Top Shelf with Carol Ann Tack

What a blast hosting Brendan Flaherty for his terrific second novel, Middleman. Middleman is about a soul-seeking family man, Jake Flynn, as he pursues the American Dream through a series of comic nightmares involving Zoom calls, rental houses, and a con man’s plot to rob the dead. I loved every page of this book, and felt the same about this interview! Brendan shares his literary influences, his character development, the “deadly” inspiration for Middleman and so much more. This conversation is a must listen – he also gives great book recommendations. Brendan, you come back on Top Shelf whenever you’d like, thank you! Brendan Flaherty recommends: the work of Charles Portis; Kurt Vonnegut; Joseph Heller; Mark Twain; Wes Browne; Scott Blackburn; Henry Wise; Heather Eng, Yu-Mei Balasingamchow; Daniel Woodrell; Joan Didion; Louise Erdrich. Follow along with all things Brendan Flaherty right here!

Hosting Long Island native, Sarah Langan, is like sitting down with your good friend from around the block. We talked about everything in this episode, from her brand new hit Trad Wife, to Croxley’s Ale House (iykyk), to The Yellow Wallpaper, to sisterhood, to the witches of Carcosa, to the Caladrius (again, iykyk), to her terrifying book, A Better World. We also talk about roles of women then and now, where we find ourselves today, but as always, all of this has some good ol’ horror folded right in. Sarah Langan is always a real one. I adore her. Trad Wife is the story of a journalist who descends into horror as she uncovers the sinister truth behind a trad wife influencer in this “flat-out brilliant” (Paul Tremblay, NYT bestselling author) blend of chilling suspense and razor-sharp commentary on modern femininity, performative domesticity, and social media. Don’t miss Trad Wife, and do NOT miss this conversation. Thank you, Sarah, meet you at Croxley’s in ten. Sarah Langan recommends: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman; A Short Stay in Hell by Stephen Peck; The Candy House by Jennifer Egan; Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman’s Search for Justice in Indian Country by Sierra Crane Murdoch. Follow all things Sarah Langan right here.

What happens after thirteen years of marriage when the little annoyances get to too big to overcome? There’s one question left to answer: Who gets the dog? That’s the conundrum Layla, Franklin, and their beloved dog, Betty, face in Gary Goldstein’s latest novel, Canine Custody. Our couple find themselves in quite the pickle as they navigate the serious and often all-too-relatable challenges of love, marriage, and separation. Told from three points of view: Layla, Franklin, and Betty herself, Canine Custody is a heartfelt and often humorous story about the modern day realities of marriage. Betty’s perspective may just be the most entertaining of all. Returning guest Gary Goldstein talks about that and more than just the inspiration for Canine Custody. In the episode, he shares writing tips, character development, crafting a script vs. screenplay vs. novel, and shares some amazing book recommendations. Don’t miss this interview and don’t miss Canine Custody, a book filled with wry humor that balances the all too series problems faced in modern day marriages. It’s on shelves now. Thank you so much for joining me Gary, as always. Gary Goldstein recommends: Before I Forget by Tori Henwood Hoen; Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan; Ghost Town by Tom Perrotta; Whistler by Ann Patchett; The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout; the works of Susan Walter. Follow along with all things Gary Goldstein right here!

Count me in as a Sara Lippmann fan for life. We had a great conversation about Sara’s brand new book, Hidden River. In this episode, Sara offers an in-depth look at her beautifully written, heartbreaking protagonist, Cass, and shares how writing flash fiction helps her flex her creative muscles. We also talk about our shared love of short stories, how readers have connected with Cass’s story, poignant moments from Sara’s book tour, and give us some excellent book recommendations. This book – Hidden River – is one of my favorites of the year. Thank you so much for joining me, Sara. I loved every minute. About Hidden River: With a timeline that toggles between the summer of 2008 and the late 80s/early 90s, this lean but bold novel, casts an intimate look at grooming in the era before #metoo. A fascinating blend of tragedy and dark comedy, a work of brutal emotional truths unearthed with lightness and grace, this exquisitely charged story, at once private and political, will linger in your mind—and earn a place in your heart. Sara Lippmann recommends the work of A.M.Holmes; Everybody Needs Something by Melanie Pappadis Faranello; Some Stupid Glow by TJ Fuller; My Dear You by Rachel Khong. Carol Ann mentioned: The Most by Jessica Anthony; Agatha of Little Neon by Clare Luchette; A Good Family by A.H. Kim; The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian.

“Jason Allison’s debut crime novel, The Killing Yards, hits like a high-octane James Ellroy/Michael Mann cocktail. Allison’s sure hand guides us through a claustrophobic Gotham on the brink of massive change. Sin, corruption, bad choices—all the dirty, divine terrain is well-covered. The Killing Yards is blunt, forceful, and explosive. Get your top-shelf noir fix here.” —William Boyle, author of Saint of the Narrows Street and Heavy Sugar Top Shelf indeed, William Boyle, Top Shelf indeed. So I did just that and invited Jason Allison onto the show – and this conversation is not to be missed. Jason Allison, a former NYPD homicide detective, talks about his gritty NYC crime drama, The Killing Yards. Set in 1993, the novel is a tale of manners and morals, questionable loyalties, intense ambition, and dark, explosive criminal activity. In this episode, Jason shares some of his early reading influences (no spoilers!), gives us insight into the routes and reasons behind crime, talks about what makes anti-heroes so compelling, and shares advice he received from author Don Winslow. Jason also offers some terrific book recommendations. Give this NYC-focused conversation a listen. From Brooklyn to the Bronx, thanks for joining me, Jason! Authors discussed: S.A.Cosby; Don Winslow, Karl Ove Knausgard. Jason recommends: Astronaut by Oana Aristide; The Disappearers by Marlon James; Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke; They All Fall the Same by Wes Browne.   Check out my Top Shelf conversation with Wes Browne here.

“Have you Seen Romit? is a gripping, intensely moving portrayal of a woman whose ferocious love for her children ends up clashing with how others expect her to behave. I loved spending time with the rule-breaking Usha and with the complicated world Chital Mehta has conjured. Vivid, fresh, and resonant.”—R. O. Kwon, author of Exhibit and The Incendiaries With a review like that, it’s clear that you must pick up a copy of Have You Seen Romit? by Chital Mehta. For this episode, Chital sat down to discuss her inspiring writing and publishing journey: from the first seed of an idea to the fully realized book. It was absolutely riveting to hear her candid and refreshing reflections on the process of bringing this book to life. We also talked about her unforgettable protagonist, Usha, and the extraordinary challenges she faces in her desperate search for her son. This novel is a stunner and I couldn’t put it down. Chital, I cannot thank you enough for joining me, I cannot wait to see what you create next! Chital recommends: Names Have Been Changed by Yu-Mei Balasingamchow; Scavengers by Kathleen Boland. Chital has been influenced by the works of Jhumpa Lahiri; Jai Chakraborti, Colum McCann; Steve Almond. R.O. Kwon is the author who selected Chital as the winner of the 2025 James Alan McPherson Prize.  

Readers head right back to familiar territory in Lauren Acampora’s latest collection, The Animal Room.  As in Acampora’s 2015 debut The Wonder Garden, The Animal Room delves deeper into the town of Old Cranbury and its eclectic mix of residents, and my gosh I loved both books so much. For this episode Lauren tell us about her lifelong affinity with animals, the overwhelming trend of human-technology connections, she provides a humorous take on her own writing process, the interesting origin story of The Animal Room title, gives us book recs, and so much more. Lauren Acampora, I’d have you back any time! Lauren recommends: I Held My Life in My Hands by Jessica Treadway; Baby in a Box by Sarah Braunstein; the work of Brian Evenson. Put holds on Lauren’s book here.  Follow Lauren Instagram here. The artwork of Gavin Watson.

“Should the Waters Take Us by Stephanie Soileau is filled with unforgettable characters, breathtaking scenes, fascinating time jumps, and a setting so precisely rendered that it’s palpable.” —Patrick Ryan, author of Buckeye When you get that kind of recommendation, you read the book! I have been fan-girling Stephanie Soileua since 2020 for her debut short story collection, Last One Out Shut Off the Lights. Then this year, her debut novel, Should the Waters Take Us, hit shelves, and I was completely bowled over. Our conversation in the episode covers her twenty-year journey to write this book, the disappearing bayous of Louisiana, a group of characters you won’t forget, and so much more. It’s a must listen. Thank you for joining me, Stephanie! Stephanie recommends: Bayou Farewell, by Mike Tidwell; Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer; The Hill by Harriet Clark; Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore; Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; the works of Jesmyn Ward Follow Stephanie on Instagram.  Click here for more information about the cover art by Aloysius Patrimonio.

Three lives, one hundred years, one ghost town: an explosive novel about a mysterious place called Sunrise, where the secrets of the past refuse to stay buried. Sunrise by Téa Obreht is a gorgeous three-dimensional novel and is my favorite of the year, so far. Had a terrific conversation with Téa Obreht about her stunning new novel, Sunrise. We go deep into the origin story of the book, its magnificent construction, how holding onto to narratives helps a writer, two novels she’s loving right now, and more. Téa, this book is a joy, thank you so much for joining me! Téa Obreht recommends: Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer; Some People by Parini Schroff. Follow Téa on Instagram. Find her books here!        

“Irresistible… a marvelous 11th-hour twist and a satisfying denouement lie ahead. It’s hard to think of any reason not to call The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian, a perfect novel: a hole in one.” —Kirkus (Starred Review) With praise like that for his 24th novel, how could you not read, The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian? To say I was bowled over to interview the man himself for this episode in an understatement. Chris shares his joy of writing this book in a fun-filled frenzy over a 90-day period and emailing to his editor. The Amateur explores class divides, misogyny, family strife, and more in this 1970s set novel. His character of Mira is one you won’t soon forget, so give this episode a listen. Chris Bohjalian, lover of libraries, thank you so much for joining me! Chris recommends, All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun; The Simp by Roshan Sethi; The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout; Single Girls by John Searles; The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson. Check out Chris Bohjalian on every single social media platform out there! For more of Chris Bohjalian’s 24 books, click here!