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. 9h ago

    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.

  2. 4d ago

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

    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.

  3. Aug 7

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

    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 preferableHis dream holiday: a cruise that wakes you up somewhere new every morning, or family time at Lake GardaWhy 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 underestimatesThe original, much darker title that didn't survive — and why The Informant almost stuckWhich of his 13 books he'd recommend to a first-time readerHis celiac-friendly answer to the usual biscuit question: ice cream, raspberry sauce, and a sprinkle of chocolateGet 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.

  4. Aug 3

    SUMMER SPECIAL — John Marrs on Dead in the Water, Holidays & Twisty Thrillers

    Bestselling psychological thriller author John Marrs joins Philippa for a Quick Book Reviews Summer Special to talk about his latest thriller, Dead in the Water. John and Philippa chat about holiday reading, Kindle versus physical books, family trips, travel sickness, nightmare cruises, dream road trips across Canada or New Zealand, ice cream memories, and why raspberry ripple may require mint Tic Tacs. They also discuss the writing of Dead in the Water, John’s plotting process, red herrings, psychological thrillers, speculative fiction, social media, TikTok, author promotion, publishing transparency, and why he wants readers to close his books feeling entertained. Dead in the Water follows Damon after a near-drowning, when his life flashes before his eyes and reveals one disturbing memory he cannot place: a dead boy, a face he does not know, and a moment he cannot remember living. The official synopsis describes it as a chilling thriller about buried memories and obsession.  Perfect for fans of John Marrs, psychological thrillers, crime fiction, twisty thrillers, summer reads, author interviews, and no-spoiler book podcasts. Books and authors mentioned: Dead in the Water by John Marrs The One by John Marrs The Good Samaritan by John Marrs The Passengers by John Marrs The Marriage Act by John Marrs The Family Experiment by John Marrs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jul 31

    Ellery Lloyd on Time to Burn, Time Travel & Writing as Husband and Wife

    Philippa sits down with Ellery Lloyd — the husband and wife writing duo of Colette and Paul — to talk about their brilliant new novel Time to Burn, their Radio 2 Book Club selection, and what it's really like to write a book with the person you live with. Plus listener questions from the Quick Book Reviews Facebook group, and a biscuit answer that connects beautifully with a very recent episode. 🎙️ Ellery Lloyd on Time to Burn In the very near future, time travel is possible — but only for the obscenely wealthy. Tech entrepreneur Inigo Frank has built Tempus Tours, and documentary maker Phoebe Hunt is there to film his story. Until the first day of filming, when a returning group of time travellers come back bloodied and dazed — and one of them is missing. Someone Phoebe knows. Colette, Paul, and Philippa discuss: The real-world inspiration: billionaire obsessions with space travel, and what happens when technology outpaces consequenceWhy the book is driven by character and mystery rather than quantum physics — it's a thriller that happens to involve time travel, not the other way aroundTheir dream writing locations: a railing-free balcony on Dartmoor (Colette) and a house with extraordinary sea views in Devon (Paul) — neither of which involves being in the same roomThe nightmare writing location: sitting next to Paul, who types loudly, laughs at his own sentences, and performs the act of writing like a 1930s movie reporterThe Radio 2 Book Club announcement — recorded with Sara Cox the morning of this episodeReader questions from the Facebook group: cover design, who first suggested writing together, how they develop ideas (WhatsApps, balconies, and a legendary late-night text from China), whether they argue about plot points (they don't — but one of them keeps a backup Word document, just in case)The Ellery Lloyd formula: a world you haven't been inside before, characters with real motivations, and everything tied up satisfyingly at the endWhere they'd travel if they could: Paul chooses dinosaurs and Romans; Colette wants a dress she saw when she was 18 and has never stopped thinking aboutWhat they're reading: London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (Colette) and The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (Paul)Biscuit answer: Colette powers her writing with Tim Tams — bite off both ends, suck tea through the middle, eat immediately before it collapses. Paul eats his daughter's digestives resentfully and wishes he'd bought Hobnobs. 💬 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. Jul 27

    David Baldacci on Hope Rises, AI, Books as Body Armour & the 9-Hour Court Deposition

    Philippa opens with a brief history lesson — the word "blurb" was invented in 1907 by a writer mocking self-congratulatory publishers, and his fictional creation Miss Belinda Blurb gave us the word we still use today. Then it's three book reviews and a wide-ranging, genuinely fascinating conversation with David Baldacci — over 200 million books sold — about his latest novel Hope Rises. 📚 Three Book Reviews The Compound – Aisling Ruhl Ten women wake up in a desert compound, cameras rolling, waiting for men to arrive. A dark, thought-provoking take on reality TV culture — more layered than it first appears. They Called Us the Enemy – George Takei A graphic novel memoir by the Star Trek actor recounting his family's imprisonment in Japanese American internment camps during World War II. Essential, heartbreaking, and — given it has now been banned in some US libraries — more important than ever. Mad Mabel – Sally Hepworth 81-year-old Elsie Fitzpatrick has a curious history of people around her coming to a foul end. A beautifully narrated audiobook that defies easy genre labels — somewhere between a slow-burn thriller and the Thursday Murder Club, but entirely its own thing. 🎙️ David Baldacci on Hope Rises Walter Nash did everything right — worked hard, earned well, built the American dream. Then an FBI agent turned up the night of his father's funeral and told him he had a choice: help bring down the criminal organisation he'd unknowingly worked for, or lose everything anyway. David and Philippa discuss: Why Walter Nash is a metaphor for everyone wondering where they fit in a world being reshaped by AIThe three-year class action lawsuit David and other authors brought against major AI companies — and the nine-hour deposition in which he was asked whether he'd copied Charles DickensWhy he writes in a Greek deli near his Virginia office, where he has an unofficial plaque above his usual tableBeing both an introvert and an extrovert — and why total isolation is actually his nightmare writing locationThe reading crisis: why he stopped letting "I just don't have time to read" go unchallenged at book signingsThe Wish You Well Foundation and why forcing children to read specific books is the fastest way to kill a love of readingGrowing up in segregated Richmond, Virginia, and why books were his "body armour against bigotry"What he's reading: essays by Jesmyn Ward, a Toni Morrison biography, James by Percival Everett, Kurt Vonnegut's Jailbird, and ARCs from Ann Cleeves and Michael KorytaThe expression he hopes to see on readers' faces at the end of Hope Rises: a contented sigh, and a little more empathyBiscuit answer: Cheez-Its — reduced fat, but consumed in quantities that would alarm a nutritionist. His son ate two boxes and then went out to buy a replacement, then ate that one too. 💬 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.

  7. Jul 24

    Robert Peston on The Kill Switch, AI, Democracy & the Biscuit He Discovered Too Late

    Philippa sits down with Robert Peston — ITV political editor, bestselling author, and reluctant biscuit convert — to talk about The Kill Switch, the third and final book in his Gil Peck thriller trilogy, and why he felt compelled to put artificial intelligence and the fragility of democracy at its heart. 🎙️ Robert Peston on The Kill Switch When the prime minister dies in mysterious circumstances, journalist Gil Peck finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy that may or may not involve artificial intelligence. In a world of misinformation, fractured democracy, and technology that is rewriting the rules of everything, who — or what — is really pulling the strings? Robert and Philippa discuss: Why AI had to be at the heart of this book — and why he believes we are living through the most dangerous moment for democracy since the 1930sThe acknowledgment that stopped Philippa in her tracks: "Don't take democracy for granted. Our way of life is more at risk than at any time since the 1930s. This is the fight of our lives."How the trilogy was always planned as three eras: New Labour 1997, the financial crisis of 2007-08, and the AI revolution nowWhy writing fiction is joyful and writing nonfiction feels like work — and why he may never go backHow COVID gave him the time and space to finally finish a novel he'd been putting off for decadesThe nightmare writing scenario: not a place but a moment — Trump inaugurations, government collapses, and the relentless news cycle taking over every inch of available brain spaceHis dream writing location: a central Lisbon Airbnb over Christmas and New Year — sunny, beautiful food, friendly strangers, and a scene in the novel as a thank-you to the cityWhy he doesn't have a current auto-buy author but is devoted to Dorothy L. Sayers, John Buchan, and Isaac Bashevis SingerThe endless agony of book titles — including the battle to keep WTF on the cover of a Waterstones-stocked bookWhat he hopes readers feel at the end: hope, and curiosity about what comes nextWhat he's reading: London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe and Mariana Mazzucato's The Common Good EconomyBiscuit answer: A chocolate man first and foremost — his go-to is the Choco Leibniz. Introduced mid-conversation to the M&S chocolate-drenched custard cream, which he had already discovered and confirms is "totally addictive." Castle Chocolates in Carlisle and their chocolate-covered lemon sponge are now firmly on his radar for the next book. 💬 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. Jul 20

    Warning: This Episode with T.M. Payne Contains Tongs, Ducks & Biscuit Demonstrations

    Philippa is joined by T.M. Payne — and her co-conspirator Susie — for what may be the most gloriously chaotic episode in Quick Book Reviews history. There are kitchen implement debates, merch updates, a real duck called Crispy, and a live Penguin biscuit demonstration that will genuinely change how you eat biscuits forever. Oh, and there's a brilliant book to talk about too. But first, three book reviews. 📚 Three Book Reviews The Reader on the 6.27 – Jean-Paul Didierlaurent Please don't read the blurb — just pick this up. Under 200 pages, beautiful and surprising. All Philippa will say is: what Gillian does for a living will floor you. Queenie is Working on It – Candice Carty-Williams Queenie is back — still fallible, still gorgeous, still making questionable decisions — and that's exactly why she's so loveable. If you loved book one, you'll love this. Heartstopper Volume Six – Alice Oseman The final chapter of Nick and Charlie's story. Not what Philippa was expecting — but on reflection, exactly right. She needs to talk to someone about it. Get in touch when you've read it. 🎙️ T.M. Payne on One Bad Deed DI Sheridan Holler is back — and this time she does something she never thought she'd have to do. That's all Tina will say. Tina, Susie, and Philippa discuss: The tongs vs spatula debate — and the merch empire that has got completely out of handWhy Sheridan Holler is deliberately not a flawed, angst-ridden detective, and why her warmth comes from Tina's real 14 years as a police case investigatorWhether you need to start at book one (Tina says ideally yes, Susie and Philippa respectfully disagree)The extraordinary true story behind the book's deaf character: a chance encounter with a hotel receptionist in Portsmouth who had been deaf since birth, who lip-read Tina from 12 feet away, and whose voice was then perfectly captured by audiobook narrator Heather Bleasdale — who will never be able to hear itThe dream book festival: a pop-up travelling event on a Routemaster bus, driven by Tina in a cap, pulling up outside people's houses when they can't get to a festivalThe nightmare book festival: anywhere near a beetroot factoryCrispy the Duck — real, found on the Norfolk Broads, returned to the following yearThe smell of One Bad Deed: duck poo and waterPhilippa gets a mention in the acknowledgements of book six — alongside broccoliBiscuit answer: Penguins — but not eaten normally. Bite off both ends, submerge in warm tea, suck the tea through the biscuit, shove it in your mouth at once. Three have been posted to Philippa. Videos are expected. 💬 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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About

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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