The Richard and Judy Book Club, exclusive to WHSmith

The Brandt family faces ruin; 18 year old Thea’s aunt Nella is convinced the only solution is to find Thea a wealthy husband among Amsterdam’s elite. The House of Fortune follows Nella and Thea as they clash over the demands of duty and the heart, old secrets overwhelming them along the way.

Returning Book Club author Jessie Burton joins Richard and Judy to explain why it took her so long to write this, the sequel to bestseller The Miniaturist, including why she had found the idea of touching the character of Nella again so emotional.

They also discuss the Amsterdam of Jessie’s books – an embellished impression of the real city – as well as exploring increasing modern acknowledgement of the Dutch empire and slave trade. Plus, does having your book made into TV show financially set you up for life? Jessie gives an honest answer.

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Summer Book Club collection, and use the code summer10 for a 10% discount.

The Woman Who Lied tells the story of Emilia Ward. She’s the bestselling author of detective novels, but as she embarks on her tenth book an incident straight out of one of her plots occurs in real life. Then it happens again, and again.

Returning Book Club author Claire Douglas joins Richard and Judy to talk about why this incredibly intricate story within a story meant she had to keep detailed plot and character notes for the first time in her novel writing career. They also discuss the endless re-writing process authors have to go through with editors – a procedure none of them truly appreciated until they became authors themselves.

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Summer Book Club collection, and use the code summer10 for a 10% discount.

Oxford has Morse, Brighton has Grace, and now Salisbury has Atticus Priest thanks to author Mark Dawson. In this week’s Book Club novel, The House In The Woods, private eye Atticus must solve the murder of a father, mother, son, and daughter.

Mark joins Richard and Judy to talk about why setting the book in Salisbury was both a commercial and an artistic decision, and whether he would make use of AI to help him write his books in the future...

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Summer Book Club collection, and use the code APRIL10 for a 10% discount.

Do you know an It Girl? In Ruth Ware’s novel of that name, April has confidence, money, brains, friends, and good looks. This makes many people adore her, but it inspires hatred too. In fact, someone hates her enough to kill her.

 Returning Book Club author Ruth joins Richard and Judy to explain why she wrote such a complex, fleshed-out murdered character, that is, why it was important to her that the reader felt her presence in the world would be missed. Ruth also talks about taking inspiration for The It Girl from classic thriller writers like Agatha Christie by setting the novel in a ‘closed circle’ – a privileged, walled Oxford University College.

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Summer Book Club collection, and use the code APRIL10 for a 10% discount.

Author Anthony Horowitz felt Ian Fleming was in the room with him as he wrote the most recent in the James Bond series – With A Mind To Kill. Picking up where The Man With The Golden Gun ends, it begins at M’s funeral. But one man is missing from the graveside: the traitor who pulled the trigger and who is now in custody, accused of M’s murder – James Bond.

Returning Book Club author Anthony joins Richard and Judy to talk about needing to re-plan his storyline because it didn’t feel glamorous enough for Bond, and what he made of the controversial ending of the latest Bond film. Plus, why have the titles of Bond books – Diamonds Are Forever, You Only Live Twice, The Man With The Golden Gun - become so iconic?

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Summer Book Club collection, and use the code APRIL10 for a 10% discount.

What would you do if your husband framed you for murder? Finally free after five years in  prison, Olivia looks to clear her name and bring down her husband in this week’s Book Club novel, The Guilty Couple.

Author C. L. Taylor joins Richard and Judy to talk about transitioning from writing romantic comedy to thrillers, and whether authors are in some way searching for immortality by leaving a written legacy. Plus, they share what kind of feedback their respective editors have given about their book drafts…

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Summer Book Club collection, and use the code APRIL10 for a 10% discount.

If you want the job, you have to kill the person currently holding it. Agent Seventeen is a hired gun, but he must kill his predecessor in order to assume the title the world’s greatest hitman. Agent Seventeen, the debut novel from author John Brownlow, is this week’s Book Club read.   John joins Richard and Judy to tell them about the differences between writing scripts for films – something he’s done prolifically – and writing a novel. With this in mind, he also explains how writing action and dialogue in particular differ between these mediums.   Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Summer Book Club collection, and use the code APRIL10 for a 10% discount.

Human bones and the seeds of a rare tree are found in a bag on the banks of the River Thames in this week’s Book Club novel, The Family Remains. DCI Samuel Owusu is called in to solve the mystery.

Returning Book Club author Lisa Jewell joins Richard and Judy to explain why, despite not liking writing literary detectives, she ended up giving her DCI, Samuel, a lot of time. The three also share their takes on whether classic novels should be allowed to be drastically changed when they’re adapted for the screen.

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Summer Book Club collection, and use the code APRIL10 for a 10% discount.

Beth is a 30 year old who lives with her parents and can’t hold down a job or relationship, but she’s suddenly forced to grow up when she’s put in charge of her teenage niece and toddler nephew after a terrible accident. The question is, will she be able to step up to the plate?

Author Sarah Turner joins Richard and Judy to explain the art of taking a tragic situation and finding the humour in it, both in her real life, and in her writing. Also the author of her Unmumsy Mum blog, Sarah talks about the value of finding a community of other parents who can all share difficult and funny stories in order to feel less alone.

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Spring Book Club collection, and use the code SPRING23 for a 10% discount.

 

CCTV footage shows a couple driving in a car looking perfectly happy and relaxed... moments later they’ve plunged into a 90 foot ravine. When the car is found, it’s empty. Missing persons investigator David Raker must solve the mystery.

Author Tim Weaver joins Richard and Judy to talk about why sometimes real life missing persons cases can be stranger than fiction, and why he wanted to write an emotionally articulate leading man. Plus, he explains why the thrilling ending of The Blackbird made writing the sequel incredibly difficult as he’d left so many mysterious loose ends to tie.

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the Spring Book Club collection, and use the code SPRING23 for a 10% discount.