Crime Time FM

Craig Sisterson chats to ATTICA LOCKE about her new novel Guide Me Home, screenwriting and TV, Crime Writers of Colour and Texas.

Guide Me Home Texas Ranger Darren Mathews has handed in his badge. A choice made three years before, which served justice if not the law, means that he may now stand trial. And his mother - an intermittent and destructive force in his life - is the cause of his fall from grace.
And yet it is his mother's reappearance that may also be his salvation. A black girl at an all-white sorority at a nearby college is missing, her belongings tossed in a dumpster. Her sorority sisters, the college police, even the girl's own family, deny that she has disappeared, but Sera Fuller is nowhere to be found. A bloodstained shirt discovered in a woodland clearing may be the last trace of her. And Darren's mother wants her son to work the case.
Disillusioned by an America forever changed by the presidency of Donald Trump, Darren reluctantly agrees. Yet as he sets out to find a girl whose family don't want her found, it is his own family's history that may be brought painfully into the light. And a reckoning with his past may finally show Darren the future he can build.

Attica Locke is the author of Bluebird, Bluebird which won the CWA Steel Dagger and an Edgar Award; Pleasantville, which won the 2016 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was longlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction; Black Water Rising, which was nominated for an Edgar Award and shortlisted for the Orange Prize; and The Cutting Season, a national bestseller and winner of the Ernest Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. She worked onthe adaptation of Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere andAva DuVernay's Netflix series about the Central Park Five, When They See Us. A native of Houston, Texas, Attica lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and daughter.

Recommendation: Alyssa Cole When No One is Watching

Craig Sisterson is a features writer and crime fiction expert from New Zealand who writes for newspapers and magazines in several countries. In recent years he's interviewed hundreds of crime writers and talked about the genre on national radio, top podcasts, and onstage at festivals on three continents. He's been a judge of the McIlvanney Prize and Ned Kelly Awards, and is founder of the Ngaio Marsh Awards and co-founder of Rotorua Noir. He lives in London with his daughter. He is the author of  SOUTHERN CROSS CRIME: The Pocket Essentials Guide to the Crime Fiction, Film & TV of Australia & New Zealand.

Music courtesy of  Guy Hale KILLING ME SOFTLY - MIKE ZITO featuring Kid Anderson. GUY HALE

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,  

The review Show September 2024. The latest selection of new releases.

Peter May The Black Loch 

Simon Mason Missing Person: Alice & The Case of the Lonely Accountant 

Doug Johnstone Living is a Problem 

The Torments Michael J Malone 

Murder in Constantinople AE Goldin 

A Reluctant Spy David Goodman

The Exopotamia Manuscript Maxim Jakubowski 

The Best Crime Stories of the Year ed. Anthony Horowitz & Otto Penzler

The American Mission Matthew Palmer 

Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.

Because this is recorded live there are occasional background noises hopefully it won't spoil your listening pleasure.

Produced by Junkyard Dog
Crime Time

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,  

ABIR MUKHERJEE chats to Paul Burke about his new thriller HUNTED at the Liphook Millennium Centre 3/9/24.

HUNTED IN A RACE AGAINST TIME, WHAT IF THE GREATEST THREAT WAS YOUR OWN CHILD?
It’s a week before the presidential elections when a bomb goes off in an LA shopping mall…
In London, armed police storm Heathrow Airport and arrest Sajid Khan. His daughter Aliyah entered the USA with the suicide bomber, and now she’s missing, potentially plotting another attack.
But then a mysterious woman called Carrie turns up at Sajid’s door after travelling halfway across the world. She claims Aliyah is with her son Greg, and she knows where they could be.
Back in the US, Agent Shreya Mistry is closing in on the two fugitives. But the more she investigates, the more she realises this case is far from as simple as it seems.
Hunted by the authorities, the two parents are thrown together in a race against time to find their kids before the FBI does and stop a catastrophe that will bring the world to its knees.

ABIR MUKHERJEE is the bestselling author of the award-winning Wyndham & Banerjee series of crime novels set in 1920s India. His books have been translated into fifteen languages and won various awards including the CWA Dagger for best Historical Novel, the Prix du Polar Européen, and the Wilbur Smith Award for Adventure Writing. He also co-hosts the popular Red Hot Chilli Writers podcast which takes a wry look at the world of books, writing, and the creative arts, tackling everything from bestsellers to pop culture.
Abir grew up in Scotland and now lives in Surrey with his wife and two sons.
Website: abirmukherjee.com
Twitter, Threads & Instagram: @radiomukhers
Facebook: AuthorAbir

Recommendation
THE NAMESAKE JHUMPA LAHIRI

Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.

Because this is recorded live there are occasional background noises hopefully it won't spoil your listening pleasure.

Produced by Junkyard Dog
Crime Time

Thanks to Liphook Millennium Centre & Haslemere Bookshop

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,  

CRIME SCENE @ Cardiff Central Library Hub
Festival 7th September, 2024

Crime Crossover: MARIE ANNE COPE, GJ WILLIAMS, ABI BARDEN (GB Williams)
Shaping a series: SARAH WARD, DAVID PENNY JACQUELINE HARRETT
ALIS HAWKINS chats to Paul Burke about The Skeleton Army

Produced by Junkyard Dog
Crime Time

Sponsors & thanks to:
Cardiff Central Library Hub, Cardiff Council, Diamond Crime Books, the CWA, Crime Cymru and David Penny, Potter a'i Gwmni and to Preeti and Gordon of the library.

Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.

Because this is recorded live there are occasional background noises and at one point a persistent seagull, hopefully it won't spoil the listening pleasure.

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,  

ROXIE KEY chats to Paul about her new novel THE DEADLY SPARK, Brighton, diversity in crime fiction,

THE DEADLY SPARK Deadly fires are lighting up Brighton, and the latest case is alarmingly close to home for DC Eve Starling. The blaze was deliberately set, and a mother and daughter didn’t make it out of the smoke. 
Eve’s investigation takes her deep into her own uncomfortable past. When her key witness disappears, and with the killer always one step ahead, Eve is desperate to solve the case – whatever the cost.
But Eve has no idea how close she is to the flames, and playing with fire can get you burned...

Roxie Key: I'm a crime thriller author from Northampton, where I live with my wife Laura and daughter Hallie.
I've always been a writer... although the stories I wrote as a child about my pets will never see the light of day, I knew from a young age that one day I wanted to see my name on a book cover. I studied Creative & Media Writing at Middlesex University and then went on to become a copywriter for a global brand.
When I'm not writing (or mumming!), I can usually be found reading, painting, gaming or playing the bass guitar.

Recommendations 
Robert Rutherford Seven Days
Mentions: Claire Mackintosh, Mari Hannah, Jane Casey.

Roxie will be appearing at Kemptown Books with RUTH WARE on 24th September at 7pm.

 Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in 2025.

Music courtesy of  Guy Hale KILLING ME SOFTLY - MIKE ZITO featuring Kid Anderson. GUY HALE

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,  

ANTONIA SENIOR, writer, critic, journalist and podcaster chats to Paul about Spymasters - the book and the podcast, the Cambridge Five, historical fiction and

Spymasters podcast Writer and journalist Antonia Senior interviews all the best writers on espionage. Each episode will bring you fascinating stories on spies, covert action and more – delving in to fact and fiction, past and present. Antonia can be found on X @Tonisenior. Do please follow us on X @SpyMastersPod and spread the word. We will be grateful for any and all support. Should you be an author, with a relevant new or backlist title, interested in appearing on the podcast do get in touch at [email protected]

Spymasters Aspects of History - the book.

Mentions (no particular order): SJ Parris, George Blake, Elizabeth Buchan, Calder Walton, the Cambridge Five, Edith Cavell, Mick Herron, David McCloskey, Merle Nygate, Patrick O'Brian, Hilary Mantel, Mary Renault.
Recommendations: Precipice Robert Harris, The CIA Hugh Wilford

Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in 2025.

Music courtesy of  Guy Hale KILLING ME SOFTLY - MIKE ZITO featuring Kid Anderson. GUY HALE

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,  

The review Show August 

Featuring: 
Steve Cavanagh Witness 8 ✓

Blood Like Mine Stuart Neville✓ 

Fire and Bones Kathy Reichs✓

Ruthless Anne Mette Hancock✓

Pursuit of Death Gunnar Staalesen✓

The Missing and the Dead E M Scott ✓

Holmes & Moriarty Gareth Rubin✓

Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in 2025.

Music courtesy of  Guy Hale KILLING ME SOFTLY - MIKE ZITO featuring Kid Anderson. GUY HALE

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,  

AVA GLASS chats to Paul about her new thriller THE TRAP, Emma Makepeace, meeting yr first spy and the FBI novel to come...

THE TRAP : How far would you go to catch a killer?
This is the question UK agent Emma Makepeace must ask herself when she is sent to Edinburgh for the upcoming global G7 Summit.
The Russians are in town and Emma and her team know a high-profile assassination is being planned.
But who is their target?
There is only one way to find out. Emma must set a trap using herself as bait.
As the most powerful leaders in the world arrive and the city becomes gridlocked, Emma knows the clock is ticking.

AVA GLASS is a former crime reporter and civil servant. Her time working for the government introduced her to the world of spies, and she's been fascinated by them ever since. She lives in the south of England.

Mentions: Ian Fleming, John Le Carré The Night Manager, Len Deighton, Graham Greene, American spy Virginia Hall, The Slow Horses (TV).
RECOMMENDATIONS: Ben McIntyre A Spy Among Friends
TV: The Americans, The Bureau (Fr.)

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,  

MICHAEL ROBOTHAM chats to Craig Sisterson about his new thriller STORM CHILD, Evie Cormac, writing away from home, the secret award, German TV adaptations...

STORM CHILD The storm is coming...
The most painful of Evie Cormac's memories have been locked away, ever since she was held prisoner as a child - a child whose rescue captured hearts and headlines.
Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven's mission is to guide her to something near normality. But today, on a Lincolnshire beach, seventeen bodies wash up in front of them. There is only one survivor, with two women still missing. And Evie's nightmares come roaring back...
Whatever happened all those years ago lies at the core of this new tragedy. Because these deaths are no accident. The same dark forces are reaching out, dragging her back into the storm.
Evie must now call upon Cyrus's unique skills, and her own, in their search for the missing pieces of this complex and haunting puzzle. But will that be enough to save them? And who will pay for the past?

Michael Robotham is a former feature writer and investigative reporter, who has worked in Britain, Australia and America.
His debut thriller, The Suspect, introduced clinical psychologist Joe O'Loughlin and sold more than a million copies around the world, launching a nine-book series. It has been adapted into an ITV series starring Aidan Turner. Michael's standalone thriller The Secrets She Keeps has also been the basis of two BBC TV series.
He has twice won the prestigious UK Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award for best crime novel, as well as the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for When She Was Good, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick.
Michael lives in Sydney.
michaelrobotham.com

Recommendations
Michael Ayliffe, Garry Disher, Candice Fox

Image: Sydney Morning Herald

Craig Sisterson is a features writer and crime fiction expert from New Zealand who writes for newspapers and magazines in several countries. In recent years he's interviewed hundreds of crime writers and talked about the genre on national radio, top podcasts, and onstage at festivals on three continents. He's been a judge of the McIlvanney Prize and Ned Kelly Awards, and is founder of the Ngaio Marsh Awards and co-founder of Rotorua Noir. He lives in London with his daughter. He is the author of  SOUTHERN CROSS CRIME: The Pocket Essentials Guide to the Crime Fiction, Film & TV of Australia & New Zealand.

Music courtesy of  Guy Hale KILLING ME SOFTLY - MIKE ZITO featuring Kid Anderson. GUY HALE

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,  

Sunday Times bestseller, VICTORIA SELMAN chats to Financial Times critic, BARRY FORSHAW about her writing journey and latest novel; the critically acclaimed true crime inspired thriller, All The Little Liars just released in paperback, (15/8).

VICTORIA SELMAN
SundayTimes bestselling author of ALL THE LITTLE LIARS
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3xmvMeS
Website for news and giveaways: http://www.victoriaselmanauthor.com
Twitter: @VictoriaSelman

We love to hear from our listeners! Find me on Twitter @VictoriaSelman and join in the chat using #OnTheSofaWithVictoria

BARRY FORSHAW is the editor of Crime Time, author of several books on film and crime fiction and is the Financial Times Crime Fiction Critic. His latest book SIMENON: the Man, the Books, the Films is released by Oldcastle Books.

Produced by Junkyard Dog

Crime Time

Crime Time FM is the official podcast of
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025
CrimeFest 2023
CWA Daggers 2023-2026 & National Crime Reading Month
& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 2024
2024 Slaughterfest,