Bestselling spy novelists, David McCloskey and Paul Vidich, join Joe Haddow for a good ole fashioned booking off! As well as discussing their new novels ('The Seventh Floor' and 'The Poets Game'), they also share some great book recommendations and talk us through their writing processes. Spy novels are such a great way to learn about world history - and have arguably never been more popular - so we delve a little more into this genre, referencing John Le Carre - and his son, Nick Harkaway, who ...
Jul 03, 2025•55 min•Season 14Ep. 9
Wendy Holden and Jane Thynne are both former journalists turned authors. In fact, they both worked in newsrooms together back in the 1980s. In this episode, they bring their journalistic competitiveness to the Book Off, but who will triumph? They also discuss their new novels, their fascination with WW2, why we need to keep telling historic stories and how fun research can be. They also give us some brilliant reading recommendations too! THE BOOK OFF 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott VS 'Tinke...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr•Season 14Ep. 8
Bestselling authors Linwood Barclay and CJ Tudor join Joe Haddow for a chat about their latest books. They discuss genre bending, horror tropes, Stephen King, rocking horses, muffins and building tension. Quite the eclectic mix! They also give us some brilliant book recommendations too. THE BOOK OFF 'Long Island' by Colm Toibin VS 'Altered Carbon' by Richard K Morgan And here's more on their latest novels! 'Whistle' by Linwood Barclay Celebrated children’s author and illustrator Annie Blunt has ...
Jun 19, 2025•40 min•Season 14Ep. 7
This week, Joe welcomes Milly Johnson and Samuel Burr to the studio to chat about their new novels. They talk about their writing habits, author mates, female friendships and the menopause amongst man other things. They also give us some great book recommendations too! THE BOOK OFF 'We All Want Impossible Things' by Catherine Newman VS 'Persuasion' by Jane Austen And here's more on our guests books... The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers - by Samuel Burr Clayton Stumper is an enigma. He might be twent...
Jun 10, 2025•54 min•Season 14Ep. 6
Emilia Hart and Bridget Collins join Joe Haddow for a pretty fun and chaotic Book Off! They chat about their brilliant new novels and give us some great book recommendations too. They also talk about the importance of author mates, accidental deleted manuscripts and some scary scary creepy scenes too. Joe had a glass of wine at lunch before the recording - and then had a negroni thrust in his hands at the studio - so he was quite 'loose' for this one! (enjoy) THE BOOK OFF 'The Eagle Of The Ninth...
Jun 03, 2025•57 min•Season 14Ep. 5
Debut novelists, Roisin O'Donnell and Chris McQueer, go head to head in a war of the words. They discuss their latest books ("Nesting" and "Hermit"), their writing inspirations, the power of short stories and the rise of toxic masculinity. Whilst Andrew Tate doesn't in any way dominate this conversation (nor should he dominate any conversation), the authors discuss how young boys and men are being radicalised through dangerous people on social media and what, if anything, can be done about it. B...
Mar 20, 2025•47 min•Season 14Ep. 4
Sir Ben Okri and Colum McCann join Joe Haddow for a war of the words... This is Ben's second appearance on Book Off! (The first author to ever appear on the pod twice) Let's see if he's learnt anything from the last time! He chats about his woozy new novella - "Madame Sosostris And The Festival For The Broken-Hearted' - and the poem that inspired it. We also learn he has read 'War & Peace' FOUR times! And so we get a full Ben Okri style review... Colum's new novel - 'Twist' - is a darkly epi...
Mar 13, 2025•58 min•Season 14Ep. 3
Bestselling thriller writer(s) Nicci French go head to head in a war of the words, expertly refereed by Joe Haddow. Nicci French is the pen name for husband and wife writing team, Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, and this is our first official Book Off couple! Sean and Nicci discuss their latest novel, The Last Days Of Kira Mullan, and dig into some of the themes which inspired this story. Here's the blurb: Nancy North and her boyfriend Felix are making the move across London to Harlesden. A new f...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr•Season 14Ep. 2
On the first episode of Series 14, we welcome bestselling authors Emma Healey and Fiona Scarlett to the studio. They chat about their new novels, give us some great book recommendations - and go head to head in a war of the words! (aka The Book Off) Emma Healey's new novel - Sweat - is a maze-like game of revenge. It blends wellness culture with a slow-burn feminist thriller - and is eery and unsettling and brilliant. We look at what it means to hold the power in a relationship, what happens whe...
Feb 19, 2025•51 min•Season 14Ep. 1
Two great music writers - James Kaplan and Paul Alexander - join Joe for a War of the Words. Joe gets excited and takes a deep dive into both of their brilliant books, which are both about America in the 40s and 50s, both about the jazz music scene, but follow very different subjects. 'Three Shades Of Blue' by James Kaplan is biography of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Bill Evans - and how those three extraordinary musicians made one of the greatest jazz albums of all time: Kind Of Blue. 'Bitter...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 13Ep. 13
Two top crime and thriller writers, Ragnar Jonasson and Simon Kernick, go head to head in a war of the words! They share their love of Agatha Christie, why scary crime fiction doesn't have to be gory and tell us about their latest novels. ("Death At The Sanitorium" and "You All Die Tonight") We also get some cracking book recommendations from them too. THE BOOK OFF! 'The Murder On The Links' by Agatha Christie VS 'McNally's Luck' by Lawrence Sanders QUICK NOTE! For a limited time, you can get £1...
Nov 28, 2024•57 min•Season 13Ep. 12
We're so excited to bring you this episode of Book Off, featuring two of our favourite poets and humans - Salena Godden and Hollie McNish. We've been wanting to bring these two together for a long time, and now it's finally happened! They talk about their latest poetry collections ('With Love Grief and Fury' and 'Lobster'), the freedom of performance, why they love the form so much and why you can't start with a poem about blow jobs. They also give us some brilliant book recommendations too! Hol...
Nov 20, 2024•48 min•Season 13Ep. 11
M.L. Rio and Kate Weinberg arrive as friends, but will they still be so chummy with each other after the Book Off? They chat to Joe Haddow about their latest books, Trump, the importance of publishing at a time when books are being banned and why Scooby Doo is a great influence. They also give us some briiiilliant book recommendations too - so apologies to your TBR pile in advance. Here's more on our authors and their books...and what they picked for the Book Off! (we hope you enjoy the episode)...
Nov 13, 2024•57 min•Season 13Ep. 10
Authors Rachel Abbott and Hannah Lynn go head to head in a war of the words. They talk to Joe Haddow about their self-publishing journeys, the pros and cons and how things have changed on that side of the industry over the last 10 years. They also discuss their new novels, how the weather can influence a chapter and why sometimes you just have to go away in the name of research! THE BOOK OFF 'Good Girl, Bad Girl' by Michael Robathan VS 'The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind' by William Kamkwamba and Br...
Nov 01, 2024•43 min•Season 13Ep. 9
Bestselling crime author, Attica Locke, goes head to head with John Le Carre's son - Nick Harkaway - in a war of the words. Nick has written a new George Smiley novel, continuing his father's legacy, called Karla's Choice. He chats to Joe Haddow about the pressure he felt to get the character right and how he got himself in the right frame of mind to write the novel. Attica discusses 'Guide Me Home' - the third novel in her trilogy of books dubbed The Highway 59 series, featuring the Texas Range...
Oct 23, 2024•54 min•Season 13Ep. 8
Two brilliant authors and humans, Rumaan Alam and Tessa Hadley, go head to head in a war of the words. They talk about the joy of writing about clothes, how money can drive you mad and how some cities are easier to fictionalise than others. As well as discussing their new novels, their writing styles and processes and the difference between writing short stories, novels and novellas, they also give us some great book recommendations. Entitlement by Rumaan Alam is a novel about an ambitious young...
Oct 17, 2024•52 min•Season 13Ep. 7
Global bestselling author Liane Moriarty goes head to head with author and content creator Bea Fitzgerald. They discuss their new novels, their writing practices and seasonal reading! Bea shares her love of reality TV, which has inspired her new novel, and Liane tells us about her characterisation and plot structures. They both get pretty nervous about the Book Off, and decide to have an arm wrestle to settle it! See our instagram account for that... THE BOOK OFF "Idol" by Louise O'Neill VS "The...
Oct 02, 2024•48 min•Season 13Ep. 6
Booker Prize winner, Alan Hollinghurst, and Booker Prize shortlistee, Rachel Kushner, join Joe Haddow for a Book Off! Alan talks about his new novel 'Our Evenings' and the writing processes to create the tempo he wanted. The book follows the life of the actor Dave Win, from 1962 to 2020. Rachel discusses her new novel 'Creation Lake' (her second novel to be shortlisted for the Booker) and the authors that have influenced this book and it's noir-ish elements. THE BOOK OFF 'Painting Time' by Mayli...
Sep 25, 2024•52 min•Season 13Ep. 5
On this episode of Book Off, Joe welcomes Elif Shafak and Evie Wyld to the studio. These two fabulous writers talk about their latest novels ("There Are Rivers In The Sky" and "The Echoes") as well as giving us some brilliant reading recommendations. Evie lived in a haunted house, so we explore that and her fascination with ghosts - which are a central theme in her new book. She also discusses the importance of humour to lighten situations, whether that be in life or between the pages of a book....
Sep 10, 2024•48 min•Season 13Ep. 4
TV and Radio presenter, and former record company executive, Nicki Chapman goes head to head in a war of the words with producer, musician and label owner, Simon Raymonde. On this episode of Book Off we delve into two music memoirs, covering two very sides of the music industry and history, but that both have a lot in common. Simon was one third of the band Cocteau Twins between 1983 and 1997, and owns and runs the Bella Union label. As well as having his own successful music career as a musicia...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 13Ep. 3
Susie Dent and Louise Minchin join Joe Haddow this week for a war of the words. Both guests have had incredible careers in TV (Susie recently celebrated 30 years of being on Countdown and Louise spent 20 years on BBC Breakfast's red sofa) and both have written non-fiction before, but have now turned their hand to novels. Susie say's her book, Guilty By Definition, is more of a linguistic mystery than a murder mystery, whilst Louise's book, Isolation Island, is a page-turning thriller. They discu...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 13Ep. 2
Book Off is back! And for the first episode of Series 13, we welcome bestselling authors Mark Haddon and Clare Chambers to the pod. They chat to Joe Haddow about their new books and what they have been reading and enjoying recently. 'Dogs and Monsters' is Mark's latest collection of short stories, where he weaves together Ancient Greek fables with more dystopian narratives. In each of the eight stories, Mark explores what it means to be human. Clare's new novel is 'Shy Creatures' - set in South ...
Aug 21, 2024•44 min•Season 13Ep. 1
Journalists and authors Sophie Elmhirst and Susan Smillie go head to head in a war of the words. In this nautical themed episode, they discuss their new books (Maurice & Marylin and The Half Bird), the joy (and dangers) of the sea, sailing and leaving work behind and exploring the world. They also share with us some brilliant book recommendations. Warning - this episode might make you want to quit your job! THE BOOK OFF 'The Bounty' by Caroline Alexander VS 'Offshore' by Penelope Fitzgerald ...
Jun 05, 2024•52 min•Season 12Ep. 8
Bestselling authors Freya North and Matt Cain go head to head in a War of the Words! They chat to Joe Haddow about their new novels ('The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne' and 'One Love') which are possibly each author's most personal book to date. Both writers share a love of Manchester, a city they both lived in and that means a lot to them - it also features in both of these novels, as does friendship and the importance of these relationships. As well as discussing their own work, Matt and...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 12Ep. 7
What do you get when you put three children's authors on a podcast? (well, it turns out you get a lovely conversation!) Join Justin Somper and Cat Doyle as they discuss their new pirate books for kids and go head to head in a War of the Words. They also share some great book recommendations with us and tell us about their writing processes. THE BOOK OFF 'Impossible Creatures' by Katherine Rundell VS 'Cloud Street' by Tim Winton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 22, 2024•42 min•Season 12Ep. 6
Poet and author, Andrew McMillan, goes head to head with author and screenwriter Nathan Newman in a War of the Words! They chat to Joe Haddow about their new novels ('Pity' and 'How To Leave The House'), chosen family, working class towns, comedy from tragedy and, Margaret Thatcher (yes, really). Nathan and Andrew also recommend some authors and books they have been reading and enjoying recently. THE BOOK OFF 'A Visit From The Goon Squad' by Jennifer Egan VS 'The Man Who Fell In Love With The Mo...
May 15, 2024•41 min•Season 12Ep. 5
Bestselling authors Percival Everett and Andrew O'Hagan go head to head in a War of the Words, and discuss their brilliant new novels. Percival's latest novel 'James' is a re-imagining of Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn', but set in 1861, whilst Andrew's latest work is a contemporary tale of class, money, greed and doing the right thing. They discuss how characters form for them, why writing is torture and share some of the books they have been reading and enjoying recently. THE BOOK OFF 'The Str...
Apr 30, 2024•46 min•Season 12Ep. 4
QI Elf, podcaster and author, Andrew Hunter Murray, goes head to head in a war of the words with comedian and writer Jonny Sweet. They discuss their new novels ('A Beginners Guide To Breaking And Entering' and 'The Kellerby Code'), their writing habits, inspirations and how to hide a socially conscious message in a page-turning thriller. We also get some fab book recommendations from them and natter about one of Hitchcock's slightly lesser known films, 'Rope'. THE BOOK OFF 'Hangover Square' by P...
Apr 16, 2024•51 min•Season 12Ep. 3
Superstar authors Kiley Reid and Caroline O'Donoghue go head to head in a war of the words. They chat to Joe Haddow about their latest novels ('Come And Get It' and 'The Rachel Incident'), society's obsession with money, 'the campus novel' and why writing less is sometimes more. We go look back at the financial crash of 2008 and what it meant for a certain generation of artists and compare it to now, and what the next generation of writers and creatives are facing. Kiley and Caroline also recomm...
Apr 09, 2024•48 min•Season 12Ep. 2
Book Off is back! Welcome to Series 12. And to kick us off, we welcome Jennie Godfrey and Susan Fletcher to the studio to talk about their books and writing, and get some recommendations too. Jennie's debut novel, The List Of Suspicious Things, has been published to great acclaim whilst Susan's new novel, The Night In Question, is hotly anticipated - and coming out in just a few weeks. We discuss Yorkshire, adventure, writing older characters, friendships in fiction and a lot lot more. It also t...
Apr 02, 2024•57 min•Season 12Ep. 1
