Quick Book Reviews with Philippa Hall

Philippa Hall
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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 fictionAuthor interviews: In-depth conversations with novelists about plot, character, and writing craft — from global names to indie debutsPublishing insider news: Literary trends, BookTok and Bookstagram highlights, and behind-the-scenes publishing gossipGenres covered Crime · Psychological thriller · Cosy crime · Contemporary drama · Dark academia · Rom-com · Historical fiction · Horror · Romantasy Ideal for Readers with an ever-growing TBR pile · Book club members looking for their next pick · Anyone who loves hearing authors talk about their creative process · Fans of BookTok and Bookstagram looking for a deeper dive Genre & metadata Host: Philippa HallFormat: Reviews / interviews / publishing newsFrequency: Twice weekly — every Monday and FridaySpoilers: NeverStatus: Active and ongoing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1h ago

    Philippa's Best Books of 2026 So Far — 12 Picks & an Honourable Mention

    No author interview, no book reviews — just Philippa's most personal episode of the year: her best reads of the first six months of 2026. Twelve books, one honourable mention, and the admission that it was genuinely hard to narrow it down. These are books Philippa read between January and June — not necessarily published this year — in alphabetical order by author surname, because she doesn't want to rank them. 🎖️ Honourable Mention The Wedding Suit – Rachel Joyce (BBC Radio Drama) A five-part radio serial about an eccentric elderly couple whose isolated lives are transformed by the unexpected arrival of a child. Written by Rachel Joyce, narrated by her husband Paul Venables (Yakob in The Archers). Still available on BBC Sounds — Philippa considers it essential listening. 📚 The Top 12 YesterYear – Caro Claire Burke The trad wife book everyone's been talking about — and rightly so. A brilliant concept, word-of-mouth sensation, and genuinely hard to put down. Body of Lies – Jo Callaghan The fourth and final Kat and Lock book. An AI detective, a murdered MP, a cyberattack, and a taunting binary code message. Plus: Philippa gets a mention in the acknowledgements. Chef's kiss. Solitary Agents – David Goodman The second Jamie Tulloch spy novel. Clever concept, brilliant writing, and completely readable without the first book. Broken Country – Claire Leslie Hall A quiet sucker punch of a book — part courtroom, part countryside, all heart. Beautifully written and emotionally devastating. The Drowning Place – Sarah Hilary A Peak District crime series debut unlike anything else in the genre right now. Joseph's story is different in a way Philippa isn't willing to spoil — but can't stop recommending. A Family Matter – Claire Lynch Short, devastating, and extraordinary. A letter arrives. Two timeframes — 1982 and 2022. About love, acceptance, and everything in between. Slings and Arrows – Nick McLachlan A book about darts in the 1980s that turns out to be about friendship, marriage, health, and everything men don't say to each other. Published 2024. Beautiful. Night Swimmers – Roisin McGuire A coastal Northern Ireland village, a quirky swimmer called Grace, a visitor with a complicated story, and a cast of locals who made Philippa laugh out loud. The audiobook is gorgeous. Land – Maggie O'Farrell Starting in 1865 Ireland, this is Philippa's favourite Maggie O'Farrell yet. Exquisite writing, emotional gut-punches from nowhere, and a book that feels like the land itself is reading alongside you. Mars One – Charlotte Robinson A sci-fi thriller that works even if you don't read sci-fi. A one-way mission to Mars, a conspiracy, a vanished coder in Hong Kong, and his cat. Needs to be a film immediately. The Things We Never Say – Elizabeth Strout Philippa's first Strout & now she wants them all. A teacher named Arty handles life with quiet grace & devastating tenderness. Already pressed into multiple people's hands. The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal – Jodi Taylor Time travel, hijinks, chaos, and joy. A brilliant entry point into Jodi Taylor's world, and the audiobook is perfection. 💬 What were your best reads of the first half of 2026? 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.

  2. 2d ago

    We're Starting a Book Club — Here's the Twist

    A short but exciting episode! Philippa announces a brand new format for the podcast: a Quick Book Reviews Book Club, running throughout October. The chosen book is The One You Least Suspect by Brian McGilloway — already out in paperback, 384 pages, and available from libraries. Each week in October, listeners will read roughly 96 pages, with Philippa sharing her thoughts at the end of each episode so no one has to miss the main content if they're behind on reading. About the book: Katie is a barmaid in a quiet Derry neighbourhood, happy with her small life and her daughter, Hope. Everything changes when two detectives approach her, wanting her to become their informant. Caught between the police and the dangerous brothers she works for, Katie must survive by staying the one person nobody suspects. Philippa also shares a quick update on changes to the podcast schedule: Mondays — author interviewsFridays — Philippa's own takes on the book world, publishing chat, and things on her mindThis is a one-off trial for now — no pressure to join, and listeners can catch up in their own time. Updates and discussion will also be shared on the Quick Book Reviews Facebook group throughout October. The Book Club Pick: The One You Least Suspect by Brian McGilloway (out now in paperback) Join the discussion 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.

  3. 4d ago

    SUMMER SPECIAL — Fern Britton on A Cornish Legacy, Florence & Finding Home

    Bestselling author and broadcaster Fern Britton joins Philippa for a very special summer edition of Quick Book Reviews to talk about her wonderful new novel, A Cornish Legacy. Fern shares stories of solo travelling in Florence, cycling adventures across India, Madagascar, Cuba and Egypt, dream holidays to Penang, mosquito nightmares, Cornwall, family history, and the joy of finding a place to truly belong. They also discuss the emotional inspiration behind A Cornish Legacy, the real Cornish house that inspired the story, food in fiction, family secrets, wartime history, reviews, writing challenges, and why Fern thought this might be “the worst book” she’d ever written — before readers fell completely in love with it. A Cornish Legacy is a warm, emotional and uplifting novel set around a beautiful old Cornish house called Wildahoo. After heartbreak and loss, Cordelia unexpectedly inherits the crumbling house and must decide whether to destroy it or rebuild both the property and her own life. Rich with friendship, family, belonging, love and second chances, it’s perfect for readers who adore atmospheric Cornish fiction. (penguin.co.uk) Perfect for fans of Fern Britton, Cornish fiction, women’s fiction, uplifting novels, family stories, summer reading, author interviews, and feel-good books with heart. Books and authors mentioned: A Cornish Legacy by Fern Britton Daughters of Cornwall by Fern Britton Still Life by Sarah Winman Gone with the Wind by Gone with the Wind Dorothy L. Sayers Agatha Christie This episode is full of travel stories, writing wisdom, Cornwall, family memories, laughter, emotion, and excellent advice about protecting your ice cream from seagulls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Aug 28

    3 Weirdly Perfect Books to Read Now + Gavin Bell on 138 Main Street - Summer Special

    Recorded live at Capital Crime Book Festival, Philippa talks to Gavin Bell — also known as Mason Cross, also known as Alex Knight — about his gripping new thriller 138 Main Street. But first, three festive reads for anyone who, like Philippa, enjoys a Christmas book in the height of summer. 3 Christmas Books for Summer The Winter Guest – Sarah Moss Two strangers share Christmas Eve dinner in a remote Irish hotel as a snowstorm gathers outside — and each has a confession to make. Atmospheric and unexpected. A Carol and a Killing – Reverend Richard Coles A festive cathedral choir concert ends in tragedy when a soloist falls — or was he pushed? A cosy, witty Christmas murder mystery. The Case of the Christmas Card – Elly Griffiths Charles Dickens turns up on time-travelling detective Allie Dawson's doorstep just before Christmas, and the two team up to solve two cases at once — all while Dickens tries to find his way home. Gavin Bell on 138 Main Street A killer is targeting victims who all live at the same address — 138 Main Street — but there are 7,664 Main Streets in America. How do you predict where they'll strike next? Gavin and Philippa discuss: Writing under three different names, and the moment he had to invent a Gavin Bell signature on the spot at his book launchHis dream holiday on the Orient Express, with separate compartments for family, friends, and quiet decompression timeReading The Godfather for the first time and why watching the film first makes you appreciate the book moreHis nightmare holiday: Benidorm 1996, hangovers in the heat, and reading the backs of cereal boxes for entertainmentWhere the idea came from — an offhand line in another book, plus a real-life unlocked-doors estate that spooked him into writing itWhy short, sting-in-the-tail chapters are deliberate, and why "I read it in three hours" is the highest compliment a thriller writer can getWhy he keeps his day job, and the colleagues (and CD collection) who keep accidentally ending up as character namesIce cream order: "Marathon Man" Snickers ice cream in a waffle cone — no sauce, no flake, just pure peanut-chocolate perfection. 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.

  5. Aug 24

    SUMMER SPECIAL: Elly Griffiths on The Killing Time, Time Travel & Las Vegas Hell

    It's the Quick Book Reviews summer special, and Philippa is joined by the wonderful Elly Griffiths — bestselling author of the Ruth Galloway series — to talk holidays, her latest novel The Killing Time, and what's coming next in the world of time-travelling detective Ali Dawson. ☀️ Holiday Chat Elly is a self-confessed good traveller — half Italian, born in August, and happiest in the heat. She and Philippa cover: Dream holiday: a pale pink villa on the Amalfi Coast, a little boat, one evening a week with a local chef, and a carefully curated stack of booksNightmare holiday: Las Vegas — fake light, fake skies, rows of slot machines, and a pool you're not actually allowed to swim inThe art of the airport — checkers vs loungers, and why Elly is slowly becoming her husbandBuying your own book in an airport duty-free shop and having to pretend you didn't know it was thereThe Jodi Picoult book she left behind in a holiday rental with one chapter to go (it still haunts her)The worst possible holiday book: saccharine sweet, no darkness underneath, and the last chapter ripped out🎙️ The Killing Time — Elly Griffiths The second book in the Ali Dawson series finds time travel strictly forbidden — until Ali's cat goes missing and she decides the rules don't quite apply to that. What follows takes her to 1851, the Great Exhibition, a sinister mesmerist called Barry Power, and a chance encounter with Italian physicist Serafina Pellegrini — all with her cat Terry somehow along for the ride. Elly and Philippa discuss: Why time travel in these books is really just "where Allie goes" — no sci-fi knowledge requiredHow Ali arrived fully-formed, red-haired and nose-ringed, walking down an East End streetHer nod to Chaucer's Wife of Bath in Allie's characterThe Ruth Galloway update — a short story set on a Nile cruise, and a tantalising hint about Ruth's daughter Kate turning 18 this November...The Case of the Christmas Card (out October): a novella in which Charles Dickens travels to 2024, falls in love with M&S sandwiches, and helps Ali solve a caseThe Night Watchman (out February): Ali goes back to the London Blitz — and Elly goes deep on 1940s rabbit keepingWhat expression she hopes readers will have at the end: satisfaction, with a little curl of curiosityIce cream order: Coffee, classic, in a little cup — the odd coffee bean acceptable, squirty cream absolutely not. The Killing Time is out now in hardback. Paperback out 10th September. 💬 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.

  6. Aug 21

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

    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 customsHis 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 earlierWhy he wanted to write a spy thriller with a huge geographic canvas after several more localised booksWriting 500–1,000 words a day in a café, fuelled by multiple coffees, and losing track of time during action sequencesThe two-book deal already underway, plus a slower, more psychological spy thriller drawing on his past life as a psychologistWhy the title Octagon came early and never changedIce 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.

  7. Aug 17

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

    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 appealDream holiday: two weeks in Antigua with a book a day plus a 25% margin for ones he doesn't get on withThe 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 islandThe villa in Tobago that promised a cook and delivered disappointmentThe Soviet Union trip he always wanted but never took — and why a Russian jail would be his true holiday nightmareReading 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 talkingWhy Lee stopped writing when he felt he was running out of gas, and why he'd rather stop than phone it inThe brilliant passive opening of Exit Strategy — a note slipped into Reacher's pocket in a coffee shopWhy Reacher works as a proxy for every reader who's ever wanted to help but couldn'tChain Reaction (out 20th October): a tech town, solar farms, data centres, and Reacher's feelings about the world's first trillionairesAndrew'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.

  8. Aug 14

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

    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 inventedWhy her agent suggested splitting the book into three timelines — Kate meeting her husband, meeting her lover, and the real-time hotel room scenesWhy complicated, morally grey characters make for the best book club argumentsThe brilliant audiobook adaptation that surprised even Ellie with how "acted" it feltThe original title, Hotel Sonder, and why it had to change after she kept seeing the word everywhereHer next book — another "middle-aged woman stepping outside her lane," and her fascination with hotels, parks, and other places where strangers' lives briefly intersectIce 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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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 fictionAuthor interviews: In-depth conversations with novelists about plot, character, and writing craft — from global names to indie debutsPublishing insider news: Literary trends, BookTok and Bookstagram highlights, and behind-the-scenes publishing gossipGenres covered Crime · Psychological thriller · Cosy crime · Contemporary drama · Dark academia · Rom-com · Historical fiction · Horror · Romantasy Ideal for Readers with an ever-growing TBR pile · Book club members looking for their next pick · Anyone who loves hearing authors talk about their creative process · Fans of BookTok and Bookstagram looking for a deeper dive Genre & metadata Host: Philippa HallFormat: Reviews / interviews / publishing newsFrequency: Twice weekly — every Monday and FridaySpoilers: NeverStatus: Active and ongoing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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