Advertise on podcast: Book Off!

Award-winning authors, Donal Ryan and Elif Shafak, join Joe Haddow for a war of the words. Elif's new novel - 'In One Brief Moment All Eternity' - is an imaginative re-telling of Flaubert's 'Madame Bovary' - told from 30 different characters. Some of them are based on real-life people, whilst others are completely made up (and not necessarily human!) Donal's latest novel - "Where Are The Kings" - is a poignant coming-of-age story set in rural Ireland. It follows a young boy, navigating the tragic loss of his mother. The authors discuss their books and the inspirations behind them, as well as touching on themes of grief and loss. They also talk about art, literature - and the awful stats of how many libraries are closing in the UK (and around the world). THE BOOK OFF 'Johnny Got His Gun' by Dalton Trumbo VS 'Homer-Haunted' by Henry Power 'Where Are The Kings' by Donal Ryan Something terrible has happened to Jack but no one seems to want to talk about it. His uncles can tell him about everything from quantum physics to how to hunt for deer, but they can’t seem to tell him anything about their own sister or why Jack doesn’t feel sad for her in the way he should, or why Grandad tries to shoot Jack’s dad when he gets out of the hospital. Still, there’s work to be done in the oily wonderland of his uncles’ garage; there’s his beautiful aunt Rose to hypnotise him and his loving grandparents to console him; then there’s JJ, who wants to fight him one day and save him the next. But with so many questions, in a family with so many secrets, it is difficult for Jack to understand the person he is becoming. How can a simple boy learn to become a king? 'In One Brief Moment All Eternity' by Elif Shafak During a time of great turmoil, Gustave Flaubert created literature's most scandalous heroine: Madame Bovary. He then poisoned her with arsenic. But what if, 175 years later, Emma – and the women history overlooked – could seize the quill from his hands and tell a different story? In One Brief Moment All Eternity is a luminous reinvention of an iconic male writer, told through the eyes of the women – real and fictional – who shaped him: a devoted nursemaid, an Egyptian dancer and a passionate, jealous lover who refuses to be forgotten. Through their voices, visionary author Elif Shafak creates both an intimate portrait of a great artist and an epic meditation on storytelling itself: who gets remembered, who gets erased, and how can literature endure through political upheaval, war and injustice? When the world feels broken, how do we find the hope to carry on? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling authors and all-round wonderful human beings, Max Porter and Katherine Rundell, join Joe Haddow for a War of the Words! They chat about the joy of children's books, magic, creating worlds and why brawling is very much different to fighting. Both Katherine and Max are passionate about words and poetry - and give us some wonderful book recommendations to add to the TBR pile! THE BOOK OFF The Love Poetry of John Donne VS 'Staying Alive' by Neil Astley And here's more info on our guest's brilliant books: 'Impossible Creatures: The Neverfear' by Katherine Rundell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is kidnapped. The ransom note reads: We have taken what is precious to you. We require the most precious objects in Glimouria in return. There will be three demands. If you tell any person or creature, they die. If you fail, they die. Now Christopher – alongside Anya Argen, the former Princess of Dousha, Ratwin the ratatoska and Jacques the Jaculus dragon – must set sail on the Neverfear to recover three precious treasures. Together they must face fearsome giants, win a daring race, and outwit deadly enemies to save those they love most. 'Dogs And Bears' by Max Porter (illustrated by Dorothee de Monfreid The dogs and the bears have been brawling for a while. No one knows quite how it started. Was it the jackets, cloaks and bandanas the dogs were wearing? Or the smell of the sickly sweets that the dogs were making? But today is the day of the third deciding brawl. The stage is set. NO snack breaks and no biscuits. But halfway through the world is interrupted by an unexpected airborne event - raining squid! This will change the relationship of the dogs and bears forever... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Authors Shelby Van Pelt and Debra Curtis join Joe Haddow for a good ole Book Off! They talk about their debut novels ('Impossibly Bright Creatures' and 'Laws Of Love And Logic'), the brilliance of nature - specifically Octopi - strange psychic coincidences - and sex! THE BOOK OFF 'The Woman Who Lost Her Soul' by Bob Shacochis VS 'The Soul Of An Octopus' by Sy Montgomery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

International bestselling authors, Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena, go head to head in a war of the words! They join Joe Haddow to chat about their new novels, creepy houses, instagram life vs real life, and why some authors (mainly men) shouldn't write sex scenes in their books. The authors also discuss how dark they will go in their own books, why they like reading really gruesome things, tell us about authors they admire - and give us some brilliant book recommendations too. THE BOOK OFF 'Lie With Me' by Sabine Durrant VS 'Five' by Ilona Bannister And here's a little more about out guest's latest books! 'Getting Away With Murder' by Shari Lapena Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. They have carefully, expensively, made every inch of it their own. It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary. So when Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle? The answer is obvious. Or at least, it is obvious to Jill and Ted. The death of one wealthy family member could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder. As long as they trust each other. And as long as there are no surprises . . . 'It Could Have Been Her' by Lisa Jewell Newly divorced and feeling a little lost, Jane Trevally agrees to accompany a man she doesn't know to his house in the darkest corner of Hampstead Heath. She's offered a drink. She steps inside.And then she hears a scream.Jane runs. Twenty five years later, Jane finds herself outside the same house, this time to return a dog who's been found near her home. A dog whose owner has just been reported missing. A fleeting glimpse of a haunted looking woman through the window sends Jane on a mission to uncover the house's secrets - secrets more terrifying than she could have ever imagined. And she can't stop thinking: It could have been her . . . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're baaaaack! HELLO SERIES 16! And for the first episode in our new series, authors Bobby Palmer and Claire Daverley go head-to-head in a war of the words. They discuss their latest novels ("Main Characters" and "People In Love") and discover that they both have exactly the same taste in books! Joe chats to them about rom-coms, Richard Curtis, and the many different beautiful and frustrating angles of writing about love. We also get some cracking book recommendations from them as well...and there are several cameos from Dougal the dog! THE BOOK OFF 'Shark Heart' by Emily Habeck VS 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte And if you liked the sound of Bobby and Claire's books - here's a little more info on their novels: "People In Love" by Claire Daverley One bright blue day, on a bench by the river, Nora’s partner Robin proposes. It is unexpected; they’d always agreed that they didn’t need a wedding. But after a decade of in-jokes, dancing in the low-lit kitchen and sharing morning toast in bed, Nora says yes. Why wouldn’t she? The answer lands on the night of their engagement party, when Bren turns up on her doorstep. Growing up, Bren and Nora were the sort of best friends who everyone swore would end up together. But when a sudden heartbreak turned their lives upside down, Bren left, Nora stayed, and the silent longing between them remained unspoken. Now, he’s back, and their tentative yet undeniable spark reignites, forcing Nora to ask herself: How can you know your heart, if it feels like it’s split in two? "Main Characters" by Bobby Palmer Clara and Seb are about to fall in love. They don't know it yet. But everybody else does. When Clara and Seb meet in a quiet corner of London, it's the start of something. She wants to be a director. He's an actor, unsure what he wants from life. Their connection is magnetic. Everyone can see that falling in love looks something like this. But when Clara casts Seb in the film that will make her name, what should be the happiest time of their lives ends with a gut-wrenching betrayal. Some love stories are bigger than just two people. This one is told through the eyes of friends, flatmates, exes and strangers who see all the sides of Seb and Clara, from their first date to the moment they fell apart. Everyone has their version of events. But only Clara and Seb can decide how their story ends... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Currie - lead singer of Del Amitri - and Debsey Wykes - frontwoman of Dolly Mixture - join Joe for a natter about their memoirs, music, writing, forgotten histories and much more. Justin talks about touring America, then and now, how the US took Del Amitri under their wings and, essentially, helped him buy a house! Debsey talks about touring with The Undertones and U2, keeping an archive - and writing to remember. They also recommend us some brilliant books that they have enjoyed recently! THE BOOK OFF 'The Haunting Of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson VS 'Train Dreams' by Denis Johnson Here's a little more info on our guest's memoirs: 'The Tremelo Diaries' by Justin Currie It’s 2022 and we join Justin at the doctor’s office, looking down the barrel of a Parkinson’s diagnosis. After concerned fans noticed a tremor in his hand, Currie sought the medical advice which led him to the discovery that would throw his future into uncertainty.  The immediate fallout of his diagnosis is laid bare in Currie’s candid, stream of consciousness voice. A voice that is also by turns poetic, self-deprecating and darkly humorous across a series of diary entries that capture Justin’s innermost feelings ― part travelogue, part confessional.  Following a coming to terms with the situation whilst on tour in the U.S, the second half of the story joins Currie in 2024, supporting Simple Minds on tour with Del Amitri. Anger, heartbreak and a looming sense of finality concoct a terse relationship between what once was and what may never be. Yet, page after page, what prevails is the achingly perfect timing of his acerbic wit. The Tremolo Diaries is a beautiful and unique meditation on illness and aging. It is a twilight years reflection on band life in the 21st Century. It’s a travelogue around the world’s art galleries, parks, bars and sites of natural beauty. And most importantly, it is about love and friendship, adversity and courage, life and loss. In a first-of-its-kind exploration of Parkinson’s by a multi-platinum selling musician, The Tremolo Diaries looks the dramatic irony of Currie’s affliction in the eye, puts down the guitar, and returns the needle to the start of the song. 'Teenage Daydream: We Are The Girls That Play In The Band' by Debsey Wykes Debsey Wykes' memoir is a vivid coming-of-age story from one of the UK’s earliest female post-punk musicians. As bassist and vocalist in cult trio Dolly Mixture, Wykes was thrown into the male-dominated music world of the late 1970s, brushing against fame with an unlikely No.1 hit alongside Captain Sensible before finding long-term acclaim through her work with Saint Etienne. Told with charm and defiance, the book revisits a youth shaped by DIY ethics, schoolgirl friendship, and the thrill of performance. It features appearances from key figures of the era — including Paul Weller, Madness, and The Pogues — and captures the spirit of a scene where handmade hula skirts met Top of the Pops. Now performing with both Saint Etienne and her group Birdy, Wykes reflects on the enduring appeal of Dolly Mixture, whose reissues remain in high demand. Teenage Daydream is a rare, first-hand account of a woman forging her path through punk’s golden age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two authors go head to head in a war of the words! This week - Laura Evans and Pip Landers-Letts join Joe Haddow for a natter. They chat about writing sapphic fiction, big skies, eerie landscapes, the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award...and the joys of writing in Ikea! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multi-million selling superstar author, Ken Follett, returns to Book Off and goes head to head in a war of the words with author and artist Amy Jeffs. Ken discusses his latest novel 'Circle Of Days' and his fascination with Stonehenge. He talks about the challenges of writing in different historic periods, deep research and how to turn lots of factual information into a brilliantly engaging, page-turning novel. Amy chats about her book 'Old Songs', and her fascination with folk songs and ballads. Amy steeped herself in medieval history and has studied this period and the songs of this time extensively. The two guests also give us some brilliant book recommendations - and Ken tells about his short-lived comedy writing career in the 70s! THE BOOK OFF 'The Man Of Property' by John Galsworthy VS 'Moonfleet' by J. Meade Falkner But which one will win? Here's a little more info on our guests' books: 'Circle Of Days' by Ken Follett A FLINT MINER WITH A GIFT Seft, a talented flint miner, walks the Great Plain in the high summer heat, to witness the rituals that signal the start of a new year. He is there to trade his stone at the Midsummer Rite, and to find Neen, the girl he loves. Her family lives in prosperity and offers Seft an escape from his brutish father and brothers, within their herder community. A PRIESTESS WHO BELIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE Joia, Neen's sister, is a priestess with a vision and an unmatched ability to lead. As a child, she watches the Midsummer ceremony, enthralled, and dreams of a miraculous new monument, raised from the biggest stones in the world. But trouble is brewing among the hills and woodlands of the Great Plain. A MONUMENT THAT WILL DEFINE A CIVILISATION Joia's vision of a great stone circle, assembled by the divided tribes of the Plain, will inspire Seft and become their life's work. But as drought ravages the earth, mistrust grows between the herders, farmers and woodlanders - and an act of savage violence leads to open warfare . . . 'Old Songs' by Amy Jeffs and Gwen Burns Old Songs fuses short stories, histories, lyrics and illustrations in an enthralling reimagining of traditional folk ballads. Sunday Times Bestselling historian Amy Jeffs and Illustrator Gwen Burns combine forces to create a rich compendium, singing of travel, mystery, magic and the essential urges of humanity. Featuring iterations of fairy tales and sinister descendants of Greek myths and bible stories, as well as a cast of lesser-known characters with names like Tam Lim, Child Wynd and Maisery, Old Songs threads a tapestry of Britain's landscape, history and cultures. At the base of hills we can visit to this day, elf queens kidnap hapless poets and carry them through rivers of blood; and at the foot of a tree whose offspring still stand in the forests of Northumberland, a girl mimes combing the hairless head of a dragon who was once her brother. In spellbinding tales of brown-skinned girls who danced on their lovers' graves, of golden-masted ships captained by the Devil, of fiddles that cried "Murder!", of men kidnapped by fairies and boys married at fourteen, we find narrative motifs as ancient as humanity itself. In the histories interconnecting the stories, we find the fantastical rooted in the everyday, bringing to light the real experiences of great swathes of people to whom such story-songs were not only familiar, but a way of escaping into the extraordinary and returning gratefully home. Bringing enchantment to familiar landscapes, ballads were created anew by each singer and passed down from fireside to fireside, at the knees of childhood nurses, in manuscripts and in early printed pamphlets. Now, ten stories are gathered here, beautifully recreated for modern readers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women’s Prize shortlisted author, Lily King, and previous Women's Prize winner, Tayari Jones, join Joe for this week’s Book Off! They discuss their new novels, co-parenting Koalas, Ann Patchett, lovers, desire, chosen family, female friendship, mothers, Oprah and the many many forms of love. We LOVED this chat - and hope you do too!  THE BOOK OFF 'The Transit Of Venus' by Shirley Hazzard VS 'Song Of Solomon' by Toni Morrison And here's a little more info on our guests' new novels: 'Kin' by Tayari Jones A yearning for their missing mothers pulls Vernice and Annie apart. It will take a devastating tragedy to bring them back together. Vernice and Annie are 'cradle friends', born days apart in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, both destined never to know their mothers. The girls are inseparable, bound by a friendship far deeper than sisterhood. But this is the American south in the 1950s. Black girls like Vernice and Annie have to fight for every opportunity they can, and neither one can build the future they hope for in Honeysuckle.  Gradually, inevitably, the girls drift apart. Vernice pursues her education; Annie is lured by the promise of a heady first love affair and a growing obsession with finding her mother. But her search pulls her even further into a world of danger that soon leaves her oldest friend battling to save her. 'Heart The Lover' by Lily King Our narrator understands good love stories - their secrets, their highs and free falls. But her greatest love story, the one she lived, never followed the rules. She was in her senior year of college when star students Sam and Yash swept her into an intoxicating world of academic fervour, rapid-fire banter and raucous card games. Their lives became quickly intertwined - with friendship but also with unpredictable passions and the intimations of first love. Decades later, she is a successful writer, living a comfortable life with her husband and children, when a surprise visit brings the past crashing into the present, forcing her to confront the decisions and deceptions of her youth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Authors Ava Glass and Anna Mazzola go head to head in a war of the words - pitting a book they love and think that everyone should read against each other in The Book Off! They also chat to Joe Haddow about their new novels, the corrupt world of billionaires (and their exclusive ski resorts), haunted houses, spies, writing inspirations - and - why writers have pseudonyms. They also give us some great book recommendations too. THE BOOK OFF 'The Thirteenth Tale' by Diane Setterfield VS 'The Likeness' by Tana French Which one do YOU think should win? Find out which Joe picks on the latest episode. Remember you can follow and subscribe on Spotify and Apple - and follow us on instagram and bluesky! Here's a little more info on our guests new novels! 'The Hiding Season' by Ava Glass (AC Glass) Maya Landry is in desperate need of a fresh start. Alone and heartbroken, she finds work as a caretaker at an exclusive ski resort for the elite in the mountains of Montana. Quiet and empty in the summer months, it's the perfect escape. All Maya wants is to be alone. But she's not alone on the mountain. Someone else is there. A killer with his next victim in his sights. After Maya finds a body, she must run for her life. One man tells her that he can save her. But can she trust him? Is he everything he claims to be? Only one thing is certain: the killer will stop at nothing. And Maya is the only witness to their crime . . . 'Notes On A Drowning' by Anna Mazzola (Anna Sharpe) Alex knows she risks getting fired from her law firm if she takes on another unpaid case, but when she hears Rosa's desperate voice at the other end of the phone, she knows she has to help: the body of Rosa's shy teenage sister, Natalia, has been dragged, lifeless, from the Thames. Alex can't help but think of her own missing little sister. She knows how a lack of answers can eat you alive. Kat has worked hard to become Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, and is eager to finally put the dark and tragic part of her past behind her. But when she discovers a series of cover-ups, she begins to wonder whether her seemingly perfect new boss could be involved. Then she's shocked to discover a letter that raises worrying questions about a girl found drowned in London... Natalia. There are complex and painful reasons for Alex and Kat not to work together, but when it becomes clear that there are powerful people involved in Natalia's death, and that other girls are at risk, Alex and Kat must overcome their differences to find answers. Will they save the girls and discover the truth? Or will the high-powered players in this game stop Alex and Kat for good? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Haddow welcomes two more authors to the Book Off studio - for a war of the words! This week, he's joined by debut novelists Fran Fabriczki and Sam Beckbessinger, who discuss their new books, writing processes and inspirations. They talk about Los Angeles (the loves / the hates), wry humour, peri menopause, forging anger into stories and legendary mums. We also get some pretty great book recommendations too. THE BOOK OFF 'The Book Of George' by Kate Greathead VS 'We Have Always Lived In The Castle' by Shirley Jackson Here's a little more info on our guest's books: 'Femme Feral' by Sam Beckbessinger EVER FELT READY TO HOWL? Hyper-competent start up CFO Ellie is 46-year-old and like most women, is already juggling too much. Daughter's not talking to her, husband's not listening to her, and she's got a promotion coming up at work. It's an inconvenient time to be beset by mid-life symptoms: coarse hair in new places, hot flushes, insomnia, losing time . . . finding bloodstains on all her clothing, howling at the moon. Her doctor diagnoses perimenopause. But it's another 28-day cycle that's taking hold. One involving fur, and teeth, and a not insignificant amount of rage. Suddenly the troubles in her life - hot flushes, thankless family, spiralling to-do list, oblivious husband, the w*nker promoted above her at work - seem almost . . . bite-size. 'Porcupines' by Fran Fabriczki Los Angeles, 2001. Sonia is raising her daughter, Mila, alone in the sunny but somnolent suburbs of LA. Her days are a blur of not-quite-illegal business activities, avoiding other moms, and baking birthday cakes laced with rum: minor mistakes that nevertheless remind her she doesn’t belong. Mila, meanwhile, is juggling violin and swimming lessons and navigating the treacherous social politics of school – all the while trying to get her mother to share something, anything, about her past. But there are just too many things that Mila doesn’t know: She doesn’t know that her mother grew up in Soviet Hungary (where getting your hands on a banana was one of the greatest thrills in life)She doesn’t know that her mother has a sister called Rina (whom she hasn’t spoken to in 10 years)The only thing she does know about her father is that he was a ‘good time’ (according to her mother)Crucially, she doesn’t know that there is a very good reason why her mother dodges everyone, from traffic cops to vice principals. So, Mila concocts a scheme to get her mother, and the man Mila is kind of sure must be her father to reconnect. It involves corralling Sonia into chaperoning an orchestra of ten-year-olds (most of whom seem to be called Megan) on a road trip from LA to San Francisco, and it may just cause their carefully constructed lives to implode. Moving between Budapest before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Washington, DC in the tense years of the Cold War and the bright sunshine of early 2000s Los Angeles, Porcupines is an irresistible novel about mothers and daughters, belonging and reinvention, the things we carry with us, and those we tell ourselves we’ve left behind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Hilary and Sabine Durrant join Joe Haddow for a Book Off! They chat about their new novels, choosing their settings, 'chalk n cheese' detective duos and balancing darkness and light. Sarah's book ('The Drowning Place') has ghostly elements to it, so they discuss ghosts and whether the authors believe in them... THE BOOK OFF 'The Mahe Circle' by George Simenon VS 'Your Blue-Eyed Boy' by Helen Dunmore If you're enjoying the podcast - please do like and subscribe - and maybe even leave us a review! It helps to spread the word. Here's a little more info on our guests' books: 'The Drowning Place' by Sarah Hilary Every place has its ghosts. Edenscar, a town in the Peak District, has more than most. 17 years ago, its inhabitants were hit by tragedy when a school bus veered off the road and everyone on board drowned. Everyone, that is, except Joseph Ashe. His miraculous survival has haunted him and the town ever since. Now a Detective Sergeant in the local police, Joe is called to the scene of a brutal and apparently inexplicable crime. The whole town is spooked, but Joe’s new boss, DI Laurie Bower, more used to inner-city police work, has no time for superstition. She just wants to find the very real killer who has left no trace and apparently had no motive. Joining forces, Joe and Laurie work to uncover the secrets of Edenscar, both past and present. But when you dig up the dead, expect to get your hands dirty… 'Dead Heat' by Sabine Durrant Former journalist Matt Grimshaw's life is at a low ebb. He's been 'let go' by the paper where he's worked for years, and his relationship with his long-term girlfriend has come unstuck. So when an invitation arrives from his two closest friends, Celia and Adam Murphy, to join them at their house in Greece, he jumps at it. It may be harsh and unwelcoming on the Mani Peninsula but Matt determines to stay there for the whole summer and to write his much put-off screen-play. But then the Murphys plus children arrive, and a wealthy newcomer to the area starts throwing loud and lavish parties in his big house across the bay. As the nights become hotter and the parties wilder, everyone's motivations darken. Envy rises, resentments grow - until a terrible accident stops the summer in its tracks. At least, it looks like an accident… Set over one blazing Mediterranean summer, Sabine Durrant’s new thriller is tense, claustrophobic and utterly gripping. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Haddow welcomes two bestselling authors - Claire Douglas and Jane Harper - to Book Off to go head-to-head in a war of the words! They chat about making fictional settings seem as real as possible, how a sense of place can shape a novel, and why you should ALWAYS write down your ideas, you never know when you might need them. Jane and Claire also talk about knowing when to give up on a novel - rather than pushing through if something's not working - and how some books come easier than others. The two authors also give us some brilliant book recommendations - and writing advice! THE BOOK OFF 'The 13 Storey Treehouse' by Andy Griffiths VS 'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Philippa Pearce But which one will win? Here's a little more about our guests' new books: 'Last One Out' by Jane Harper  Five years ago, Sam Crowley vanished on his twenty-first birthday. The only clues were his footprints in the dust of three abandoned houses. One set in. One set out. Now, his mother Ro returns to the dying town of Carralon Ridge. The community is a ghost of its former self, fractured by the encroaching mining operation and years of unspoken grief. Ro is looking for answers. But in a town where everyone is leaving, the few who remain are guarding closely held secrets. In this disappearing landscape, can Ro find the truth before the dust settles forever? 'The Family Friend' by Claire Douglas When Imogen is told she’s inherited a country house near Bath, she thinks it must be a mistake. She last saw its owner, reclusive artist Dorothea Roe, sixteen years ago, during a tragic summer which changed her life for ever. Now, with partner Josh in tow, it’s a chance for a fresh start. But after discovering an old box with her name on it in Dorothea’s abandoned study, Imogen starts to believe the woman was trying to send her a secret message. And when rumours begin to swirl that Dorothea was murdered, she starts to suspect that this gift might not be the life-line she thought it was. Who would want to kill Dorothea? Could it be tangled up in Imogen’s own dark family history? And what if Imogen is now the one in danger? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessie Burton and Katy Hessel join Joe Haddow for a war of the words. They discuss great women artists, mudlarking, the influence of family histories, museums and galleries, getting children interested in art and finding a writing voice. Katy and Jessie also recommend some brilliant books - including 'The Wreck' by Lizzy Stewart (graphic novel) and 'The Artist' by Lucy Steeds (novel) THE BOOK OFF 'What I Loved' by Siri Hustvedt VS 'The Lonely City' by Olivia Laing And here is a little more info on each of our guests books! 'Hidden Treasure' by Jessie Burton From the bestselling author of The Miniaturist. Jessie Burton's Hidden Treasure is the phenomenal page-turning story of two children whose lives collide when they find an ancient treasure with the power to return to them the most precious thing they have ever lost For the people who live on the banks of the Thames, the river is a living, breathing thing. It can take your treasures. It can hide your treasures. And, sometimes, it can give them back. Bo and Billy are two children who have never met. Billy is an orphan. Bo’s dad died when she was small and now her brother is off to war. Both children are poor, but they have each found half of a priceless treasure, given up by the river. A treasure which – when the pieces are reunited – holds the power to give back to one of them the most precious thing they have ever lost. But should the treasure be put back together again? And why has the river given it up now? 'The Story Of Art Without Men' by Katy Hessel (illustrated by Ping Zhu) A beautiful journey through the untold stories of art, adapted from the global sensation The Story of Art Without Men, by expert art historian and bestselling author Katy Hessel. Step into the incredible lives of the women artists who have gone uncelebrated for too long. Journey through history, from the Renaissance to the Second World War, and across the globe, from Cornwall to Manhattan, Nigeria, Japan and more, to discover the stories of women who changed the world with their incredible art. You'll learn about the extraordinary lives of freedom fighters, game changers and adventurers - and be astounded by the art they made, with its striking landscapes, hidden messages and calls for women's rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Kadis (ex Smash Hits journo and music manager) goes head to head with Tanya Sweeney (columnist and journo) in a war of the words. They chat about their debut novels, their inspirations and their complex central characters. Plus, there's a lot of chat about Smash Hits, music, Bros, One Direction - and - stalking! THE BOOK OFF 'Olga Dies Dreaming' by Xochitl Gonzalez VS 'High Fidelity' by Nick Hornby Here's a little more info on each of our guest's new novels: 'Esther Is Now Following You' by Tanya Sweeney You're the love of Esther's life. You just don't know it yet... Esther first sees Ted walking in a park in London. They lock eyes and for a fraction of a second, she feels something she’s never felt before. She starts by reading up about his life in Canada and his work as an actor. Then she watches every interview with him online. It isn’t long before she’s joined Ted’s fan site online where her and the ‘Tedettes’ stalk his every move. When Ted gets a new celebrity girlfriend, Esther decides that things have gone far enough. She leaves her husband, takes all their savings, and buys a one-way ticket to Canada. After all, Ted might not know it yet, but they are meant to be together – he just needs a little bit of persuading... 'Big Nobody' - by Alex Kadis For Constance ‘Connie’ Costa, life is just beginning. She dreams of leaving behind her dull, dreary life in ‘70s East London, shaking off her deeply embarrassing Greek-Cypriot community of interfering Aunties and pretend ‘cousins’, and running away with her best mate Vas (fellow misfit; NHS specs; soul of a poet). She is determined to take her rightful place alongside her hero, David Bowie, onstage at Wembley Stadium. Only one thing stands in her way: her father, The Fat Murderer. No longer content with being an absolute imbecile and general abomination of nature, he has dialled up his campaign to ruin Connie’s life ever since the untimely death of her mother. If she ever wants to claim the destiny that is rightfully hers, Connie has only one option left: to kill him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.