For the Club’s first meeting, the book of the week is Denise Mina’s The Less Dead. 

Graham talks to Denise herself about her brand of ‘tartan noir’ while our clubbers reveal their opinions after reading it. We go behind the mic to hear from actress Maxine Peake on bringing to life DH Lawrence’s classic, Lady Chatterley’s Lover. 

All this and plenty more including recommendations for the best suspense novels and picks from Amazon’s romance chart. 

For our second club gathering, the book of the week is Zadie Smith’s On Beauty. 

Graham talks to Zadie about how her ‘turn of the century’ novel reads today and our clubbers decide if they’re impressed. 

The mistress of the audio book, Juliet Stevenson, reveals the secrets of the art with her brand new recording of Pride and Prejudice. Plus, we discover what a gothic novel actually is and share some top picks from the Amazon’s family saga chart.

Our book of the week is Andrew O’Hagan’s Mayflies. Graham talks to Andrew about treading the fine line between autobiography and fiction and our clubbers discuss whether he managed to do it successfully. 

Our famous voice is Stephen Mangan, who reveals how much his own children appreciated having him read them fairy stories using all his acting skills (hint – not very much). Plus, we dive into other people’s lives as Alex Clark shares her ‘three of the best’ memoirs.    

Graham talks to Adrian McKinty about our book of the week, The Cold Cold Ground as well his nearly giving up writing in favour of Uber driving!

Our clubbers share their thoughts on the book and actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and author Ben Aaronovitch discuss their reader/writer bromance. Plus, Sara Collins tells us about her favourite ‘bad girls’ and we investigate the hidden treasures of the Metaphysical and Visionary best-sellers list.

Thanks to Orion Publishing Group, for providing us with the audiobook clips in this episode.

Our book of the week – Lanny – gets one of the strongest clubber reactions so far! Graham talks to its author, Max Porter, as well as Shallow Grave and Angel at my Table star, Kerry Fox, about being professionally Australian (she’s from New Zealand) and having a reputation for being difficult. Plus, Alex Clark takes us into the woods and we unearth some treasures in the film and TV tie-in charts.

Graham and the Clubbers get adventurous with book-of-the-week choice, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman Volume I: Preludes and Nocturnes. Graham speaks to Neil about this iconic series of graphic novels as well as getting behind the mic with prolific audio book reader, Adjoa Andoh (aka Lady Danbury from Bridgerton). Plus Sara Collins woos us with three of her best romances.

We’d like to thank Bolinda for providing us with the audiobook clip of How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith read by Adjoa Andoh.

Our book of the week is Edna O’Brien’s remarkable Girl – the story of a schoolgirl kidnapped by religious extremists which involved Edna travelling to Nigeria to do her research at the age of 85. Graham talks to Edna about the writing of it and the clubbers debate their reading of it. 

Plus Matt Lucas tells us how Great his Expectations are and Alex Clark shares her top choices for books with unreliable narrators...or does she?

Novelist Sarah Waters (Tipping the Velvet, Fingersmith) gives us insight into our book of the week – Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont – and its author, Elizabeth Taylor. Our clubbers debate the book and, in a special session recorded at the Hay Festival, Graham talks to lit superstars Richard Osman and Marian Keys about audio books and more. Plus, Sara Collins gets us caught up in family drama.