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The Decree Absolute

February 18, 2026 · 31 min

Show notes

The fascinating history of divorce in detective fiction.


My guest was Dr Jen Aston, Associate Professor in Law at Northumbria University. In addition to her other academic work, she's currently leading a project looking at approaches to the history of divorce. Learn more about that at northumbria.ac.uk/divorce_history.


Support the podcast by joining the Shedunnit Book Club and get extra Shedunnit episodes every month plus access to the monthly reading discussions and community: shedunnitbookclub.com/join.


Books mentioned in this episode:
— "Murder!" by Arnold Bennett, collected in Resorting to Murder
— Jumping Jenny by Anthony Berkeley
— “The Case of the Discontented Husband” by Agatha Christie, collected in Parker Pyne Investigates
— Death in High Heels by Christianna Brand
— Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L Sayers
— The Documents in the Case by Dorothy L Sayers and Robert Eustace
— Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles
— Holy Deadlock by A.P. Herbert
— Love All by Dorothy L Sayers
— Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L Sayers
— "The Incredible Elopement" by Dorothy L Sayers, collected in Hangman's Holiday


Related Shedunnit episodes:
— The Lady Detective


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Some book links are affiliate links, meaning that the podcast receives a small commission when you purchase a book there (the price remains the same for you).

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