The Route 66 List Vol. 1: Illinois

by Eric Stalner 

Set in JFK-era America, this father-son road trip mixes noir and suspense. After his wife’s death, Alex flees with his son, hunted by a serial killer known as the Clown. As secrets about his wife emerge, he begins to question whether her death was really an accident. 

Nat King Cole – Ultimate Nat King Cole

This one starts with the must-listen classic “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66.” It’s followed by 20 more, including sentimental sing-alongs like “Unforgettable” and “Mona Lisa.” 

Native Son

by Richard Wright

Set in 1930s Chicago, Native Son follows Bigger Thomas, a young Black man whose life unravels after a panicked mistake leads to murder. Wright’s powerful novel explores racism, poverty, and the limited choices that shape Bigger’s tragic path.

The Adventures of Augie March

by Saul Bellow and read by Grover Gardner

This lively, larger-than-life comedy follows Augie, a poor Chicago kid growing up during the Depression who refuses to live an ordinary life. Even when romance and challenges test him, he keeps forging his own unusual path. 

Chicago (2003)

In 1920s Chicago, two murderesses chase fame and fortune from behind bars. Nightclub star Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and ambitious Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger) both rely on the flashy lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) to turn their scandals into headlines. But with only one spotlight to share, they’ll do whatever it takes to become the biggest legend.

Nelly – Nellyville

Need a little energy on the drive? Here you go. Nelly and his mother moved to Missouri when Nelly was three years old, and his St. Louis roots inform his music. Your car’s A/C will come in handy when it’s “Hot in Herre.”

Yeet Me in St. Louis: Crime Fiction from Under the Arch

edited by Vicki Erwin 

This is the Missouri entry in the Fifty States of Crime series. Authors including Vicki Erwin, Glen Bush, and Fedora Amis contributed all-new works of short crime fiction with settings in St. Louis.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

Neal (Steve Martin) and Del (John Candy) embark on a wild journey through Missouri. After their train breaks down, the unlikely pair hop on a bus from Jefferson City to St. Louis, racing to reach the airport and make it home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. 

Roughing It

by Mark Twain and read by Grover Gardner 

Young Mark Twain shares his hilarious adventures across the Wild West, including time spent traveling through Missouri, mining in Nevada, and reporting from Hawaii. Blending humor, satire, and tall tales, Twain captures the chaos, characters, and quirks of frontier life.

The Route 66 List Vol. 2: Missouri

by Eric Stalner

Alex Poliac and his son are running from the FBI and the Clown, a deadly KGB assassin. Alex’s secret life as a Soviet sleeper agent puts him at the center of a dangerous game involving Sasha, a mysterious spy, and a hidden list of agents along Missouri’s portion of Route 66. 

Kansas – Always Never the Same 

“Dust in the Wind” is just one of the dreamy tunes on this album that features the London Symphony Orchestra. “Song for America” is ideal for setting the Route 66 mood.

The Route 66 List Vol. 3: Kansas

by Eric Stalner  

During the 1961 Kansas floods, the Clown searches a house for key documents, leading to a deadly shootout with police. He’s believed dead, but the papers vanish, and Alex suspects his old enemy survived. Meanwhile, FBI agent Laura Kensington faces arrest for treason.

Capote (2005)

The brutal murder of a Kansas family inspires Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to write In Cold Blood, forming a death-row relationship with one of the killers. 

The Last Rancher

written and read by Robert Rebein 

Leroy Wagner has devoted his life to the Bar W Ranch, but family struggles and tragedy have taken their toll. After losing their son Wade, the Wagner children must return home when Leroy is hurt, uncovering old secrets and trying to save both the ranch and their family. 

The Route 66 List Vol. 4: Oklahoma/Texas

by Eric Stalner

Four years after escaping the deadly attack that changed his life, Rob Poliac is living under a new name with Alex’s old friend Carl. When Carl dies, Rob inherits the mysterious List 66 and reluctantly starts digging into the secrets behind the names on it.

Woody Guthrie – Greatest Hits 

The “Hard Traveling” Guthrie was born in Okemah, and much of his American folk music centers on the Dust Bowl and its impact on the everyday people who faced it.

The Outsiders

by S.E. Hinton and read by Spike McClure 

Ponyboy is a young Greaser growing up on the tough side of Tulsa with his brothers Darry and Sodapop. After losing his parents, he tries to stay out of trouble while dealing with rival gangs, fear, and the feeling of never truly fitting in. 

True Grit

by Charles Portis 

Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross sets out to hunt down Tom Chaney, the man who killed her father and stole his horse and money. With tough US Marshal Rooster Cogburn at her side, she chases him into Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in this gritty, fearless adventure. 

George Strait – 50 Number Ones

Surprise! There are 51 tracks on this Texas native’s collection, proving that yes, everything is bigger in Texas.

Varsity Blues (1999)

In small-town Texas, backup quarterback Jonathan (James Van Der Beek) is used to staying on the sidelines. But when the star quarterback gets hurt, he’s suddenly in the spotlight, facing pressure on the field while clashing with his coach and girlfriend.

All the Pretty Horses

by Cormac McCarthy and read by Frank Muller 

Sixteen-year-old Texan John Grady Cole is stuck between childhood and adulthood after losing his grandfather, watching his family split apart, and seeing his ranch sold. Searching for purpose, he leaves Texas with his friend Lacey Rawlins and heads into Mexico’s rugged vaquero country. 

Old Yeller

by Fred Gipson

In 1860s Texas Hill Country, 14-year-old Travis Coates is left to run the family farm while his father goes on a cattle drive. When a stray dog named Old Yeller shows up, Travis discovers the loyal pup is more than a nuisance; he’s a brave and trusted friend. 

Hellboy Omnibus Vol 1: Seed of Destruction

by Mike Mignola and John Byrne and illustrated by Mike Mignola and Mark Chiarello

Hellboy’s strange journey unfolds from his World War II origins in New Mexico to battles against supernatural threats. Working with the BPRD alongside Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, and Roger, he fights to prevent his dark destiny and protect the world from evil forces.

Death Comes for the Archbishop

by Willa Cather

In 1851 New Mexico, Father Jean Marie Latour arrives as a new Catholic leader in a land shaped by Mexican and Native traditions. As he quietly spreads his faith, he faces cultural differences, personal challenges, and the realities of life on the frontier.

Dark Winds Season 1

In 1971 New Mexico, Navajo Tribal Police officer Joe Leaphorn investigates a series of puzzling crimes with his new deputy, Jim Chee. As they solve the cases, both men confront dangerous enemies and their own personal struggles.

John Denver – The Windstar Greatest Hits

Though he took the name of his favorite town (that would be Denver, Colorado), Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. was born in Roswell, New Mexico. His iconic songs sound good no matter where you are. 

Skinwalkers

by Tony Hillerman and read by George Guidall 

On the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, Officer Jim Chee survives a mysterious shooting that may be linked to a string of brutal murders. As Chee and Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn investigate, they uncover secrets involving Navajo legends, ritual, and deadly danger. 

Desert Heat

by J.A. Jance 

After her husband, an Arizona lawman, dies under suspicious circumstances, Joanna Brady refuses to believe the official story. Determined to uncover the truth and clear his name, she investigates a possible murder, putting herself and her family in danger along the way. 

Evolution (2001)

A firefighting cadet, two college professors, and a quirky government scientist team up to stop a strange alien organism that arrived in Arizona via a meteor and is rapidly evolving into a threat to Earth.

Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American

Straight out of Mesa, Arizona, comes this alt-rock band who defined 2000s emo. Energize your road trip with classic tunes from the Arizona legends, like “Bleed American” and “The Middle”.

The Bean Trees

by Barbara Kingsolver and read by C.J. Critt 

Growing up poor in rural Kentucky, Taylor Greer dreams of escaping and starting fresh. When she heads west in a beat-up car, she never expects to become a mother. Arriving in Tucson, Arizona, with a young Native American girl named Turtle, Taylor learns about love, family, and finding a home. 

Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck 

George looks out for Lennie, his strong but vulnerable friend who loves soft things. As they travel from one California ranch to another, chasing their dream of owning land, they meet people with their own struggles and hopes. Their journey explores friendship and loneliness (and just might break your heart!).

Almost Famous (2000)

In California, 15-year-old William Miller (Patrick Fugit) gets the chance of a lifetime when he’s sent to cover rising rock band Stillwater for Rolling Stone. Traveling with the band, he discovers the wild world of rock n’ roll, forms a bond with Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), and finds his own voice.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication

Dive into the darker side of Hollywood and California with themes like death, travel, addiction, and a changing world. Frontman Anthony Kiedis draws from his own recovery journey, showing the band’s growth and maturity.

The Route 66 List Vol. 5: California

by Eric Stalner

Rob finally finds his father alive after four years of torture, but their reunion doesn’t last long. When the Clown offers Alex a deal for their freedom, neither of them trusts it. Soon, they’re pulled into one final deadly game.

The Maltese Falcon

by Dashiell Hammett and read by Robertson Dean

In 1940s California, tough private eye Sam Spade gets caught up in a deadly mystery after a mysterious woman hires him for a case. When his partner is killed, Spade investigates a trail of suspects all chasing a priceless, long-lost jeweled falcon.