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QUICK NOTE: This will be the last episode of The Biscuit Reviews to appear here - instead it will be now be on its own channel as The Biscuit Reviews. In fact you can find it at www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk right now and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Episode 7: Secrets. Deception. Affairs. Both the book and the podcast reviewed on this episode dive deep into the drama of the tangled webs we weave. Author Mhairi McFarlane's latest novel Between Us hits the ground running with high drama and high stakes. School teacher Roisin suffers a betrayal at the hands of her long term partner and is forced to wonder what else he might be capable of. The BBC Podcast series People Who Knew Me might draw you in with its A-List cast of Rosamund Pike and Hugh Laurie but it will keep you hooked with the suspense of what Connie will do when her secret past life might need to be revealed. For the written review of both of these and any links mentioned in the show go to www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Episode 6 looks at the podcast series Witch, and the graphic novel Isabella and Blodwen. In the 13 part podcast series Witch, host and journalist India Rakusen and her team create a spellbinding series with each half an hour episode artfully exploring different aspects of what “Witch” can mean and how it has changed over the centuries. Artist, writer, and comic book creator Rachael Smith has built a loyal following with her autobiographical comic strips. Isabella & Blodwen dives back to her fantastical fictional work and brings together precocious 16 year old Isabella and the chaotic witch Blodwen who vows to help her as she struggles with life at Oxford University. ​ The episode starts with Witch, but you can skip to 10minutes 35seconds if you just want Isabella & Blodwen review. For the written review for both of these and links mentioned go to episode page at: www.thehumanish.co.uk https://www.thehumanish.co.uk/the-biscuit-reviews-no-6 All music in the episode is by Ketsa. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

It is exam season in the UK: For most of us, the thought of school brings back some pretty strong memories…and not just about school dinner. Our nostalgia might reflect on all the good memories, a simpler time maybe, for others it might bring back more difficult or even painful experiences. Depending on your era and background, the level of support you received - if any - to help you navigate the potentially challenging path through school, will have massively varied. Is our mental health in schools outstanding? Or does it require improvement? Let’s head back to school and chat to Louise Clarke and find out what an ELSA is. Links: ​ Website link with show notes and previous episodes: https://www.thehumanish.co.uk Background on the ELSA role and Sheila Burton. https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/educationalpsychology/training/elsa ELSA network: https://www.elsanetwork.org Link to clinical psychologist Dr Naomi Fisher. https://www.naomifisher.co.uk ​ Music: Gods Among Men by Prox-c. freemusicarchive.org/music/Prox-c ​ Winds Howl by Ketsa https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ ​

Caleb Azumah Nelsons debut novel Open Water is an astonishing achievement. Combining poetic prose and rhythms to match the heart wrenching tale of love and identity against the backdrop of a frenetic London and racial tensions. Lisa Jewell has cemented her reputation as an elite thriller writer and The Night She Disappeared is an other hit of the genre - which might seem a long way from her debut novel in 1999 but there are similarities that make both compulsive reading. The episode starts with Open Water, but you can skip to 8 minutes if you just want The Night She Disappeared review. For the full write reviews of both books and for previous episodes go to www.thehumanish.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. Music By Ketsa https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

How would you cope in a hostage situation? How about in a riot? When Jill Sunter made the big decision to swap the school run for the prison run, she might not have imagined the range of challenging and unusual situations she would find herself in. Let's go back to the 90s and a prison in Scotland... When Jill first got in touch and mentioned that she was once a prison officer, I didn’t really expect that we would end up with an episode that takes in gender roles, the virtues of murderers vs drug dealers, and nearly getting run off the road by a teenager. You can find more info' and previous episodes at www.thehumanish.co.uk ​ Music: Gods Among Men by Prox-c. freemusicarchive.org/music/Prox-c ​ Elemental by ATUM http://freemusicarchive.org/music/dlay​ ​ Winds Howl by Ketsa http://freemusicarchive.org/music/ketsa

A double header this week. First up, I marvel at how in "Elizabeth is Missing", Emma Healey has crafted a tale about an old lady with dementia into a thrilling and moving mystery. Next up, I consider the themes that connect that novel to the Scandi-noir-esque Canadian detective series "Cardinal". ​ The episode starts with the review of "Elizabeth is Missing", but you can skip to 7minutes 20seconds if you just want the "Cardinal" review. Go to www.thehumanish.co.uk for the written versions of both reviews and all links. Music by Ketsa Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 freemusicarchive.org/music/ketsa