Being Bookish

Welcome back to another episode of Being Bookish. I felt like I wanted to balance out all the incredible fantasy I've been reviewing with another cosy mystery, so I did a quick search of my shelves and came up with Suk Pannu's first Mrs Sidhu novel, Dead and Scone.

For me, this cosy mystery has everything you could want: a cold case, an intriguing present-day murder (or three), a curious and determined amateur sleuth, family conflict, a potential desire for revenge and aubergine bhajis prepared and cooked in a bathroom (you read that right).

So, how did this novel compare to others I've read in the genre? Is it one you'll want to pick up? That's for you to decide. But as always, I dive into what others thought before sharing my personal view.

Grab a coffee, pick up your favourite snacks...or perhaps plug in those headphones and listen on the train!

Cosy Mystery Playlist

In another bonus episode, I am joined by author Sloane Brooks to talk about what happens when sci-fi, fantasy, and romance collide in her latest novel, Written in Starlight, a bold genre mashup that follows Della, Ansel, and a layered mystery stretching between the world of Lumeria and a mysterious library that may hold the key to everything.

Sloane talks about how she wove three distinct storylines into one propulsive narrative, how Ansel's unforgettable found-family crew came together, and what it really takes to structure a complex, multi-threaded novel without losing the reader (or herself) along the way.

We talk about everything from her revision process, publishing timelines, the themes of identity, belonging, and love that beat at the heart of the book, and the relationship choices she agonised over. We also go into how she blended what would have been two books into one!

Sloane also shares where Written in Starlight fits into today's booming sci-fi and fantasy landscape, which beloved scenes landed on the cutting-room floor, and what readers can expect next in the series.

Whether you love fantasy, science fiction, or romance, this book could be the perfect one for you. So grab a coffee, put in those headphones and give this bonus interview a listen before picking up the book!

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In this week's bonus episode, I'm joined by author Charlotte B. Plumb to talk about her debut, Reap and Sow, a gothic fantasy duology about Eda, a young girl whose father placed her and her two older brothers in an untenable position, bargaining with a demon! In order to rescue her brothers from death, she strikes a dangerous pact despite knowing such bargains always end badly.

We dig into the inherited debt that shapes Ida and her siblings, the life-trading magic system at the story's heart, and what really makes someone monstrous: appearance, or the things they put into the world.

Charlotte shares the origins of Kit and the enigmatic Mr Night, why Kit and Eda work so well as foils, and the side characters (including Robin) who bring heart and humour to the darkness.

And because it wouldn't be an author episode without it, we also talk about the craft of writing! Why her debut became a duology, Charlotte's pantser-or-planner process, and the advice she'd give to any writer still chasing their first book deal.

So, grab a drink, light a few candles, and join me for this gothic fantasy exploration.

Charlotte's Links

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In the second episode of this week, I am joined by author Martha Waters to talk about her brand-new novel, Spellstruck.

The story is set in a magical 1920s Britain where spellcasting is outlawed and the class lines cut just as deep as the magic.

We talk about the interwar history Martha wove into the world-building, the opposites-attract chemistry between Vesper and Max, and the family drama and mystery threads that keep the romance from ever feeling small.

Martha also opens up on the craft: whether she drafts in order or jumps around, how she paces herself to avoid burnout, and what finally pushed her to pursue publication. It's a conversation about why romantasy is quietly reshaping publishing, what the interwar years still have to teach us, and how the best romances earn their happy endings by making the world around them feel real.

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This week, in the first of two episodes (a rarity since my early Not Before Coffee Days), I am joined by bestselling author J.R. Ward to talk about the latest instalment in her massive Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Lover Enthroned. Why she jumped the timeline, how the series became a TV adaptation, and what it's like building a fictional universe fans have lived in for two decades.

We talked about everything from dark romance, vampires, and paranormal fantasy, and she makes an unflinching case for romance readers and writers in a publishing world that still seems to have a less-than-positive view of the genre. She shares what she admires about today's author business, how she approaches fandom and collectable editions, and how she keeps a long-running series accessible to new readers while planning connected arcs.

Along the way: what makes a darker romantic hero believable, why representation matters in romance, the leap from lawyer to author, and how Ward defines success across books, adaptations, and sheer persistence.

So grab a coffee, get your headphones ready and give this one a listen...it's an interesting and exciting ride!

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Welcome to my sixth anniversary episode. I thought long and hard about what I should talk about, and when I looked at my bookcase and realised I had yet to read the latest instalment of the Agatha Raisin series, Sugar and Spite, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity.

The many books in the Agatha Raisin series, including the inaugural instalment, The Quiche of Death, have played a very important role in Being Bookish over the years, so what better way to celebrate an important anniversary than to talk about book 36, Sugar and Spite?

Two murders, a drug lord, an organised shoplifting ring, a life in peril, stolen sheep, and so much more make this book an interesting one. As with every Agatha Raisin novel, a lot happens and though I refuse to divert from my goal of never spoiling a book in these episodes.

So while you're not going to find out whodunnit, or any other complex twists that make this book what it is, I am going to talk about my views, the intriguing way that the story develops, and the fact that the Agatha Raisin series is told using the floating timeline device!

Cosy Mystery Playlist

In this week’s episode of Being Bookish, I am joined by novelist Simon Wroe to discuss his new novel, Ghost Month (released in hardback on the 27th of August).

The novel is set in a London where the dead return to Earth for a single month (September) every year.

During our conversation, we explore the book's interlocking cast and the events that connect them.

We have Jane and the husband she rents to help hide a secret from her returning mother. Her sister, Angie, is caught between her living husband Peter and a returning ex. Eight-year-old Eddie's fractured family, suffering under the weight of mother Elizabeth's unresolved grief over David. Finally, we have Lil, whose storyline may be the book's most heartbreaking.

Along the way, we get into what the ghosts really offer: closure for the dead, or closure for the living left behind. Simon also opens up about how his own experiences of grief shaped the novel, how he built its overlapping structure across multiple perspectives, and his writing process: planning versus emotion, scenes versus momentum. Plus, what’s Simon up to next?

There’s also the all-important question the book leaves every reader with: would you want a lost loved one to come back, even briefly, or should they remain a beloved and precious memory?

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YA Thrillers are living their best moment right now, and if you ever wanted to attend a barn party, or wondered what it would be like to be questioned by the police when your best friend is murdered, then this book is for you.

Killing Sadie is Rachel Peterson's debut novel, published by SimonTeen.

Here’s what we do know: there was another infamous barn party at the McClain family farm last night, and things went horribly wrong. By the end of the night, there were two dead bodies in the old barn: seventeen-year-old Sadie Cooper and her killer, Mason Vreeland. The murder was heartbreakingly witnessed by Sadie’s twin sister, Jayne, and Sadie died in her arms. Mason was killed by Sadie’s boyfriend, Ben, in an attempt to save Sadie.

Aside from figuring out Mason’s motive, it should be an open-and-shut case. But it’s not.

The story unfolds just after the murders, and Jayne, Ben, and Sadie’s best friend, Liz, are telling the cops what transpired at the party and the events leading up to it. But little details don’t match. And those little details start to add up to big discrepancies. But who’s lying, and why?

The shocking truth is revealed in the third act, when the POV shifts to victim Sadie herself, in the days leading up to the party. Witness exactly what happened—and see if you can piece it all together. Because poor Sadie totally missed what was right in front of her.

Want to know more about how this story came to be, what the inspiration was and how Rachel went about writing it (lots of planning, perhaps?), then check out this episode to learn more.

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If you ever long for the days when Syfy was making and airing their monster-of-the-week shows, or miss the early seasons of The X-Files, then the book I have this week is definitely one for you.

(Mostly) Human Resources is the debut novel from American author Grace Viall. An urban fantasy that blends the world of monsters, monster hunters and the modern world together. In the first in her Entity Case Files trilogy, we meet the employees of Entity, an organisation which hunts and destroys the monsters that lurk, the monsters from folklore and legend. Banshees, Silver Giants, jackalopes - all of them are real, and all of them may be dangerous.

Alexys Keane works in the HR department, looking after the wardens who go out to hunt these creatures that could possibly go bump in the night. She's a desk jockey, who likes where she is. A rule-follower, she's less than impressed when she's forced to work with the less traditional and definitely more rebellious Nic Dyre...and things get even worse when an employee assessment goes awry.

To learn more about this book and why you should definitely read it...as well as possibly pick up a boxset of Warehouse 13, get your earbuds in and give this interview a listen. I promise, it's a world of fun.

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I interrupt your regular programming to make this announcement. For reasons beyond my control, my next episode will be released on Thursday... but give this announcement a listen to get a hint of what it will be.

Honestly, I can't wait to share the next episode with you; however, it has been postponed due to an unexpected event... nothing bad, just not what I had planned for my evening.

Keep your ears to the ground and get those guesses coming; there are clues to be found!