The Buddies head down under for Sally Hepworth's darkly compelling "Mad Mabel". The Buddies had a lot of questions after reading the newly released mystery/dark-comedy. Namely: How old does a child need to be to take accountability for their actions? What makes a good/bad neighbor, and what is the definition of ‘dark humor’. Find out the answers to all of this and more on this weeks podcast. So, pack your umbrella and some tissues, we guarantee you’ll be Mad/you are Mad if you miss this one.

Intro (0:00-2:38)

Stock Up/Down (2:39-38:37)

Favorite Scene/Love/Hate (38:38-53:24)

Casting the Movie (53:25-54:26)

Conclusion (54:27-58:22)

NEXT BOOK: Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

The Buddies venture into the children's section for Brian Jacques' 1986 classic "Redwall," and immediately wonder how a book like this was ever considered for kids. Good for the librarians for recommending a book that has more death in it in one chapter than most ‘young adult’ books have in a whole series. On this ep, the Buddies got into discussing whether Matthias should have just stayed home and helped defend the abbey instead of obsessing over a sword that turns out to be completely non-magical, why Constance the Badger is the real hero of the whole book, and whether Cluny the Scourge is actually a terrifying warlord or just a large rat with good intimidation skills and a very cool outfit. So practice your broken English sparrow dialect, keep an eye on the gate, and join us as we discuss a book that’s a kids version of Game of Thrones.

Intro (0:00-2:37)

Stock Up/Down (2:38-25:02)

Favorite Scene/Love/Hate (25:03-43:24)

Conclusion (43:25-46:16)

NEXT BOOK: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

The Buddies escape into Gillian Flynn's 2012 psychological thriller "Gone Girl". The Buddies tried to lighten the mood after reading this dark twist-and-turny book. They got to debating about Amy’s parents and if they could have avoided raising a psychopath, the extremely short shelf life of eggs Benedict, and whether Desi Collings is a romantic hero or just a guy who watched The Notebook one too many times. So hide your frozen vomit, practice your treasure hunt clues, and join us for a pod that asks: which is harder, being poor for 10 days or framing your husband for murder?

Intro (0:00-0:52)

Stock Up/Down (0:53-41:19)

Favorite Scene/Character (42:22-51:04)

Love/Hate (51:05-58:27)

Conclusion (58:28-1:03:34)

NEXT BOOK: Redwall by Brian Jacques

The Buddies take a detour from sword and sorcery for their first nonfiction read in a while with Patrick Radden Keefe's "London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City, and a Family's Search for Truth." By the way, it’s ‘London Falling’ and not ‘London is Falling’ the Gerard Butler action movie, although the Buddies may have stated that as the title on multiple occasions. The Buddies got to talking about whether Zac Brettler deserves our sympathy or was just a 19-year-old con man who got in over his head, how the British government basically rolled out the red carpet for Russian oligarchs and then acted surprised when people started dying, and whether this whole story could have been wrapped up with a simple Google search. This one got a bit contentious (sorry we’re used to arguing about fiction, not real people). So, brush up on your shell company law, don your investigative hat, and join us we jump into the underground world of London (unfortunately we’re not talking Knockturn Alley from Harry Potter).

Intro (0:00-2:38)

Stock Up/Down (2:39-49:27)

Love/Hate (50:30-59:44)

Conclusion (59:45-1:02:42)

NEXT BOOK: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Buddies close the book on Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy with "The Last Argument of Kings," the grim dark finale that answers the age-old question: what if the Manhattan Project was run by a thousand-year-old wizard who doesn't care if you live or die? The Buddies debate whether Jezal is just Vichy France with better PR, how to weaponize ‘biological control theory’ against your enemies, and if king sized beds are a misnomer. So sharpen your swords and Logan-isms, get ready to stand your ground one last time as the Buddies finish up the trilogy and say goodbye to the Bloody-Nine, Glokta, Ferro, Jezal, West, and Bayaz.

Intro (0:00-1:11)

Stock Up/Down (1:12-36:40)

Favorite Scene/Character (36:41-46:11)

Love/Hate (46:12-58:07)

Casting the Movie (58:08-1:02:16)

Conclusion (1:02:16-1:04:58)

NEXT BOOK: London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

The Buddies return to Joe Abercrombie's grim dark world for "Before They Are Hanged," the second book in the First Law trilogy. The Buddies debate whether getting your face smashed in with a mace is the ultimate character development, how useless corporate leadership seminars actually are beneficial, and if chivalry is indeed not dead. So, bring your north man mentality, practice your nose-biting techniques, and join us and all our Buddies from last time: The Bloody-Nine, Bayaz, Jezal, Ferro, Glokta and many more!

Intro (0:00-1:54)

Stock Up/Down (1:55-31:06)

Favorite Scene/Character (31:07-41:18)

Love/Hate (41:19-48:49)

Conclusion (48:50-52:22)

NEXT BOOK: Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

The Buddies read the not-so-fiction feeling dystopian classic "1984" by George Orwell this week. The Buddies chat about the good life of being a Prole (drunk, happy, and blissfully ignorant), every day double-think, and how Gen Alpha speak and Newspeak are the same. So grab your victory gin, practice your doublethink, and join us for a pod that asks: would you rather be tortured with rats or buried alive with snakes?

Intro (0:00-1:36)

Stock Up/Down (1:37-32:16)

Favorite Scene/Character (32:17-34:15)

Love/Hate (34:16-44:27)

Listener Mail/Lingering Questions (44:28-49:43)

Conclusion (49:44-53:59)

NEXT BOOK: Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

The Buddies blast off for an emergency pod to discuss the 2026 film adaptation of Andy Weir's "Project Hail Mary," starring Ryan Gosling as the loneliest, most attractive genius in space. The Buddies had read the book way back on episode 23, so this was a trip down memory lane. Much of their discussion centered around Gosling's character wardrobe choices, his likeability, and if him being unable to get a date is the most unrealistic part of a movie about alien rock spiders and sentient microbes eating the sun. They also got to their normal cadence of bringing up references to Austin Powers' unfreezing sequence, contemplating whether this is all a Total Recall scenario, and referencing a number other movie comparisons. So, ‘fist my bump,’ and join us for a podcast that promises to be as enjoyable as the movie (maybe).

Intro (0:00-1:50)

Stock Up/Down (1:51-28:49)

Favorite Scene (28:50-32:44)

Love/Hate (32:45-35:45)

Lingering Questions (35:46-39:10)

Conclusion (39:11-41:14)

NEXT BOOK: 1984 by George Orwell