Murder Mitten Kittens Book Club

Maxine Lynn

Welcome to the Murder Mitten Kitten Book Club — where we explore meowder and mayhem one book at a time. Each episode we dive into thrilling reads, share honest book reviews, and chat about the characters, twists, and clues that kept us hooked. From Claw & Order moments to cozy cat chats, we explore one suspenseful story at a time. Grab your favorite drink, curl up with a book, and join us as we unravel crime, secrets, and suspense… murder mitten kitten-style.

Episodes

  1. Mar 9

    Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier | Dark Thriller Discussion | Ep. 2

    Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier is one of the darkest psychological thrillers we’ve ever covered on the Murder Mitten Kittens Book Club. ⚠️ Listener discretion advised: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, domestic abuse, murder, and child harm. When the remains of sixteen-year-old Angela Wong are finally discovered after fourteen years, a long-buried secret claws its way back into the light. The investigation leads straight back to Georgina “Geo” Shaw — the girl who helped cover up her best friend’s murder and spent years in prison for her silence. But the truth behind Angela’s death is far more disturbing than anyone realized. In this episode, we break down the twisted relationship between Geo and Calvin James, the manipulation and grooming that trapped her in a cycle of fear, and the devastating consequences that follow when violence is buried instead of confronted. We also explore the deeper themes of trauma, coercive control, generational violence, and the uncomfortable question of responsibility under fear. Because Jar of Hearts isn’t just about one murder. It’s about what happens when silence allows something monstrous to grow, and how the damage can echo across generations. 📚 Book: Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier 📸 Follow us on Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes content:@murdermittenkittensbc So grab your coffee, kittens, and settle in. Because nothing stays buried forever.

    49 min
  2. Mar 8

    First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston | Thriller Book Review | Ep. 1

    🧶 Murder Mitten Kittens Book Club – Episode 1 Book: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston ⚠️ FULL SPOILERS Welcome to the Murder Mitten Kitten Club, where we explore meow-der and mayhem one book at a time. For our very first episode, we dive claws-first into First Lie Wins, a sharp psychological thriller about deception, manufactured identity, surveillance, and what happens when the lie you tell becomes the life you’re forced to live. This isn’t just a whodunit — it’s a who-am-I-really story that asks: How far would you go to survive? Ashley Elston’s adult-fiction debut delivers: • A morally gray heroine • An unreliable narrator • A story where psychological control is more dangerous than physical violence Through nonlinear storytelling and strategic reveals, the novel explores identity as performance, survival, and erasure. And it asks a chilling question: If your identity is manufactured… do you still own it? --- ⚠️ Listener Discretion Advised This episode discusses: • homicide • staged deaths • stalking • coercive psychological control • identity theft • manipulation The violence and criminal behavior discussed in this episode are not sanitized. --- 🔍 What We Break Down • Unreliable narration & nonlinear structure • Identity as costume, weapon, and survival mechanism • Psychological power without physical violence • Surveillance as domination • Moral gray areas and complicity If you love psychological thrillers, morally complex female protagonists, and stories that blur the line between victim and predator, this episode is for you. --- 🕵️ Claw & Order: A True Crime Connection This episode includes a real-world case that mirrors one of the novel’s missions. We discuss the theft and recovery of Willem de Kooning’s Woman-Ochre — stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in 1985 and recovered more than 30 years later. Read more here: https://news.arizona.edu/news/stolen-painting-returns-home-uarizona --- 📚 Sources Ashley Elston — First Lie Wins Pamela Dorman Books / Penguin Random House (2024) University of Arizona News — “Stolen Painting Returns Home to UArizona” (2022) --- 🐾 Stay Cozy, Stay Cautious Follow us on Instagram for mini episodes, clips, and behind-the-scenes mayhem: 📸 @murdermittenkittensbc If you enjoyed this episode, like, follow, and share with your fellow bookish true-crime kittens. Until next time: Stay curious. Stay cozy. And remember… In this world, the First Lie Wins.

    34 min

About

Welcome to the Murder Mitten Kitten Book Club — where we explore meowder and mayhem one book at a time. Each episode we dive into thrilling reads, share honest book reviews, and chat about the characters, twists, and clues that kept us hooked. From Claw & Order moments to cozy cat chats, we explore one suspenseful story at a time. Grab your favorite drink, curl up with a book, and join us as we unravel crime, secrets, and suspense… murder mitten kitten-style.