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She writes historical mysteries set in post-war Paris, Civil War Washington DC, 1930s England, AND Victorian London — and somehow, Colleen Gleason/Cambridge makes every single era feel like home.
In this episode, Laura sits down with bestselling author Colleen Gleason (also writing as Colleen Cambridge) to talk about her four historical mystery series, what makes amateur sleuths compelling, why post-war Paris is basically its own character, and how Agatha Christie's housekeeper ended up solving murders. If you love richly atmospheric historical mysteries with a romantic thread, strong female leads, and satisfying endings — this one is for you.
📚 Books Mentioned
The Spirit of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge — Buy on Amazon | Historical Mystery | An American in Paris Mysteries #4
Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge — Buy on Amazon | Historical Mystery, Agatha Christie-inspired | Phyllida Bright Mysteries #1
Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason — Buy on Amazon | Historical Mystery, Victorian | Lady Darling Mysteries #1
Lady Darling Vexes a Villain by Colleen Gleason — Pre-order on Amazon | Historical Mystery, Victorian | Lady Darling Mysteries #2
Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor — Buy on Amazon | Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Humorous | Chronicles of St. Mary's #1
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers — Buy on Amazon | Hope Punk, Literary Science Fiction
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Thursday Murder Club #1
The Last Beekeeper by Julie Carrick Dalton — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction, Dystopian, Nature
The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap — Buy on Amazon | Historical Gothic Fiction, Victorian Scotland
⏱️ Timestamps
[00:00] Welcome & intro — Colleen in Michigan, Laura in Tampa
[00:53] Writing under two names: Colleen Gleason vs. Colleen Cambridge — and why
[02:45] The pen name strategy: getting on the shelf near Agatha Christie
[03:45] Marketing background and the business of writing
[04:15] What drew Colleen to historical mystery — history + murder + romance = her sweet spot
[05:30] The four series at a glance: 1930s England, 1950s Paris, Civil War DC, Victorian London
[06:30] What makes historical crime-solving uniquely fun — no DNA, no computers
[08:00] The Quinn & Gates Mystery Series: Civil War Washington DC, Lincoln's inaugural ball
[10:00] An American in Paris Mysteries deep dive — Tabitha Knight, Rosie the Riveter, and Julia Child
[12:00] Tabitha's backstory: French mother, Michigan roots, Willow Run Bomber Plant
[13:15] The Spirit of French Murder — the fourth book, the French Resistance, and the Nine Bluets
[14:30] Why post-war Paris is its own character — and why locals didn't trust the police
[16:00] Lady Darling Mysteries — a Victorian Dowager Marchioness, amateur sleuth, Sherlock-era London
[18:30] Lady Danbury meets murder mysteries — the pitch for the Lady Darling series
[20:00] Phyllida Bright Mysteries — Agatha Christie's fictional housekeeper solves murders
[22:00] The Civil War series — all three books, dark themes, and romantic arc
[23:30] The romantic thread in all of Colleen's historicals — slow burn, strong women, satisfying endings
[24:00] What Colleen reads — book club pick philosophy, "This Is Not Oprah's Book Club"
[25:30] Comfort reads: Nora Roberts, JD Robb, Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels
[27:00] Listener recs: Chronicles of St. Mary's, A Psalm for the Wild-Built, The Thursday Murder Club
[28:30] The Last Beekeeper and The Resurrection — book club recent reads
[31:30] Signature cocktails for the Paris series + book release parties
[32:00] Where to find Colleen online + wrap-up
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