Talking Scared

• 243 – S.A. Cosby & The Gospel of the Dispossessed

  Time to talk righteous violence!   S.A. Cosby is a writer on a meteoric rise. After the insane success of Razorblade Tears, and the Gothic horrors of All the Sinners Bleed, he’s back with a fresh crime epic of titanic brutality.   King of Ashes is the tale of a family under threat from criminal forces, and the shocking depths they will go to in their fight back. It’s a challenging book, full of unexpected character arcs, Shakespearean intrigue, and a candid exploration of kink.   It’s also bloody, very damn bloody. The crematorium at the story’s centre gets well fed!!   We talk about all of that, as well as the strange commonalities of our small town lives, and the influence of violent men.   Enjoy!   Other books mentioned:   All The Sinners Bleed (2023), by S.A. Cosby Razorblade Tears (2021), by S.A. Cosby Blacktop Wasteland (2020), by S.A. Cosby A Thousand Acres (1991), by Jane Smiley “The Dog Park,” (1983), by Dennis Etchinson Darkness, Take My Hand (1996), by Dennis Lehane Gone, Baby, Gone (1998) by Dennis Lehane Jar of Hearts (2018), by Jennifer Hillier   Support Talking Scared on Patreon   Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch   Come talk books on Bluesky @talkscaredpod.bsky.social  on Instagram/Threads, or email direct to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 242 – Caroline Fraser & Masculinity Most Toxic

  Sometimes monsters are real!   This week’s episode is a foray into non-fiction, but no less scary for it. I’m talking to Pulitzer-winning Caroline Fraser about Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers   This is no grotesque revelling in death and sadism,however. Murderland examines the extreme violence that plagued her native Pacific Northwest in the late 20th century – and posits a link with the environmental damage of heavy industry in the region.   It’s a compelling argument, and a horribly fascinating book. I slip the jokes in where I can (mostly at BTK’s expense), but this one is a chiller!   Enjoy!   Other books mentioned:   Praire Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder (2017), by Caroline Fraser God's Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church (1999), by Caroline Fraser The Balkan Trilogy (1960), by Olivia Manning   Support Talking Scared on Patreon   Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch   Come talk books on Bluesky @talkscaredpod.bsky.social on Instagram/Threads, or email direct to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 241 – V.E. Schwab & Women Just Taste Better

  Vampirism is time travel.   It’s also tragedy and freedom and Queerness, and sex and death.   We talk about all of these thing with V.E. Schwab, when we sink our teeth into her new epic novel, Bury our Bones in the Midnight Soil.   It’s the story of three women who lead complicated, violent, sensual lives across the centuries. The interconnect. They love. They kill.   It wasn’t the book I was expecting…and I loved it. I think you’ll love this conversation too.   Enjoy!   Other books mentioned:   The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020), by V.E. Schwab Vicious (2013),  by V.E. Schwab Carmilla (1872), by Sheridan Le Fanu The Buffalo Hunter Hunter (2025), by Stephen Graham Jones The Vampire Lestat (1985), by Anne Rice The Time Traveller’s Wife (2003), by Audrey Niffenegger King of Ashes (2025), by S.A. Cosby Razorblade Tears (2021), by S.A. Cosby   Support Talking Scared on Patreon   Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch   Come talk books on Bluesky @talkscaredpod.bsky.social on Instagram/Threads, or email direct to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Let Us Palaver #3 – The Waste Lands Debrief

  The third Let Us Palaver minisode (though this one is not so mini) – in which Nat and I reflect on The Waste Lands in full spoiler mode…and say REALLY mean things about Chris and his hurtful opinions.   If you’ve been to the Tower before, I hope you dig this. Unless you agree with Chris about [redacted], in which case you’re dead to us.   Support Talking Scared on Patreon   Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch   Come talk books on Bluesky @talkscaredpod.bsky.social on Instagram/Threads, or email direct to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The Dark Tower Deep Dive #3 – The Waste Lands

  We’re finally on the path of The Beam.   The Dark Tower Readalong reaches the land of wonder and ruination, in Book 3, The Waste Lands. Accompanied by Nat and Chris, we battle the great bear, get dirty in the speaking ring, and brave the streets of Lud.   But we also have the first quake in our Ka-tet, when Chris offers the most egregiously wrong opinion that anyone could offer on these books. You may agree with him… but if you do, we have a problem.   I have never cursed or yelled so much on this show before!!   Nonetheless, we have fun, we push on, and we’re still friends (just about).   Enjoy!   Support Talking Scared on Patreon   Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch   Come talk books on Bluesky @talkscaredpod.bsky.social on Instagram/Threads, or email direct to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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