Quick Book Reviews with Philippa Hall

Thousands of books. No time to waste. No spoilers. Ever. Quick Book Reviews — your twice-weekly reading companion with host Philippa Hall What it is Quick Book Reviews is a spoiler-free book podcast hosted by Philippa Hall, published every Monday and Friday. Philippa reads widely so busy readers don't have to guess — delivering honest, enthusiastic, bite-sized reviews alongside in-depth author interviews and a friendly window into the publishing world. This is a warm, welcoming show for readers who love books but don't have time to read everything — and want someone they trust to help them choose what's next. Format Spoiler-free reviews : Fast, honest breakdowns of new releases and upcoming fiction Author interviews : In-depth conversations with novelists about plot, character, and writing craft — from global names to indie debuts Publishing insider news :

Quick Book Reviews with Philippa Hall is a arts podcast hosted by Philippa Hall, with 483 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.

Philippa Hall hosts Quick Book Reviews with Philippa Hall, a arts show with 483 episodes published.

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  Episode #487

  3 Books You Should Never Take on a Plane + C.J. Merritt on Octagon (SUMMER SPECIAL)

  Aug 20, 202624 min

  Recorded live at Capital Crime Book Festival , Philippa talks to C.J. Merritt about his whiplash international spy thriller Octagon — but first, a public service announcement: three brilliant books you should absolutely not read on an actual flight. 3 Books You Should NOT Take on Holiday (If You're Flying) Hostage – Clare Mackintosh A flight attendant receives a note threatening her daughter's life mid-flight from London to Sydney. Gripping, claustrophobic, and definitely not in-flight reading. Drowning – T.J. Newman A plane crashes into the Pacific, trapping passengers underwater on a sinking fuselage. Written by a former flight attendant who knows exactly how to make this terrifyingly real. Airframe – Michael Crichton A catastrophic mid-air disaster sparks a tense investigation into what really went wrong. Brilliant, realistic, and best read firmly on the ground. Philippa talks to C.J. Merritt about Octagon A former MI6 officer and an ex-SAS soldier, both out in the cold, are pulled back in when a coded warning leads to a trail of danger across Europe. Described as a page-turning action thriller in the vein of I Am Pilgrim . Chris and Philippa discuss: His dream holiday: New Zealand, or a few days alone on a writing retreat (a luxury when you have a small child) Travelling solo through Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East in his twenties — and the cardigan with zip pockets built for smuggling books through customs His nightmare holiday: a 25-mile jungle trek through 35°C heat in Central Africa, hired porters who got drunk on the money he paid them, and arriving to find the gorillas they'd come to see had all died of Ebola a year earlier Why he wanted to write a spy thriller with a huge geographic canvas after several more localised books Writing 500–1,000 words a day in a café, fuelled by multiple coffees, and losing track of time during action sequences The two-book deal already underway, plus a slower, more psychological spy thriller drawing on his past life as a psychologist Why the title Octagon came early and never changed Ice cream order: Salted caramel, pistachio, and chocolate cookie dough — in a dish, with a cone on the side just in case. Get in touch Quick Book Reviews Facebook Group | Instagram | Email: quickbookreviews@outlook.com Quick Book Reviews: author interviews and book reviews with no spoilers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #486

  SUMMER SPECIAL: Lee Child on Jack Reacher, AI & Reading in Prisons

  Aug 16, 202640 min

  Philippa is joined by the legendary Lee Child — creator of Jack Reacher, published in over 120 countries with more than 40 million books sold — for this summer special. They cover holidays, the Reacher handover to brother Andrew Child, artificial intelligence, and why literacy in prisons matters more than you might think. ☀️ Holiday Chat Lee hasn't had a proper holiday in 10 years — when you've been on 70 planes in a single year, home starts to look like a very good option. He and Philippa discuss: Why 40% writing and 60% promotion means travel has lost its appeal Dream holiday: two weeks in Antigua with a book a day plus a 25% margin for ones he doesn't get on with The accidental best holiday of his life — a British Airways voucher, a paper ticket, a pilot who said "you're here, let's go," and a tiny Cessna to an almost uninhabited Bahamian island The villa in Tobago that promised a cook and delivered disappointment The Soviet Union trip he always wanted but never took — and why a Russian jail would be his true holiday nightmare Reading on the beach with the "commentary track" switched on — and the moment in Seven that made him think "they wouldn't dare" and then they did ️ Jack Reacher: Exit Strategy & Chain Reaction Lee explains the creative handover to his brother Andrew Child , why it was never really a handover at all, and how the two of them have always been on the same wavelength — sometimes literally finishing each other's sentences about Russian oligarchs falling from windows. They discuss: How Andrew is now doing "all the hard work" while Lee does "the fun work" — which is just talking Why Lee stopped writing when he felt he was running out of gas, and why he'd rather stop than phone it in The brilliant passive opening of Exit Strategy — a note slipped into Reacher's pocket in a coffee shop Why Reacher works as a proxy for every reader who's ever wanted to help but couldn't Chain Reaction (out 20th October): a tech town, solar farms, data centres, and Reacher's feelings about the world's first trillionaires Andrew's two contributions to the reset: more Reacher dialogue, and dragging him slightly further into the modern world Literacy, Prisons & Why Reading Saves Lives Lee talks about his prison literacy work and his involvement with The Queen's Reading Room — and the research showing that just five minutes of reading reduces stress hormones by 20%. Plus why Quick Reads matter, why TV adaptations are a brilliant way in for reluctant readers, and why some women end up in prison simply because they couldn't read an official letter. Ice Cream Order Vanilla, in a bowl, with hot fudge sauce — slightly melty — and yes, a 99 Flake if one's going. Get in touch Quick Book Reviews Facebook Group | Instagram | quickbookreviews@outlook.com Quick Book Reviews: author interviews and book reviews with no spoilers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #485

  Your Top 3 Holiday Reads + Ellie Levenson on Room 706 - Summer Special

  Aug 13, 202623 min

  Recorded live at Capital Crime Book Festival , Philippa talks to Ellie Levenson about her brilliantly genre-defying novel Room 706 — described by her own agent as "thrilling but not a thriller." But first, the results are in! After asking listeners for their top three holiday book recommendations, here are the three that came out on top: Your Top 3 Holiday Reads The End of Summer – Charlotte Philby A woman's carefully constructed past unravels when journalists turn up on her daughter's doorstep. A story of reinvention, secrets, and a mother who might never have been who she claimed. Dead Heat – Sabine Durrant A struggling journalist joins old friends at their house in Greece for the summer — until a wealthy newcomer's lavish parties stir up envy, resentment, and an accident that may not have been an accident at all. Still Life – Sarah Winman A wartime encounter in a ruined Tuscan wine cellar changes the course of two strangers' lives forever. (Philippa admits this is the one book club pick almost everyone loves except her — and she suspects a reread is overdue.) Ellie Levenson on Room 706 Inspired by a very relatable fantasy — booking a hotel room alone, with no one needing anything from her — Ellie's novel asks: what if a tired mother checked into a hotel just to be alone, and then couldn't leave? Ellie and Philippa discuss: The "women who are clever but tired" genre Ellie has unofficially invented Why her agent suggested splitting the book into three timelines — Kate meeting her husband, meeting her lover, and the real-time hotel room scenes Why complicated, morally grey characters make for the best book club arguments The brilliant audiobook adaptation that surprised even Ellie with how "acted" it felt The original title, Hotel Sonder , and why it had to change after she kept seeing the word everywhere Her next book — another "middle-aged woman stepping outside her lane," and her fascination with hotels, parks, and other places where strangers' lives briefly intersect Ice cream order: Chocolate, coffee, and nut — multiples of three, naturally, with a cone for garnish. Get in touch Quick Book Reviews Facebook Group | Instagram | quickbookreviews@outlook.com Quick Book Reviews: author interviews and book reviews with no spoilers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #484

  SUMMER SPECIAL — Karin Slaughter on The Secrets We Hide, Will Trent & Holiday Nightmares

  Aug 9, 202630 min

  Bestselling crime writer Karin Slaughter joins Philippa for a very special summer edition of Quick Book Reviews to talk about her new thriller, The Secrets We Hide . Karin talks about why she is not a natural holiday person, her dream trip to New Zealand, long-haul flights, travel delays, e-books, audiobooks, fish allergies, sorbet, swimming with sharks, climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge, and why she prefers working to sitting on a beach. Philippa and Karin also discuss The Secrets We Hide , the North Falls series, We Are All Guilty Here , Emmy Clifton, Jude Archer, writing violence against women, libraries, book bans, women’s voices, writing for different kinds of readers, and the huge success of the Will Trent TV series. The Secrets We Hide is the second book in Karin Slaughter’s North Falls series. Set in a small Georgia town full of secrets, it follows Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, as they investigate the murder of Allison Vickery and the brutal attack on her teenage daughter. Everyone thinks they know what happened — but the truth is far more shocking.  Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter , crime fiction , psychological thrillers , murder mysteries , small-town crime , Will Trent , North Falls , summer reading , author interviews , and gripping thrillers with big twists . Books and authors mentioned: The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter The Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter Mary Higgins Clark Mo Hayder James Patterson Bernard Cornwell Jane Austen This episode is packed with sharp insight, dark humour, book chat, travel disasters, thriller-writing secrets, and the very important question of whether cherry sorbet counts as healthy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #483

  3 Books to Get People Reading Again & Brian McGilloway - Summer Special

  Aug 6, 202624 min

  Recorded live at Capital Crime Book Festival , this episode kicks off Philippa's August Friday series — shorter interviews with brilliant authors you should know more about. First up: Brian McGilloway , talking holidays, control, and his standalone thriller The One You Least Suspect . But first, three books perfect for anyone who hasn't read in years and wants to fall back in love with reading on holiday: Three Books for the Reluctant Reader Love, Mom – Iliana Xander A bestselling thriller author dies in a so-called accident — and the letters that follow reveal a family secret worth killing for. Gripping from the first page. Deception – Jack Jordan A couple desperate to fund their son's life-saving surgery accepts an offer from a mysterious syndicate — but every task is a crime, and the stakes only rise. Widely considered Jack Jordan's best yet. Strange Houses – Uketsu, translated by Jim Rion A creepy, atmospheric Japanese horror told partly through unsettling floor plans. Short, immersive, and impossible to put down — Philippa's favourite holiday read of last year. Brian McGilloway on The One You Least Suspect A barmaid in Derry wakes up after an ill-advised one-night stand to find herself pressured into becoming a police informant by two detectives who've been watching her for months. Caught between the law and the men she works for, Katie has to find her own way through — and her own voice. Brian and Philippa discuss: Why he avoids flying wherever possible — buses, trains, and ferries are all preferable His dream holiday: a cruise that wakes you up somewhere new every morning, or family time at Lake Garda Why he still prefers physical books to e-readers (the percentage counter just doesn't cut it) The real story behind Northern Ireland's history of police informants, and why he wanted an "unlikely" central character everyone underestimates The original, much darker title that didn't survive — and why The Informant almost stuck Which of his 13 books he'd recommend to a first-time reader His celiac-friendly answer to the usual biscuit question: ice cream, raspberry sauce, and a sprinkle of chocolate Get in touch Quick Book Reviews Facebook Group | Instagram | quickbookreviews@outlook.com Quick Book Reviews: author interviews and book reviews with no spoilers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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