In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa speaks to actor, comedian and author Andi Osho about her third novel, Most Wanted.

Most Wanted explores the housing crisis through the story of a couple pushed to desperate measures in their attempt to get on the property ladder. Blending sharp comedy with serious social themes, the novel examines control, financial pressure, responsibility and how quickly one decision can spiral.

In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, Andi discusses:

• The real-life frustrations that inspired Most Wanted
• Why property fiction feels so timely
• Balancing humour with serious themes
• Writing morally complex characters
• Planning twists versus letting the story evolve
• Narrating her own audiobooks and performing her characters
• Creativity, acting and moving between genres
• Perimenopause, brain fog and recording in the booth
• The realities of buying property in the UK

We also talk about scripts versus novels, the pressure of second and third books, and the biscuits that powered the writing process.

If you enjoy fiction that reflects real life, explores big social themes and still makes you laugh, this episode is for you.

Most Wanted by Andi Osho is available now in hardback, ebook and audiobook.

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Full programme and booking information: https://www.hayfestival.com/hay-on-wye/home

Planning a visit to the Hay Festival this year?

In this special episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa travels to Hay-on-Wye to speak with festival organisers Heather Salisbury and Jacqueline Hewer about the exciting new programme.

Discover:

• The brand-new Crime Day

• A fantasy and romantasy focus for 2026

• Celebrity readers sharing their “Life in Books”

• Debut author showcases

• Over 400 events celebrating books and ideas

Plus the guests reveal the authors they’re most excited about — including Emma Thompson, Bear Grylls, Elizabeth Strout and Val McDermid.

And yes… the Hay Festival biscuit debate returns.

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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa speaks to bestselling crime author Nadine Matheson about her gripping new novel The Shadow Carver, the latest instalment in the Inspector Henley series.

We discuss:

• Writing dark crime fiction with legal authenticity
• How her background in criminal law shapes her storytelling
• The emotional toll of writing morally complex characters
• Building long-running crime series readers can’t quit
• Why readers are drawn to justice-driven thrillers

Plus, Philippa shares thoughts on one of the most talked-about new psychological thrillers, Room 706, and what makes it such a compulsive listen on audio.

If you love crime fiction, legal thrillers, police procedurals, and intelligent psychological suspense, this episode is for you.

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Six Friends, £1.6 Million & One Fatal Decision – T.M. Logan on The Weekend

In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa speaks to bestselling author T.M. Logan about his gripping new thriller The Weekend.

When six friends discover £1.6 million hidden in a cave during a New Year getaway, one question changes everything: do you hand it in — or keep it?

T.M. Logan discusses:

• The moral dilemma at the heart of The Weekend
• Why “what would you do?” drives his thrillers
• Writing his 10th novel and the pressure of expectations
• Being dropped by his US publisher — and rebuilding
• How TV adaptations have (or haven’t) changed his writing
• Turning personal fears into page-turning fiction
• The craft of sustaining tension
• Ice hockey inspirations and hidden Easter eggs
• The reality of publishing success and uncertainty

We also talk about writing advice, perseverance, and why dark chocolate Hobnobs may (or may not) be a legitimate writing fuel.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, moral dilemmas and high-stakes fiction that feels frighteningly close to real life, this episode is for you.

The Weekend by T.M. Logan is out now.

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• T.M. Logan interview
• The Weekend
• psychological thriller
• crime fiction
• British thriller author
• writing process
• bestselling author interview
• moral dilemma thriller
• TV adaptations
• publishing industry insight

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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by global bestselling author Lisa Jewell to discuss her paperback hit Don’t Let Him In and her brand new summer release It Could Have Been Her.

Lisa talks candidly about writing morally complex characters, creating psychological tension without crossing credibility lines, and why her epilogues often carry the darkest revelations. She shares her unusual writing process — drafting without a plan, discovering twists late, and working at her kitchen table while the world carries on around her.

The conversation also explores:

• The psychology of manipulation and trust in Don’t Let Him In
• Why ordinary domestic settings can feel so sinister
• The dark premise behind It Could Have Been Her
• Whether modern thriller readers are harder to surprise
• The difference between a twist and a reveal
• The realities of building a long-term writing career
• Publishing pressure, branding, and reader expectations
• Audiobooks, reading slumps, and life as a bestselling novelist

Lisa also reflects on how her career has evolved, what she would (and wouldn’t) change, and the biscuit that powered the writing of her latest novels.

Alongside the interview, Philippa reviews:

• Intelligence by Robert Newman
• Strange Buildings by Uketsu
• A War of Wyverns by S. F. Williamson

A wide-ranging and honest conversation with one of the most successful voices in contemporary psychological suspense.

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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by bestselling author Tim Weaver to talk about his gripping new novel The Lost Women, the fifteenth book in the much-loved David Raker series.

Tim reflects on reaching a major milestone as a writer and explains how he balances writing for long-time fans while ensuring every book can be read as a standalone. He also shares the chilling real-world inspirations behind The Lost Women, including a vanished documentary crew and an almost unimaginable hospital disappearance.

During the conversation, Tim discusses:

• Writing the 15th David Raker novel and how the series has evolved
• Why empathy, not angst, defines his central character
• Creating twists that genuinely surprise readers
• Writing thrillers that balance darkness with emotional heart
• Why he avoids chasing trends and market expectations
• How the publishing landscape has changed over the last 15 years
• The rise of audiobooks and how listening has transformed his own reading life
• The challenges of social media for authors
• Why characters matter more than ever in crime fiction

Tim also reveals his ideal (and nightmare) writing environments, reflects on reader pressure around plot twists, and shares the biscuits that powered the writing and editing of The Lost Women.

A conversation with one of crime fiction’s most consistent and compelling voices.

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In this special episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa explores a bold claim making waves across the book world: are wearable e-readers really the future of reading?

After researching the much-talked-about SOL wearable e-reader glasses, Philippa shares her scepticism, the surprising reactions from early adopters, and asks listeners whether immersive tech could change how we read forever.

Before that, returning guest Alison Barrow, PR Director at Transworld, answers another listener question and offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at publishing today, including:

• The standout debut novels to watch right now
• Why audiobooks are booming and reshaping the industry
• Spring publishing trends, from romantic fantasy to horror
• How bestseller charts fail to reflect modern reading habits
• Honest advice for anyone starting a career in publishing
• The importance of positivity, curiosity, and commercial awareness

Alison also champions under-the-radar books she believes deserve far more attention and discusses why some extraordinary novels slip through the cracks.

A thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about books, trends, careers, and the future of how we read.

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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by bestselling author Will Dean to discuss his haunting psychological thriller Adrift — a novel that explores control, isolation, and the quiet terror of living with someone who manipulates from the shadows.

Will talks candidly about his off-grid life in the Swedish woods, why he writes his first drafts in intense six-week bursts, and how emotional stories like Adrift can take years to fully realise.

Together, they discuss:

• Writing while living off grid and why isolation fuels creativity
• Why Will avoids the publishing “noise” and trends
• How Adrift took five years to complete, despite a fast first draft
• Writing claustrophobic tension without exhausting the reader
• The psychology of control, gaslighting, and quiet manipulation
• Writing from a child’s point of view and the emotional toll it takes
• Why Will leaves much of the violence off the page
• The fear and excitement of starting a new novel
• How rereading favourite books shapes his writing
• The current reading crisis and why encouraging children to read matters more than ever

Will also shares what he’s currently reading, why he rereads authors like Shirley Jackson and Sarah Waters, and answers the most important question of all: what powered the writing of Adrift (spoiler: frozen dates, not biscuits).

A thoughtful, intense, and revealing conversation about storytelling, fear, and the importance of noticing unheard people in unseen places.

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n this powerful and deeply honest episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by award-winning author Catriona Ward to discuss her haunting new novel Nowhere Burning.

This conversation goes far beyond the book. Catriona opens up about writing through profound personal grief, why she cries while writing, and how love — especially between siblings — can become both a source of salvation and destruction. Together, they explore childhood trauma, abandoned places, hostile landscapes, and the unsettling idea that some environments remember what happened there.

They also dive into:

• The origins of Nowhere Burning and its unsettling setting
• Why Catriona prefers the word reveal over plot twist
• Horror, literary fiction, and why genre labels often miss the point
• The worst writing advice Catriona has ever received
• Creative writing courses, resilience, and finding your voice
• Why “dark” fiction makes people uncomfortable — and why that matters
• Books Catriona is reading and recommending right now
• Biscuits, dunking rules, and the surprising truth about stroopwafels

Alongside the interview, Philippa also reviews:

• The Favorites by Layne Fargo
• Body of Lies by Jo Callaghan — the gripping finale to the AI crime series

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In this reflective and refreshingly honest episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by well-known book influencer and paramedic Jules Swain for a conversation that goes far beyond algorithms, star ratings, and reading targets.

What begins as a discussion about social media platforms — from X and Instagram to BookTok — quickly becomes a deeper exploration of burnout, pressure, and reclaiming reading as a joy rather than a performance.

Together, Philippa and Jules talk about:

• Stepping back from social media and why it can be healthy
• The pressure to post, review, and read “enough” books
• Why it’s okay to DNF a book — and stop feeling guilty
• Star ratings, negative reviews, and whether every book needs an opinion
• BookTok hype, genre oversaturation, and discovering fantasy unexpectedly
• Physical books vs e-readers vs audiobooks
• Building real-life book communities and local book clubs
• Reading as escapism after emotionally demanding work

Jules also shares her most-loved books, her perfect reading day, thoughts on Goodreads vs StoryGraph, and settles the all-important biscuit debate (custard creams, for the record).

A calming, thoughtful episode for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by bookish noise — and a reminder that reading is allowed to be slow, personal, and joyful.

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