Crime fiction has come a long way from simply discovering a body in the library, a handful of clues and the revelation of the killer over dinner. Developments in forensics have advanced at a ferocious rate in recent years, and our guest on the Hobcast Book Show this week has witnessed them all for real. Kate Bendelow has been a scene of crime officer for Greater Manchester Police for the past 19 years. As a SOCO, she brings her specialist knowledge to her crime fiction writing, with her debut novel Definitely Dead published in May this year. It's a fascinating interview that you won't want to miss. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss how the cult of celebrity continues to dominate the UK book charts, and with a week left to submit your novel to Hobeck Books, Rebecca reveals how many authors have applied so far...

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Murder. The word on everyone's lips in Stirling this past weekend as some of the world's greatest crime authors gathered for the Bloody Scotland Crime writing festival. Held in person and online, it showed once again that the crime writing community knows how to put on a show, and we at Hobeck Books enjoyed every moment of this special event. It was our first Bloody Scotland, as it was for our guest Tina Baker, whose first novel Call Me Mummy, a darkly funny and disturbing tale of a childless woman stealing a young girl from her dysfunctional family raced to number one on the Amazon Kindle charts. Now out in paperback, Tina told Rebecca and Adrian how the three main characters are all extensions of parts of her own personality, and Tina also shared some of the secrets of a career reviewing soap operas for the likes of GMTV and BBC Five Live. **Warning - there is some adult language in this episode.

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How often do you suspect that not everything you read in a crime novel is as accurate as possible? Alongside experts in policing, the legal system and forensics, Brian Price has established himself as one of the UK's leading consultants for authors who want to ensure the science of crime is correct. Brian's expertise is much sought after by some of the UK's leading authors, but now he's switching sides with the publication of his first novel, Fatal Trade, published by us at Hobeck Books. Released on Sept 14th, Fatal Trade starts with a first line so strong it won Brian an online competition, an achievement that inspired him persevere and write the rest of the novel! Also this week, we discuss supply problems in the UK publishing chain, and how a book signing could have cost one sport £40 million in lost income.

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Like it or not, to sell books you need to advertise. And if our experience at Hobeck Books is anything to go by, this is a time consuming process that requires nerve, knowledge, skill and no little investment too. Our guest this week on The Hobcast Book Show, Matthew J Holmes, has achieved sometimes spectacular results using Facebook, Amazon and Bookbub ads. As he tells Rebecca and Adrian, there are no shortcuts, but through trial and error and sheer persistence he has got to grips with the platforms, and now manages the advertising campaigns of a range of authors. Also this week, we discuss how a review of copyright laws by the UK government could cost the industry millions, and Adrian shares his delight that a certain Swedish pop combo are back...

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Sue Shepherd's first novel for Hobeck Books, Swindled, is published on 7th September, but as we discover on this week's Hobcast Book Show, this is not her first rodeo. Sue is a successful author of romantic comedy novels, but has decided that now's the right time to plunge into the world of crime and suspense. As she tells Adrian Hobart and Rebecca Collins, her fiction is based on creating credible characters, and she allows them to tell their own stories. Also this week, we discuss further evidence that the publishing environment is becoming tougher for small independent presses, and Adrian tries to explain why he's so excited about developments at his beloved Manchester United.

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Our guest this week on The Hobcast Book Show will cheerfully admit that he's had a varied career, before finally settling on the life of a hugely successful crime author. Writing under his pen name J.M Dalgleish, Jason Dalgleish has successfully launched not one but two crime series: The Dark Yorkshire novels and The Hidden Norfolk series. Three years after his first book was published, Jason has now sold over a million copies of his novels. So what's the secret of his success? Adrian and Rebecca were keen to find out. Also this week, to mark the 50th anniversary of Get Carter, the show is back on the road in Newcastle exploring what makes the film starring Michael Caine such an enduring classic.

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The UK Crime writing scene is the envy of the world. No other country can boast the range of talented crime authors that the UK does, and that's not least down to the incredible support the reading community offers them. Donna Morfett is at the vanguard of this support. Her Facebook group, Donna's Interviews, Reviews and Giveaways has grown in recent months to become one of the most influential pages on the UK crime scene. Featuring almost daily in-depth interviews with authors, from the big names to first-time indie writers, Donna's group is recognised as one of the best places to discover new authors. What makes her give up her time? Donna tells The Hobcast Book Show from Hobeck Books that she simply wants to offer as much support as she can. 

Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca, newly released from self-isolation, are on their travels again, to a certain city in the North West of England ...

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Once a writer, always a writer - someone wise once said. Becoming a published author though is a different matter altogether. That's been the 40-year-long dream of this week's Hobcast Book Show guest, Lesley McEvoy. Like so many writers, life, family and work combined to prevent her from pursuing a literary career. Instead, she built a successful freelance career as a psychologist and profiler, working in the corporate world, as well as some of the UK's most notorious prisons. But as she approached a 'significant' birthday, she decided the writing itch could not be ignored, and following a year away from the day job she secured her first book deal, with a little help from a certain Ian Rankin. Now signed up to a three-book deal with Bonnier's imprint Zaffre, Lesley tells us that determination was the biggest factor in achieving her dreams. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca reflect on a tough week when COVID struck the Hobeck family, leaving a dream of their own in tatters ...

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Snowdonia is one of Britain's most popular National Parks, beloved for it's ruggedly beautiful mountains and forests, and provides the inspired location for Simon McCleave's crime novels. His DI Ruth Hunter series only launched in January 2020, but Simon has already sold 800,000 books. Drawing on the skills he sharpened as a script editor on some of the UK's most popular TV shows, Simon writes quickly and cleanly, publishing a staggering 13 novels in the past 18 months alone. It's an astonishing achievement - and he shares some of the secrets of success with The Hobcast Book Show. Adrian and Rebecca also discuss huge developments at one of their fellow UK Crime publishers, Bloodhound Books, and they reveal the winner of their '#notatharrogate competition.

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It's back! The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival survived months of uncertainty to return to Harrogate in spectacular fashion, and the Hobcast was there to join in the fun. In this week's bumper episode, we speak to the godfather of British crime fiction Ian Rankin about the challenge of finishing another writer's work. S J Parris reflects on how the pandemic has affected her creative process, and Mark Billingham reveals some of the secrets of what happens when the UK's leading crime authors meet at the bar. Plus Adrian and Rebecca speak to the inspirational Martyn Waites about his work in prisons helping inmates to find their voice. It's Hobeck Books on tour, Harrogate-style!

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