In My Good Books

This week on In My Good Books, I’m joined by award-winning crime writer Simon Mason to discuss his latest novel, The Dangerous Stranger — the fifth instalment in his DI Ryan Wilkins series.

Set in Oxford, the series follows mismatched detective duo Ryan Wilkins and Ray Wilkins — two men who share a surname but could not be more different. In this episode, Simon talks about creating one of modern crime fiction’s most compelling detective partnerships, why their differences make them work so well, and how their relationship has evolved across the series.

Along the way, we chat about:

• Why Simon deliberately gives readers just enough backstory to jump into the series at any point
• The inspiration behind Ryan and Ray’s unusual dynamic
• How little police procedural research he actually does
• Why entertaining the reader always comes first
• His move from children’s fiction into adult crime writing
• The pressures and pleasures of writing a long-running crime series

Simon also shares some brilliant book recommendations, including Lazare by Nelio Biedermann and the work of Flannery O'Connor.

Buy The Dangerous Stranger: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-dangerous-stranger-the-latest-instalment-in-the-pacy-oxford-set-di-ryan-wilkins-series-simon-mason/f6322c01045ab322?ean=9781529439595&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by Ilona Bannister to discuss her gripping new thriller, Five — one of the most original and thought-provoking books I’ve read this year.

Five strangers stand on a train platform waiting for the next service to London Victoria. In five minutes, one of them will die. The reader knows what’s coming, but the characters do not. As the clock ticks down, we learn more about each passenger and are forced to confront our own judgments about who deserves more time.

We talk about her unique writing process, why she doesn’t outline her novels, and how the structure of Five evolved organically as the story developed.

We also discuss:

• Why the narrator has divided readers so strongly
• Creating morally complex characters readers constantly reassess
• Writing Emma, one of the book’s most controversial mothers
• The research behind the novel and Ilona’s former career as a lawyer
• Exploring public judgment, neurodivergence and empathy through fiction
• Why thriller fiction has become the perfect home for her writing

Find Ilona here: https://www.instagram.com/ilona.bannister/

Buy Five here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/five-ilona-bannister/7889982?ean=9780008770563&next=t

Ilona also recommends two brilliant recent reads: 

The Good Listener by Holly Watt https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-good-listener-holly-watt/7982023?ean=9781526694577&next=t

May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/may-we-feed-the-king-rebecca-perry/7972133?ean=9781803513867&next=t

If you enjoy literary thrillers, morally complex characters and books that leave you questioning your own assumptions, this episode is for you.

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by psychological thriller author Victoria West to talk about her debut novel Never Alone, her unconventional journey into publishing, and why authentic representation in fiction matters more than ever.

Victoria shares the story behind Never Alone, a tense and atmospheric psychological thriller that explores isolation, identity, and the secrets we carry. We dive into the inspiration behind the novel, her writing process, and how she builds suspense while keeping her characters emotionally grounded and relatable.

This episode is a must-listen for readers who love psychological thrillers, aspiring writers curious about the publishing journey, and anyone interested in how storytelling is evolving to better reflect the world we live in.

Find Victoria here: https://www.vwauthor.com/

Buy Never Alone: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/never-alone-victoria-west/3df9f6048e999fc9?ean=9781836730439&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

Sick to Death: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/sick-people-chris-bridges/7613746?ean=9780008698140&next=t

The Marriage Act: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-marriage-act-john-marrs/5753433?ean=9781529071191&next=t

One by One: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/one-by-one-a-completely-unputdownable-crime-thriller-sam-frances/5d33ef25e38e9acb?ean=9781035418442&next=t

This week on In My Good Books, I’m joined by bestselling Scottish crime writer Chris Brookmyre to discuss his brilliant new novel Quite Ugly One Evening. A darkly funny, sharply observed locked-room mystery set aboard a transatlantic cruise ship.

Thirty years after the publication of Quite Ugly One Morning, Chris revisits iconic investigative journalist Jack Parlabane in a story packed with murder, family rivalry, satire and social commentary. We talk about the inspiration behind the novel, why the culture wars became such an important theme in the book, and how Chris wanted to explore the idea that we often have far more in common than we realise.

In this episode we also discuss:

• Why Quite Ugly One Evening had to reconnect with the tone of the original Jack Parlabane novels
• The real-life cruise experience that inspired the book’s setting
• How social media outrage and “footballified” politics influenced the story
• Returning to recurring characters after nearly a decade away
• The challenges of writing satire in today’s climate
• The appeal of shared fictional universes
• Chris’s excellent recent book recommendations

Find Chris here: https://www.instagram.com/cbrookmyre/

Buy Quite Ugly One Evening: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/quite-ugly-one-evening-jack-parlabane-is-back-in-this-ingenious-locked-room-mystery-chris-brookmyre/2f80c5a47ea9ad58?ean=9780349145822&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

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

A Violent Masterpiece: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-violent-masterpiece-jordan-harper/ad0944d31f7ac26d?ean=9780571394647&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by bestselling author Jo Callaghan to talk about Body of Lies, the final book in the Kat and Lock series.

In our conversation, Jo reflects on bringing the series to a close, and why the relationship between Kat and Lock has been at the heart of its success. We talk about how readers connected so deeply with these characters, and why their dynamic, balancing human instinct and emotion with artificial intelligence, has resonated with so many.

We also explore the bigger ideas behind the books, including Jo’s hope that her writing can help demystify AI and encourage us to think more carefully about how we shape its role in ourlives.

Along the way, Jo shares insight into her writing process, including the pressure of ending a beloved series, rewriting a major plot point at the last minute, and how her own experiences of grief shaped the emotional arc of the books.

Find Jo here:https://www.instagram.com/jocallaghankat/

Buy Body of Lies:https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/body-of-lies-the-crime-thriller-of-2026-from-the-award-winning-and-sunday-times-bestselling-author-of-in-the-blink-of-an-eye-jo-callaghan/cbbcf2c82f6b5367?ean=9781398535565&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

When the Cranes Fly South:https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/when-the-cranes-fly-south-lisa-ridzen/7733271?ean=9781804995808&next=t

You Are Here:https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/you-are-here-david-nicholls/337b7d609c18664b?ean=9781444715460&next=t

When Will There Be Good News:https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/when-will-there-be-good-news-jackson-brodie-kate-atkinson/413666?ean=9780552772457&next=t

Missing, Presumed:https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/missing-presumed-susie-steiner/4494337?ean=9780008123321&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by Sunday Times bestselling author Andrea Mara to talk about her latest psychological thriller, Such a Nice Girl.

Andrea’s novels are known for their page-turning plots, clever twists, and those unsettling “what would you do?” dilemmas - and this new book is no exception.

We chat about the inspiration behind Such a Nice Girl, which started with a very relatable parenting fear and grew into a story about friendship, loyalty, and what happens when trust begins to crack. The novel follows two mothers whose daughters go missing after a wedding, and the terrifying possibility that one of them may be trying to harm the other!

Find Andrea here: https://www.instagram.com/andreamaraauthor/

Buy Such A Nice Girl: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/such-a-nice-girl-andrea-mara/a02c3e8b03a30211?ean=9780857505897&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/untitled-araminta-hall-2025-araminta-hall/7683551?ean=9781035018314&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/demon-copperhead-longlisted-for-the-women-s-prize-for-fiction-2023-barbara-kingsolver/7425554?ean=9780571376483&next=t

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/long-bright-river-an-intense-family-thriller-liz-moore/3338803?ean=9781786090614&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by Elizabeth Arnott, author of The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives, a bold, character-driven crime novel that flips the traditional serial killer narrative on its head.

Some readers may already know Elizabeth as Lizzie Pook, acclaimed for her atmospheric historical fiction. In this conversation, she shares what inspired her shift into crime writing, and how a deeply personal experience led her to create a story that feels both empowering and unexpectedly fun. 

The conversation also explores our long-standing cultural fascination with true crime, from public executions to modern documentaries, and why these stories continue to grip us.

Find Elizabeth here: https://www.instagram.com/elizabetharnottwrites/

Buy The Secret Lives of Murderer's Wives: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-secret-lives-of-murderers-wives-elizabeth-arnott/0afcec091c1327ff?ean=9780241733622&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

The Wedding People: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-wedding-people-the-hilarious-and-moving-million-copy-bestseller-alison-espach/879f21fa6a0d5e2d?ean=9781399622752&next=t

Notes on an Execution: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/notes-on-an-execution-the-bestselling-thriller-that-everyone-is-talking-about-danya-kukafka/6daee1c8b6373e8b?ean=9781474625975&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by debut author Charlotte Robinson to talk about her brilliantly ambitious sci-fi thriller Mars One.

Blending high-stakes space exploration with the dark side of reality TV, Mars One imagines a one-way mission to Mars funded by a televised spectacle - where the line between entertainment and ethics becomes dangerously blurred. Charlotte shares the inspiration behind the novel, including the real-life Mars One project, and how that initial idea grew into a multi-stranded, globe-spanning story.

Charlotte also talks about her background working on major TV dramas and how that experience shaped her storytelling, from visual scene-setting to structuring complex plots. We chat about the differences between writing for screen and page, the challenges of writing solo versus in a writers’ room, and why her walls were covered in colour-coded Post-it notes while plotting this novel.

Plus, we get into the research behind the book (including some brilliant space facts), her journey to publication, and what readers can expect from her next project.

Find Charlotte here: https://www.instagram.com/bycharlotterobinson/

Buy Mars One: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/mars-one-charlotte-robinson/7961777?ean=9780857507341&next=t

Books Recommended in this episode:

Carrying the Fire: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/carrying-the-fire-an-astronaut-s-journeys-michael-collins/839160?ean=9781509896578&next=t

Outlaw Ocean: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-outlaw-ocean-crime-and-survival-in-the-last-untamed-frontier-ian-urbina/1236722?ean=9781529111392&next=t

The Book of Strange New Things: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-book-of-strange-new-things-michel-faber/768960?ean=9781782114086&next=t

Katabasis: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/katabasis-r-f-kuang/14b1f7ed1933fafe?ean=9780008501860&next=t

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by debut author Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes to talk about her gothic historical novel Thornby Manor.

Stephanie takes us inside the haunting world of Thornby Manor, a mist-shrouded house filled with secrets, where nothing is quite as it seems. We discuss her love of gothic fiction and the classic influences behind the novel, from Jane Eyre to Rebecca, and how setting can become a character in its own right.

We also dive into the fascinating and disturbing historical context behind the book, including the treatment of women in Victorian England and how easily people, particularly women, could be institutionalised and silenced. Stephanie shares the real-life cases that inspired her story and how history shaped her protagonist, Briar.

As someone who has worked in publishing for over 16 years, Stephanie gives an honest and eye-opening insight into what it’s really like trying to get published - even when you’re already in the industry.

We also chat about balancing writing with a full-time job, the realities of being on submission, and what’s next for Stephanie as she begins work on her second novel.

If you love gothic fiction, historical mysteries, and behind-the-scenes insights into the publishing world, this is an episode for you.

Find Stephanie here: https://www.instagram.com/bramwelllawes/

Buy Thornby Manor here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/thornby-manor-the-spellbinding-intoxicating-new-debut-historical-mystery-stephanie-bramwell-lawes/6b30e6b7752a8d62?ean=9781917764124&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

Falling Angels: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/falling-angels-tracy-chevalier/232392?ean=9780007217236&next=t

Life After Life: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/life-after-life-the-global-bestseller-now-a-major-bbc-series-kate-atkinson/ba956f364de24820?ean=9780552776639&next=t

The Show Woman: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-show-woman-an-incredibly-gripping-moving-and-inspiring-historical-page-turner-emma-cowing/0e4c75568e3860b3?ean=9781399737395&next=t

The Pleasure Palace: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-pleasure-palace-gripping-and-unforgettable-historical-fiction-from-the-acclaimed-author-of-the-show-woman-emma-cowing/2cfe3e9adf35f7f8?ean=9781399737449&next=t

If you’re looking for a crime novel that goes beyond the mystery, this episode of In My Good Books with bestselling author Jane Harper is an absolute must-listen.

Jane joined me to talk about her latest novel, Last One Out, a powerful and atmospheric story that explores grief, community, and the long shadow of loss. At the heart of the novel is Ro, a mother who returns to her hometown each year on the anniversary of her son’s disappearance.

In this conversation, we dive into Jane’s fascination with what happens after the central event in a crime novel. Rather than focusing solely on the moment of drama, she’s drawn to the emotional aftermath — how people live with what’s happened, how communities shift, and how grief reshapes relationships over time.

Plus, for anyone interested in the craft of writing, Jane opens up about her plotting process — how she structures her novels, balances tension with emotional depth, and keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.

If you love crime fiction with heart, rich atmosphere, and complex characters, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and brilliant book chat.

Find Jane here: https://www.instagram.com/janeharperauthor/

Buy Last One Out: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/jane-harper-book-6-jane-harper/7832199?ean=9781035033973&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

Mad Mabel: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/mad-mabel-sally-hepworth/7971068?ean=9781035096176&next=t

The Hiding Place: https://www.amazon.com/Hiding-Place-Kate-Mildenhall-ebook/dp/B0FCSR4NX9