What is the Shedunnit Book Club?
The book club is a community that runs alongside the podcast, and the main way I’m able to support it financially. If you’ve ever supported a creator on Patreon or via Kickstarter, it’s a similar thing — except I’m not using a third party service so that I can put all of members’ contributions towards the show rather than having to pay fees to a platform.
What do I get as a member?
The full benefits for each membership level are laid out here, but in brief: access to the book club forum, where we discuss a different detective novel every month, as well as bonus episodes of the podcast and an invitation to the monthly watching party stream. At the higher levels, you get audiobooks too, where I read mystery short stories. Plus, of course, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting independent media.
Why should I join?
If you already like the main podcast, joining the club is a way of getting more content. You will also be joining an active community of likeminded readers and helping the podcast out financially, ensuring that I’m able to keep making new episodes.
What if I’d like to contribute, but I don’t want to take part in the club?
That’s fine — you can be a “silent member”, where you join but choose not to take part in the forum discussions, or you can make a one off donation instead.
Why are the prices in pounds sterling? I don’t live in Britain!
I am based in the UK, and for administrative reasons I have to run the club in my own currency. However, you can join from anywhere in the world and the payment will show up in your currency on your statements. I use the Memberful platform to run memberships and it processes payments in Stripe. If you’re worried about exchange rates or potential transaction fees on your end, I recommend contacting your bank or credit card provider in advance of joining to inquire.
What books has the club already read? I might have read them all already!
You can see a full list of books the club has read here. Plenty of members are very well read, but enjoy rereading books with the community.
When and how is the monthly book chosen?
Members propose books that they would like to read together or themes they would like to explore. Every month I put together a shortlist of five books from these suggestions, and members have a week to vote in the forum for their favourite. We read the winning book. I post the poll about ten weeks ahead of the month in which we will read the book — so in mid September we voted for the book we’ll read in December, and so on.
I live in a different timezone to you. How will I take part in the book club?
The main home for the book club is a Discourse forum, and that’s where the monthly book discussions take place. I open the thread for the book on the last day of the month, and then members are free to weigh in whenever they want after that, so there’s no need to be available at a particular time and you can’t miss out on anything (everyone’s contributions so far will be there for you to read the next time you log in to the forum). Members add to threads for previous books as they read them, and there’s even a group of newer members who are going back through the club’s previous reading list together month by month at the moment. The monthly watching party does take place live, on the last Sunday of every month at 5pm UK time, but that’s the only element of the club that has a specific timeslot.
Can I get a discount?
Yes, if you use the club’s referral scheme after you join. Every member gets their own unique referral link, and if your friends become members by using it, you get a discount on your membership as a thank you for spreading the word about the Shedunnit Book Club. You get 5 per cent off for your first successful referral and 10 per cent off when you reach five.
Who are you?
I’m Caroline Crampton, the host and producer of Shedunnit. You can find out more about me here.
I have more questions!
Please don’t hesitate to contact the Book Club’s membership co-ordinator CC McLoughlin on connor@shedunnitshow.com, who will be able to answer any further queries about how the club works or help you get your membership set up.
