one of June Gibbons's novels, which she recently re-released after being hospitalized for many years and living a quiet life in Wales.

"

June is now going professionally by June Allison Gibbons and has very recently re-released one of her early novels called The Pepsi Cola Addict.

— Episode: 391 - Adult Hands and Adult Brain

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Episode: 391 - Adult Hands and Adult Brain

It was mentioned as one of June Gibbons's novels, which she recently re-released after being hospitalized for many years and living a quiet life in Wales.

"

June is now going professionally by June Allison Gibbons and has very recently re-released one of her early novels called The Pepsi Cola Addict.

The Old Man and the Gun: And Other Tales of True Crime Cover

David Grann

The Old Man and the Gun

And Other Tales of True Crime

It was mentioned as a New Yorker article detailing the life and crimes of Forrest Tucker, a prolific bank robber and escape artist. It was later made into a movie.

"

So the sources used in this story today are a 2003 New Yorker article by a writer named David Gran titled The Old Man and the Gun and a 2018 Treasure Coast News article by Greg and Al...

— Episode: 391 - Adult Hands and Adult Brain

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 391 - Adult Hands and Adult Brain

It was mentioned as a New Yorker article detailing the life and crimes of Forrest Tucker, a prolific bank robber and escape artist. It was later made into a movie.

"

So the sources used in this story today are a 2003 New Yorker article by a writer named David Gran titled The Old Man and the Gun and a 2018 Treasure Coast News article by Greg and Alice Luckhart entitled Forrest Silva Tucker, Life of a Criminal.

Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization Cover

Ed Conway

Material World

The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization

It was mentioned as a source of information regarding the UK's glass shortage during World War I, which led to a ban on the sale of binoculars.

"

If you want to learn more about why that was, you should read British journalist Ed Conway's book, The Material World.

— Episode: MFM Minisode 345

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Episode: MFM Minisode 345

It was mentioned as a source of information regarding the UK's glass shortage during World War I, which led to a ban on the sale of binoculars.

"

If you want to learn more about why that was, you should read British journalist Ed Conway's book, The Material World.

Again, it's called The Material World by Ed Conway.

Kidnapped (Illustrated): The 1886 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations Cover

Robert Louis Stevenson

Kidnapped (Illustrated)

The 1886 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations

It was mentioned as a book written by a former senior Crown prosecutor and details the story of Graham Thorne's kidnapping in Australia.

"

And there's a book written by the former New South Wales senior Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi. His book about it is called kidnapped.

— Episode: 389 - Chill and Withhold

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 389 - Chill and Withhold

It was mentioned as a book written by a former senior Crown prosecutor and details the story of Graham Thorne's kidnapping in Australia.

"

And there's a book written by the former New South Wales senior Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi. His book about it is called kidnapped.

So that book's called Kidnapped by Mark Tedeschi.

The Fearless Mrs. Goodwin: How New York's First Female Police Detective Cracked the Crime of the Century Cover

Elizabeth Mitchell

The Fearless Mrs. Goodwin

How New York's First Female Police Detective Cracked the Crime of the Century

It was used as a primary source for Karen's story about Isabella Goodwin, the first female detective in the NYPD, and her life and challenges.

"

So the main sources used in today's story are the book, The Fearless Mrs. Goodwin by Elizabeth Mitchell,

— Episode: 389 - Chill and Withhold

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 389 - Chill and Withhold

It was used as a primary source for Karen's story about Isabella Goodwin, the first female detective in the NYPD, and her life and challenges.

"

So the main sources used in today's story are the book, The Fearless Mrs. Goodwin by Elizabeth Mitchell,

The Woman In Blue (Ruth Galloway Mysteries, 8) Cover

Elly Griffiths

The Woman In Blue (Ruth Galloway Mysteries, 8)

It was a source for Karen's story about Isabella Goodwin, focusing on women in law enforcement, including detectives and forensics experts.

"

And the book Women in Blue, 16 Brave Officers, Forensics Experts, Police Chiefs and More by Cheryl Mullenbach.

— Episode: 389 - Chill and Withhold

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 389 - Chill and Withhold

It was a source for Karen's story about Isabella Goodwin, focusing on women in law enforcement, including detectives and forensics experts.

"

And the book Women in Blue, 16 Brave Officers, Forensics Experts, Police Chiefs and More by Cheryl Mullenbach.

Satin Pumps: The Moonlit Murder That Mesmerized The Nation Cover

Steve Kosareff

Satin Pumps

The Moonlit Murder That Mesmerized The Nation

It was mentioned as a book that covered the murder of Barbara Finch, described as the moonlit murder that mesmerized the nation.

"

the Finches were not only established in Covina but elsewhere in Southern California. Three generations were well known and loved by locals for their religious faith, civic responsibility and success...

— Episode: 388 - Spill the Milk

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 388 - Spill the Milk

It was mentioned as a book that covered the murder of Barbara Finch, described as the moonlit murder that mesmerized the nation.

"

the Finches were not only established in Covina but elsewhere in Southern California. Three generations were well known and loved by locals for their religious faith, civic responsibility and success as local entrepreneurs.

San Francisco Homicide Inspector 5-Henry-7: My Inside Story of the Night Stalker, City Hall Murders, Zebra Killings, Chinatown Gang Wars, and a City Under Siege Cover

Frank Falzon

San Francisco Homicide Inspector 5-Henry-7

My Inside Story of the Night Stalker, City Hall Murders, Zebra Killings, Chinatown Gang Wars, and a City Under Siege

It was read by Karen as a bedtime story and detailed the career of a homicide detective. The story of the 'Paper Bag Killer' was particularly interesting because of the unique and relatable motivations.

"

And when I opened the book, it was the inside was dedicated from Frank Falzone to my cousin Marty who used to be.

— Episode: 386 - FOMO is Ancient

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 386 - FOMO is Ancient

It was read by Karen as a bedtime story and detailed the career of a homicide detective. The story of the 'Paper Bag Killer' was particularly interesting because of the unique and relatable motivations.

"

And when I opened the book, it was the inside was dedicated from Frank Falzone to my cousin Marty who used to be.

So that was that Thanksgiving where he told that story at the dinner table. And I was like, how in the world do we not know this already? Like what are you doing?

So it was kind of funny. I'm like, oh, perfect. I'll just read a series of cases Frank Falzone worked on during his career as a homicide detective.

It's San Francisco Homicide Inspector 5 Henry 7. My inside story of the Night Stalker, City Hall murders, zebra killings, Chinatown gang wars and a city under siege.

Pick it up wherever you buy your indie books.

A Time to Dance, a Time to Die: The Extraordinary Story of the Dancing Plague of 1518 Cover

John Waller

A Time to Dance, a Time to Die

The Extraordinary Story of the Dancing Plague of 1518

It was a resource for Georgia's story on the Dancing Plague of 1518. It was noted for its descriptive writing about the dancers.

"

He titled the shit out of that book.

— Episode: 386 - FOMO is Ancient

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 386 - FOMO is Ancient

It was a resource for Georgia's story on the Dancing Plague of 1518. It was noted for its descriptive writing about the dancers.

"

He titled the shit out of that book.

day after night, night after day, the dancers continued with their delirious motions. One can picture them in late July, 1518, eyes unfocused, faces turned up to heaven, their arms and legs moving with fatigue and their shirts, skirts and stockings soaked with sweat.

we can be fairly sure that most of the dancers had the lined faces, deep set eyes, coarse gray clothes, loose blackened or missing teeth and the stinking breath that spoke of the hardships of the lowest cast.

So he says that it's almost certain that the majority of the dancers in Strasburg were poor, the ones who had been suffering the most for the past several years.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.