The Art of Crime

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Latest Episodes:

The Ardlamont Mystery, Part One (Murder by the Book) Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

Today, I'm releasing part one of a three-part miniseries that was previously available exclusively to patrons of The Art of Crime. It's all about the fatal shooting of a British hunter at a Scottish manor house and the authorities' efforts to determine whether the vicitm died by accident or by design. If you'd like to hear how it all ends, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.

Remembering Elliott Speer With a Very Special Guest (Murder by the Book) Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Today, we're joined by a very special guest to remember the life of Elliott Speer.

If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.

Fact and Fiction (Murder by the Book) Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Today, we look at how the conventions of detective fiction informed--and misinformed--the investigation into the murder of Elliott Speer.

Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com.

If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.

The Trial (Murder by the Book) Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

In 1937, former Mount Hermon employee S. Allan Norton was ambushed at home by a trespasser with a shotgun. Norton identified his attacker as Thomas Elder, prime suspect in the unsolved murder of Elliott Speer. Members of the community held their breath as Elder went to trial for the attempted murder of Norton, hoping that proceedings would shed light on the shooting of Headmaster Speer.

For show notes and full transcripts, visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com.

If you'd like to support the show, please consider beocming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.

The Suspect (Murder by the Book) Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Within a week or two of the shooting of Elliott Speer, Dean Thomas Elder, second-in-command at Mount Hermon School for Boys, became the prime suspect in the crime. After amassing as much evidence as possible agains Elder, District Attorney Joseph Bartlett called an inquest that would determine whether Elder would stand trial for the homicide.

Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com.

If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.

The Investigation (Murder by the Book) Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

In 1934, police were initially baffled by the murder of Elliott Speer. Then, one day, while an investigator was combing over the bookshelves in Speer's study, he happened upon a murder mystery that blew the case wide open.

Show notes and full transcripts are available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com.

If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.

The Life and Death of Elliott Speer (Murder by the Book) Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

The son of an internationally renowned Presbyterian preacher, Elliott Speer became headmaster of the Mount Hermon School for Boys, a religiously oriented boarding school, in 1932. On the night of September 14, 1934, a trespasser murdered Speer in his own home, devastating his family, his colleagues, and the rest of the community.

Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com.

If you'd like to support the show, please consider beocming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.

Introducing Season 5 . . . Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Introducing season 5 . . .

Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com.

If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast. You can also sign up for an Apple subscription for bonus content, early access, and ad-free listening.

Ask Me Anything (Crimes of Old New York) May 28, 2025

Show notes

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions and comments!

As promised, here's a link to Netherlandish Proverbs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlandish_Proverbs.

If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.

The Practice Run (Crimes of Old New York) May 14, 2025

Show notes

In 1990, two men entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole something like $500 million worth of art, in what became the most infamous art heist in U.S. history. Today, we're joined by retired museum professional Frederick J. Fisher, who thinks that the Gardner affair may have been a sequel to an earlier effort to rob a different institution, the Hyde Collection, located in Glens Falls, New York. Fisher explores the theory in a new book titled The Practice Run, which is out May 15, 2025, so go order a copy!

If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.

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