Books on the Beach

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes, give you writers’ answers to two very simple questions:

1. Best holiday you’ve ever been on?

2. Best book you’ve ever read on holiday?

Here’s Lynda La Plante’s answers. Her full Ep is available here too, just scroll down.

We end Season 1 with a genuine National Treasure.

Lorraine Kelly has been on British television for over 40 years. Two years ago, she published her debut novel, The Island Swimmer and now she's back with the follow up, The Island Secret.

In this interview Lorraine talks about her writing process; how she resented her brother appearing in her family as a little girl and the time the Daily Mail accused her of not having a proper Scottish accent !!

Your life can only be enhanced by an hour with Lorraine.

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Chris Brookmyre is the multi-award winning author of 31 books, spanning an incredible thirty year career. He’s back with a follow up to his debut: Quite Ugly One Morning, which is called Quite Ugly One Evening.

In this wide ranging interview we talk about confected anger on the Internet; Views overtaking News; and how Chris learnt the guitar in later life to allow him to play alongside Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Luca Veste, Doug Johnstone and Stuart Neville in the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers.

Chris is a brilliant writer and a lovely interviewee and as well as checking out Quite Ugly One Evening, you should also read The Cracked Mirror, Chris’ previous novel which is mind blowingly good. What a pleasure it was to spend an hour in his company. Enjoy. 

The Brilliant Heidi Perks is the Sunday Times Bestselling Author who brought you, Now You See Her.

She’s back with a page turner of a locked room thriller, called It Ends Here, which Phil really loved. In this chat you can hear about Heidi’s beginnings in marketing; why it took five years for her to get a publishing deal; how she’s scrapped endings of books on police advice, and why Mr Perks is grateful for a shout out on this podcast…!

Phil really loved meeting Heidi for the first time. They even played table tennis together after the show! See the Books on the Beach Instagram channel for the footage!

You’ll love this Ep. If you’ve ever wanted to write your own book, it’s super insightful.

Phil did Abir Mukherjee’s first national broadcast interview a decade ago for his debut, A Rising Man. Since then, Abir’s won the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year, the British Book Awards Crime & Thriller Novel of the Year, the CWA Dagger for best Historical Novel, and much much more.

In this Episode, we get Abir’s views on India; his Jeffrey Archer impression (!) and we learn his family’s Indian pet name for him. His new book The Pinnacle is also out today and is his funniest book to date. Enjoy!

Jamie Smart has sold millions of children's books: The Bunny vs Monkey series, Looshkin and Megalomaniacs. His books are hilarious punk graphic novels for children and make my own kids howl with laughter.

In this very special episode, some of Jamie's junior readers get to put their questions to their hero, one of which he says not even his own Editor has ever asked..!If you've got children, they'll love this. There's tonnes of new info about the next few books and some specials to come before the end of 2026.

This one'll hit you, 'Oof...Right in the Puddings.'

Sarah Vaughan is the brilliant Million Seller behind hits like Anatomy of a Scandal and Little Disasters.

She's back with a brand new novel - Based Upon a True Story - which is a family saga rooted in King Lear. It's brilliantly observed, satirical and also tackles some serious issues like Gambling Addiction.

Phil and Sarah chat about the novel plus Sarah's views on Instagram Influencers, her former career as a print journalist covering harrowing news stories and why she writes for therapy.

Michael Connelly is Phil's all time favourite writer. He's delighted that Michael said Yes to another interview.

In this Ep, you'll hear Michael talk candidly about a life changing health event; his brand new Detective Stilwell novel, IRONWOOD; he'll outline what the brand new Bosch nobel will be about which lands this Autumn, and gives vital TV updates on Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer and Ballard.

It's a Must Watch/Listen for all Michael Connelly fans obsessed with the BoschVerse!

You don't need me to tell you about Ardal O'Hanlon, right..? Stand up comedian, actor, writer. It's been a while since he gave us a Novel, though. His third - A Plot to Die For - is the first in a new series of gentle, funny, crime books.

In this chat we discuss the novel, learn some Irish vernacular; we talk Fame, Celebrity and Howler Monkeys. Plus plenty of hilarious stories.

Dorothy Koomson has sold over three million books and is Britain's Biggest Selling Black Writer.She stops by to tell Phil all about The Quiet Girls, her brand new 22nd novel; why she's a big scaredy cat when it comes to storylines that are too sinister and why she's lovely until you cross her...then you're guaranteed to turn up in one of her books...as a Baddie..!! She's great fun. Enjoy!