Podcast by Mal Bernhardt
02 February 2026
In the fourth episode of this season, we're taking a look at 'Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu' by Lee Goldberg from the TV series 'Monk'.
This is the first episode where the author of the novel has also written for the TV series, and I'll be using this novel to look at key ideas about fidelity and linearity in tie-in novels. In addition, I'll certainly be asking the usual Out of Order Book Club questions about whether this can standalone not only from the TV series but also the novel series as well. Personally speaking, this last point is quite difficult to answer!
Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com
Social Media: Since recording this podcast, I have deactivated my Bluesky account so I am less distracted and a wee bit more productive. This means at the moment, despite what I say in the podcast, you can't find me and follow me on Bluesky. Hopefully, I'll be back there some day!
Useful links and helpful sources:
M.J. Clarke - The Strict Maze of Media Tie-In Novels (2009)
Matt Hills -Torchwood's trans-transmedia: Media tie-ins and brand 'fanagement' (2012)
Shaun Duke - Fan Fiction vs. Tie-in Fiction: A Framework (2023)
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26 January 2026
In this week's episode of the the TV tie-in mini-season, we'll be taking a look at 'Shadow of the Sphinx' by Carla Jablonski, which is a Charmed novel. My knowledge of this series is based on watching a few episodes here and there when it was originally broadcast back in the late 90s and early 00s. Will it impact my understanding of the novel? Well, it is certainly a risk!
If you mix that lack of knowledge with the fact that this is a novel that is linked to a particular series (sorry!) season of Charmed, and it's a great chance to see whether this TV tie-in can standalone which is what we're really interested in on this podcast.
Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com
Social Media: Since recording this podcast, I have deactivated my Blue Sky account so I am less distracted. This means at the moment, you can't find me and follow me on Blue Sky. Hopefully, I'll be back there some day!
Useful links and helpful sources:
M.J. Clarke - The Strict Maze of Media Tie-In Novels (2009)
A great interview called 'The collaboration between author and illustrator' which tells you all about that, and gives some idea about how Jablonski approaches the creative process.
Charmed List of novels (Wikipedia)
This was truly helpful in giving me an overview of the novel series and how they relate to the TV series.
The House of Halliwell podcast
I was right! In the podcast, I guessed that there was a podcast with the original cast members talking about the series, and here it is!
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43:58
19 January 2026
In the second episode of this season, we'll be taking a look at a novel tied to a series Mal is legitimately a fan of - Murder, She Wrote. The TV tie-in novel we'll be looking at is 'Murder on Parade' by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain. Join me for a trip to Cabot Cove where we'll dealing with these questions, amongst many others:
Please note: I rerecorded large chunks of this because I kept calling Donald Bain 'Douglas' for reasons I can't imagine. However, a couple have slipped through because they were part of some adlibbing that I liked, and I wasn't sure I'd remember make the same points again if I rerecorded it! My apologies.
Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com
Social Media: Since recording this podcast, I have deactivated my Blue Sky account so I am less distracted. This means at the moment, you can't find me and follow me on Blue Sky. Hopefully, I'll be back there some day!
Useful links and sources:
Cozy Mystery List: Interview with Donald Bain (n.d.)
Complete List of Murder, She Wrote novels from Cozy Crime Reads (2026)
Wikipedia's Murder, She Wrote novel list: In the podcast, I slipped and said Donald Bain wrote 'nearly 40' of these novels, when I meant 'over' 40. The numbered list is here. and include contibutions from other Jessica Fletcher co-authors.
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43:40
12 January 2026
We're starting this mini-season with a bit of a bitesize (though not as bitesize as I intended!) episode laying the groundwork for the TV tie-in season. In this episode, we're not looking at any particular book but at the complex world of TV tie-in novels, and some of the challenges involved in writing them. In this episode, I will try to answer the following questions:
This episode also introduces some key sources used as research and referred to throughout the season. You can find the links below:
M.J. Clarke - The Strict Maze of Media Tie-In Novels (2009)
Matt Hills -Torchwood's trans-transmedia: Media tie-ins and brand 'fanagement' (2012)
Shaun Duke - Fan Fiction vs. Tie-in Fiction: A Framework (2023)
Karen Raugust - Tie-ins Attract TV viewers to the mystery genre (2012)
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30:40
27 December 2025
In January, Out of Order Book Club will be back with a new (mini) season. I'll be dipping my toe into the water of TV tie-in novels. I hope to answer some burning questions, at least for me, about:
So join me, Mal Bernhardt, as I spend some time with Mulder, Scully, Fletcher, Solo (not that one) and many others for our TV tie-in season.
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01:03
29 November 2025
"Never judge a book by its cover", isn't that the old saying? Well, on the final episode of our first season, I'll be looking at a book that I absolutely judged by it's cover - 'The Wizard of Whitechapel'. A jaunty cover and the word 'Whitechapel' certainly set off a mix of alarm bells and curiosity in my brain. In this episode, I'll be looking at a mash up of Arthurian legends and sci fi (with a splash of Victorian serial killer). It isn't a spoiler to say that the contents of the book did not in any way reflect what was happening on the cover, and I go off on many tangents about Hallie Rubenhold's 'The Five' and Peter Ackroyd's 'London: A Biography'. However, I should apologise here for my attempt at a Cockney accent, I have no excuse.
Content warning: Some swearing, plus reference to 1980s gay panic joke about a man being a fairy when he literally is fae or a fairy. This will be dealing with the Jack the Ripper murders, but it doesn't go into details about the murders either in real life or in the book.
Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com
Social Media: Since recording this podcast, I have deactivated my Blue Sky account so I am less distracted. This means at the moment, you can't find me and follow me on Blue Sky. Hopefully, I'll be back there some day!
Useful links and helpful sources
Simon Hawke's Goodreads Blog: As mentioned in the episode, this blog didn't last long but it is worth dipping into especially if you're a wannabe writer. You may not agree with his perspectives on writing, but it's interesting to know the realities of a writer's precarious existence and how committed you ned to be to writing to write over a long period.
Hallie Rubenhold's The Five: I went on such a tangent about this, but it is an extraordinary book that changes your perspective on the women killed by Jack the Ripper, while ignoring that dipshit entirely.
Londonist Time Machine Substack: I discovered this after finishing the episode. I thought I loved Peter Ackroyd's 'London: A Biography', but here is someone who mapped it. A fascinating read.
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