In My Good Books

In My Good Books is the podcast for UK readers who love crime fiction, thrillers, and literary fiction. Hosted by Susie Green, each episode features relaxed, in-depth conversations with authors and fellow readers about the stories that stay with us, the books we can’t stop recommending, and the creative process behind the page. Whether you’re looking for your next gripping read or curious about how your favourite authors craft their stories, this podcast is here to inspire, entertain, and help you discover your next great book. New episodes every week, follow to never miss an episode!

In My Good Books is a arts podcast hosted by Susie Green, with 133 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Susie Green hosts In My Good Books, a arts show with 133 episodes published.

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  Episode #132

  132: Jonathan Trigell on Boy A | Literary Fiction, Crime, Punishment & Second Chances

  Aug 17, 202655 minS1

  Jonathan Trigell joins me for this episode of Reading Is Political to discuss the re-release of his award-winning novel, Boy A . First published in 2004, Boy A became one of the defining British novels of its generation, winning both the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the Waverton Good Read Award before being adapted into the acclaimed BAFTA-winning film starring Andrew Garfield. More than twenty years later, the novel has been re-released for a new generation of readers and its themes feel just as relevant today. Our conversation explores why society continues to struggle with ideas of crime, punishment, rehabilitation and forgiveness. We discuss whether children who commit terrible crimes are judged differently from adults, the role of the media in shaping public opinion, and how social media would completely change Jack's story if Boy A were written today. Jonathan's book recommendations: • GB84 — David Peace • If We Tolerate This: How the British Establishment Made the Far Right Respectable — Daniel Trilling • Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York — Andrew Lownie • Lost Boys: Undercover in the Manosphere — James Bloodworth • Fieldwork As A Sex Object — Meena Kandasamy • The Road — Cormac McCarthy • The House at Pooh Corner — A. A. Milne

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  Episode #131

  131: Linda Duncan McLaughlin – Original Sin | Bloody Scotland 2026

  Aug 16, 202628 minS1

  Linda Duncan McLaughlin joins me to discuss her debut crime novel, Original Sins , which has been shortlisted for the 2026 Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. Linda shares the inspiration behind a story that explores identity, adoption and the age-old question of nature versus nurture. We discuss the challenge of writing a protagonist whose birth father is a serial killer, why the novel blends psychological suspense with family drama, and how a manuscript that sat unfinished for years eventually became her debut novel. Linda also tells us about appearing on the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize Panel , taking place Friday 18 September at 3:00pm, and shares the festival events she's most looking forward to attending. Her recommendations include the Two Crime Walking Tour , From Screen to Page , You the Jury , Every Breath You Take , Glesga , Murder at the Edge of the World , and Pitch Perfect .

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  Episode #130

  130: Katie Huttlestone Talks A Healthy Appetite | Literary Horror & Speculative Fiction

  Aug 13, 202629 minS1

  This week on In My Good Books , I'm joined by debut author Katie Huttlestone to discuss her novel, A Healthy Appetite . The novel follows Hannah, a woman with late-stage illness who volunteers for an experimental drug trial. As the treatment begins to work in unexpected ways, it also awakens an increasingly ravenous appetite, forcing Hannah to confront impossible questions about survival, identity and the moral compromises we might make to stay alive. Katie shares the deeply personal inspiration behind the novel, drawing on her own experiences of living with chronic illness while creating a speculative story that asks fascinating "what if?" questions rather than telling a traditional cancer narrative. We talk about medical trials, the realities of living in the space between illness and wellness, and why she wanted to write a story that offered something different from the books she'd previously encountered. As always, Katie shares two brilliant book recommendations to add to your reading list: Permanence by Sophie Mackintosh Wrecks by Matt Hill If you enjoy conversations about books, writing and the stories behind the stories, don't forget to follow In My Good Books so you never miss an episode.

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  Episode #129

  129: Fauzia Musa on The Strangling Fig | Literary Fiction, Partition & Generational Trauma | Reading is Political

  Aug 10, 202638 minS1

  In this episode of Reading Is Political, I'm joined by debut novelist Fauzia Musa to discuss her extraordinary novel The Strangling Fig . Spanning the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 through to the early 2000s, The Strangling Fig is a sweeping family saga that blends literary fiction, magical realism and historical memory. We explore how personal histories become family myths, the generational impact of political decisions, and why some stories remain untold for decades. Fauzia shares how the novel began as an attempt to write her own family's history before evolving into fiction, why she introduced a ghost into the narrative, and how multiple drafts transformed the book into the story readers see today. We also discuss researching Partition, writing ambitious dual timelines, and the challenge of creating authentic characters across generations. Fauzia also recommends four books that have shaped her thinking, before sharing two comfort reads she returns to again and again: Melissa Febos – Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative Shehan Karunatilaka – The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida Shon Faye – Love in Exile Ayn Rand – The Fountainhead Lily King – Heart the Lover John Fowles – The Magus If you enjoy conversations about books, politics, identity and the stories that shape our world, don't forget to follow In My Good Books wherever you listen to podcasts. Fauzia's Legit Substack

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  Episode #128

  128: Kirsty Lockwood on We Know What You Did | Scottish Crime Thriller | Bloody Scotland 2026

  Aug 9, 202626 minS1

  Kirsty Lockwood joins me to discuss her debut crime thriller, We Know What You Did , a novel that's already making waves after being shortlisted for the 2026 Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize. In this episode, Kirsty shares the whirlwind journey from publication day to becoming one of the most talked-about new voices in Scottish crime fiction. We chat about the inspiration behind Odette, one of this year's most compelling protagonists, the challenge of writing dual timelines, and why social media became such an important part of the novel's central mystery. As part of my Bloody Scotland 2026 series, Kirsty also tells us about appearing on the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize Panel , taking place Friday 18 September at 3:00pm, and shares the festival events she's most excited to attend. Her recommendations include Femme Fatales (featuring Liz Nugent, Harriet Tyce and Andrea Mara) and Are They or Aren't They? featuring Leodora Darlington. If you enjoy psychological suspense, character-driven crime fiction and behind-the-scenes publishing conversations, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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