Murder, Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality

Dr. Katherine Hutchinson Hayes
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Books
  • Weekly

Murder, Mystery, & Mayhem Laced with Morality is a gripping learning and networking hub for writers who dare to explore the shadows—without losing sight of the light. Rooted in suspense, thriller, mystery, and crime, this podcast features powerful conversations with authors, publishing professionals, and experts in law enforcement, psychology, forensics, editing, marketing, and storytelling craft. Each episode pulls back the curtain on what it takes to write stories that are authentic, compelling, and unforgettable. Whether you’re crafting a high-stakes thriller, a redemptive romance, a memoir born from lived experience, or faith-based nonfiction, you’ll gain practical insight on character development, research, storytelling structure, and navigating the publishing journey—where truth matters, justice has a voice, and light pierces through the darkness with the spoken and written word.

  1. 2d ago

    Christopher Michael—WWII, Cosmic Horror & the Monsters Beyond the Battlefield

    🎙️ What happens when the horrors of World War II collide with ancient evils that defy human understanding? History is terrifying enough—but what if the greatest threats were the ones humanity couldn't explain? On this gripping episode of Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality, host Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes welcomes Christopher Michael, a former U.S. Army soldier, law enforcement professional, and author of the chilling Danforth: Eldritch Tales of WWII series, published by Crystal Lake Publishing. Drawing on his military deployments, law enforcement experience, and passion for historical fiction, Christopher transports readers into a world where Nazi occult conspiracies, wartime espionage, and supernatural horrors collide. Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's legendary At the Mountains of Madness, his series follows Robert Danforth, a man haunted by unimaginable discoveries, as he confronts dangerous secrets and sinister forces during World War II. But behind the fictional monsters lies a deeply human story. Christopher shares how writing became an outlet for processing difficult experiences, exploring trauma, and transforming personal struggles into powerful storytelling. In this fascinating conversation, we explore: 🪖 How military and law enforcement experiences shape Christopher's fiction. 📚 The research behind combining authentic WWII history with Lovecraftian horror. 👁️ Why the unknown can be more frightening than anything we can see. ✍️ How storytelling can help writers confront painful experiences. ⚖️ The moral dilemmas that arise when ordinary people face extraordinary evil. 🌑 What readers can expect from Tomb of the Black Pharaoh and The Horror in the Lamplights. Can fictional monsters help us confront the real ones? And what happens when the battle for humanity becomes a battle for the human soul? Whether you're fascinated by military history, supernatural suspense, psychological storytelling, or the creative minds behind unforgettable fiction, this conversation will challenge your imagination. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7142700.Christopher_Michael Ask Christopher a question on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/7142700.Christopher_Michael/questions X (formerly Twitter): @Chris_M_Author Explore his books through Crystal Lake Publishing: https://www.crystallakepub.com/new-signing-christopher-michael/ If you enjoy suspenseful fiction, compelling author interviews, and conversations that explore the deeper questions behind storytelling, follow Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality on Spotify. ⭐ Follow the show, leave a rating, and share this episode with a friend who loves history, horror, and mysteries that make you think. Because sometimes the greatest mysteries aren't about what lurks in the darkness—but what the darkness reveals about us. 🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes Presented by Dressed in Love Press, LLCSpreading Light Through Story🌐 www.dressedinlovepress.net #ChristopherMichael #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #DanforthSeries #WWIIHistoricalFiction #CosmicHorror #LovecraftianHorror #AuthorInterview #DressedInLovePress 📖 Connect with Christopher Michael🎧 Join the Mystery!SYFY+2

    Christopher Michael—WWII, Cosmic Horror & the Monsters Beyond the Battlefield

  2. Oct 25

    Peter Pontsa — 🎙️ Thrills, twists, and moral choices—let’s talk!

    What happens when heart-pounding suspense meets thought-provoking storytelling? Join me on Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality as I welcome talented author Peter Pontsa for an intriguing conversation where suspense meets substance, danger lurks around unexpected corners, and every choice has consequences. Peter takes us into the fascinating world of mystery and adventure, where compelling characters, unexpected twists, and high-stakes situations keep readers turning pages long past bedtime. We'll explore his creative journey, the inspiration behind his stories, and the art of weaving suspense, moral dilemmas, and unforgettable characters into fiction that entertains while challenging readers to think. What makes a great suspense novel impossible to put down? How does an author keep readers guessing while creating characters they genuinely care about? And can a thrilling adventure leave us with something meaningful long after we've turned the final page? We're diving into these questions and more! Whether you're a devoted mystery lover, an aspiring author, or someone who appreciates stories filled with intrigue, courage, and the complexities of human nature, this episode promises plenty of fascinating insights. Love stories that keep you guessing, characters who challenge your expectations, and endings that leave you thinking? This one's for you! 🎙️ Tune in for another captivating episode of Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality, where the mysteries are compelling, the conversations are meaningful, and morality is always part of the story. Listen, subscribe, and share with a fellow suspense lover! #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #PeterPontsa #AuthorInterview #MysteryAndSuspense #ThrillerBooks #WilliamFoxAdventure #CrimeFiction #WritingCommunity #BooksWorthReading #PodcastForReaders

    Peter Pontsa — 🎙️ Thrills, twists, and moral choices—let’s talk!

  3. Oct 18

    Peter James— Killer Twists, Dark Secrets, and the Mind Behind Roy Grace

    🎙️ The plot thickens—and Peter James is taking the mic! I’m thrilled to welcome UK No. 1 bestselling author Peter James to Murder Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality! With more than 24 million books sold worldwide, this master of suspense has captivated readers with unexpected twists, sinister characters, and the unforgettable Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. Pull up a chair for suspense with substance—and an author who knows how to keep us turning pages long past bedtime. 🔍📚 What would YOU ask Peter? Submit your questions, and when we have him return, we'll have answers. And follow the podcast for this conversation! Explore his books: www.peterjames.com #PeterJames #RoyGrace #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #CrimeFiction #AuthorInterview

    Peter James— Killer Twists, Dark Secrets, and the Mind Behind Roy Grace

  4. Oct 11

    John Infortunio—When Memory Lies and Family Secrets Surface

    Family Secrets, Buried Truths & the Price of Remembering with John Infortunio What if uncovering your family’s past changed everything you believed about yourself? Join Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes on Murder Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality for a spotlight on author and longtime educator John Infortunio. His thrillers, Today Was Tomorrow and Destroyed by the Events of the Day, take readers into worlds where grief clouds memory, loyalty clashes with betrayal, and exposing secrets carries dangerous consequences. From hidden family histories to scandal inside an elite prep school, discover stories that raise unsettling questions: Who can we trust? What do we owe the people we love? And how far would we go to protect the truth? Follow the podcast and share this episode with someone who loves suspense with emotional depth. Connect with John: Instagram.com/johninfortunio⁠ #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #JohnInfortunio #AuthorInterview #PsychologicalThrillers #SuspenseWithSubstance

    John Infortunio—When Memory Lies and Family Secrets Surface

  5. Oct 4

    Diana Peterfreund—Secrets, Suspense & Stories That Refuse to Stay in One Genre

    What do secret societies, killer unicorns, Jane Austen, underground cities, classic board-game murder mysteries, and the ghostly legacy of Edgar Allan Poe have in common? Diana Peterfreund. On this episode of Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality, Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes sits down with acclaimed author Diana Peterfreund for a fascinating conversation about writing across genres, creating unforgettable worlds, reimagining beloved stories, and crafting mysteries and adventures that keep readers turning pages. Diana has written novels for adults, teens, and younger readers, including the four-book Secret Society Girl series; the killer-unicorn novels Rampant and Ascendant; For Darkness Shows the Stars, her post-apocalyptic reimagining of Jane Austen’s Persuasion; and Across a Star-Swept Sea, inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel. Her Omega City trilogy sends middle-grade readers beneath modern Maryland into a mysterious hidden bunker city, while her CLUE mysteries, written in partnership with Hasbro, bring the iconic board game’s murder, motives, and suspects to life for a new generation. Her newest series, Ellen Poe, ventures into paranormal mystery and adventure, following a contemporary heroine connected to the haunting legacy of Edgar Allan Poe—a perfect choice for readers who enjoy the clever sleuthing of Enola Holmes and the puzzle-filled adventure of National Treasure. Diana Peterfreund Diana’s work has been translated into fourteen languages and recognized by the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age list, Capitol Choices, the Texas Lone Star Reading List, the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, and Amazon’s Best Books of the Year. She has also written dozens of critically acclaimed short stories and nonfiction essays exploring children’s and popular literature. Diana Peterfreund Join us as we talk about where Diana finds her wonderfully unexpected ideas, what it takes to move successfully between age groups and genres, how familiar stories can inspire something entirely new, and why mystery, imagination, danger, and morality make such compelling companions. Discover Diana’s books and learn more about her work:DianaPeterfreund.com 🎙️ Listen, subscribe, share the episode, and tell us: Which Diana Peterfreund world would you most like to step into—Secret Society Girl, Killer Unicorns, Omega City, CLUE, or Ellen Poe? #DianaPeterfreund #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #LacedWithMorality #DrKatherineHutchinsonHayes #EllenPoe #MysteryBooks #YABooks #MiddleGradeBooks #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #MysteryAuthors #ParanormalMystery #WritingCommunity #WritersOfInstagram #Bookstagram #AmReading #ReadersOfInstagram #PodcastInterview #BooksAndAuthors #Storytelling

    Diana Peterfreund—Secrets, Suspense & Stories That Refuse to Stay in One Genre

  6. Sep 27

    TK BUSH—The Author of Unveiled Discusses Her Process of Developing a Pyschological Suspense

    T.K. Bush on Writing Unveiled While Working in Healthcare What does it take to write a psychological thriller while working full-time in healthcare? On this episode of Murder Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality, I talk with T.K. Bush, author of Unveiled, about her writing process. We discuss how she balances writing with her work as a radiographic and cardiovascular technologist, and how that experience shapes her stories. In Unveiled, Tessa Brooks has rebuilt her life after an accident stole her memories. When a man from her past returns, buried truths threaten the life she has made. Listen to our conversation, follow the podcast for more mystery and suspense with purpose, and visit T.K. Bush at tkbush.com⁠.  #TKBush #Unveiled #AuthorInterview #WritingProcess #WritingLife #PsychologicalThriller #SuspenseBooks #BookPodcast

    TK BUSH—The Author of Unveiled Discusses Her Process of Developing a Pyschological Suspense

  7. Sep 20

    Duncan Ritchie— What happens when truth itself becomes a weapon?

    When technology can manipulate information faster than we can verify it, who—or what—do we trust to tell us the truth? Join us for a thought-provoking conversation where murder, mystery, mayhem, technology, politics, and morality collide. Duncan spent thirty years advising governments and companies on energy, infrastructure, transactions, and policy. He has also written nonfiction for international organizations, including the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Environment Program, advocating for policy changes and investment related to climate change. Now, he has turned his experience with governments, policy, finance, and global affairs toward fiction. The Truth Chamber began with a series of “what if?” questions Duncan started exploring in 2022. What might happen if outside forces attempted to exploit America’s political divisions? How could artificial intelligence change the battle over information? And what happens when people trying to protect democratic institutions begin questioning how far they themselves should go? The resulting novel combines political intrigue, artificial intelligence, assassination attempts, foreign influence, disinformation, and moral dilemmas in a high-stakes story about the increasingly complicated relationship between truth and power. At the center of the novel is Admiral Liam Driscoll, a grieving man drawn into presidential candidate Anna Hoffman’s campaign as political violence escalates. Their team recruits a Stanford Ph.D. student developing an AI technology known as the Truth Chamber, hoping it can help uncover who is behind the violence. But the conspiracy extends far beyond one campaign. As domestic turmoil collides with international ambitions, Liam and his team confront an unsettling question: How much can you compromise the principles you are trying to protect before you become part of the problem? Dr. Katherine and Duncan explore: Duncan’s journey from investment banking and international policy work to political thriller author The real-world concerns and “what if?” questions that inspired The Truth Chamber How he created a fictional American presidential race while separating speculation from reality The Truth Chamber itself and the possibilities and dangers of AI in determining what is true Disinformation, propaganda, foreign influence, and the manipulation of public perception The global power struggles operating behind the novel’s domestic political conflict Liam Driscoll’s central moral dilemma: how far can someone go to protect democratic institutions without compromising the principles behind them? The challenges of writing politically charged fiction for readers who may bring very different perspectives to the story How Duncan’s career and international experiences informed the novel’s geopolitical world Why thriller fiction offers a compelling space for exploring uncomfortable questions about truth, technology, morality, and power What Duncan is writing next Duncan Ritchie is a former—he jokingly says “recovering”—investment banker who grew up on a plantation in North Borneo and graduated from the University of Western Australia. During a thirty-year career, he advised governments and companies on major energy and infrastructure transactions and policy. He has also written persuasive nonfiction for multilateral organizations, including ADB and UNEP, focusing on climate-related policy and investment. Concerned by international conflict, political extremism, and growing questions surrounding misinformation, Duncan began developing speculative “what if?” scenarios in 2022. Those ideas eventually became his political thriller, The Truth Chamber. Duncan now lives in Tasmania with his Malinois pup, Aletheia—Alé for short—who, thinks he is slightly mad. The Truth Chamber is a speculative political thriller examining AI, disinformation, foreign influence, political violence, power, morality, and the fragile boundary between protecting principles and violating them.

    Duncan Ritchie— What happens when truth itself becomes a weapon?

  8. Sep 13

    Lou Pugliese Returns— Author of "The Portal" takes us through the thrill of life after death in his latest suspense

    🎙️ What happens when the extraordinary enters an ordinary life—and certainty gives way to mystery? We welcome back author Lou Pugliese, whose new thriller, The Portal, has just been released! 📖 From an international career with Toyota to teaching business in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Lou brings a wealth of experience, extensive travel, and a love of obscure research to his fiction. His stories weave subtle paranormal elements into realistic relationships, exploring the emotional consequences of events that defy explanation. Now settled in Green Cove Springs, Florida, with his wife Kathy and their dog Mitch, Lou also hosts the Florida Writers Association’s monthly Clay County chapter.Stay in touch with Lou: https://loupuglieseauthor.com/ ✨ Tune in, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode, and share this post with a friend who loves a mystery! #MurderMysteryAndMayhemLacedWithMorality #LouPugliese #ThePortal #AuthorInterview #MysteryReaders #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #WritingCommunity #FloridaAuthors #SuspenseMeetsSubstance

    Lou Pugliese Returns— Author of "The Portal" takes us through the thrill of life after death in his latest suspense
See All (311)

Trailers

5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Murder, Mystery, & Mayhem Laced with Morality is a gripping learning and networking hub for writers who dare to explore the shadows—without losing sight of the light. Rooted in suspense, thriller, mystery, and crime, this podcast features powerful conversations with authors, publishing professionals, and experts in law enforcement, psychology, forensics, editing, marketing, and storytelling craft. Each episode pulls back the curtain on what it takes to write stories that are authentic, compelling, and unforgettable. Whether you’re crafting a high-stakes thriller, a redemptive romance, a memoir born from lived experience, or faith-based nonfiction, you’ll gain practical insight on character development, research, storytelling structure, and navigating the publishing journey—where truth matters, justice has a voice, and light pierces through the darkness with the spoken and written word.

Information