Book Off!

Authors Curtis Sittenfeld and Erin White join Joe Haddow for a war of the words... Curtis and Erin are best mates - which makes for a very competitive Book Off! Erin talks about her debut novel 'Like Family' which has themes of desire in middle age, queer domestic love and life, navigating the world as a teenager - and much more. Curtis discusses her latest short story collection 'Show Don't Tell' which is a witty and tender collection of tales, featuring a cast of characters that feel like old friends. They also give some writing tips and recommend us some brilliant books too! THE BOOK OFF 'Colored Television' by Danzy Senna VS 'Unless' by Carol Shields Here's a little more on our guests' books! 'Like Family' by Erin White What if everything you wanted is no longer enough? Meeting for an autumnal swim in an idyllic pond, Caroline's friend Ruth tells her about a family secret that has recently been exposed. Caroline was looking forward to a celebration they'd been planning together with her sister-in-law, Tobi, but suddenly everything seems complicated. Tensions that have long been buried are bubbling to the surface. These three couples, who have so much to enjoy in their lives - growing children, affectionate marriages, work they love - must confront the truths they've never shared. More than that, they will have to reconcile the lives they've built with the ones they desire: the old dreams both fulfilled and denied, and the new ones that appeared right when they thought they had all they'd ever hoped for. 'Show Don't Tell' by Curtis Sittenfeld In this compulsive collection of twelve witty stories, Sittenfeld shows why she’s as beloved for her short fiction as she is for her novels, as she conjures up characters so real that they seem like old friends. In ‘The Patron Saints of Middle Age,’ a woman visits two friends she hasn’t seen since her divorce. In ‘A for Alone,’ a married artist embarks on a project intended to disprove the so-called Mike Pence Rule, which suggests that women and men can’t spend time alone together without lusting after each other. And in ‘Lost but Not Forgotten,’ Sittenfeld gives readers of her novel Prep a new window into the world of her beloved character Lee Fiora, decades later, when Lee attends an awkward school reunion. Witty, confronting and full of tenderness, Sittenfeld peels back layer after layer of our inner lives, keeping us riveted to the page with her utterly distinctive voice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexandra Potter and Madeleine Gray join Joe Haddow for a war of the words! They chat about their new novels, conmen, queer love, writing women without making them victims - and give us some great book recommendations too. THE BOOK OFF 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte VS 'How To Be Both' by Ali Smith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIbby Page and Ellie Levenson join Joe Haddow for a natter about their new novels - and - go head to head in a War Of The Words! Libby's new novel - 'This Book Made Me Think Of You' - is a heartwarming, uplifting story about grief and love (and a love letter to books, reading and bookshops!) Ellie's new novel - 'Room 706' - is a tense page-turner about a woman trapped in a hotel room with her lover Both authors share their inspirations for their new books, give us some good book recommendations - and of course - take part in The Book Off! THE BOOK OFF 'Conversations On Love' by Natasha Lunn VS 'The Wild Robot' by Peter Brown And here's a little more on our featured authors' books: This Book Made Me Think Of You - Libby Page When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly, because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly, because Joe died five months ago… The gift is simple – twelve carefully chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him. And so begins a reading-inspired journey that takes Tilly around the world; from bustling sidewalks in New York and the tree-lined avenues of Paris to the tranquil Tuscan countryside and the white sands of Bali. With the help of the bookshop owner, Alfie, Tilly starts to discover who she is now, after Joe. But can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again? Room 706 - Ellie Levenson Kate stretches her legs and turns on the TV while James washes away the traces of their morning. She watches in horror at the unfolding news: the hotel they are staying in has been taken under siege. She should be making her way home, working on appearing normal, getting ready to re-enter family life with her loving husband Vic and their two adored children. Instead, she is trapped somewhere she shouldn't be, with a man she definitely doesn't love. How will she begin to tell Vic what she is doing here? If her body is found, will it give up the secret of what she's been up to? She's been so careful hiding the evidence of her affair: write nothing down, leave no trace. Will he begin to understand why? For now, Kate can only hide, take a deep breath, and reflect on the series of choices she's made that have brought her to this moment. What will her marriage and her life look like, if she makes it out? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling authors Peter James and Sophie Hannah join Joe Haddow for a right royal Book Off! They discuss Poirot, Christie, Greene and many other writers they love - and give us some great book recommendations too. Peter and Sophie also chat about their new novels. Queen Camilla is a huge fan of Peter James' Roy Grace books - so much so that she is the star of the latest novel 'The Hawk Is Dead'. And Sophie's latest 'No One Would Do What The Lamberts Have Done' is based on something that happened in real-life, which led her to ask "what would I do in that situation?" (the answer is in the book) THE BOOK OFF 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene VS 'The Rose And The Yew Tree' by Mary Westmacott (aka Agatha Christie) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlatans lead singer, Tim Burgess, and music photographer, Tom Sheehan, join Joe Haddow for a war of the words. Tim and Tom have worked together on and off for over 30 years - and during that time, Tom has captured some of the most iconic images of Tim's band. They chat about their new collaboration 'How High: A Portrait Of The Charlatans' as well as some of their favourite music biographies, artists they've worked with - and the new Charlatans album too. THE BOOK OFF 'Amusing Ourselves To Death' by Neil Postman VS 'Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky' by Patrick Hamilton Here's a little more info on their gorgeous photography book 'How High' This is the inside story of The Charlatans, told through the lens of legendary photographer Tom Sheehan and the words of the band's frontman Tim Burgess. More than 250 of Sheehan's photographs - blending iconic shots with those seen here for the first time - are accompanied by moving and insightful text from Burgess, sharing his memories of a band at the very height of their powers. Covering a decade of the band's story, the book captures recording sessions, live performances, cover shoots, tours and intimate moments snatched backstage and around the world. Beautifully presented in a cloth-bound hardback, this book is a stunning visual history of The Charlatans, one of the defining bands of a generation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Joe welcomes two debut authors - Lisa Smith and Marcia Hutchinson - who get head to head in a war of the words. They chat about their writing journeys, black voices in literature, coming to writing later in life and why sometimes, you can just use books as a way of getting back at people! THE BOOK OFF 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison VS 'Small Island' by Andrea Levy Here's a little more about our guests new novels: 'Jamaica Road' by Lisa Smith South London, 1981: Daphne is the only Black girl in her class. All she wants is to keep her head down, preferably in a book. The easiest way to survive is to go unnoticed. Daphne’s attempts at invisibility are upended when a boy named Connie Small arrives from Jamaica. Connie is the opposite of small in every way: lanky, outgoing, and unapologetically himself. Daphne tries to keep her distance, but Connie is magnetic, and they form an intense bond. As they navigate growing up in a volatile, rapidly changing city, their families become close, and their friendship begins to shift into something more complicated. When Connie reveals that he and his mother “nuh land”—meaning they’re in England illegally—Daphne realizes that she is dangerously entangled in Connie’s fragile home life. Soon, long-buried secrets in both families threaten to tear them apart permanently. Spanning one tumultuous decade, from the industrial docklands of the Thames to the sandy beaches of Calabash Bay, Jamaica Road is a deftly plotted and emotionally expansive debut novel about race and class, the family you’re born with and the family you choose, and the limits of what true love can really conquer. 'The Mercy Step' by Marcia Hutchinson Bradford, December 1962. A precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb, to a chaotic household that seems to have no place for her. Her siblings do not understand her, her mother’s attention is given to the Church, and the entire family lives at the whims of her father’s quick temper. Left to herself, Mercy finds solace in books, her imagination, and the quiet comfort of her faithful toy, Dolly. But escapism has its limits, and as the grip of family, faith and fear threatens to close in, Mercy learns she must act if she wants a different future; one where she is seen, heard, and her family set free. The Mercy Step is a sharply-witted and tender portrait of a young girl’s quiet rebellion, and her refusal to be broken. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling authors Joe Hill and Joe Abercrombie join another Joe (the host) for a natter about books, films, horror, fantasy and much more. They discuss their brilliant new novels, 'King Sorrow' and 'The Devils', their writing processes and routines, Stephen King, James Cameron, film adaptations, comics - and - give us some brilliant book recommendations too. THE BOOK OFF 'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurtry VS 'The Night Always Comes' by Willy Vlautin Heres some more info on our guests brilliant novels! 'King Sorrow' by Joe Hill Bookish dreamer Arthur Oakes is a student at Rackham College, Maine, renowned for its frosty winters and beautiful buildings. But his idyll - and burgeoning romance with Gwen Underfoot - is shattered when local drug dealers force him into a terrible crime: stealing rare and valuable books from the exceptional college library. Trapped and desperate, Arthur turns to his closest friends for help: the wealthy, irrepressible Colin Wren; brave, beautiful Alison Shiner; the battling twins Donna and Donovan McBride; and brainy, bold Gwen. Together they dream up an impossible, fantastical scheme that they scarcely imagine will work: to summon the fabled dragon King Sorrow to kill those tormenting Arthur. But the six stumble backwards into a deadly bargain - they soon learn they must choose a new sacrifice for King Sorrow each year or one of them will become his next victim. Unleashing consequences they can neither predict nor control, this promise will, over the course of four decades, shape and endanger their lives in ways they could never expect. 'The Devils' by Joe Abercrombie Europe stares into the abyss. Plague and famine stalk the land, monsters lurk in every shadow and greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions. Only one thing is certain: the elves will come again, and they will eat everyone. Sometimes, only the darkest paths lead towards the light. Paths on which the righteous will not dare to tread . . . And so, buried beneath the sacred splendour of the Celestial Palace, is the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. For its congregation of convicted monsters there are no sins that have not been committed, no lines that will not be crossed, and no mission that cannot be turned into a disastrous bloodbath. Now the hapless Brother Diaz must somehow bind the worst of the worst to a higher cause: to put a thief on the throne of Troy, and unite the sundered church against the coming apocalypse. When you're headed through hell, you need the devils on your side. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we welcome bestselling authors Saara El-Arifi and Callie Hart to the podcast, who go head to head in a war of the words. We chat fantasy, romantasy, maps, sexy fairies - and also learn a new word 'Chussy' (don't google it!) Callie and Saara also give us some brilliant book recommendations and some top writing tips! (oh, and di we mention the interpretive dance?) THE BOOK OFF 'Gideon The Ninth' by Tamsyn Muir VS 'I Medusa' by Ayana Gray And here's a little more on our guests latest books: 'Cursebound' by Saara El-Arifi Yeeran and Lettle are no longer prisoners to the fae court, but now they’re bound by the shackles of their hearts … Yeeran was born for war but is unprepared for love. She has left her new lover, the Queen of the fae, to return to her homeland, only to find that her former lover now threatens war against the fae. Left behind, her sister Lettle is determined to break the curse that binds the fae to their realm. When a stranger appears in the city, Lettle is convinced he’s the key. But the Fates that once spoke to her have fallen silent. Can Lettle and Yeeran discover the secret behind the curse – and unite these two worlds before they destroy each other? 'Brimstone' by Callie Hart Saeris Fane doesn't want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court's lips, but now that she's been crowned queen of the Blood C ourt, she's discovering that a queen's life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders. Her ward - and her brother - need her back in her homeland . . . but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead . . . Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with C arrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver C ity. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again. A darkness falls across Yvelia. The realm and their friends are in danger. Together, Saeris and Fisher will pass through fire and brimstone to save them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We welcome two brilliant debut novelists to Book Off this week, who go head to head in a war of the words... Xenobe Purvis and Gurnaik Johal have both recently published their first novels - and they are both brilliant! Hear them discuss their inspirations, writing and research techniques. how to choose a good title and why reading slowly is good. In a Book Off first - Gurnaik pitches a book he hasn't even finished yet! And there are some great recommendations all round. THE BOOK OFF 'The Portrait Of A Lady' by Henry James VS 'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurtry And here's a little more about our guests' books: The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis Many stories are told about the five Mansfield sisters. They are haughty, thinking themselves better than their neighbours in the picturesque village of Little Nettlebed. They have taken the death of their grandmother hard. They are liars, troublemakers, untamed and dangerous... Accounts of their behaviour differ, but the villagers all agree that the girls are odd. One long summer, a heatwave descends. Bloated sea creatures wash up along the parched riverbed, animals grow frenzied, ravens gather on the roofs of those about to die. As the stifling heat grips the village, so does a strange rumour: the Mansfield sisters have been seen transforming into a pack of dogs. With the witch trials only a recent memory, hysteria sets in. Slowly but surely, the villagers become convinced that something strange is taking root in Little Nettlebed. And when a bark finally leads to a bite, the sisters will be the ones to pay for it. Visceral and richly atmospheric, The Hounding plunges its reader into 18th century Oxfordshire, where the power of a man’s word is absolute, and it is safer to be a wild animal than an unconventional young woman. 'Saraswadi' by Gurnaik Johal Centuries ago, the holy river Saraswati flowed through what is now Punjab. Many dismiss this as myth, but when Satnam arrives in his ancestral village for his grandmother's funeral, he finds water in the dried-up well behind her house. The discovery sets in motion a contentious scheme to unearth the lost river as an act of Hindu nationalist pride. The river changes the course of Satnam's life, and those of six others. As legends and histories resurface, the distant relatives - from a Canadian eco-saboteur to a Mauritian pest exterminator to a Bollywood stunt double - are brought together in a rapidly changing India. Ambitious, moving and brimming with folklore, Saraswati is a tour de force from one of Britain's most feted young writers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two debut novelists, Wendy Erskine and Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin join Joe Haddow for a war of the words! They discuss their brilliant new novels ('The Benefactors' and 'Ordinary Saints') as well as giving us some brilliant book recommendations too. They also chat about 'queer literature', the Women's Prize, how to cast a book and the joy of free writing. THE BOOK OFF 'The Price Of Salt' ('Carol') by Patricia Highsmith VS 'Hunchback' by Saou Ichikawa Here's a little more about our guests' novels: Ordinary Saints An arresting, unmissable debut novel shortlisted for the Women's Prize Discoveries award - an exploration of family, grief, queer identity, and the legacy of the Catholic Church in Ireland. 'Can you imagine it? I'd say to them. Can you imagine me there in the front row in Saint Peter's Square? The lesbian sister of a literal saint.' Brought up in a devout household in Ireland, Jay is now living in London with her girlfriend, determined to live day to day and not think too much about either the future or the past. But when she learns that her beloved older brother, who died in a terrible accident, may be made into a Catholic saint, she realises she must at last confront her family, her childhood and herself . . . The Benefactors In The Benefactors we meet Frankie, Miriam and Bronagh - very different women but all mothers to 18-year-old boys. Glamorous Frankie, now married to a wealthy, older man, grew up in care. Miriam has recently lost her beloved husband Kahlil in ambiguous circumstances. Bronagh, the CEO of a children's services charity, loves the celebrity and prestige this brings her. They do not know each other yet, but when their sons are accused of sexually assaulting Misty Johnston, whose family lacks the wealth and social-standing of their own, they'll leverage all the power of their position to protect their children. From the prize-winning author of Dance Move and Sweet Home, this is an astounding novel about intimate histories, class and money - and what being a parent means. Brutal, tender and rigorously intelligent, The Benefactors is a daring, polyphonic presentation of modern-day Northern Ireland. It is also very funny. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling crime writers, MW Craven and JD Kirk go head to head in a war of the words... They chat with Joe Haddow about their latest novels ('The Final Vow' and 'A Rock And A Hard Place'), their inspirations, meeting artists they admire and acting weird...and Terry Pratchett. There's quite a lot of Terry Pratchett chat! (Chatchett?) As ever, we have some brilliant book recommendations for you - and of course - there's the little matter of the Book Off. THE BOOK OFF 'Horror Movie' by Paul Tremblay VS 'Nightwatch' by Terry Pratchett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two bestselling authors, both alike in dignity, in the fair Book Off studio - where we lay our scene... On this episode we bring together two brilliant minds, authors and Scots - Irvine Welsh and John Niven. They discuss their latest novels, nostalgia, returning characters...and the joy of writing in the pre-mobile phone era. They also chat Oasis, crime fiction, the shit that appears on instagram - and give us some great book recommendations too. *and just to warn you - there's quite a bit of fruity language throughout! THE BOOK OFF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our 150th episode!!! Can you believe it? No, we can't either... ...and celebrating our big birthday are Harriet Evans and Laura Barnett, who join Joe for a brilliant bit of Booking Off. Sadly - there's no cake or party poppers - thanks to the terrible Thameslink service which meant Joe couldn't get to the shops in time, but there's still a lot of great book chat! Harrie and Laura discuss their brilliant new novels, give us some fab book recommendations - and - there's also a surprise appearance from Harriet Harman. THE BOOK OFF 'Commonwealth' by Ann Patchett VS 'Expectation' by Anna Hope And here's a little more info on our guests' new books! The Treasures Every family has a story to tell. Alice and Tom's begins here . . . On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, Alice Jansen collects her treasures – the keepsakes, figurines and mementoes that help her make sense of her fragile family. But the next day her heart is broken, and the final treasure, a gift from her father, is lost. Two years later, Alice answers a phone call from a stranger and runs away to New York, and tries to forget her last golden summer at the orchard on the banks of the Hudson. Tom Raven can’t understand why he keeps losing so many of the things and people that really matter to him, but he knows for certain that something important is missing from his life. One day, he remembers a forgotten letter and makes a phone call, then leaves Sevenstones, the only place that feels like home, for a strange city. Births, Deaths And Marriages Zoe, Al, Rachel, Rob, Yas and Indie. Six friends who were inseparable at university, who have all had their secret or not so secret passions for each other, their hopes and fears. Over the years, they have gone their separate ways. Rob is a history teacher, with a string of broken relationships behind him. Yas is a surgeon and very much her own woman. Indie is married and a successful coffee entrepreneur. Rachel is a stay at home mum with two children. Al, widowed young, is about to take over his father's funeral business. When Rob's engagement party throws the gang together once more, some passions are reignited, old connections and resentments resurface. Over the next twelve months, there will, among the friends, be a birth, a marriage, and a death – but whose? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author Holly Smale goes head to head with Comedian and writer Cally Beaton in a War Of The Words. The authors chat to Joe Haddow about their latest books, imposter syndrome, living in the present and what Orca's can teach us about feminism. They also also share some great book recommendations THE BOOK OFF 'East Of Eden' by John Steinbeck VS 'The Beekeeper Of Aleppo' by Christy Lefteri Here's more on our guest's books: 'Namaste Motherfuckers' by Cally Beaton Part memoir, part stereotype-defying manifesto, Namaste Motherf*ckers is a funny, empowering, practical book that takes an irreverent look at the author's own story of radical midlife reinvention - taking her from meetings in the boardroom to becoming a stand-up comedian - thanks to a chance conversation with the late, great Joan Rivers encouraging her to make change happen. Sharing stories and experiences from her career, alongside lessons learned from the many celebrities and experts that have guested on her hit podcast of the same name, Cally challenges at every turn the age-old narrative that women become invisible when they cease to be fertile. It's also a book about defying the bullsh*t expectation that midlife women at best maintain (looks, career, relationships), at worst decline. With ambitious thinking and personal development takeouts from her time as a coach, Cally debunks many of the myths surrounding the female of the species and gives a fresh, funny and life-affirming look at what it means to be a middle-aged woman who is willing to take a chance, put herself out there and who is also willing to fail. 'I Know How This Ends' by Holly Smale Margot Wayward is in manically gleeful self-destruct mode. Following the implosion of a ten-year relationship, she’s wilfully derailing her successful career, joyfully taking down men on dating apps, and living in total chaos. Until one day, when Margot has a vision of herself with a man she’s never met before. She doesn’t believe in fate. But when Margot meets single-dad Henry, the vision comes true: exactly as she’d foreseen it. As her future continues to reveal itself, a glimpse at a time, Margot realises she knows exactly what’s going to happen, and when. And there’s nothing she can do to change any of it. So Margot has to decide how to live, how to love again, and how to be herself… Because if you can’t change your destiny, how on earth do you live your present? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling spy novelists, David McCloskey and Paul Vidich, join Joe Haddow for a good ole fashioned booking off! As well as discussing their new novels ('The Seventh Floor' and 'The Poets Game'), they also share some great book recommendations and talk us through their writing processes. Spy novels are such a great way to learn about world history - and have arguably never been more popular - so we delve a little more into this genre, referencing John Le Carre - and his son, Nick Harkaway, who was a recent Book Off guest. Joe's continued reading battle with Le Carre continues, and whilst confessing this again, Paul tries to his hardest to encourage him to pick up The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. As well as lots of book chat, Joe and David share a love of Seinfeld, £75 martinis, and there's a bit of a natter about good French wine (but luckily, Joe hasn't been on the booze pre-recording like a previous ep!) THE BOOK OFF 'All The Colours Of The Dark' by Chris Whitaker VS 'The Quiet American' by Graham Greene We hope you're enjoying Series 14! Please do follow us on instagram, bluesky, and the others: @ohdobookoff (here's some more gumf on our guests brilliant books) The Poet's Game by Paul Vidich Alex Matthews thought he had left it all behind. His CIA career, the viper's den of bureaucracy at headquarters and the lies and stress of the cat and mouse game of double agents. But then the Director came asking for a favour. Alex is a different man from when he had run Moscow station, where he recruited a network of 'poet spies' including the one he names BYRON. He has pieced his life back together after a tragic boating accident killed his wife and daughter but the scars remain. But Alex remains, in his mind, a patriot, and so he begrudgingly accepts the Director's request. Something, though, is off about the whole operation from the start. The Russians seem one step ahead and the CIA suspects there is a traitor in the agency. Alex realizes that by getting back into the game he has risked everything he has worked for: his new marriage, his family’s safety, his firm. As the noose tightens around Alex, and the FSB closes in, the operation becomes a hall of mirrors with no exits. To find redemption, Alex must uncover the secrets behind BYRON or lose everything. The Seventh Floor by David McCloskey All your life you're CIA. Then you're not. A Russian arrives in Singapore with a secret to sell. When the Russian is killed and Sam Joseph, the CIA officer dispatched for the meet, goes missing, Artemis Procter is made a scapegoat and run out of the service. Traded back in a spy swap, Sam appears at Procter's central Florida doorstep months later with an explosive secret: there is a Russian mole hidden deep within the upper reaches of CIA. As Procter and Sam investigate, they arrive at a shortlist of suspects made up of both Procter's closest friends and fiercest enemies. The hunt soon requires Procter to dredge up her own checkered past in service of CIA, placing her and Sam into the sights of a savvy Russian spymaster who will protect Moscow's mole in Langley at all costs, even if it means wreaking bloody havoc across the United States. Bouncing between the corridors of Langley and the Kremlin, the thrilling new novel by David McCloskey explores the nature of friendship in a faithless business, and what it means to love a place that does not love you back. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wendy Holden and Jane Thynne are both former journalists turned authors. In fact, they both worked in newsrooms together back in the 1980s. In this episode, they bring their journalistic competitiveness to the Book Off, but who will triumph? They also discuss their new novels, their fascination with WW2, why we need to keep telling historic stories and how fun research can be. They also give us some brilliant reading recommendations too! THE BOOK OFF 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott VS 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy' by John Le Carre Here's a little more on Wendy and Jane's books: The Teacher Of Auschwitz by Wendy Holden At the dark heart of the Holocaust, there was a wooden hut whose walls were painted with cartoons; a place where children sang, staged plays and wrote poetry. Safely inside, but still in the shadow of the chimneys, they were given better food, kept free of vermin, and were even taught meditation to imagine full stomachs and a day without fear. The man who became their guiding light was a young Jewish prisoner named Fredy Hirsch. But being a teacher in such a brutal concentration camp was no mean feat. Whether it was begging the SS for better provisions, or hiding his homosexuality from his persecutors, he risked his life every day for one thing: to protect the children from the mortal danger they all faced. Time is running out for Fredy and the hundreds of children in his care. Can he find a way to teach them the one lesson they really need to know: how to survive? Midnight In Vienna by Jane Thynne As war looms over Britain and there is talk of gas masks and blackout, people are understandably jumpy and anxious. Stella Fry, who's been working in Vienna for a Jewish family, returns home with no job and a broken heart. She answers an advertisement from a famous mystery writer, Hubert Newman, who needs a manuscript typed. She takes on the job and is shocked the next day to learn of the writer's sudden, unexplained death. She is even more surprised when, twenty-four hours later, she receives Newman's manuscript and reads the Dedication: To Stella, spotter of mistakes. Harry Fox, formerly of Special Branch and brilliant at surveillance, has been suspended for some undisclosed misdemeanor. He has his own reasons for being interested in Hubert Newman. He approaches Stella Fry to share his belief that the writer's death was no accident. What's more, since she was the last person to see Newman, she could be in danger herself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling authors Linwood Barclay and CJ Tudor join Joe Haddow for a chat about their latest books. They discuss genre bending, horror tropes, Stephen King, rocking horses, muffins and building tension. Quite the eclectic mix! They also give us some brilliant book recommendations too. THE BOOK OFF 'Long Island' by Colm Toibin VS 'Altered Carbon' by Richard K Morgan And here's more on their latest novels! 'Whistle' by Linwood Barclay Celebrated children’s author and illustrator Annie Blunt has had a dreadful year. Her husband was killed in a tragic accident, then one of her children’s books ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her young son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal. But Annie’s year is about to get worse. Bored and lonely in their isolated new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed in the grounds of their new house. While Annie is pleased to see Charlie happy, there’s something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night – she’s sure she can hear a train in the middle of the night, although there isn’t an active line for miles. And then bizarre things start happening in the neighbourhood. But even stranger, Annie can’t seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children’s book… Grief plays tricks on the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she’s walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying… The Gathering by CJ Tudor A boy is found with his throat ripped out, the blood drained from his body. It’s not the first such killing, and the town knows who to blame: the vampyr colony in the mountains. But out-of-state detective Barbara Atkins think the evidence doesn’t stack up. People are lying. And Deadhart has a history of dark secrets. The snow keeps falling, but so do the victims. Time is running out for Barbara. Is she hunting a cold-blooded murderer, or a bloodthirsty monster? And which does she fear most? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Joe welcomes Milly Johnson and Samuel Burr to the studio to chat about their new novels. They talk about their writing habits, author mates, female friendships and the menopause amongst man other things. They also give us some great book recommendations too! THE BOOK OFF 'We All Want Impossible Things' by Catherine Newman VS 'Persuasion' by Jane Austen And here's more on our guests books... The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers - by Samuel Burr Clayton Stumper is an enigma. He might be twenty-five years old, but he dresses like your grandad and drinks sherry like your aunt. Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by the sharpest minds in the British Isles and finds himself amongst the last survivors of a fading institution. When the esteemed crossword compiler, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle to him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for his future. Yet as Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve – and it’s a secret that will change everything… Same Time Next Week - by Milly Johnson Welcome to Spring Hill, home to a square of independent shops and cafes, a thriving local community and nearby the newest venture, Ray’s Diner. Here a group of women meet once a week over a cup of something warming. Amanda is primary carer to her elderly mother and one of the only women in a male-dominated company. Used to being second-best all her life, is this her time to finally break ranks and shine? Sky works at the repair shop, patching up old teddy bears, and their owners’ hearts. But her heart beats for the one man who is strictly off-limits. Mel has been a loyal and loving wife to Steve for thirty years. Then when he goes to his old school reunion, life as she knows it will never be the same again. Erin is trying to get over a traumatic loss where her guilt weighs more than her grief. Can she find the first step to healing lies in sharing an hour with strangers once a week? Astrid is feeling in need of a change and a challenge. But when a fantastic opportunity presents itself, who is around to convince her she is worthy enough to take the risk? Can these women find the answers to their worries, acceptance, courage, support here? Join them at the same time next week to find out… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emilia Hart and Bridget Collins join Joe Haddow for a pretty fun and chaotic Book Off! They chat about their brilliant new novels and give us some great book recommendations too. They also talk about the importance of author mates, accidental deleted manuscripts and some scary scary creepy scenes too. Joe had a glass of wine at lunch before the recording - and then had a negroni thrust in his hands at the studio - so he was quite 'loose' for this one! (enjoy) THE BOOK OFF 'The Eagle Of The Ninth' by Rosemary Sutcliff VS 'A God In Ruins' by Kate Atkinson If you're a fan of our podcast, please do spread the word to fellow book lovers. And, remember you can follow us on Instagram / Threads / Blue Sky and X (but maybe not for much longer) And here are the book blurbs for our guests' latest novels: 'The Silence Factory' by Bridget Collins A glittering edifice, raw and shining. Great lengths of supple silk, rolled onto bales. And the closer you get, the more it whispers… In the Factory, the looms never stop weaving. Cobwebs transported from ancient Mediterranean glades are spun into a precious fabric that silences the world. But what happens to those who fall under its spell? And who is harnessing its power? After all, a world of silence can bring peace, but it can also conceal the deeds of the wicked… The Silence Factory is an enthralling story about complicity, desire and corruption – a novel to lose yourself in. 'The Sirens' by Emilia Hart  Sisters separated by centuries. Voices that can't be drowned out. Lucy is running from what she’s done – and what someone did to her. There’s only one person who might understand: her sister Jess. But when Lucy arrives at her sister’s desolate cliff-top house, Jess is gone. Lucy is now alone, in a strange town steeped in rumour. Stories of men disappearing without a trace. A foundling discovered in a sea-swept cave. And women’s voices murmuring on the waves… As Lucy searches for her sister, those voices get ever louder. They tell of two sisters, two centuries ago, bound and transported across the world. A world where men always get their way. A world that is at once distant, and achingly familiar. Are these voices luring Lucy closer to her sister? Or will the secrets of the past pull them both under? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Debut novelists, Roisin O'Donnell and Chris McQueer, go head to head in a war of the words. They discuss their latest books ("Nesting" and "Hermit"), their writing inspirations, the power of short stories and the rise of toxic masculinity. Whilst Andrew Tate doesn't in any way dominate this conversation (nor should he dominate any conversation), the authors discuss how young boys and men are being radicalised through dangerous people on social media and what, if anything, can be done about it. Both books also look at the theme of coercive control, which again is something else that is on the rise. They also recommend us some brilliant books - and have a bit of a love-off about Wendy Erskine. THE BOOK OFF 'Threats' by Amelia Gray VS 'Demon Copperhead' by Barbara Kingsolver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.