In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by award-winning Scottish author Louise Welsh to discuss her latest novel, The Cut-Up, the long-awaited return to her iconic Rilke series.

Louise first introduced readers to Rilke in The Cutting Room, a novel that went on to establish her as one of the most distinctive voices in crime fiction. Now, she’s back with a gripping new instalment and for the first time, it opens with a murder right on the first page.

We talk about what drew her back to Rilke after so many years, how Glasgow continues to shape her storytelling, and why The Cut-Up leans into both darkness and humour. Louise also shares insights into the friendships at the heart of the novel.

Buy The Cut Up here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-cut-up-louise-welsh/7939751?ean=9781838859862&next=t

Books recommended on this episode:

Liza Minelli Autobiography: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/kids-wait-till-you-hear-this-my-memoir-the-instant-1-sunday-times-bestselling-memoir-liza-minnelli/b0ede104c3ff5fe3?ean=9781399746762&next=t

A Bad, Bad Place: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-bad-bad-place-frances-crawford/7876073?ean=9780857508003&next=t

The Trees: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-trees-percival-everett/6584973?ean=9781035036615&next=t

Alan Bennett's Diary: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/house-arrest-pandemic-diaries-alan-bennett/6521771?ean=9781800811928&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m delighted to welcome back author Kelly Mullen to celebrate her second novel, A Murder in Eight Cocktails, a deliciously twisty murder mystery set against the glamorous backdrop of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

We talk about the reality of publishing a second book after a successful debut, the pressure of deadlines, and why Kelly found the experience both exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. She shares what the past year has really been like, from international book tours to meeting her literary heroes, and how she balances writing with her day job.

We dive into A Murder in Eight Cocktails, a clever and character-driven mystery following Willa, a woman navigating midlife, an empty nest, and a complicated relationship with both her husband and ex-husband, who together form an unlikely sleuthing trio. We explore the inspiration behind this dynamic, the novel’s themes of identity and reinvention, and why stories about this stage of life feel so rich and compelling.

Find Kelly online: https://www.instagram.com/kellymullenauthor/

Buy A Murder In Eight Cocktails: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-murder-in-eight-cocktails-kelly-mullen/e7064192bf36dd39?ean=9781529945188&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

It Ends here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/it-ends-here-heidi-perks/dce10cc7150025d1?ean=9781804946480&next=t

Snowblind: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/snowblind-ragnar-jonasson/848324?ean=9781910633038&next=t

Her Many Faces: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/her-many-faces-nicci-cloke/7730200?ean=9781787304796&next=t

In this Reading Is Political episode of In My Good Books, Susie is joined by journalist and author Katie Baskerville to discuss her fascinating new book Beyond Belief. Using gossip as a lens, Katie explores how women’s voices have historically been dismissed, how social speech shapes relationships and communities, and why the way we talk about gossip matters more than we might think.

The conversation also explores how gossip operates in the digital age. From celebrity speculation and online communities to whisper networks designed to keep women safe, Katie explains how the internet has amplified both the positive and destructive potential of social speech.

Along the way, Katie shares a brilliant list of book recommendations for listeners who want to learn more about feminism, power and society, including nonfiction exploring patriarchy and masculinity as well as powerful political fiction.

Find Katie online: https://www.instagram.com/iambaskerville/

Buy Beyond Belief: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/beyond-belief-a-defence-of-gossip-and-the-women-who-do-it-katie-baskerville/88d683a75f8a76b8?ean=9780008730604&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

The Patriarchs: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-patriarchs-how-men-came-to-rule-angela-saini/0cc77cdd1a12de4a?ean=9780008418144&next=t

Pink Pilled: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/pink-pilled-women-and-the-far-right-lois-shearing/7657652?ean=9781526170699&next=t

King Kong Theory: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/king-kong-theory-virginie-despentes/254951?ean=9781913097349&next=t

Caliban & The Witch: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/caliban-and-the-witch-women-the-body-and-primitive-accumulation-silvia-federici/5080308?ean=9780241532539&next=t

A History Of Masculinity: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-history-of-masculinity-from-patriarchy-to-gender-justice-ivan-jablonka/5078242?ean=9780141993706&next=t

1984: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/1984-george-orwell/996626?ean=9781784878979&next=t

The Madaddam Trilogy: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/maddaddam-margaret-atwood/b4ee97f2ba2b0f5d?ean=9781844087877&next=t

Wuthering Heights: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/wuthering-heights-vintage-classics-bronte-series-emily-bronte-emily-bronte/3733547?ean=9781784870744&next=t

His Dark Materials: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/la-belle-sauvage-the-book-of-dust-philip-pullman/5258000?ean=9781409025474&next=t

Tales From EarthSea: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/tales-from-earthsea-the-fifth-book-of-earthsea-ursula-k-le-guin/6452520?ean=9781842552148&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by bestselling author Patrick Gale to discuss his new novel Love Lane, a story rooted in family history, silence, and the complicated truths we inherit.

We explore how Patrick approached writing fiction inspired by real people, particularly his own family, and the emotional and ethical challenges that come with it. From uncovering long-buried secrets in letters to reimagining the life of his great-grandfather, Patrick shares how fact and fiction blur in the writing process.

We also dive into the fascinating historical backdrop of the novel, from post-war Britain to the realities of prison life in the 1950s, and the culture of silence that shaped family dynamics at the time.

Patrick opens up about his writing process, why he still writes everything by hand, how reading work aloud shapes his prose, and the advice every aspiring writer needs to hear.

Find Patrick here: https://galewarning.org/

Buy Love Lane: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/love-lane-a-searing-portrayal-of-escape-and-the-power-of-love-home-and-a-family-patrick-gale/04b20fa7daa5894d?ean=9781472257468&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

The Flint Anchor: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-flint-anchor-sylvia-townsend-warner/2029107?ean=9780241476086&next=t

Armadale: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/armadale-wilkie-collins/22331?ean=9780199538157&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, Susie is joined by book reviewer Michaela from What Michaela Reads, known online for her honest and often thought-provoking content about the online book community.

Michaela posts across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, where she’s built a following by sharing candid book reviews, discussing trends in the book world, and diving into some of the more controversial conversations that happen in the online reading community.

In this conversation, Susie and Michaela explore Michaela’s journey into book reviewing and how BookTok helped connect readers around the world. Michaela shares how she went from simply wanting someone to talk to about books to running a thriving online community, including her own book club, The Thriller Cult.

The discussion also dives into some of the biggest debates happening in the book world right now. From the pressure to read huge numbers of books, to whether negative book reviews are fair game, Susie and Michaela unpack why these conversations can become so heated online.

They also talk about overconsumption in the book community, the reality of creating book content online, and the unexpected pressure that can come with tracking your reading through platforms like Goodreads and StoryGraph.

If you’re part of the online book world, love thrillers, or have ever wondered why people care so much about how many books others read, this episode is packed with honest conversation and plenty of book recommendations.

Find Michaela here: https://linktr.ee/thrillerbook.club?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=ecc86fbd-c431-4854-8fa6-0540c2111cc1

Books recommended in this episode:

In The Blink of An Eye: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/in-the-blink-of-an-eye-pa-j-m-hogan/6035086?ean=9781398511194&next=t

Dissection of A Murder: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/dissection-of-a-murder-special-limited-edition-the-unmissable-and-explosive-courtroom-thriller-for-fans-of-blood-orange-apple-tree-yard-and-the-si/95fd9ed20ecb48a5?ean=9781035072682&next=t

Long Time Dead: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/long-time-dead-t-m-payne/7606711?ean=9781662511301&next=t

Murder In The Dressing Room: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/murder-in-the-dressing-room-holly-stars/7685438?ean=9781405963800&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, Susie welcomes children’s author Claire Linney, creator of the award-winning Time Tub Travellers series for readers aged 8–12.

This conversation is part of the Reading Is Political mini-series, where we explore how books shape empathy, understanding, and the way we see the world. For this episode it felt especially important to include a children’s author. If reading can broaden perspectives for adults, then the books children encounter early on can shape how they understand identity, history and each other for life.

Claire’s middle-grade adventure series follows two friends who accidentally travel back to Tudor London in a mysterious antique bathtub time machine. But alongside the fun and adventure, Claire is also bringing real, often overlooked Black British history to young readers. 

Claire also shares a brilliant list of middle grade recommendations, from graphic novels about refugee experiences to books exploring the legacy of the British Empire, climate activism, and LGBTQ+ history.

And if this really is the Year of Reading, then making sure children can see themselves in the stories they read has never been more important!

Find Claire here: https://www.instagram.com/claire_linney/

Buy The Time Tub Travellers Here: https://www.clairelinney.com/

Books recommended in this episode:

When Stars Are Scattered: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/when-stars-are-scattered-victoria-jamieson/2419499?ean=9780571363858&next=t

Always Angel: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/angel-cake-kimberly-whittam/7730106?ean=9781803708072&next=t

Hear Our Voices: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/what-was-the-british-empire-in-25-true-stories-radhika-natarajan/6737078?ean=9780711266933&next=t

Save Our Forest: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/save-our-forest-nora-dasnes/7664072?ean=9780008653781&next=t

We Are Your Children: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/we-are-your-children-a-history-of-lgbtq-activism-david-roberts/6557870?ean=9781529015362&next=t

Monk & Robot: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/monk-and-robot-a-psalm-for-the-wild-built-and-a-prayer-for-the-crown-shy-becky-chambers/7823351?ean=9781250386335&next=t

Vern Custodian of the Universe: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/vern-custodian-of-the-universe-tyrell-waiters/7412838?ean=9781838742744&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, Susie chats to debut novelist Samantha Dooey‑Miles about her brilliantly dark and funny debut, Under the Hammer.

Set in Hamilton in South Lanarkshire, the novel follows Gemma, a woman whose life is falling apart. She’s lost her job, her boyfriend has run off with her best friend, and she can’t afford the rent on her flat. Her only comfort is watching a property TV show about landlords buying and renovating homes, until she begins to wonder whether the landlords on screen might deserve something far worse.

In this conversation, Samantha explains how the idea for the novel came to her and how that premise became a darkly comic exploration of the housing crisis, renter frustration, and the pressures that push people to breaking point.

Susie and Samantha also talk about the surprising humour in the book, why Samantha didn’t initially realise she’d written a funny novel, and how satire and heightened reality can make serious topics easier to explore.

They also discuss Samantha’s journey to publication, including winning a Scottish Book Trust New Writer Award, the mentorship that helped shape her writing career, and the unusual path that led to Under the Hammer becoming her debut!

Find Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthadooeymiles/

Buy Under The Hammer: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/under-the-hammer-samantha-dooey-miles/7e069a2eb0588003?ean=9780857309389&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/four-stars-a-life-reviewed-joel-golby/7737923?ean=9780008284114&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/hermit-a-powerful-debut-novel-about-one-boy-s-journey-into-incel-culture-chris-mcqueer/cd93782e248e8574?ean=9781035409846&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/sky-daddy-very-strange-and-very-funny-guardian-kate-folk/9d13a05242129ab3?ean=9781529372670&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-first-bad-man-miranda-july/1326830?ean=9781838852740&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by debut crime writer Rebecca Philipson to talk about her darkly funny and thought-provoking novel How to Get Away with Murder.

Blending police procedural with biting humour and a sharp feminist perspective, the novel introduces readers to DI Samantha Hansen, a detective navigating complex cases, professional pressures and the darker side of human nature.

Rebecca shares the story behind the book, from the original idea through to the long road to publication. We talk about her writing process, the importance of research when writing about serial killers and policing, and how studying creative writing at master’s level helped shape the novel.

We also explore the feminist themes running through the book, the role of rage and power in crime fiction, and why Rebecca is interested in challenging traditional narratives around violence in the genre.

Plus, we talk about the realities of finding an agent, the editorial process of publishing a debut novel, and the books that have inspired her along the way.

Find Rebecca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccajphilipson/

Buy How To Get Away With Murder: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-get-away-with-murder-rebecca-philipson/7902094?ean=9780857507679&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/nightwatching-tracy-sierra/288585912b244e9f?ean=9780241999271&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/warning-signs-tracy-sierra/7872219?ean=9780241760918&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-last-thing-to-burn-longlisted-for-the-cwa-gold-dagger-and-shortlisted-for-the-theakstons-crime-novel-of-the-year-will-dean/0f065478fb1d77e0?ean=9781529307092&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/adrift-the-gripping-and-haunting-new-crime-thriller-from-the-award-winning-author-of-the-last-thing-to-burn-will-dean/910459271644b551?ean=9781529382891&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/all-the-colours-of-the-dark-chris-whitaker/7509807?ean=9781398707672&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/lonesome-dove-larry-mcmurtry/4794882?ean=9781529099942&next=t

Welcome to the first episode of the Reading Is Political mini-series on the In My Good Books podcast, where we explore the idea that the books we read, and the stories we tell, are deeply connected to politics, power and the way we understand the world.

In this episode, I’m joined by author Heather Parry, whose novel Carrion Crow blends gothic fiction with sharp social commentary. Together we discuss why reading is inherently political, how literature reflects our beliefs and values, and why fiction can be one of the most powerful ways to explore complex issues like race, class, economics and colonialism.

Our conversation moves from literature to activism, discussing the intersection of race and class, the importance of critically engaging with news and information, and the many different ways people take action within their communities.

This episode sets the tone for the Reading Is Political series, which looks at how books, both fiction and non-fiction, can help us understand the world more clearly and empathise with experiences beyond our own.

Keep up to date with Heather here: https://heatherparry.co.uk/

Buy Carrion Crow here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/carrion-crow-heather-parry/7694632?ean=9781804995488&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

Empire of AI by Karen Hao: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/empire-of-ai-inside-the-race-for-total-domination-karen-hao/7764628?ean=9780241678923&next=t

Stolen by Grace Blakely: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/stolen-how-to-save-the-world-from-financialisation-grace-blakeley/619436?ean=9781912248377&next=t

Natives by Akala: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/natives-race-and-class-in-the-ruins-of-empire-the-sunday-times-bestseller-akala/4164275?ean=9781473661233&next=t

How Does Change Happen by Sam Goncalves: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/how-does-change-happen-scenes-from-the-frontlines-of-activism-sam-goncalves/7780146?ean=9781916637122&next=t

The People In The Trees by Hanya Yanagihara : https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-people-in-the-trees-the-stunning-first-novel-from-the-author-of-a-little-life-hanya-yanagihara/7526375?ean=9781035038527&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, Susie is joined by bestselling Irish author Liz Nugent to talk about her latest novel, The Truth About Ruby Cooper.

The conversation explores the novel’s central themes of addiction, family dynamics, and personal responsibility, as well as the emotional cost of denial and self-deception.

Liz also shares insight into her writing process, revealing that her novels always begin with a powerful first sentence rather than a fully planned plot.

The discussion delves into the importance of setting, particularly Liz’s decision to base much of the novel in Boston, and how place can quietly shape character and mood. Liz also talks about the significance of names in her books - including how Lisa Jewell inspired the name of one of her most famous characters, Sally Diamond.

Find Liz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liznugentwriter/

Buy The Truth About Ruby Cooper: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-truth-about-ruby-cooper-liz-nugent/6620f0d5655ca246?ean=9781844886791&next=t

Books recommended on this episode:

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/engleby-sebastian-faulks/1275475?ean=9781804944387&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/i-know-this-much-is-true-wally-lamb/1883167?ean=9780006513230&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/tell-me-something-true-michael-robotham/7957957?ean=9780733652899&next=t