We talk with acclaimed television writer, now novelist, Roger Simpson, about his debut venture in our world, 'Halifax: Transgression'. Bringing his long-running telemovie protagonist, Dr. Jane Halifax, forensic psychologist, to the printed page, was a frightening endeavour, but compared to what Roger put her through in the book, we'd say he got off pretty easy. A bizarre string of grotesque murders wherein the killer has proudly displayed their victim, suspended by chains in their own gore, terrifies upper-class Melbourne. Old flame (and Hugh Jackman lookalike) Eric Ringer calls Jane onto the case, to help both the victims and officers deal with the horrors they find themselves in. On the mend from her own traumas in her latest telemovies (Halifax: Retribution), Jane once again is confronted with her own choices and how they landed her here in the first place.

Thanks to DMCPR, and Simon and Schuster, for copies of the book and arranging our time with Roger!

We're joined by acclaimed Australian author Chris Hammer to talk about his latest release, 'The Tilt'. Named after an iconic geographic feature in the Murray-Darling region, the novel sees Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan return from their last venture in 'Treasure and Dirt'. Nell has been awarded a role as a homicide detective, and fate (or Chris Hammer, as the case may be), has played her a cruel hand in having her first case drag her right back home to The Cadell Tilt. A water regulator is blown up, and before the town can even start to question why, bodies are found below its now-drained basin. With her family far more involved in the case than she'd like, and a town bustling with the lockdown-driven agitation of conspiracy, the case reaches decades into the past as the voices of the town beckon towards it unsolved mysteries.

Thanks to Allen & Unwin for copies of the book, and arranging our time with Chris!

To celebrate the release of Jamie West's debut novel 'Death on the Pier', we sit down with the author to talk in depth about the decisions, intricacies, and motivations of his murder mysterious revival of a long-lost theatre; the Brighton Palace Pier. An actress is shot under the cover of her character dying in a play, and it falls to Bertie Carroll to translate the oddities of theatre to his old friend, Chief Detective Inspector Hugh Chapman. A fitting tribute both to British theatre history, and to our beloved Golden Age of Detective Fiction, Jamie continues the long union between the two never-quite distant forms of narrative. There are some pretty major spoilers at the end of this discussion, so please be careful not to miss our warning!

If you're a fan of Death of the Reader, or independent media in general - it's our home station's annual 'Radiothon' birthday fundraiser, and we'd love your support! Find all the details at 2ser.com.

We discuss chapters 9-15 of Margery Allingham's final Albert Campion novel, 'Cargo of Eagles', completed posthumously by her husband Philip Youngman Carter. The Demon of Saltey seems alive and well, as the last person to see it is found succumbed to its power. With Mossy dead, it's clear to Campion and Morty that time is of the essence. As the town starts to fill up with gawkers, can the spies see through the noise and stop the killer before they escape with riches.

We also speak with Kate McCaffrey, YA author and crime-debutant about her latest novel 'Double Lives'. Radio journalist Amy Rhinehart has found the perfect show to beat her rival station at the ratings, a true crime series where the listeners can shape the investigation. The murder of a young trans woman with echoes of decades past proves a promising first case, and we discuss how 'Double Lives' echoes the generational influences of 'Cargo of Eagles'.

Thank you to DMCPR and Echo Publishing for a preview copy of Double Lives.

We discuss chapters 1-8 of Margery Allingham's final Albert Campion novel, 'Cargo of Eagles', completed posthumously by her husband Philip Youngman Carter. An aged Campion finds himself the spymaster as the American spy Morty makes his way to the small Essex town of Saltey. As the investigation arrives in the town, their primary contact, lawyer Hector Askew is found dead, a radio playing in his hands, a bullet lodged in his head. Now long past the days of the action hero, can Campion wrangle his team through the grizzly gang-laden underbelly of Saltey? Flex is joined by producer Lachlan Acourt to find out.

We also speak with Mike Ripley, author of ten Mr. Campion continuation novels, the latest of which 'Mr. Campion's Mosaic', launches October 4th. What are the key elements of Albert Campion that shape Mike's vision of the character? We ask Mike what sets the spytective apart.

We discuss chapters 15-21 of the eleventh Albert Campion novel by Margery Allingham. Campion is on the run from the rozzers, and in his escape finds himself in an awkward conversation with a strange man in the back carriage of a train on the way to a meeting with one 'Sir Henry Bull', who just so happens to be that strange man. The nature of our arch-nemesis' scheme is finally revealed, and Campion has to rely on a Deus-Eggs-Machina to stop the hundreds of lorries from bringing Britain to its doom.

We were joined by author Michael Mohammed Ahmad, founding director of the Sweatshop Literary Movement, to talk about his latest novel 'The Other Half Of You', reframing your relationships, and why Western Sydney sees so little crime fiction. This extended discussion goes into deeper detail on what fictions about Western Sydney we still see in the press, the growing literary scene, including the successes of Sweatshop, and more about this year's panel at BAD: Sydney Crime Writers Festival, 'Myths and Realities: "Middle Eastern Crime" in Western Sydney', where he spoke with Randa Abdel-Fattah, Amani Haydar & Sarah Ayoub.

If you haven't yet, I'd also suggest checking out our colleague Andrew Pople's discussions with Michael Mohammed Ahmad on Final Draft, via the 2ser website or your podcast app of choice.

Death of the Reader were provided media tickets to BAD: Sydney Crime Writers Festival 2022

We discuss chapters 8-14 of the eleventh Albert Campion novel by Margery Allingham. While committing some form of espionage he's probably supposed to know about, Albert Campion is shown the grand scale of the Bridge Institute's power, from dozens of lorries gathered in a cave, to powerful remote detonators that could change the face of warfare. The investigation is upended when his budding ally Superintendent Hutch is told Campion matches the description of a man who fled from a city hospital the day before. Unable to prove it wasn't him, Campion goes on the run, trying to solve what it is he even needs to solve.

We're also joined by author Michael Mohammed Ahmad, founding director of the Sweatshop Literary Movement, to talk about his latest novel 'The Other Half Of You', reframing your relationships, and why Western Sydney sees so little crime fiction. This interview was recorded ahead of the BAD: Sydney Crime Writers Festival panel 'Myths and Realities: "Middle Eastern Crime" in Western Sydney', where he spoke with Randa Abdel-Fattah, Amani Haydar & Sarah Ayoub.

Death of the Reader were provided media tickets to BAD: Sydney Crime Writers Festival 2022

We were joined by Pamela Hart, acclaimed author of historical fiction and recent convert to the world of crime fiction authorship, to talk about her latest novel 'An A-List for Death', the second novel in the Poppy McGowan series. While looking after her aunt Mary, Poppy goes to find out why Mary's neighbour is late to visit, only to find Daisy bleeding with a wound to her head in her home. The police won't believe it was any more than an accident, and Poppy's keen eye soon has her embroiled in a race against the clock. Daisy can't remember what happened, but can her would-be attacker risk that memory ever coming back? In this (mostly) spoiler-free discussion, we talk more about the lessons Pamela brought from historical fiction, pantsing, and how characters lives off-screen mould them.

If you're heading to BAD: Sydney Crime Writers' Festival the morning this comes out, or attending online, 'And Now For Something Slightly Different' is on at 10:30AM, with Pamela's 'Mystery Writing: The Victim is the Story' workshop from midday. The festival runs from 8-10 September 2022 at the State Library of NSW. Thank you to the festival's team for putting us in touch with Pamela, and providing Death of the Reader media tickets.

We were joined by the Artistic Director of BAD: Sydney Crime Writers Festival, Catherine du Peloux Menage to talk about this year's program. Featuring many friends of the show, including recent guests Sulari Gentill, Margaret Hickey, Pamela Hart and Benjamin Stevenson, the program covers our beloved metafictional whodunnits, socially conscious conversations about the broader scope of crime, Sydney's own criminal history, and the zeitgeist of recent debutants. Also true crime (just kidding we love you too).

BAD runs from the 8th to the 10th of September, and tickets are available both via the festival's website, or at the door. Come say hi if you see us there!

Death of the Reader were provided tickets to the event.