Episode 86: The Unworthy - Is it Nunsploitation?Agustina Bazterrica’s 2023 novel explores the relationship of its unnamed narrator with the repressive post-apocalyptic cult in which she finds herself. Jack and Kate embark on a harrowing journey through broken relationships and authoritarian control and dare to ask the most important question of all: can it be considered nunsploitation? What does it mean to crave feel-bad stories? Where did nunsploitation come from? And why does everything have to be “elevated,” anyway? All these topics and more will be explored in this episode of the podcast. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/37571205
Episode 85: Smoke City - Everybody’s Got Their Own ApocalypseKeith Rosson’s 2019 novel is a supernatural character study that somehow makes the road trip adventure shared by a loose-cannon pop artist, a reluctant immortal, and a would-be ghost hunter into something much more poignant that one might expect. Jack and Kate hitch a ride with this motley crew and learn whether or not the real treasure is, in fact, the friends we make along the way. Why does absolutely everyone in LA have a doorman? What is it that makes a dive bar truly magical? Is it ever wise to start a fight with a headbutt? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/37294310
Episode 84: The Cherry Pit and The BargainIt’s time for Jack and Kate to explore their vintage paperback piles and trade tales from the yellowed pages of the past. Jack wades through the sweltering psychosexual Southern Gothickry of Donald Harington’s 1965 sex comedy (?) while Kate learns what happens when Hitler faces off with Dracula in Jon Ruddy’s 1990 shock-horror masterpiece (?) . Will we encounter the worst Van Helsings of all time? Why don’t the cool madams in exploitation novels get their own books? What are “big dinners” and how often will “big dinners” be referenced? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/36571425
Episode 83: Rogue Moon - Sweaty Sci-FiAlgis Budrys’s 1960 novel is a masterpiece of Sweaty Sci-Fi, a freshly-patented subgenre that will be revealed during the course of this episode. Jack and Kate take a trip to the dark side of the moon to ponder the meaning of life, love, the universe, and manly perspiration. What happens when you get some Jim Thompson in your moon mystery? Are women more dangerous than a murderous labyrinth on the moon? And what, exactly, characterizes a work of Sweaty Sci-Fi? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/36090800
Episode 82: Best of 2024It's March, which can only mean one thing! We're really late with this episode. Jack and Kate look at what they've read and watched in the year that was 2024 and make some recommendations in the world of books and beyond. The rules of engagement are simple: the hosts each choose one movie, album, TV show, and book that was the best experience of its kind, regardless of when it was actually produced. A little bit new, a little bit old, and a whole lot of weirdness is in store! Join your hosts for a discussion that ranges from wicked governesses to the relative merits of Italian heavy metal to gothic roadside attractions. Oh, and murder. So much murder. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/35504140
Episode 81: Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? - Wait'll We Tell You is a 2021 graphic novel that pairs historical true crime author Harold Schechter and Eric Powell, writer and illustrator of the monster punch-up comic The Goon. Jack and Kate revisit the horrifying true tale of the Butcher of Plainfield–this time, in comic book style. What impact did this case have on pop culture, and why does it continue to fascinate us? How were the ‘90s a different country, and why did that country smell like grunge? Is the true crime genre Horrible Exploitation or Cool Exploitation? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of the podcast. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/34594860
Episode 80: Hoodtown - Heels, Homicide, and Horny TimesChrista Faust’s 2004 novel takes the reader to an alternate universe Los Angeles, where crime drama is brewing in an underground culture populated by masked wrestlers. Skulls will be cracked and butts will be fingered when Jack and Kate get in the ring with this pile-driving mix of murder mystery, romance, and action. Why is it important to be nice to your local exotico? Does everyone from New Jersey have a gym membership? Is an especially skanky carpet the ultimate heel? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of the podcast. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/33452952
Episode 79: The Shadow on the Glass - Lovecraftiana Meets Victoriana (and Gets Cheeky)Outside of your hosts’ beloved Warhammer 40k novels, can tie-in game fiction be good? Jack and Kate aim to find out by discussing , a 2024 novel that pairs podcast-favorite author Jonathan L. Howard with the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game. Where are all of London’s fanciest spiritualists and psychics disappearing to? Can an A-team still be an A-team if the “a” stands for accountants and academics? Is there a bit of rugose cone inside all of us, really? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of the podcast. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/33083352
Episode 78: Sudden Death - The Most Dangerous Game Is TennisSex. Sacrilege. Murder. Tennis. This podcast is all about three out of those four things. , a 1978 novel by Peter Brennan (creator of TV shows Judge Judy and A Current Affair), marks the first time Jack and Kate are venturing into the world of sports thriller fiction. Buckle up, because underneath those tennis whites there’s a seething underbelly of drama and corruption. What could go wrong with a little nun-flavored sex work? Why does every character in this book have the most outrageous backstory ever? Will Jack and Kate learn anything about the sport central to this book? All these questions and more will be answered in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/32616747
Episode 77: The Old House of Fear - Gothic Thrills for the Conservative MindRussell Kirk is best known for his influential work of post-war political philosophy, The Conservative Mind. But his best-selling work–by far–was a 1961 gothic thriller . Jack and Kate wander through the mysterious isolated islands of Scotland on a hunt for Commie rabble-rousers, damsels in distress, and shaky real estate investments. Does getting shot during the Spanish civil war give you psychic powers? Are Teddy Boys really that dangerous? Do Maltese people talk like that? What even are women? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/31828632
Episode 76: Joyland - Murder, Manhood and MILFeryStephen King’s 2013 novel is the author’s second effort for publisher Hard Case Crime. Jack and Kate are ready to track the clues in this story of murder, romance, and amusement park professionals. What happens when the King of Horror gets a chance to be the Crime Writer Guy? Can the main character of his book ever achieve full carny acceptance? Why doesn’t the magical child at the center of the mystery infuriate your hosts? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/31370667
Episode 75: Live Girls - Vampire Hookers vs. Ping Pong ballsRay Garton’s 1986 horror novel may have the perfect bad book pitch: vampire hookers in seedy vintage Times Square. Jack and Kate travel back to a golden age of sleaze and encounter smokeshow bloodsucking strippers, donut-inspired dirty talk, and dancefloor remixes of “The Old Rugged Cross.” What perverted compulsion makes a vampire turn the worst dudes in the world immortal? Why are nightclubs never, ever as cool as the ones in bad books? What do table tennis and the Anarchist’s Cookbook have in common? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People! BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/30510653
Episode 74: Nightmare House and Airport 77Once again, Jack and Kate trade reviews of books from their archives. This time around, Jack explores the terrifying mystery and romance of Rae Foley’s Nightmare House (1968) and Kate plunges straight into disaster with Airport 77 (1977). Why is dealing marijuana a worse crime than murder? Does a nightmare dude make a nightmare house into a nightmare home? Whose dick will be compared to a tiny airline bottle of booze? Is Airport 77 the disco era counterpart to Moby Dick? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/30017118
Episode 73: Best of 2023Jack and Kate look at what they've read and watched in the year that was 2023 and make some recommendations in the world of books and beyond. The rules of engagement are simple: the hosts each choose one movie, album, TV show, and book that was the best experience of its kind, regardless of when it was actually produced. A little bit new, a little bit old, and a whole lot of weirdness is in store! Join your hosts for a discussion that ranges from a sinister girls’ school to a rogue AI (a court-mandated topic in 2023) to gratuitous comedy penises. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/29220893
Episode 72: Spawn - Welcome to 90s HellTodd McFarlane’s is one of the great comics success stories of the 1990s, and yet… our hosts remain in semi-complete ignorance of this undead superhero. Jack and Kate decide to educate themselves by reading the first 18 issues of the series where they encounter a world of bedazzlement, from shape-shifting demons and mafia cyborgs to a controversial Neil Gaiman collab. Other than fighting, killing, and baseball, what exactly is Spawn good at? Can anyone possibly care about the Youngbloods? Could there be a shared Spawn / Jess Franco’s “Erotic Rites of Frankenstein” shared universe? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/28814233
Episode 71: Vampira and Elvira - The Real Women Behind the Halloween QueensIn a special, super-extended, spooky season episode, your hosts read a double feature of horror hostess biographies! by Sandra Niemi and by Cassandra Peterson recount the drama-filled careers of two of the most iconic, goth-adjacent TV figures of all time. Jack and Kate take a candid look at the trials and triumphs of two real-life Halloween queens. Does the appeal of late-night metaphysical diner talk span generations? How young is too young to launch your showgirl career? Why do the Red Hot Chili Peppers ruin everything? Is a decades-long goth girl beef even more odious than the Red Hot Chili Peppers? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of the podcast! BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/28259336
Episode 70: Priests of the Abomination and Still Dead, Book of the Dead 2 In this episode, your hosts dig deep into their collection of vintage paperbacks and share their thoughts on dusty, lurid tales from decades past. Kate reads The Priests of the Abomination, a cult-flavored 1970 crime conspiracy thriller from Ivor Drummond, and Jack selects three gruesome stories from the zombie horror anthology Still Dead: Book of the Dead 2. Do rich people have a secret sixth sense that detects perverts? What is it with British pulp authors and their insistence on stopping the action for relaxing, fish-related interludes? Will Jack share the grossest story we’ve encountered yet? The Nineties - a different country or a whole ‘nother planet entirely? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/28098296
Episode 69: The Dead Run - an Exploitation Movie in Book Form Adam Mansbach brings on the two-fisted action in his 2013 novel , with the results capturing the exhilarating vibe of a vintage exploitation movie. When a series of crimes challenges the police on both sides of the US-Mexican border, the authorities learn that a shocking conspiracy may be afoot. What’s the most outrageous self-defense weapon? How wise is it to attempt the pronunciation of an Aztec deity’s name? Do prairie dogs even have kitchens? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People! BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram , on Bluesky @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social, and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/27860463
Episode 68: Edogawa Ranpo - The Grandaddy of Ero GuroEdogawa Ranpo pioneered the Japanese-language mystery story, taking inspiration from his pseudo-namesake Edgar Allan Poe and ultimately developing his own unique–and deeply disturbing–authorial voice. Jack and Kate take a look at three short stories from the collection and encounter a world of erotic, grotesque nonsense. How do Ranpo’s original tales compare to the many film and manga adaptations of his work? Who’s got it worse: a pervert living inside of a chair, or the people who sit in the pervert’s chair? Have our hosts finally gotten to the darkest parts of the Summer of Bummer? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of the podcast! BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/27644358
Episode 67: The Open Curtain - Mormonsploitation?Brian Evenson’s 2006 novel tracks the budding relationship between two Mormon teens… through the lens of mental illness, alienation, and ritual murder. Evenson’s novel takes Jack and Kate on a deeply uncomfortable journey into the darkest aspects of religion. Which gym teacher should be on duty when you start a beef with another student? Why should you always display the most off-putting books in your collection? Is Mormonsploitation a thing, and what’s up with the true crime connection? And is the exploitation call coming from inside the house? All these questions and more will be answered in this episode of the podcast. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/27034707
Episode 66: Live and Let Die - James Bond Hurts His PinkyIan Fleming’s 1954 novel places household-name super-spy James Bond on the trail of Harlem kingpin (and likely Soviet spy) Mr. Big. Jack and Kate follow Bond from smoky jazz nightclubs to a Florida retirement community and on to the Caribbean as he relentlessly wanders directly in his enemies’ lines of fire. What is it with British pulp authors and their diligent recording of their characters’ dietary choices? How does an enthusiasm for jazz become a life-saving trait? And what the hell is keelhauling anyway? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected]/episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/26712039
Episode 65: The Raven's Table - Vikings + Smut + Gore In this month’s episode, Jack and Kate set their literary dragon boat to sea with , author Christine Morgan’s 2017 collection of Viking stories. Spanning subgenres from grindhouse gore to reimagined fairy tales, this anthology will give fans of historical fiction and horror all the flavors they’re looking for. What’s the worst thing that can happen if you piss on a troll stone? Who would win in a battle between vikings and bigfoots? What’s a great way to disturb the ghost of HP Lovecraft? All these questions and more will be answered in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected] You can discover where to get all the books featured on Bad Books for Bad People on our . /episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/26485401
Episode 64: American Gothic - Robert Bloch Takes On HH HolmesRobert Bloch is one of the best-known names in American horror fiction: a protege of HP Lovecraft and the author Psycho, which would be famously adapted for the screen by Alfred Hitchcock. He was also heavily inspired by historical crime, as we’ll see in the subject of this podcast episode, . Join Jack and Kate as they explore the murder castle of the nefarious G. Gordon Gregg. Just how much like the historical HH Holmes is GG Gregg? What are the perils of being a lady reporter in late-19th century Chicago? Is every American gal just after a big, shiny wedding ring after all? All these questions and more will be answered in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected] You can discover where to get all the books featured on Bad Books for Bad People on our . /episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/26038395
Episode 63: Pharos the Egyptian - Mummies, Himbos, and Gratuitous Violins Guy Boothby’s 1899 novel is a gothic horror tale that finds a hapless British artist crossing paths with a sinister elderly man who seems to have some connection to ancient Egyptian culture. Join Jack and Kate on a globe-trotting adventure filled with intrigue, magic, romance, and Neapolitan loafers. Is there a difference between magical Egyptian hypnotism and garden-variety gaslighting? Why are all German pharmacists so annoying? What are the unspoken dangers of weed? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected] You can discover where to get all the books featured on Bad Books for Bad People on our . /episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/25692702
Episode 62: Best of 2022Jack and Kate look at what they've read and watched in the year that was 2022 and make some recommendations in the world of books and beyond. The rules of engagement are simple: the hosts each choose one movie, album, TV show, and book that was the best experience of its kind, regardless of when it was actually produced. Spoiler: very little of what’s discussed was actually produced in 2022. Join your hosts for a discussion that ranges from tales of bloody revenge to swashbuckling action to CIA mind control experiments in the 1960s. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected] You can discover where to get all the books featured on Bad Books for Bad People on our . /episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/25443345
Episode 61: Three Act Tragedy - Murder, Cozy Grandma StyleAgatha Christie’s clever and charming mystery novels have been loved by generations of readers, spawning PBS Mystery icons like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Jack and Kate discuss Christie’s 1935 novel , which chronicles a series of cocktail party poisonings among Britain’s upper crust that draws the attention of quirky Belgian investigator Hercule Poirot. Is it rude to turn down a party invitation that might lead to your untimely demise? Is there room for a meet-cute while a multiple murderer is on the loose? Did the butler, in fact, do it? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of the podcast. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected] You can discover where to get all the books featured on Bad Books for Bad People on our . /episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/25212537
Episode 60: Ghost Story - Nothing to Sneeze AtPeter Straub’s 1979 novel is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of American horror writing, boasting Stephen King as one of the book’s biggest fans. Jack and Kate dig into this tale of buried trauma and supernatural menace in a quest to see whether this classic of the genre meets their esoteric aesthetic expectations. Who’s the asshole if your brother decides to marry your witchy ex-girlfriend? Why are women always preventing men from getting really comfy chairs? Is a sinus infection the secret hero of our tale? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of the podcast. BBfBP theme song by True Creature. Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected] You can discover where to get all the books featured on Bad Books for Bad People on our . /episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/24840891
Episode 59: Between Two Fires - Medieval Times Were Bad, Actually It’s no secret that 14th Century Europe was not a very fun place to be. Christopher Buehlman’s 2012 novel leans all the way into the hideousness of plague, war, and famine while adding in a heaping helping of medieval horror. Jack and Kate jump into this apocalyptic landscape, which takes them from France to Hell and back again. Does this book reveal the secret origin of the stag party? What even is grimdark? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of the podcast. BBfBP theme song by Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected] You can discover where to get all the books featured on Bad Books for Bad People on our . /episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/24522783
Episode 58: Wolfen - Werewolf? They're wolf! Whitley Strieber may be best known for documenting his harrowing encounters with extraterrestrials, but before Communion, he wrote modern takes on classic monsters. In his debut novel , he tells the story of two cops stalked by werewolves amidst the urban decay of 1970s New York City. Jack and Kate take a journey that they hope will give them the lycanthropic flavors that they crave. Just how does a dog trainer acquire an encyclopedic knowledge of animal prints? What is the purpose of vampire sign language? Where does the New York Post fit into the food chain? All these questions and more will be explored in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. BBfBP theme song by Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected] You can discover where to get all the books featured on Bad Books for Bad People on our . /episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/24078048
Episode 57: Flash for Freedom! - A lovable rogue? George McDonald Fraser’s long-running Flashman series follows the adventures of Sir Harry Paget Flashman, a self-confessed scoundrel, as he navigates the landscape of the mid-nineteenth century. Jack and Kate jump in at the deep end with , the third book in the series that finds Flashman enmeshed in the North American slave trade. Buckle up for a tale that leans all the way into the permissive pulp style of the early 1970s! Is the past really a different country? At what point does an antihero tip over into just plain old villain? Just how much atrocity can be forgiven if a dude has the right kind of facial hair? Find out the answers to these questions and many more in this episode of Bad Books for Bad People. As promised, here’s Kate mentions in the episode. BBfBP theme song by Find us at , on Twitter , Instagram and on . Got questions, comments or feedback? Email us at [email protected] You can discover where to get all the books featured on Bad Books for Bad People on our . /episode/index/show/badbooksbadpeople/id/23693291
