Category: M2D4

M2D4 Podcast

M2D4 S7E7 Death of a Dungeon Master by Erica Obey

TG Wolff

In the middle of a live action D&D game, Darrell “The Dungeonator” Mahoney is dead. The audience saw the virtual Catstaff points his cat staff at The Dungeonator and electrocute him. Mary Watson and her BOT Doyle are investigating worlds real and imagined to see if Catstaff did the impossible or if something else was at play.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For Podcast

ABOUT Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a role-playing game originally developed and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. First publication was in 1974, which means this is the 50th anniversary of the game that launched the modern role-playing industry. According to Wikipedia, D&D was an advancement in traditional wargaming that allowed players to create their own characters and take on adventures in a fantasy setting. Other games on the market in the mid to late 1900s had elements of character-based role playing, game-world simulations, fantasy scenes designed. D&D was the first to put it all together. Early on, D&D experienced criticism from some religious groups for alleged promotion of witch craft, murder, satanic theme, and the presence of barely contained breasts. While the game made changes to reduce the controversial content, the controversy worked to increase sales in defiance of the outrage. D&D is playable now on table tops and online.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons#

https://dnd.wizards.com

ABOUT Erica Obey

www.ericaobey.com

Erica Obey is the author of The Brooklyn North Murder, the first full-length Watson & Doyle mystery, as well as five other novels set in the Hudson Valley, including the award-winning The Curse of the Braddock Brides. Erica is the Past President of the MWA-NY chapter, and a frequent reviewer and judge. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and published academic work on female folklorists before she decided she’d rather be writing the stories herself.

M2D4 S7E6: A Checkered Past (Part 1) by Frank Zafiro

TG Wolff

Mick Darabont fell in the bathroom, hit is head, and died. It happens at his age. But, is that what happened this time? Investigator Stef Kopriva knows Mick as the gruff park institution with a love of checkers. Others don’t paint such a nice picture. Now Stef is on the case and working to solve a classic locked-room mystery in this two-part story.

Listen to part 1 here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast. Come back next week for the conclusion.

ABOUT Frank Zafiro

Frank Zafiro writes gritty crime fiction from both sides of the badge. During his life, he has been a military intelligence linguist, a police officer (a twenty year career, retiring as a captain), and an independent consultant and instructor. He has taught both writing and police related topics at the collegiate level and professional venues. Through it all, he has been a writer. To date, he has published 48 novels, over 100 short stories, and appeared in over 50 anthologies. He lives in Redmond, Oregon, with his wife, Kristi, who is a teacher. https://www.frankzafiro.com/

ABOUT Checkers

According to the website Wonderopolis, checkers is much older than the more sophisticated chess, with the game being mentioned in the writings of Homer and Plato. Historians currently date checkers back to an archeologist find in the ancient city of Ur in Iraq. This dates to 3,000 BC. In the 12th century, the French had the idea of playing checkers on a chess board. With the updated design and accompanying rules, the game migrated to England and outward. With a game this old and that has traveled the globe, it should be no surprise that it have many names and variations. Wikipedia has an extended citation on the games, the boards, and the pieces. Even the size of the boards change. An 8×8 board is common, but 10×10 and 12×12 boards are used, too. Given the rich history and complexity of this “simple” game, Mick Darabont just may have been right.

M2D4 S7E5 A Forced Card by Ed Teja

TG Wolff

Bill Garrity, a man at the top of his game, is found dead under suspicious circumstances. First, there’s the hole in his head made by a bullet. Second, there’s the holes in his head made by staple attaching the ace of hearts. Detective Masters and his team take up the question of who forced this card.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

M2D4 S7E4: Hard Scrabble by KM Rockwood

TG Wolff

Misha Soleby-Welkins was looking for some practical experience in geriatric social work. The community center was the antithesis of its name with an overbearing boss, an unsettled group of clients, a lunch that defies classification and a dead body. Now she getting a lesson in means, motive, and opportunity.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

About KM Rockwood

kmrockwood.com

KM Rockwood draws on a varied background for stories, among them working as a laborer in a steel fabrication plant, operating glass melters and related equipment in a fiberglass manufacturing facility, and supervising an inmate work crew in a large medium security state prison. These jobs, as well as work as a special education teacher in an alternative high school and a GED teacher in county detention facilities, provide most of the background for novels and short stories.

Check out her backlist on her website or on Amazon

M2S4 S7E3: Cards Against Jake by Jim Winter

TG Wolff

Jake Randall delighted in playing every “vagina” card in his Cards Against Humanity to the discomfort of the female players. Detective Ana Friedman, one of those women, escapes to the bathroom for some quiet reading time. And that’s when somebody struck. Now Ana needs to solve Jake’s murder or live with her vic dying while she was on the toilet.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

M2D4 S7E2: A Scent of Murder by Paul A. Barra

TG Wolff

It’s August, 1968 and the rural community of Titus Town, South Carolina is looking forward to the cow bingo fundraiser. But before Katie Hammet’s Jersey cow can do her thing, Deputy Sandy Buford has to figure out who snuffed out the local hip-pocket lender and emptied his till.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries for Die For podcast

About Paul.

Paul A. Barra is a chemistry teacher, a former newspaper reporter, and Naval officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V and other decorations for his service on the rivers of the Mekong Delta. He is married and has eight children with his wife, the former Joni Lee. They reside in Columbia, South Carolina. 

Help support Paul and make writing for Mysteries to Die For the best decision he’s ever made by going to his website and buying his books. Then write a review and help other mystery lovers find him.

https://paulbarra.com/

M2D4 S7E1 Who Killed the Faro Cheat? by Larry M. Keeton

TG Wolff

California, 1849. Captain Rake Caldeen is searching for an army deserter when he arrives at a gold mine camp. What he finds is a dead man who stole from his neighbor, swindled his friend, abused his claim workers, probably killed a woman and, yeah, he cheated at faro. You and Caldeen need to figure which of the victims is now a killer

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

M2D4 S6E13 Jack Frost’s Last Etching by TG Wolff

TG Wolff

Jack Frost, that naughty sprite, is found strangled in a greenhouse. Mother Nature and Father Time have called for Themis, the titan of justice. The suspects include Pare Noel, El Nino and La Nina, Alena Vera, and all the baby new years since the start of time.

This character mash up is our gift to everyone in our M2D4 audience. Here’s hoping 2024 is filled with only good mysteries.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

M2D4 S6E12: Detective Connolly Gets Audio Jacked by Jack Wolff

TG Wolff

Tryson St. James was the greatest guitar player in the world, or at least the greatest guitar player in England Connolly’s world. He went north of the border for a chance to meet his hero, who was recording at Guitar Nirvana. After security broke up an awkward introduction, Tryson is found dead. Now Connolly is on the case where he would claim the title “Detective.”

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For Podcast.