Bestselling author Lucy Foley joins Simon and Matt for a chat about her latest novel, 'The Midnight Feast' (which has just come out in paperback) She talks about the place and setting that inspired the story, folk-horror, how much to reveal early on in a story and why more and more entertainment seems to be laughing at the super rich. Matt shares his opinions about the term 'beach read' and Simon tries to avoid any plot spoilers. The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley Midsummer, the Dorset coast In th...
Jul 02, 2025•40 min
Bestselling author Nick Harkaway joins Simon and Matt for our Q&A episode. He talks about books and authors he loves, his writing process, adaptations of his father's (John Le Carre) work, and who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. We also surprise Nick with a question from previous Books Of The Year guest, David McCloskey! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2025•20 min
Author Nick Harkaway answers our Q&A questions! He talks to Simon and Matt about his reading habits, authors he loves, whether he always finishes a book or not - and - who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2025•20 min
John Le Carre's son, Nick Harkaway, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his new Circus novel. They discuss the challenges (and joys) of taking on the mantel of such an iconic character (George Smiley) and writing in his father's footsteps, as well as the research it takes to get the technology of the time right. As well as lots of espionage stories, they chat about John Le Carre, his voice, his style - and why Nick decided to write this novel in the first place. The book is Karla's Choice - an...
Jun 18, 2025•38 min
Andrew Hunter Murray joins Simon Mayo and Matt Williams for our Q&A episode. They chat about some of his favourite authors, his love of 'cosy crime' and what he likes to eat when he's writing (question courtesy of his fellow author and friend, Cariad Lloyd) We also learn who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 10, 2025•27 min
Author, podcaster and QI legend - Andy Hunter Murray - joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his latest novel, 'A Beginner's Guide To Breaking And Entering' They chat about his inspirations for the book, the anger behind it, how to make a social commentary through comedy - and why a character in the book hates Magic FM so much! Here's the book blurb: Property might be theft. But the housing market is murder.My name is Al. I live in wealthy people's second homes while their real owners are away...
Jun 03, 2025•37 min
Bestselling author Abigail Dean joins Simon and Matt for a Q&A. She talks about some of her favourite authors, gives us some book recommendations - and - reveals who she would invite to her fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23, 2025•20 min
Bestselling thriller writer, Abigail Dean, joins Simon and Matt to discuss her latest novel, 'The Death Of Us' This has been an idea she's been thinking about for over a decade, but the timing hasn't been right to write it until recently. She talks about her inspirations and influences - and how she reacted to learning that Stephen King had read it! Here's a little more about the book: t’s the story everyone wants to hear. That spring night in South London, when Isabel and Edward’s lives were to...
Apr 17, 2025•41 min
Screenwriter and novelist, Robert Crais, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his processes, favourite authors, screen adaptations - and who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party. We also hear from fellow crime author, Steve Cavanagh, who is a huge Robert Crais fan - and - put him on our radar in the first place! (so it seemed apt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 10, 2025•20 min
International bestselling author and screenwriter, Robert Crais, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his new novel 'The Big Empty'. They chat about his inspirations for the story and characters, and how the classic TV shows he worked on in the 70s and 80s have influenced his writing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 03, 2025•44 min
Bestselling author and essayist, Elif Shafak, answers questions about her writing process, inspirations and favourite authors. She also tells us the shocking and extraordinary story of when she was arrested in Turkey, in the name of fiction. We also find out who she would invite to her fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 26, 2025•19 min
International bestselling author, essayist and activist - Elif Shafak - joins Simon and Matt for a chat about her novel, 'There Are Rivers In The Sky' She talks about her inspirations for this epic tale, why she writes with history in mind and who she is writing for. Here's more on the book: In Victorian London, an extraordinary child is born at the edge of the dirt-black Thames. When his brilliant memory earns him a spot as an apprentice at a printing press, the world opens up far beyond the sl...
Mar 19, 2025•40 min
Simon and Matt ask lawyer turned bestselling author, Scott Turow, questions about his processes and favourite authors. As well as learning about how he writes - and where - we also find out who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. There's also a surprise question from a global superstar author! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 05, 2025•17 min
Lawyer turned bestselling author, Scott Turow, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his new novel, 'Presumed Guilty' (the sequel to his 1987 masterpiece, 'Presumed Innocent') Scott joins us down the line from Florida and discusses writing an 'older' protagonist, the soothing components of jazz music, Keith Jarrett and how much legalise is too much legalise. This episode comes complete with a crashing of dishes in the background, courtesy of the Turow household. Here's some more info on the new ...
Feb 26, 2025•40 min
The international bestselling author Jojo Moyes joins Simon and Matt for a Q&A. She gives us some great book recommendations, tells us a little about her reading and writing habits - and we find out who she'd invite to her fantasy dinner party. Lisa Jewell also makes a surprise appearance - to ask Jojo a question about being more sinister! You can hear more from Jojo on our previous episode, where we dive into her new novel, "We All Live Here" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
Feb 19, 2025•23 min
International bestselling sensation, Jojo Moyes, returns to the podcast to tell us about her new novel. Simon and Matt talk to her about writing nasty characters, whether it's harder to come up with plots seventeen books in, and how she may have accidentally based a character on David Soul, who she met 30 odd years ago! More on the book: Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A recently broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to ha...
Feb 12, 2025•37 min
This week, we put broadcasting legend and bestselling author Simon Mayo under the Q&A spotlight. Marianna Spring joins Matt Williams as our guest host, and asks about Simon's writing process, inspirations - and who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. There's also a surprise question from fellow author and broadcaster, Tom Bradby! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 05, 2025•31 min
Yes, it's that time again, where the the tables turn and the Host becomes the Guest on Books Of The Year. This week we welcome a superstar co-host Marianna Spring to the studio, who steps into the Mayo shoes and, along with Matt, interviews Broadcaster and Author Simon Mayo about his new novel, 'Black Tag'. They talk about about his inspirations for the book, why he has brought back a character from a previous novel and what it says about journalism, and journalists, working today. Learn more ab...
Jan 29, 2025•39 min
Simon and Matt put a range of questions to our special guest, the author and sports journalist Miguel Delaney. They ask about his favourite authors, which books he's jealous of and wished he'd written, his writing processes - especially when touring so much - and who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22, 2025•18 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Miguel Delaney is no stranger to writing about sport, or indeed football, as he is the Chief Football Writer for The Independent. In his new book, States Of Play, he looks at the incredibly interesting (and controversial) topic of Sportswashing. Simon and Matt find out more what this means, how it is affecting sport (especially football) and what Miguel has found out from his many years of researching and investigating. If you're not a football fan, this may not seem like a book for you, but the...
Jan 15, 2025•46 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Michael Connelly joins Simon and Matt for a bonus Q&A episode. He talks about his writing processes, inspirations, favourite authors -and who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2024•19 min
Simon and Matt welcome international bestselling author Michael Connelly to Books Of The Year. They discuss his new book The Waiting, as well as his inspirations, Los Angeles basements, the constant nagging of an author's head and how he feels about Bosch getting older. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2024•42 min
Matt Haig joins Simon and Matt for a little does of Q&A. He gives us some great book recommendations, talks about his writing process, the power of walking and who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party. We also surprise him with a question from fan - and friend - Bryony Gordon! And remember, for a limited time, you can £100 off any HD light and free UK delivery. Just visit seriousreaders.com/booksoftheyear to find out more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 04, 2024•24 min
International bestselling author Matt Haig drops by the studio for a chat with Simon and Matt. His new novel, The Life Impossible, is - in his words - "not The Midnight Library 2" - but it does share some themes. Matt talks about facing fears and going back to Ibiza, a place where he nearly committed suicide and which held a lot of trauma. He talks about his fish out of water characters, why he doesn't like the term 'magical realism' and how he nearly stopped writing altogether to become a books...
Nov 27, 2024•39 min
Simon and Matt welcome international bestselling author, Jodi Picoult, back to the studio for a slice of Q&A. She talks about some of her favourite authors and gives us some book recommendations. Plus we hear from crime writer Gillian McAllister and learn who Jodi would invite to her fantasy dinner party. We hope you enjoy the chat! And remember, for a limited time, you can £100 off any HD light and free UK delivery. Just visit seriousreaders.com/booksoftheyear to find out more! Learn more a...
Nov 20, 2024•18 min
Jodi Picoult is baaaack! And she joins Simon and Matt in the studio to discuss her new novel. They chat about the myths surrounding Shakespeare and his work, whether he really wrote all the plays he's credited to have written, and why the history of women writers of the time is completely unknown. Women used writing to record their wisdom at the time, but this specific part of history hasn't been explored properly. We hope you enjoy this lively and quite fulsome debate! (and here's a little more...
Nov 13, 2024•41 min
Simon and Matt welcome Ian Rankin to the studio for a special Q&A episode. They discuss his love of music, his writing processes, Swedish Death Cleaning (yes really) and who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 06, 2024•21 min
Sir Ian Rankin joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his new book, Midnight And Blue. They discuss the challenges of writing a book from a world inside a prison, and how much Ian had to research to ensure he got the details right. And of course they chat about music (Pentangle even get a mention) and the recent screen adaptation of his book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 06, 2024•38 min
Bestselling author Robert Harris joins Simon and Matt for a Q&A episode. He tells us the last book her really REALLY enjoyed reading, what he learns (and has learnt) from writing each of his books, why he's drawn to WWI and WWII and who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2024•18 min
Robert Harris returns to Books Of The Year to discuss his new novel, 'Precipice', with Simon and Matt. A new Robert Harris novel is always a big moment - and once again, he hasn't let us down! They chat about the extraordinary letters that were sent from Prime Minister H.H. Asquith to the woman he was besotted with, Venetia Stanley, and how that relationship changed the shape of government forever. 'Precipice' like many of Robert's novels is based on true events - and so these letters, and Asqui...
Oct 16, 2024•42 min
