Welcome to Mysteries to Die For

I am TG Wolff and this is a podcast where Jack and I combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery, murder, and mayhem. Some episodes will by my own stories, others will be classics that helped shape the mystery genre we know today. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance, meant to be heard.

This is Season 1. The first half of the season comes from my book, Widow's Run, which was published in 2019 by Down & Out Books. If you love clever, sharp-edged mysteries and thrillers, check out Down & Out on the web. www.downandoutbooks.com.

Today's story is about a funeral, a flock of robins, and a drop with just a little catch. This is Episode 1: What a Lovely Corpse You Have.

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SPONSOR: A Grifter's Song from Down & Out Books. Sam and Rachel may not be the kids they once were but what they've lost in youth, they made up for with experience. Grifters, they've carved out a life taking what they can without consideration for their marks. It seems to me a little thought might have saved them a whole lot of trouble. Now grifting isn't a choice, it's the only way to stay ahead of the mob. This bundle of novellas follows Sam and Rachel across the US as they jump from frying pan to fire. Created and edited by Frank Zafiro, A Grifter's Song, Seasons 1 and 2, are available from Down & Out's website, upon request from your favorite independent bookseller, and from on-line retailers. https://downandoutbooks.com/bookstore/grifters-song-s1-subscription/

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That's it for this first episode of Mysteries to Die For. If you enjoyed our twist on storytelling, help spread the work by telling a friend or leaving a review. For less than the price of Diamond's 1970s vintage sunglasses, you can join our Body Bag Brigade to help support the show.

Mysteries to Die For was written by TG Wolff. Music and Production was by Jack Wolff. Widow's Run was written by TG Wolff, edited by Chris Rhatigan, and published by Down & Out Books. Cover art by Shannon Leahy.

Welcome to Mysteries to Die For. I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and editor. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery, murder, and mayhem. Some episodes will be my own stories, others will be classics that helped shape the mystery genre we know today. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard.

This is Season 1. The first half of the season comes from my book Widow’s Run, which was published in 2019 by Down & Out Books. If you love clever, sharp-edged mysteries and thrillers, check out Down & Out on the web. www.downandoutbooks.com

Today’s episode picks up from episode 1. If you haven’t listened, you might want to start there to meet the players and set the stage. Really, today’s episode won’t make sense without it. We’ve listed a cast of characters in the show notes.

To recap, we met Diamond at her own funeral. She had faked her death, burying the mainstream, suburban professional she was to resurrect her CIA cover. Her funeral was interrupted by a leather-clad, f-bombing blast from her past named Sam Irish. She met her contact, Ian Black, to get the information he acquired for her. But first, he needed her to do a little job for him. We join Diamond as she leaves the funeral.

Today’s story is about a king, unlikely friends, and quinoa. This is Episode 2: Pump This, Jack or is it Pump This Jack

Characters previously introduced....

Diamond, our hero. Recently widowed. Recently (fake) killed herself. On a mission.

Gavriil Rubchinsky. Russian-born, nerd scientist determined to feed the world. Diamond’s husband. Died May 14, 2018. The reason for Diamond.

Ian Black. Average, ordinary, white man. Extraordinary purveyor of anything, anywhere, anytime.

Sam Irish. British agent. Formerly worked with Diamond. Pissed she died without him.

Enrique Torres. CIA agent who trained and worked with Diamond. Can’t believe a candle took her out.

Alexei Rubchinsky. Russian-born, nerd scientist of the medical variety. Diamond’s brother-in-law.

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Now available from Down & Out Books, The Swamp Killers. A novel in stories. Here’s what we know is true:

Timmy Milici, a low-level hitter with the infamous Atlanta-based Duplass crime family, ran off with Melody Duplass to Jacksonville, Florida. Olivia Duplass, her mother and head of the Duplass family, was incensed, and put a price on Timmy—a hundred thousand for his corpse, but with explicit instructions that her daughter not be harmed.

We know that’s true.

Or, at least, we think we do.

Sixteen writers tell their versions of what happened those fateful days in this gripping novel-in-stories, brought to you from the team behind The Night of the Flood....

Read the episode subtitle. Music written and performed by Jack Wolff. Cover art by Shannon Leahy.