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Tea, Tonic & Toxin

Tea, Tonic & Toxin

著者： Carolyn Daughters & Sarah Harrison
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概要

Tea, Tonic, and Toxin is a book club and podcast for people who love mysteries, thrillers, introspection, and good conversation. Each month, your hosts, Carolyn Daughters and Sarah Harrison, will discuss a game-changing mystery or thriller, starting in 1841 onward. Together, we’ll see firsthand how the genre evolvedAlong the way, we’ll entertain ideas, prospects, theories, doubts, and grudges, along with the occasional guest. And we hope to entertain you, dear friend. We want you to experience the joys of reading some of the best mysteries and thrillers ever written.

© 2026 Tea, Tonic & Toxin アート 世界 文学史・文学批評
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  • Stay Mysterious: Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie

    Stay Mysterious: Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie
    2026/10/31

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    Have you avoided listening to our two episodes on Death Comes as the End? We have a wonderful guest Egyptologist to discuss this first historical mystery in detail - but maybe you'd just like to read the book first and not have anything spoiled.

    Never fear! This episode is for you. Our Stay Mysterious episodes are tasting menus for the classic books, where we discuss reasons for reading, without any of the spoilage. If you're on the fence (or just can't get enough Agatha Christie content), check it out-

    History of Mystery book selections available in our Amazon Storefront or support your favorite local bookstore in our Bookshop Storefront as well! Guests have their own list here!

    Or if you happen to be in lovely Roanoke, Virginia, stop in person at the BiblioPub to get your copy.

    For bonus episodes, video content, and to get all episodes first, join our Patreon community.

    Watch clips from our conversations with guests!

    Tea, Tonic & Toxin is a history of mystery book club and podcast. We’re discussing the best mysteries ever written and interviewing the world’s best mystery and thriller writers.

    In Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie (1944), the Queen of Mystery transports us to ancient Egypt. In 2000 BC, death gives meaning to life. At the foot of a cliff lies the body of Nofret, concubine to a ka-priest. Many see it as fate—the beautiful, venomous young woman deserved to die.

    But the priest’s daughter suspects foul play and believes the evil-doer lurks within their household—and watches helplessly as the family’s passions explode in murder.

    The novel reflects Christie’s fascination with the ancient world, inspired by her time in the Middle East with her archaeologist husband, Sir Max Mallowan. It’s the first full-length novel to merge historical fiction with the mystery genre, paving the way for the historical whodunit. Egyptologist Dr. Nicky Nielsen joins us in the two part extended discussion.



    Crippen and Landru
    The very best in short mystery fiction

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    Stay mysterious...
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    29 分
  • The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin with Guest David Whittle: Part 2

    The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin with Guest David Whittle: Part 2
    2026/10/27
    Send us Fan MailThe Moving Toyshop: A Unique MysteryToday’s spotlight is on "The Moving Toyshop" by Edmund Crispin, a book that intertwines mystery with elements of humor and absurdity. The story follows Richard Cadigan, a poet who stumbles upon a dead body in a toy shop that vanishes before the police arrive. It’s a delightful romp through Oxford, showcasing Crispin’s talent for blending literary references with detective fiction.Carolyn shared her excitement about this lesser-known gem, and we were fortunate to have music scholar David Whittle join us to shed light on the life of Bruce Montgomery, the man behind the pseudonym Edmund Crispin. David’s insights into Crispin’s dual career as a composer and mystery writer provide a fascinating backdrop to our discussion.History of Mystery book selections available in our Amazon Storefront or support your favorite local bookstore in our Bookshop Storefront as well! Guests have their own list here!Or if you happen to be in lovely Roanoke, Virginia, stop in person at the BiblioPub to get your copy.For bonus episodes, video content, and to get all episodes first, join our Patreon community.Watch clips from our conversations with guests!Tea, Tonic & Toxin is a history of mystery book club and podcast. We’re discussing the best mysteries ever written and interviewing the world’s best mystery and thriller writers.THE MOVING TOYSHOP (1946) by Edmund Crispin is a classic in the mystery genre for its blend of intellectual humor, eccentric characters, ingenious plot twists, and a delightfully surreal premise.When a poet stumbles upon a murder in an Oxford toyshop that vanishes the next day, eccentric professor Gervase Fen investigates. Edmund Crispin’s clever approach to the detective story has made the book a beloved and enduring work of crime fiction.David Whittle is a music scholar, educator, and the acclaimed biographer of Bruce Montgomery, better known to mystery readers as Edmund Crispin.A classically trained musician and longtime Director of Music at Leicester Grammar School, David earned his PhD at the University of Nottingham with research focused on Montgomery’s life and work. His biography, Bruce Montgomery/Edmund Crispin: A Life in Music and Books, is widely regarded as the definitive study of the composer and Golden Age mystery author.Richard Cadogan: Poet in Search of AdventureCadogan begins the novel feeling bored, uninspired, and middle-aged. How relatable is his desire to escape his ordinary life?What do you make of his decision to seek adventure in Oxford of all places?Cadogan actively wishes for excitement and then gets far more than he bargained for. Is the novel poking fun at people who romanticize adventure?At what point does Cadogan begin regretting his wish for excitement?How effective is Cadogan as a protagonist? What if Fen were the sole lead?Edmund Crispin and the Mystery of the Moving ToyshopHow effective is the opening sequence in the toyshop?When Cadogan returns with the police and finds a grocery store, were you hooked?What makes the disappearing toyshop such a memorable mystery premise?Did you identify the killer before Fen did? Does the solution feel like fair play?How well does Edmund Crispin balance the impossible-crime element with the more conventional inheritance plot?Is the solution satisfying, or is the fun really in the journey?Professor (and Amateur Detective) Gervase FenWhat makes Gervase Fen a distinctive detective?How does Gervase Fen compare with Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Peter Wimsey, and Roderick Alleyn?Is Gervase Fen brilliant, eccentric, ridiculous, or all three?Oxford as a Character in The Moving ToyshopDoes Oxford feel realistic, idealized, or almost dreamlike?Why do you think so much of the humor in The Moving Toyshop emerges from academic culture?Is Edmund Crispin celebrating Oxford or gently mocking it?Could this story have happened anywhere else?Sally CarstairsSally is one of the most likable characters in the novel. Why does she work so well?How does Sally compare with female characters in other Golden Age mysteries?Does Sally Carstairs feel more modern than many female characters of the era?What role does Sally play beyond being a witness, suspect, or romantic interest? How important is her practical common sense amid the literary and academic eccentricity? Did she seem like the most grounded character in The Moving Toyshop?Villains, Inheritance, and Human Nature in The Moving ToyshopWhy are inheritance plots so common in Golden Age mysteries?What do you think of Miss Snaith’s extremely elaborate inheritance scheme?Which member of the conspiracy did you find most memorable?Did the villains feel threatening, absurd, or both?Humor and Absurdity in The Moving Toyshop by Edmund CrispinComic fiction from the period can feel dated. Does Edmund Crispin’s humor still work?Does the comedy ever undermine the suspense?How does Edmund Crispin manage to make dangerous situations feel funny ...
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  • The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin with Guest David Whittle: Part 1

    The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin with Guest David Whittle: Part 1
    2026/10/19

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    David Whittle joins Tea, Tonic & Toxin to discuss The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin (Bruce Montgomery).

    First published in 1946, The Moving Toyshop is one of the most celebrated and inventive mysteries of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. The novel follows poet Richard Cadogan, who stumbles upon the body of an elderly woman inside a toyshop late one night. By morning, however, both the body and the toyshop have vanished, leaving behind an ordinary grocery store and no evidence that the crime ever occurred.

    Unable to convince the police of what he witnessed, Richard Cadogan turns to his friend Gervase Fen, the brilliant, eccentric Oxford professor and amateur detective. Together, the pair unravel a delightfully improbable puzzle filled with hidden identities, secret passageways, witty dialogue, literary references, and Crispin’s trademark blend of fair-play detection and irreverent humor.

    Combining a classic locked-room mystery with sharp comedy and an affectionate parody of detective fiction conventions, The Moving Toyshop remains one of Edmund Crispin’s best-loved novels and a landmark of Golden Age crime writing.

    History of Mystery book selections available in our Amazon Storefront or support your favorite local bookstore in our Bookshop Storefront as well! Guests have their own list here!

    Or if you happen to be in lovely Roanoke, Virginia, stop in person at the BiblioPub to get your copy.

    For bonus episodes, video content, and to get all episodes first, join our Patreon community.

    Watch clips from our conversations with guests!

    David Whittle is a music scholar, educator, and author whose research has helped illuminate the remarkable life and legacy of Bruce Montgomery, better known to detective fiction readers as Edmund Crispin. He studied music at the University of Nottingham, where he completed his PhD on Montgomery, examining the intertwined careers of the acclaimed composer and Golden Age mystery writer.

    David’s book, Bruce Montgomery/Edmund Crispin: A Life in Music and Books, is the definitive biography of Bruce Montgomery, drawing on extensive archival research and interviews with those who knew him. The biography explores Montgomery’s extraordinary dual career as the creator of the beloved Gervase Fen mysteries and as the composer of concert works and the scores for nearly fifty feature films, including the Doctor series and the first six Carry On films.

    David has also contributed to numerous reference works, including The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and Irish Musical Studies.

    A classically trained musician, David served as Director of Music at Leicester Grammar School for 32 years while remaining active in folk and big band music. His lifelong passion for both music and detective fiction made him uniquely qualified to tell the story of Edmund Crispin, offering readers fresh insight into one of the Golden Age’s most gifted—and most fascinating—creative figures.


    Crippen and Landru
    The very best in short mystery fiction

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    Support the show

    https://www.instagram.com/teatonicandtoxin/
    https://www.facebook.com/teatonicandtoxin
    https://www.teatonicandtoxin.com

    Stay mysterious...
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    56 分
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