PODCAST

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year

Ora Et Labora

Simon Mayo and Matt Williams invite the world"s finest authors in for a chat.

arts books

All Episodes

48:54

Ian McEwan

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/09/24

International bestselling author, Ian McEwan, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his new novel 'What We Can Know'.Optimistic manifesto? Or a cautious tale? In the first half of the book, we learn about a lost poem - which is at the heart of the novel - as this is ultimately a book about a quest. As well as poetry, they talk about renewable energies being on the rise and the positive conversations around climate change. 'you only have to stop doing bad things to nature, for it to push

18:35

Laura Shepherd-Robinson Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/09/17

Crime author, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, joins Simon and Matt for a natter about the authors and books she loves - and her writing process. We also surprise her with a question from the author SJ Parris - and find out who she would invite to her fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39:49

Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/09/02

Author Laura Shepherd-Robinson joins Simon and Matt for a natter about her latest historical crime novel - 'The Art Of A Lie' They discuss conmen, ice cream, twists and turns, the 18th Century and loving characters too much. Matt has claimed this is probably his favourite book of the year so far! See if you agree.... Here's more about 'The Art Of A Lie' London, 1749 Hannah Cole's world shatters following her husband’s brutal murder. Her confectionary shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple,

40:14

Lucy Foley

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/07/02

Bestselling author Lucy Foley joins Simon and Matt for a chat about her latest novel, 'The Midnight Feast' (which has just come out in paperback) She talks about the place and setting that inspired the story, folk-horror, how much to reveal early on in a story and why more and more entertainment seems to be laughing at the super rich. Matt shares his opinions about the term 'beach read' and Simon tries to avoid any plot spoilers. The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley Midsummer, the Dorset

19:52

Nick Harkaway Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/06/25

Bestselling author Nick Harkaway joins Simon and Matt for our Q&A episode. He talks about books and authors he loves, his writing process, adaptations of his father's (John Le Carre) work, and who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. We also surprise Nick with a question from previous Books Of The Year guest, David McCloskey! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19:52

Nick Harkaway Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/06/24

Author Nick Harkaway answers our Q&A questions! He talks to Simon and Matt about his reading habits, authors he loves, whether he always finishes a book or not - and - who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

37:37

Nick Harkaway

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/06/18

John Le Carre's son, Nick Harkaway, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his new Circus novel. They discuss the challenges (and joys) of taking on the mantel of such an iconic character (George Smiley) and writing in his father's footsteps, as well as the research it takes to get the technology of the time right. As well as lots of espionage stories, they chat about John Le Carre, his voice, his style - and why Nick decided to write this novel in the first place. The book is Karla's Choice

27:28

Andrew Hunter Murray Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/06/10

Andrew Hunter Murray joins Simon Mayo and Matt Williams for our Q&A episode. They chat about some of his favourite authors, his love of 'cosy crime' and what he likes to eat when he's writing (question courtesy of his fellow author and friend, Cariad Lloyd) We also learn who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

36:33

Andrew Hunter Murray

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/06/03

Author, podcaster and QI legend - Andy Hunter Murray - joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his latest novel, 'A Beginner's Guide To Breaking And Entering' They chat about his inspirations for the book, the anger behind it, how to make a social commentary through comedy - and why a character in the book hates Magic FM so much! Here's the book blurb: Property might be theft. But the housing market is murder.My name is Al. I live in wealthy people's second homes while their real owners are

19:31

Abigail Dean Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/04/23

Bestselling author Abigail Dean joins Simon and Matt for a Q&A. She talks about some of her favourite authors, gives us some book recommendations - and - reveals who she would invite to her fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

41:04

Abigail Dean

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/04/17

Bestselling thriller writer, Abigail Dean, joins Simon and Matt to discuss her latest novel, 'The Death Of Us' This has been an idea she's been thinking about for over a decade, but the timing hasn't been right to write it until recently. She talks about her inspirations and influences - and how she reacted to learning that Stephen King had read it! Here's a little more about the book: t’s the story everyone wants to hear. That spring night in South London, when Isabel and Edward’s lives

19:49

Robert Crais Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/04/10

Screenwriter and novelist, Robert Crais, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his processes, favourite authors, screen adaptations - and who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party. We also hear from fellow crime author, Steve Cavanagh, who is a huge Robert Crais fan - and - put him on our radar in the first place! (so it seemed apt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

44:01

Robert Crais

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/04/03

International bestselling author and screenwriter, Robert Crais, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his new novel 'The Big Empty'. They chat about his inspirations for the story and characters, and how the classic TV shows he worked on in the 70s and 80s have influenced his writing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18:00

Elif Shafak Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/03/26

Bestselling author and essayist, Elif Shafak, answers questions about her writing process, inspirations and favourite authors. She also tells us the shocking and extraordinary story of when she was arrested in Turkey, in the name of fiction. We also find out who she would invite to her fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39:39

Elif Shafak

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/03/19

International bestselling author, essayist and activist - Elif Shafak - joins Simon and Matt for a chat about her novel, 'There Are Rivers In The Sky'She talks about her inspirations for this epic tale, why she writes with history in mind and who she is writing for. Here's more on the book: In Victorian London, an extraordinary child is born at the edge of the dirt-black Thames. When his brilliant memory earns him a spot as an apprentice at a printing press, the world opens up far beyond the

17:16

Scott Turow Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/03/05

Simon and Matt ask lawyer turned bestselling author, Scott Turow, questions about his processes and favourite authors. As well as learning about how he writes - and where - we also find out who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. There's also a surprise question from a global superstar author! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39:30

Scott Turow

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/02/26

Lawyer turned bestselling author, Scott Turow, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his new novel, 'Presumed Guilty' (the sequel to his 1987 masterpiece, 'Presumed Innocent') Scott joins us down the line from Florida and discusses writing an 'older' protagonist, the soothing components of jazz music, Keith Jarrett and how much legalise is too much legalise. This episode comes complete with a crashing of dishes in the background, courtesy of the Turow household. Here's some more info on the

23:18

Jojo Moyes Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/02/19

The international bestselling author Jojo Moyes joins Simon and Matt for a Q&A. She gives us some great book recommendations, tells us a little about her reading and writing habits - and we find out who she'd invite to her fantasy dinner party. Lisa Jewell also makes a surprise appearance - to ask Jojo a question about being more sinister! You can hear more from Jojo on our previous episode, where we dive into her new novel, "We All Live Here" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

37:01

Jojo Moyes

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/02/12

International bestselling sensation, Jojo Moyes, returns to the podcast to tell us about her new novel. Simon and Matt talk to her about writing nasty characters, whether it's harder to come up with plots seventeen books in, and how she may have accidentally based a character on David Soul, who she met 30 odd years ago! More on the book: Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A recently broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to

31:17

Simon Mayo Q&A

Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year ·

2025/02/05

This week, we put broadcasting legend and bestselling author Simon Mayo under the Q&A spotlight. Marianna Spring joins Matt Williams as our guest host, and asks about Simon's writing process, inspirations - and who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. There's also a surprise question from fellow author and broadcaster, Tom Bradby! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Simon Mayo"s Books Of The Year

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