Quick Book Reviews with Philippa Hall

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

Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
📧 Email: [email protected]
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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.
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
📧 Email: [email protected]
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@quick_book_reviews
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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa reflects on letting go of over-ambitious New Year plans and choosing a kinder, more sustainable pace of life — before diving into a rich and wide-ranging conversation with the brilliant writing duo Nicci French about their latest novel, What Happened That Night.
Nicci French talk about the inspiration behind the book, writing together without ever sitting side by side, how friendships and secrets evolve over decades, and why reunions can be fertile ground for psychological tension. They also discuss ageing, regret, perception, and how the past refuses to stay buried.
Alongside the interview, Philippa reviews two very different but equally compelling books:
The Exes by Leodora Darlington — a dark, twisty psychological thriller about a woman haunted by the men she’s loved before and the secrets she’s desperate to keep hidden.
Trust by Hernan Diaz — an ambitious, multi-layered literary novel about wealth, power, storytelling, and truth in 1920s New York.
Philippa also reminds listeners about two recent thrillers she’s previously recommended:
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
In Her Defence by Philippa Malicka
There is also book club chat, reflections on perception and memory, and — of course — an essential and highly scientific discussion about biscuits and dunking technique.
Books Featured in This Episode
What Happened That Night — Nicci French
The Exes — Leodora Darlington
Trust — Hernan Diaz
My Husband’s Wife — Alice Feeney
In Her Defence — Philippa Malicka
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
📧 Email: [email protected]
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Nicci French interview
What Happened That Night
psychological thriller podcast
Quick Book Reviews
author interview podcast
book podcast UK
Leodora Darlington The Exes
Hernan Diaz Trust
Alice Feeney My Husband’s Wife
Philippa Malika In Her Defence
crime fiction podcast
thriller book reviews
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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by bestselling author Jennie Godfrey to talk about her wonderful new novel, The Barbecue at No.9.
Jennie’s debut, The List of Suspicious Things, became a word-of-mouth sensation, and her second novel is just as joyful, moving and addictive.
Set over the twelve hours of Live Aid in 1985, The Barbecue at Number Nine follows the residents of a new-build estate as secrets unravel, tensions rise, and lives change forever. Somebody is watching them — and by the end of the day, nothing will be the same again.
In this warm, funny and fascinating conversation, Philippa and Jennie discuss:
Second-book nerves and writing under pressure
Why writers should finish book two before book one is published
Living and writing in rural Somerset
Why Live Aid became the backdrop to the novel
Nostalgia, secrets and the endurance of the human spirit
Character inspiration and the joy of fictional neighbours
Jennie’s whirlwind publishing journey
Reading habits, audiobooks and Kindle life
The importance of maps in novels
The ultimate biscuit discussion (including M&S biscuity clouds)
Preorder here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16356/9781529155013

📚 Books mentioned in this episode:
The Barbecue at No 9 – Jennie Godfrey
The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey
Dead Heat – Sabine Durrant
The Shock of the Light – Laurie Inglis Hall
Nightwatching – Tracy Sierra
Jennie also shares what she’s currently reading, her dream and nightmare writing locations, and the two moments in her career that truly took her breath away.
The Barbecue at No 9 is published next week.
Pre-orders are now open.
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram & Threads: @quick_book_reviews
🎵 TikTok: @quickbookreviews

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