Podcasts about spy fiction

Author Jinwoo Park's debut novel “Oxford Soju Club” is a spy thriller that follows the lives of three Koreans caught up in an espionage.   The story weaves a tale of how immigrants are forced to create identities to survive, and how in the end, they must shed those masks and seek their true selves.   Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Jinwoo to learn about his inspiration for the book, his experiences as a Korean immigrant in Canada and his love for spy fiction. They also chat about Jinwoo's work as a literary translator for “One Day a Cat Came to Me,” a bestselling Korean book by Buddhist monk Bokyeong Sunim.   This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.   Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two new podcast episodes a week on Fridays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. ET. Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe We want your feedback!Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up! Our email address is: AudiobookCafe@ami.ca About AMIAMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+Learn more at AMI.caConnect with Accessible Media Inc. online:X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaInc Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brad Thor has sold over 25 million thriller books. Tim Shipman welcomes Brad Thor on Spybrary to discuss Choke Point, the 25th Scot Harvath thriller, and the evolution of Scott Harvath from post-9/11 counterterrorism operator. Thor explains how the new novel uses Thailand, China's ambitions, the Strait of Malacca, sabotage, bomb-making, and geopolitical manipulation as the backdrop for a fast-moving thriller. The conversation also digs into Thor's writing process, his research network of intelligence, military, law enforcement, and diplomatic sources, and how he builds authentic detail even when he has not personally visited a location. Thor reflects on his early career as a travel show host, the honeymoon conversation that pushed him to write his first novel, his friendship with Vince Flynn, the collaborative thriller Cold Zero with Ward Larsen, and the Netflix film adaptation currently in development. Key Topics and Themes Brad Thor's 25th Scot Harvath thriller, Choke Point China's Belt and Road Initiative and global infrastructure influence Thailand, the Strait of Malacca, and the strategic value of a Thai canal The evolution of Scot Harvath Post-9/11 thriller fiction and the rise of the American action-spy hero Real-world tradecraft, bomb-making research, and responsible thriller detail Writing geopolitical thrillers that teach readers something without slowing the pace Bangkok as an underused spy-fiction setting Collaboration with Ward Larsen on Cold Zero The Netflix adaptation of Cold Zero British spy-fiction influences: Fleming, le Carré, Forsyth, MacLean, Deighton Brad Thor Official Website Follow Tim Shipman Buy Choke Point The Top 125 Spy Authors Ranked and Rated by Tim Shipman Join the Spybrary Community

This episode I'm joined by author David Goodman, author of A Reluctant Spy and the new sequel Solitary Agents. We talk about reading John le Carré as a kind of travelogue and why place matters so much in spy fiction. David shares how his dissertation on spy novels was a stepping stone to writing espionage […]

In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa chats to David Goodman about his latest spy thriller Solitary Agents, the follow-up to his brilliant debut A Reluctant Spy.David talks about writing spy fiction for readers who may not usually read spy novels, creating the hugely compelling character of Jamie Tulloch, and the long road to publication after earlier books did not sell. He also discusses awards, resilience, TV adaptation developments, and his upcoming science fiction novel Shards of Starlight, written as David W. Goodman.Philippa also reviews:The Good Listener by Holly WattSuch a Nice Girl by Andrea MaraThe Thick of It BBC audiobookIn This EpisodeDavid Goodman on Solitary AgentsWhy spy fiction is having a major momentWriting accessible spy thrillersJamie Tulloch and the world of MI5 and MI6The challenge of writing a second bookRejection, persistence and finding your writing communityTV adaptation news for A Reluctant SpyWriting science fiction as David W. GoodmanDream and nightmare writing locationsPhilippa's spoiler-free book reviewsAbout Solitary AgentsSolitary Agents follows Jamie Tulloch after the events of A Reluctant Spy. Having tried to return to civilian life, Jamie finds himself pulled back towards the secret world — this time hoping to become an agent runner.But during a training exercise involving MI5 and MI6, Jamie and new character Sam Lee witness something that may be part of the drill… or may be frighteningly real.Perfect for readers who enjoy:spy fictionthrillersMI5 and MI6 storiescharacter-led suspensesmart, pacey writingnovels by Mick Herron, John le Carré and David McCloskeyBooks ReviewedThe Good Listener – Holly WattA gripping thriller about an anonymous caller, a shocking confession, and a mother still searching for justice.Such a Nice Girl – Andrea MaraA tense, twisty thriller about two missing young women, a luxury wedding, and a friendship pushed to breaking point.The Thick of It – BBC audiobookA brilliantly sweary political satire featuring Malcolm Tucker and the chaos of government.Books MentionedSolitary Agents – David GoodmanA Reluctant Spy – David GoodmanShards of Starlight – David W. GoodmanChildren of Strife – Adrian TchaikovskySlow Gods – Claire NorthThe Last Contract of Isako – Fonda LeeThe Good Listener – Holly WattSuch a Nice Girl – Andrea MaraThe Thick of It – BBC AudioBiscuit VerdictDavid chooses Nairn's salted caramel oatcakes, after formerly being a chocolate Hobnob fan. A strong Scottish biscuit-adjacent choice.Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.

We share the sad news that renowned spy novelist Len Deighton has passed away at 97. We pay tribute to his incredible work, discussing why he was considered the greatest spy novelist and his impact on cold war espionage. His contributions to the spy thriller genre remembered. Len Deighton didn't just write spy novels… he changed the genre.  In this episode, we take a step back and reflect on the life, legacy, and impact of one of the true giants of espionage fiction. From The IPCRESS File through to the Bernard Samson/Berlin Game series, Deighton gave us something very different—spies who weren't superheroes, but real people. Flawed. Wry. Often stuck in offices, navigating bureaucracy as much as danger. I'm joined by Rob Mallows of the Deighton Dossier, broadcaster and commentator Eliot Wilson, and Aspect of Crime's Paul Burke as we talk through what made Len Deighton so special, including: Why his "everyman spy" felt like such a shift at the time How he stood apart from Fleming and le Carré His incredible sense of place—especially when it comes to Berlin The influence he's had on modern writers like Mick Herron And why, all these years later, his books still hold up This isn't just a tribute episode. It's a proper Spybrary-style conversation about why Len Deighton matters and why he still should matter to readers today. If you've never read him, this is a great place to start. And if you have… well, you'll know exactly why we're doing this one.

What happens when a secret police force writes its own novels? In this episode of Spymasters, Antonia Senior is joined by academic and KGB expert Filip Kovacevic to explore the hidden world of Soviet spy fiction—and the extraordinary role it played inside the KGB itself. Drawing on his book KGB Literati, Kovacevic reveals how intelligence officers, counter-spies, and veterans of state security became novelists, producing stories designed to shape public opinion, recruit future officers, and redefine the image of the KGB within Soviet society. From the early post-war novels of Roman Kim to the officially sanctioned Chekist Stories series produced by the KGB Press Bureau, the conversation uncovers how fiction became a tool of counterintelligence, psychological influence, and regime legitimacy. We also examine why Western intelligence analysts paid close attention to these books, how they influenced a young Vladimir Putin, and why the tradition continues today under the FSB and SVR. A deep dive into propaganda, imagination, and power—and a reminder that in espionage, stories can be as important as secrets. Find the book: https://amzn.eu/d/fRVZgoI Find Filip on X: @chekistmonitor on the web: thechekistmonitor.blogspot.com on substack: https://kgbstack.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

KGB Literati: Spy Fiction and State Security in the Soviet Union (University of Toronto Press, 2025) offers a first-ever glimpse into the mysterious and long-ignored world and work of Soviet spies- and counterspies-turned-writers. Once out of active service, many former spies have turned to writing spy fiction. They drop the dagger and pick up the pen. Some are very successful, like James Bond's creator Ian Fleming or the novelists John Le Carré and Graham Greene. Their Soviet counterparts have rarely been afforded the same attention or examination. Drawing on materials from KGB archives and Soviet publications long out of print, KGB Literati offers the first-ever account of spy fiction written, frequently with institutional support, by Soviet intelligence and counterintelligence officers. Spy fiction can give insights into the operational workings of clandestine agencies and the personal dimensions of secret service work. By analysing the literary output of KGB spies and counterspies, the book shows that for the KGB, this type of intervention into Soviet popular culture was a crucial component of their overall counterintelligence strategy. These texts played an instrumental role in the Soviet state's efforts to neutralize and counter Western cultural influences on the Soviet population. Dr. Filip Kovacevic's research is of great relevance today, given that a large segment of the Russian ruling elite is still composed of former KGB officers, including Russian president Vladimir Putin. KGB Literati illuminates the deep-seated KGB myths, values, aspirations, and fears that continue to have a profound impact on the foreign and domestic policies of the Russian Federation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

KGB Literati: Spy Fiction and State Security in the Soviet Union (University of Toronto Press, 2025) offers a first-ever glimpse into the mysterious and long-ignored world and work of Soviet spies- and counterspies-turned-writers. Once out of active service, many former spies have turned to writing spy fiction. They drop the dagger and pick up the pen. Some are very successful, like James Bond's creator Ian Fleming or the novelists John Le Carré and Graham Greene. Their Soviet counterparts have rarely been afforded the same attention or examination. Drawing on materials from KGB archives and Soviet publications long out of print, KGB Literati offers the first-ever account of spy fiction written, frequently with institutional support, by Soviet intelligence and counterintelligence officers. Spy fiction can give insights into the operational workings of clandestine agencies and the personal dimensions of secret service work. By analysing the literary output of KGB spies and counterspies, the book shows that for the KGB, this type of intervention into Soviet popular culture was a crucial component of their overall counterintelligence strategy. These texts played an instrumental role in the Soviet state's efforts to neutralize and counter Western cultural influences on the Soviet population. Dr. Filip Kovacevic's research is of great relevance today, given that a large segment of the Russian ruling elite is still composed of former KGB officers, including Russian president Vladimir Putin. KGB Literati illuminates the deep-seated KGB myths, values, aspirations, and fears that continue to have a profound impact on the foreign and domestic policies of the Russian Federation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

KGB Literati: Spy Fiction and State Security in the Soviet Union (University of Toronto Press, 2025) offers a first-ever glimpse into the mysterious and long-ignored world and work of Soviet spies- and counterspies-turned-writers. Once out of active service, many former spies have turned to writing spy fiction. They drop the dagger and pick up the pen. Some are very successful, like James Bond's creator Ian Fleming or the novelists John Le Carré and Graham Greene. Their Soviet counterparts have rarely been afforded the same attention or examination. Drawing on materials from KGB archives and Soviet publications long out of print, KGB Literati offers the first-ever account of spy fiction written, frequently with institutional support, by Soviet intelligence and counterintelligence officers. Spy fiction can give insights into the operational workings of clandestine agencies and the personal dimensions of secret service work. By analysing the literary output of KGB spies and counterspies, the book shows that for the KGB, this type of intervention into Soviet popular culture was a crucial component of their overall counterintelligence strategy. These texts played an instrumental role in the Soviet state's efforts to neutralize and counter Western cultural influences on the Soviet population. Dr. Filip Kovacevic's research is of great relevance today, given that a large segment of the Russian ruling elite is still composed of former KGB officers, including Russian president Vladimir Putin. KGB Literati illuminates the deep-seated KGB myths, values, aspirations, and fears that continue to have a profound impact on the foreign and domestic policies of the Russian Federation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

KGB Literati: Spy Fiction and State Security in the Soviet Union (University of Toronto Press, 2025) offers a first-ever glimpse into the mysterious and long-ignored world and work of Soviet spies- and counterspies-turned-writers. Once out of active service, many former spies have turned to writing spy fiction. They drop the dagger and pick up the pen. Some are very successful, like James Bond's creator Ian Fleming or the novelists John Le Carré and Graham Greene. Their Soviet counterparts have rarely been afforded the same attention or examination. Drawing on materials from KGB archives and Soviet publications long out of print, KGB Literati offers the first-ever account of spy fiction written, frequently with institutional support, by Soviet intelligence and counterintelligence officers. Spy fiction can give insights into the operational workings of clandestine agencies and the personal dimensions of secret service work. By analysing the literary output of KGB spies and counterspies, the book shows that for the KGB, this type of intervention into Soviet popular culture was a crucial component of their overall counterintelligence strategy. These texts played an instrumental role in the Soviet state's efforts to neutralize and counter Western cultural influences on the Soviet population. Dr. Filip Kovacevic's research is of great relevance today, given that a large segment of the Russian ruling elite is still composed of former KGB officers, including Russian president Vladimir Putin. KGB Literati illuminates the deep-seated KGB myths, values, aspirations, and fears that continue to have a profound impact on the foreign and domestic policies of the Russian Federation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

KGB Literati: Spy Fiction and State Security in the Soviet Union (University of Toronto Press, 2025) offers a first-ever glimpse into the mysterious and long-ignored world and work of Soviet spies- and counterspies-turned-writers. Once out of active service, many former spies have turned to writing spy fiction. They drop the dagger and pick up the pen. Some are very successful, like James Bond's creator Ian Fleming or the novelists John Le Carré and Graham Greene. Their Soviet counterparts have rarely been afforded the same attention or examination. Drawing on materials from KGB archives and Soviet publications long out of print, KGB Literati offers the first-ever account of spy fiction written, frequently with institutional support, by Soviet intelligence and counterintelligence officers. Spy fiction can give insights into the operational workings of clandestine agencies and the personal dimensions of secret service work. By analysing the literary output of KGB spies and counterspies, the book shows that for the KGB, this type of intervention into Soviet popular culture was a crucial component of their overall counterintelligence strategy. These texts played an instrumental role in the Soviet state's efforts to neutralize and counter Western cultural influences on the Soviet population. Dr. Filip Kovacevic's research is of great relevance today, given that a large segment of the Russian ruling elite is still composed of former KGB officers, including Russian president Vladimir Putin. KGB Literati illuminates the deep-seated KGB myths, values, aspirations, and fears that continue to have a profound impact on the foreign and domestic policies of the Russian Federation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/national-security

KGB Literati: Spy Fiction and State Security in the Soviet Union (University of Toronto Press, 2025) offers a first-ever glimpse into the mysterious and long-ignored world and work of Soviet spies- and counterspies-turned-writers. Once out of active service, many former spies have turned to writing spy fiction. They drop the dagger and pick up the pen. Some are very successful, like James Bond's creator Ian Fleming or the novelists John Le Carré and Graham Greene. Their Soviet counterparts have rarely been afforded the same attention or examination. Drawing on materials from KGB archives and Soviet publications long out of print, KGB Literati offers the first-ever account of spy fiction written, frequently with institutional support, by Soviet intelligence and counterintelligence officers. Spy fiction can give insights into the operational workings of clandestine agencies and the personal dimensions of secret service work. By analysing the literary output of KGB spies and counterspies, the book shows that for the KGB, this type of intervention into Soviet popular culture was a crucial component of their overall counterintelligence strategy. These texts played an instrumental role in the Soviet state's efforts to neutralize and counter Western cultural influences on the Soviet population. Dr. Filip Kovacevic's research is of great relevance today, given that a large segment of the Russian ruling elite is still composed of former KGB officers, including Russian president Vladimir Putin. KGB Literati illuminates the deep-seated KGB myths, values, aspirations, and fears that continue to have a profound impact on the foreign and domestic policies of the Russian Federation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

Joel Nedecky chats to Paul Burke about his new noir novel THE BROKEN DETECTIVE, Jake Joelsen, Winnipeg, noir spirit, teaching, social critique and family.THE BROKEN DETECTIVE Private investigator Jake Joelsen is going to prison for assaulting his sick mom's abusive boyfriend, but thanks to a suspended sentence, he has two weeks to earn as much money as possible so he can financially support his mom when he's inside. Enter Nia Rowe, who hires Jake to find her troubled sister, Sadie, a former member of a mega-church called Watershed Moments. Jake struggles to stay sober as he encounters old haunts he's never come to terms with, while trying to rescue Sadie from the grip of powerful people willing to do anything to protect their place on the highest rungs of society.Joel Nedecky has always loved stories, yet most of his childhood was spent playing hockey. It wasn't until university that he discovered a passion for all types of fiction. He is a member of Crime Writers of Canada, and his first novel, The Broken Detective, comes out in the fall of 2025 from Run Amok Crime.Recommend: George Pelecanos, Dennis Lehane Cormac McCarthy The Road, Walter Mosley.Paul Burke edits Aspects of Crime Magazine and writes for Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

In this lively literary conversation, Antonia Senior and Paul Burke explore the fascinating world of spy and crime fiction — from the golden age of classic espionage novels to the digital dilemmas of modern spy thrillers. As Paul launches Aspects of Crime, a new magazine, and a platform for authors and readers, they discuss how technology reshapes the genre, why characters like Charlie Muffin and Frederick Forsythe still resonate, and how emerging writers are redefining the moral and political edges of spy literature today. Expect deep dives into literary influences, lesser-known espionage gems, and the enduring tension between secrecy, betrayal, and morality that defines the best spy stories. Whether you love Le Carré, Deighton, Fleming, or new voices in espionage fiction, this episode offers both nostalgia and discovery for fans of intelligent thrillers.

JAKE ARNOTT chats to Paul Burke about his new novel Blood Rival, Sophocles, Family, noir, tragedy, Blue Lights, Jim Thompson, James Ellroy, Cathi Unsworth, The Responder.BLOOD RIVAL It happened at a place where three roads meet. Junction 1A of the M25, heading east towards Gravesend. There's a killer on the road.Lee Royle, the notorious ‘King of Kent', is dead, killed in a brutal act of road rage. But was this a random attack, or was it a premeditated move in a deadly game of betrayal and revenge?Three lives are set on a collision course: Jo Royle, Lee's disillusioned and embittered wife, hiding secrets that could kill; Eddie Pierce, Jo's ambitious new lover, determined to move up the criminal ranks; and Commander Ray Spinks, a corrupt cop with his own claim on Lee's legacy -and no intention of letting it slip through his fingers.Caught between lust and loyalty, ambition and guilt, each will risk everything to uncover or bury the explosive truth behind Lee's death. Because this wasn't just a murder. It was a reckoning.Blood Rival is a modern retelling of an ancient story, where Greek tragedy meets neo-noir. A compulsive psychological thriller of forbidden desire, family secrets and fatal ambition.Jake Arnott was born in 1961, and lives in London. He is the author of the THE LONG FIRM, published by Sceptre in 1999 and subsequently made into an acclaimed BBC TV series. His second novel, HE KILLS COPPERS, was also made into a series by Channel 4. He has since published the novels TRUECRIME, JOHNNY COME HOME, THE DEVIL'S PAINTBRUSH, THE HOUSE OF RUMOUR, THE FATAL TREE and now BLOOD FEVER.Paul Burke edits Aspects of Crime Magazine and writes for Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

DAVID JARVIS chats to Paul Burke about his new spy thriller, The Green Feathers, CHOGM, Five Eyes, Mike Kingdom, the zeitgeist and the lighter touch.The Green Feathers When a butterfly flaps its wings in the Caribbean, it causes storms in Europe.The British King and Prime Minister have arrived in Georgetown, Guyana, along with the leaders of the other fifty-five countries in the Commonwealth, for its biennial meeting. Two shots ring out causing panic on the steps of the Mahaica Convention Centre.The previous month, Tina Persad, an MI6 agent with Caribbean experience, had been sent to find out whether rumoured threats to the meeting were real or not. Then days before it was due to start, she had disappeared without trace.Michaela ‘Mike' Kingdom, a CIA analyst in London, may have been the last person to see her alive when they had a drink together in The Green Feathers. With Tina missing, Mike makes it her mission to find her friend, despite warnings not to get involved.The butterfly may have already flapped its wings, but can Mike find Tina before the Heavens open?David Jarvis went to art college in the 1970s before setting up an international planning practice, which he ran successfully for forty years. This took him around the world from Trinidad to Croatia and from France to Saudi Arabia.His canvases just got bigger and bigger. He has now retired to Wiltshire to write and drink wine, not necessarily in that order.Recommend Carl Hiaasen, Kyril Bonfiglioli (Mordecai)Paul Burke edits Aspects of Crime Magazine and writes for Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

New Reviews on Crime Time FMThe Man Who Died Seven Times Yasuhiko Nishizawa trans. by Jesse Kirkwood Evil in High Places Rory Clements Ask for Andrea Noelle W Ihli Deadman's Pool Kate Rhodes Persons of Interest Simon DinsdaleAll Our Yestedays by Guy Hale Paul Burke edits Aspects of Crime Magazine and writes for Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Joe, Jared, and callers talk through some of the best spy novels, TV shows, and movies of all time. What are the building blocks of a great espionage story? Are there any good RPGs out there to help us generate those stories? Finally, how much realism do you like in your gaming fiction? Watch the video here: ⁠https://youtu.be/P2mnH6vqh2o 0:00 Intro 8:55 Spy vs. Spy 58:30 Realism in Fantasy 1:17:25 Spy Game(s) 1:41:14 GCR Brewery 1:51:30 Listener Award Access exclusive podcasts, ad-free episodes, and livestreams with a 30-day free trial with code "GCN30" at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jointhenaish.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Troy Lavallee, Joe O'Brien, Skid Maher, Matthew Capodicasa, Sydney Amanuel, and Kate Stamas as they tour the country. Get your tickets today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hubs.li/Q03cn8wr0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For more podcasts and livestreams, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hubs.li/Q03cmY380⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GUY HALE chats to Paul Burke about The Shakespeare Murders, PUT OUT THE LIGHT, ALL OUR YESTERDAYS, The Comeback Trail, Stratford theatre, indie publishing and dodgy 70s cops.Put Out The Light, Paperback Act III Stratford-upon-Avon, Spring 1972 On the streets of Stratford four murders remain unsolved. For DC Toby Marlow there is only one potential killer: Oliver Lawrence. But nobody has seen Oliver for over fifteen years. They don't even know what he looks like, they are chasing a shadow. Oliver's first act is complete. As Spring turns to summer Act III is about to begin. Like Othello, he is poisoned by lies from the past. Revenge has consumed him…Now is the time to put out more lights!Guy Hale was born in Worcestershire. He has owned and run a successful construction business and is a publisher at Bullington Press and record label boss at Gulf Coast Rocords. His debut novel featured Jimmy Wayne and was the first in the Comeback Trial series, The Croaking Raven launched the Shakespeare Murders. His new novel, the third in that series is Put Out the Light.Mentions: Gardner - book wholesaler/distributor, Caroline England, Luke Deckard.Recommendations: Trevor Wood, Vaseem Khan, Abir Mukherjee, Chris Lloyd, Chris McDonald, Rob Parker, Heather Critchlow.Paul Burke edits Aspects of Crime Magazine and writes for Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Donna Morfett chats to Paul Burke about THE MASQUERADE OF MURDER, Luton & Dunstable, revenge on the page, misogyny and self publishing.THE MASQUERADE OF MURDER DI Cora Snitton is barely catching her breath after the last case when another body turns up - this time, a suspected junkie dumped in an abandoned quarry.Her team is pulled into the chaos of the Luton Carnival, a vibrant event with a dark reputation for gang violence and drug deals.Amid the crowds, noise, and flashing lights, a ruthless gangster sees his chance to make a name for himself in a new town.As the music blares and the party rages on, something sinister rages behind the scenes.Donna Morfett Born and raised in a small Town in Bedfordshire. Donna has loved reading as long as she was able to understand the words written on the page, and the love has remained. Now a way to help cope with mental health. As with many people across the world, the pandemic left us with lots of time, and twiddling thumbs. As well as trying to complete a degree in Forensic Science at the time, Donna thought she'd try and write a book. Donna took part in NaNoWriMo, in November 2021, and wrote her first full length novel. Then there is Cassie, which came joint second in a recent short story competition. When entered, they were given covers and proper editing, so Donna thought, why not release it, and raise some money for charity. So that's how Cassie came to be. Debut novel The Disappearance of Peter Markham was released by Rampart books on May 23rd 2024. It was re-released with a new edit and cover in May 25. The follow up, Masquerade of Murder is due July 11th. Recommendation William Hussey The Boy I LoveMentions Graham Bartlett and Neil LancasterDonna Morfett Paul Burke edits Aspects of Crime Magazine and writes for Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Jane Thynne chats to Paul Burke about new Clara Vine spy novel THE JUDGEMENT OF STARS, Nazi Astrology, the German Film industry, Hedy Lamarr, humour in the darkest moments.The Judgement of Stars Berlin, 1942. Clara Vine, the Anglo-German actress, is working undercover in Germany as an agent of British intelligence. During a hiatus in the filming of Goebbels' latest propaganda film, the Sinking of the Titanic, she is covertly approached and asked to track down an errant British spy called Victor Stern.Stern is a physicist, feared to be passing vital secrets to the enemy. He also happens to be Clara's former lover, who she met in Vienna at the home of the actress, Hedy Lamarr.As Clara hunts for Stern, however, she finds herself the subject of a blackmail plot from a young woman at the Propaganda ministry, Gisela Vogel, who knows of Clara's Jewish heritage.She faces a race against time to find the missing agent before Goebbels learns of her true identity.Clara's search takes her to Hamburg and a meeting with the Third Reich's favourite astrologer, who foretells dramatic news about her future.But even if Clara finds her former lover, does she have it within herself to kill him?Appointment in Paris Jane Thynne is a novelist journalist and broadcaster. She has worked at the Sunday times, the Daily Telegraph and the BBC, among others. She is the author of The Clara Vine series of wartime espionage thrillers and the Fox and Fry novels. She has also written two acclaimed dystopian novels, Widowland and Queen High, under the name CJ Carey. She lives in London.RECOMMENDATIONS & talking points - Lawrence Rees, Adam Zamoyski, Uwe Neumahr The Writer's Castle, The Passenger Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, Simon Schema The Road to Auschwitz (documentary), Philip Kerr Bernie Gunther novels.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Shane Whaley and author I.S. Berry (The Peacock and the Sparrow) welcome spy thriller author Dan Fesperman to talk about his latest novel, Pariah. What happens when a disgraced stand-up comedian becomes a CIA asset in a fictional Eastern European country? Listen/Watch On. Topics covered include: The real-world politics that inspired Pariah How cancel culture shapes protagonist Hal Knight Building a believable fictional Eastern/Central European setting (Bolrovia!) Why did Dan Fesperman choose to create a fictional country rather than base Pariah in a real country? Humour in serious spy fiction Do spy novels need to have a geopolitical canvas? Food in spy novels. Chimney cake anyone? Why Dan Fesperman's audiobook producer stopped him from singing one of the songs referenced in Pariah. Dan Fesperman also reveals that his next novel will feature Winter Work's Emil Grimm; he also shares his thoughts on what makes a spy novel and the guests give a shoutout to the unsung real-life spies. Dan Fesperman's Pariah is perfect for fans of le Carré, McCloskey, Paul Vidich and for readers craving spy fiction with depth, nuance and laughs. Grab your copy of Pariah now and join the conversation in t

ALEX GERLIS chats to Paul Burke about his WWII spy thriller THE SECOND TRAITOR, Operation Sea Lion, Hitler as military commander, German spies in England and Alan Furst.THE SECOND TRAITOR The countdown to invasion begins... It's September 1940, and British intelligence is on high alert: the Nazi invasion of Britain is imminent. The German navy is assembling a vast fleet in Rotterdam to ferry men and materiel across the Channel. Meanwhile, a sinister organisation called The Group – a collection of British and Irish Nazi collaborators – is at work within the UK trying to pave the way for the Wehrmacht. The Invasion Warning Sub-Committee is established to counter this threat, and Charles Cooper, coming in from the cold after the disintegration of The Annexe, joins up and is tasked with cracking this nefarious network. But that is not the only concern for the spy chiefs: the search for double agent ‘Archie' – the Soviet spy and British traitor – is hotting up: they are now confident he works within MI6, and an elaborate scheme is set up to narrow down the list of suspects… To make things worse, they now know for certain that a second traitor, ‘Bertie', is also in play. With suspicion at paranoia pitch, can MI6 clean house before the Nazis arrive to help them do it?ALEX GERLIS was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. He worked for the BBC as a journalist for many years, starting out as a researcher on a three-month contract on Panorama and ending his career there nearly thirty years later as Head of Training in the BBC College of Journalism.  In between, he was an editor of a number of Television News programmes. Alex left the BBC in 2011 to concentrate on his writing.  Alex is married to Sonia and lives in west London and has two daughters and two grandsons, even though he is obviously not old enough to be a grandfather. Contrary to what many readers seem to believe, he's never worked in the world of espionage. Alex has the usual hobbies and interests one expects and has supported Grimsby Town since 1968. His books contain cryptic references to the club, which only Mariners fans will appreciate.Recommendations Alan Furst, le Carré, Graham Greene, IS Berry.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Fiona Forsyth chats to Paul Burke about her new historical thriller DEATH and the POET, Ghastly misogynists, Ovid, small town life in the ancient world, studying the classics.Death and the Poet 14 AD. When Dokimos the vegetable seller is found bludgeoned to death in the Black Sea town of Tomis, it's the most exciting thing to have happened in the region for years. Now reluctantly settled into life in exile, the disgraced Roman poet Ovid helps his friend Avitius to investigate the crime, with the evidence pointing straight at a cuckolded neighbour.But Ovid is also on edge, waiting for the most momentous death of all. Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome, is nearing his end, and the future of the whole Roman world is uncertain.Even as far away as Tomis, this political shadow creates tension as the pompous Roman legate Flaccus thinks more of his career than solving a local murder.Avitius and Ovid become convinced that an injustice has been done in the case of the murdered vegetable seller. But Flaccus continues to turn a deaf ear.When Ovid's wife, Fabia, arrives unexpectedly, carrying a cryptic message from the Empress Livia, the poet becomes distracted - and another crime is committed.Assisted by Fabia, the investigators get closer to the truth. But the truth will come at a price.Ovid hopes for a return to Rome - only to discover that he is under threat from an enemy much closer to home.FIONA FORSYTH I will never fully understand the Romans, and that is the challenge. I have loved the ancient world since I read my first Greek myth, Theseus and the Minotaur. After reading Classics at Oxford, I taught at a boys' public school for twenty-five years, but then my family moved to Qatar. There wasn't much call for Latin teachers, so I wrote, and now I am back in the UK, all the questions I have asked myself about the Romans over the years are turning into novels. I was once accused by a slightly indignant teenager of being in love with Cicero. This is not strictly true...Recommendations SJ Parris, DV Bishop, RM Cullen Harlequin is Dead, Nicola Upson, Robert Graves, Alan Massie, John Williams.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

The latest reviews - July 2025.Strange Houses Uketsu trans. Jim RionBlood Caste Shylashri ShankarThe Red Shore William ShawThe Inside Man by Trevor WoodThe Verifiers by Jane PekThe Case of the Mad Doctor PD LennonHome Before Dark Eva Björg Ægisdottir trans Victoria CribbThe Blue Place by Nicola GriffithTwo Kinds of Strangers Steve CavanaghSnapshot & Chain of Evidence by Garry DisherPaul Burke writes for Aspects of Crime, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

MARK ELLIS chats to Paul Burke about his new historical crime thriller Death of an Officer and Boom Time an account of crime in WWII London.DEATH OF AN OFFICER: London. Spring 1943. While Europe continues to suffer under the iron fist of Nazi occupation, Britain remains battered but unbowed.DCI Frank Merlin, already contending with a booming wartime crime wave in the capital, is confronted with a baffling case: the brutal murder of a respected doctor.Following a puzzling trail that leads him into the hidden corners of clubland - and which appears to be linked to the disappearance of both British and American officers - Merlin must untangle a dark web of shocking secrets.Boom Time The accepted story of the Home Front during the Second World War is one of cooperation and teamwork as people across Britain linked arms to provide support for the war effort. Right? Wrong. Crime rates actually increased during the war years. Think foreign gangs roaming through London is a recent phenomenon? Think again as Maltese and Italians cornered the organised crime world. And what about the Black Market? Well, business was booming. As gangster Mad ‘Frankie' Fraser later said, ‘I'll never forgive Hitler for surrendering, we were making so much money!' And what about the Americans? Healthy appetites, charm and good looks were not the only thing they brought with them. Also racial segregation and a veritable army of criminals.MARK ELLIS is a thriller writer from Swansea and a former barrister and entrepreneur. He is the creator of DCI Frank Merlin, an Anglo-Spanish police detective operating in World War 2 London. His books treat the reader to a vivid portrait of London during the war skilfully blended with gripping plots, political intrigue and a charismatic protagonist. Recommendations: Ragnar Jonasson, Simon Mason, Eric Ambler, Gore Vidal, Andrew Lonie, Phil Craig, Chips Channon, Len Deighton, Kingsley Amis.Film: Chicago Joe and the Showgirl with Emily Lloyd & Keifer Sutherland Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

DAN FESPERMAN chats to Paul Burke about his new spy novel PARIAH, Eastern Europe, fiction as the second draft of history, facades of democracy, comedy and Hollywood, The Baltimore Banner.Pariah: an adrenaline-fueled thriller about a disgraced comedian-turned-politician who takes on the role of a lifetime: infiltrating a corrupt Eastern European country to spy on their brutal dictator. Hal Knight, a comedian and movie star-turned politician, is no stranger to controversy. But after an embarrassing and humiliating encounter on set, Knight resigns from Congress, quits social media, and disappears to the tiny Caribbean island of Vieques to drink dirty martinis and nurse his wounds. Shortly after his arrival, he is approached by a trio of CIA operatives hoping to recruit him to infiltrate the power structure of Bolrovia--a hostile, Eastern European country whose despotic president, Nikolai Horvatz, happens to be a longtime fan of Knight's adolescent male humor. Knowing that Horvatz plans to invite the disgraced star for an official visit, the CIA coaxes Knight to accept. Skeptical, but with little to lose, Knight accepts the challenge, sensing this might be his one chance to do something worthwhile, even if no one else ever finds out. Upon arrival as President Horvatz's guest of honor, Knight confronts his ultimate acting challenge. What begins as an assignment to keep his eyes and ears open quickly turns into a life-or-death battle of wits, with consequences reaching all the way to Washington. With Pariah, Dan Fesperman has crafted a heart-pounding thriller about espionage, entertainment, and one man's pursuit of redemption.Dan Fesperman  served as a foreign correspondent for The Baltimore Sun, based in Berlin. His coverage of the siege of Sarajevo led to his debut novel, Lie in the Dark, which won Britain's John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award for best first crime novel. Subsequent books have won the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for best thriller, the Hammett Prize from the International Association of Crime Writers, the Barry Award for best thriller, and selection by USA Today as the year's best mystery/thriller novel. He lives near Baltimore.Recommendations Say Nothing Patrick Radden Keefe, Graham Greene, Mick Herron. Charles Cumming. David McCloskey, IS Berry, John le Carré.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

GJ WILLIAMS chats to Paul Burke about her new historical crime thriller THE CYGNET PRINCE, third in the Tudor Rose Murders series, Tudor scandals, pretenders to the throne, the Kardashians of the Tudor period. THE CYGNET PRINCE: England 1562. Elizabeth's court is besieged by scandal and Catholic plots, when a young German prince arrives in England claiming to be the son of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves - and so the rightful King. His letters, looks, and jewels seem to prove his case. As a poison spreads and old secrets unravel, Doctor John Dee and his apprentice, Margaretta, must uncover the truth behind the prince's origins. Their investigation spans England and German as they uncover forbidden love, revenge, betrayal and a plot against the Tudor Dynasty. But will they uncover the truth in time to save the queen's throne?GJ WILLIAMS is a Welsh woman living in Somerset, England. She is a doctor of psychology and ran an international consulting business for 25 years before putting her love of writing to the forefront of life. She lives between Somerset and London and is often found writing on the train next to a grumpy cat and a cup of tea. Her dream is to be chosen by readers of CJ Sansom, SJ Parris, Rory Clements, Kate Mosse, SG McClean, and Andrew TaylorLife is always busy. When she is not writing, she is researching, travelling to historic sites or plotting while sailing the blue seas on her beloved boat.GJ also delivers talks and ‘meet the author' sessions with historical interest groups, book clubs and societies. Reach her through the contact page.Recommendations The Unravelling of Mary Reddish by David Whitfield Murder at Greenwich Palace Adele JordanPaul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.20% of royalties from this book will be donated to Weston Hospice CareProduced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

SIMON  MCCLEAVE chats to Paul Burke about his new novels - THE ABERSOCH KILLINGS and FIVE DAYS IN PROVENCE, Anglesey and Snowdonia and writing TV.The Abersoch Killings Keep your enemies close and your family closer… At his beachside mansion, with his large family and beautiful wife, Jack Rush celebrated his step-daughter's wedding: an extravagant, happy day. But that night, the movie producer is found in a pool of blood having snorted cyanide instead of cocaine. With security tight, DI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans are looking for a suspect among the guests. Jack's wife knew of his many infidelities; his twin sons resented his control; and Charlie, the new son-in-law, was furious about the prenup. They all had motive and opportunity but who switched the drugs and killed the domineering bully?Also: Five Days in Provence Simon McCleave is a multi million-selling crime novelist who lives in North Wales with his wife and two children. Before he was an author, Simon worked as a script editor at the BBC and a producer at Channel 4 before working as a story analyst in Los Angeles. He then became a script writer, writing on series such as Silent Witness, The Bill, EastEnders and many more. His Channel 4 film Out of the Game was critically acclaimed and described as ‘an unflinching portrayal of male friendship' by Time Out. His first book, 'The Snowdonia Killings', was released in January 2020 and soon became an Amazon Bestseller, reaching No 1 in the UK Chart and selling over 400,000 copies. His twenty subsequent novels in the DI Ruth Hunter Snowdonia Series have all been Amazon bestsellers, with most of them hitting the top of the digital charts. He has sold over 3 million books to date. ‘The Dark Tide', Simon's first book in an Anglesey based crime series for publishing giant Harper Collins (Avon), was a major hit in 2022, becoming the highest selling Waterstone's Welsh Book of the Month ever.  This year, Simon is releasing the first in a new series of books, ‘Marshal of Snowdonia' with several more planned for 2025. Simon has also written a one-off psychological thriller, Last Night at Villa Lucia, for Storm Publishing, which was a major hit, The Times describing it as ‘…well above the usual seasonal villa thriller…' with its ‘…empathetic portrayal of lives spent in the shadow of coercion and abuse.'  The Snowdonia based DI Ruth Hunter books are now set to be filmed as a major new television series, with shooting to begin in North Wales in 2025. Recommendations Michael Connelly, James Ellroy, George Pelecanos.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Hi eveyone. Chris & Matt will be on Benjamin Wittes & Alicia Wanless's YouTube show "Dog Shirt TV", talking about Secrets & Spies, its origins, our interest in espionage and our thoughts on Spy Fiction. You can watch the show here: https://youtu.be/QVKAQf7p_Fs?si=TruFrM4-jsg0iQMq There won't be an Espresso Martini this week and instead we will be sharing Chris's interview with author Mike Rothschild and discussing his research on QAnon. That will be released on Saturday 19th. Have a great weekend All the best Chris & Matt

The Review Show June 2025Into the Fire GD Wright The White Crow by Michael RobothamActually I'm a Murderer by Terry DearyA Schooling in Murder by Andrew Taylor Broken Jon Atli JonassonFortress of Evil Javier Cercas Rush Beth Lewis Make a Home of Me Vanessa Santos Can You Solve the Murder by Antony JohnstonThe Woman Who Laughed Simon MasonKing of Ashes SA CosbyAgatha Christie Capital Christie Criminal Pursuits: This is Me ed. Samantha Lee HoweCarnival of Lies DV BishopPaul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out early 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

The Crime Writers Association Whodunnit Dagger A CWA Specials Part 1The Whodunnit Dagger celebrates books where the sex, swearing, and bloodletting take place offstage–books that focus on the intellectual challenge at the heart of a good mystery, and which revolve around often quirky characters. Books in this category include cosy crime, traditional crime, and Golden Age-inspired mysteries.Interviews with all six shortlisted authors ahead of the prize announcement on 3rd July 2025.SJ Bennett A Death in Diamonds Andreina Cordini Murder at the Christmas EmporiumLisa Hall The Case of the Singer and the Showgirl Meeti Shroff-Shah A Matrimonial MurderLaura Marshall A Good Place to Hide a BodyJamie West Murder at the MatineePaul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Mark Billingham chats to Paul Burke about his new thriller What the Night Brings, donuts, longevity, opening scenes and please don't do spoilers!Bonus:Mark Billingham chats to Philip Gwynne Jones at Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival in Aberystwyth. Two pals have a chat.What the Night Brings"Three dead coppers, Tom, maybe four by lunchtime."The targeted murder of four officers is only the first in a series of attacks that leaves police scared, angry and, most disturbingly of all, vengeful.As Tom Thorne and Nicola Tanner dig into the reasons for the violence, a deeper darkness begins to emerge: the possibility that these murders are payback. The price paid for an unspeakable betrayal.To uncover the truth, Thorne will be forced to question everything he stands for. He can trust nobody, and the shocking secrets revealed by one terrible night will fracture his entire world.Mark Billingham has won numerous awards, being one of only two authors to twice win the Theakston Old Peculier Award for Crime Novel of the Year. Each of his novels has been a Sunday Times bestseller, including all those in his two series, Tom Thorne and Declan Miller. Sleepyhead and Scaredy Cat were made into a hit TV series on Sky 1, and a series based on the novels In the Dark and Time of Death was broadcast on BBC1. Mark lives in north London with his wife and two children.Recommended: Dom Nolan Vine Street & White CityPhilip Gwynne Jones The Magus of Sicily 3/7/25Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

FIONA CUMMINS chats to Paul Burke about SOME OF US ARE LIARS, Saul Anguish, Essex inspiration, Sisters, celebrity and being the best writer you can be. SOME OF US ARE LIARS When Jen Miller entrusts her youngest child to the care of her beloved sisters, she has no idea of the devastating tragedy that is about to unfold.To celebrate her sister's wedding, global superstar Winter Kellaway throws the party of the decade at her luxurious beachside estate. The decorations are flawless. The champagne is on ice. The guests have arrived. But one misstep will have heartbreaking consequences that will rock this close-knit family to their core.With her life in pieces, how can Jen ever begin to forgive?Saul Anguish, a brilliant but tormented young detective, is called in to investigate and uncovers a long-buried and shocking family secret. As the trail takes a dramatic turn, they must now all face the truth that you can never truly leave the past behind . . .Fiona Cummins is an award-winning former journalist and a graduate of the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course. Rattle, her debut novel, was the subject of a huge international auction and has been translated into several languages. It received widespread critical acclaim from authors and reviewers. She has since written bestsellers The Collector, The Neighbour, When I Was Ten and Into the Dark in which she introduces DC Saul Anguish, a brilliant young detective with a dark past. Fiona lives with her family in Essex.Recommendations The Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris, Nikki Smith, Stephen King, CL Taylor - It's Always the Husband.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

In this episode, Antonia Senior dives deep into Paul Vidich's gripping spy novel The Poet's Game. We unpack the central theme of trust in espionage, the moral ambiguity faced by CIA agents, and how contemporary political tensions shape the narrative. We also explore how Vidich portrays psychological depth, ideological conflict, and the literary influences that define modern spy fiction. Topics Discussed: Trust and betrayal between handlers and assets The CIA director's discovery of compromising material on the president How politics and ideology shape spy operations Psychological depth of characters like Alex Matthews The renaissance of spy fiction in today's world Perfect for fans of: John le Carré • Charles Cummings David McCloskey • Political thrillers • CIA novels 00:00 – Introduction to *The Poet's Game* 04:00 – Trust and Relationships in Espionage 06:42 – The Complexity of Intelligence Work 10:00 – Moral Ambiguity in Spy Fiction 12:33 – Contemporary Setting and Political Context 15:33 – Character Development and Psychological Depth 18:04 – The Role of Ideology in Espionage 20:57 – The Poet's Network and Literary Influences 24:06 – The Future of Alex Matthews 26:32 – The Renaissance of Spy Fiction 29:38 – Influences and Responsibilities of Spy Novelists Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

THOMAS TRANG chats to Paul Burke about Dark Neon Dirt, LA heists, Caravaggio, Hollywood money, Elmore Leonard and Andor.DARK NEON DIRT Shaun Nguyen is a Vietnamese war orphan who made it to America. But danger was never far behind – from the Chinatown gangs he ran with in New York, to his years in Iraq dodging bullets and defusing bombs. Nguyen learnt how to survive. By all means necessary.Now he's a high-end thief in Los Angeles. One of the best, but smart enough to know he's living on borrowed time. Then a job goes sideways, leaving bodies on the Hollywood Freeway, stolen diamonds in his pocket, and a target on his back.Which gets the attention of Thomas Monroe, an LAPD lieutenant who's been hunting Nguyen for years. Captain Ahab with a gun and badge, plus his own dirty secrets closing in on him fast. The two of them are set on a collision course – a thief who won't be caught and the cop who doesn't miss.Not exactly the quiet life Nguyen is after, especially now he's met a mysterious woman who's landed in town. They fall for each other hard. A gallerist living in France who used to be with the FBI's Art Crime Team. Able to spot forgeries a mile off, but she hasn't figured him out yet.So once he wraps up this business with the diamonds, Nguyen is done with the game. The problem is she's not quite done with the FBI.Welcome to the City of Angels – where everyone has an angle.Thomas Trang is a French/Vietnamese writer currently living in the UK after stints in Australia, New York, and Singapore. His stories have previously appeared in FutureQuake, Full House Literary and the Revolutions 2 anthology. He is currently working on a SF trilogy which mixes cyberpunk with the gritty realpolitik of The Wire and Cold War spy fiction.Mentions: Army of Shadows (Fr. Film), Dennis Lehane, Michael Clayton (Am. Film), Sarah Paretsky, Don De Lillo, Hunter (Fr. TV)  Miami Vice (TV show), Ilyn Welch.Recommendations Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out early 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogProduced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival - Episode 3 recorded at the Ceredigion Museum and Aberystwyth Library featuring interviews with authors and excerpts of live panels. Featuring: Interviews - Sarah Bax Horton, Mari Hannah & Sarah Todd Taylor and a brief panel excerpt featruing Jacky Collins with Mari Hannah & Clare Mackintosh. Interview Mari Hannah Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Wales' only international crime writing festival, Aberystwyth 25th-27th April, 2025. Guests include Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths, Mari Hannah, Chris Lloyd, Clare Mackintosh, Zoe Sharp, Graham Bartlett, Vaseem Khan, Abir Mukherjee, Alis Hawkins, Nicola Williams, Louise Mumford, Phil Rowlands. Ayo Onatade, Dr. Noir, Matt Johnson, Gwen Parrott and many more.Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Sponsors: Arts Council of Wales, Ceridigeon Museum, Love Ceridigeon, Aberystwyth govt., Literature Wales, Waterstones, Welsh Govt., Lottery, Hugh James and National Library of Wales.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Reviews of the new releases in crime fiction May, 2025.Featuring:A Beautiful Way to Die Eleni Kyriacou The Doorman Chris Pavone Going Home in the Dark Dean KoontzTwo Adam Lapid Mysteries Jonathan Dunsky Kill Pill David Barbaree A Death in the Afternoon Julie AndersonThe Lady in the Park David Reynolds Death by Intent Jacqueline Harrett  The Golden Age of Murder Martin EdwardsMotives Unknown An Anthology of Writing From the North Ed. Nathan Connolly & Harriet HirshmanRum Punch Elmore Leonard Noted new release - not reviewed - Whistle Linwood BarclayPaul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out early 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Special Episode 2 recorded at the Ceredigion Museum and Aberystwyth Library featuring interviews with authors and excerpts of live panels. Featuring: LJ Shepherd, Jacqueline Harrett, Diamond Crime panel, Heidi Amsinck, Foreign Fields panel, Gwenllian Williams, Vaseem Khan (sneak appearance by Abir Mukherjee), Arresting Fun panel, Philip Gwynne Jones.Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Wales' only international crime writing festival, Aberystwyth 25th-27th April, 2025. Guests include Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths, Mari Hannah, Chris Lloyd, Clare Mackintosh, Zoe Sharp, Graham Bartlett, Vaseem Khan, Abir Mukherjee, Alis Hawkins, Nicola Williams, Louise Mumford, Phil Rowlands. Ayo Onatade, Dr. Noir, Matt Johnson, Gwen Parrott and many more.Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Sponsors: Arts Council of Wales, Ceridigeon Museum, Love Ceridigeon, Aberystwyth govt., Literature Wales, Waterstones, Welsh Govt., Lottery, Hugh James and National Library of Wales.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

MICHAEL AMOS CODY chats to Paul Burke about his STREETS OF NASHVILLE, new country music, North Carolina, MTV, tragic inspiration for the novel, why done it not whodunnit and Runion.In Streets of Nashville, Ezra MacRae has a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of songs and their writers, and he has moved from the North Carolina mountains to Nashville's Music Row with the dream of becoming part of that songwriting world. Yet just as he is out on the town to celebrate his first good fortune after several years of trying-a staff songwriting contract with an independent music publisher-he witnesses the man who signed on the dotted lines with him gunned down with three others outside his Music Row office. The masked gunman spares Ezra. But why?Michael Amos Cody was born in the South Carolina Lowcountry and raised in the North Carolina highlands. He spent his twenties writing songs in Nashville and his thirties in school. He's the author of the novel Gabriel's Songbook (Pisgah Press) and short fiction that has appeared in Yemassee, Tampa Review, Still: The Journal, and elsewhere. His short story collection, A Twilight Reel (Pisgah Press) won the Short Story / Anthology category of the Feathered Quill Book Awards 2022. Cody lives with his wife Leesa in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and teaches in the Department of Literature and Language at East Tennessee State University.Author blog on Runion: https://michaelamoscody.com/2019/05/24/runion-north-carolina/Mentions: David Joy, Cormac McCarthy, Bruce Springsteen, Bob McDill, Thomas Wolfe, James Lee Burke, Heather Levy, CW Blackwell, Monster City Michael Arntfield, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey, Charles Brockton Brown, Peter McDade, Don DeLillo - Great Jones Street.Recommendations: anything by Tony Hillerman and the adaptation of two of his novels for streaming Dark Wind.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out early 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

JEREMY VINE chats to Paul Burke about his new murder mystery Murder on Line One, regional radio, celebrity, Agatha Christie and washing our clothes.MURDER ON LINE ONE There's a killer on the airwaves … and they're calling for you. Darkness looms over sunny Sidmouth, when an unsolved murder comes to the attention of late-night radio talk show host Edward Temmis. Recently sacked from his beloved job after a devastating tragedy, Edward is cast adrift – until he meets Stevie, whose grandmother, a devoted listener, died in a suspicious fire last year. Well, nobody hurts his listeners and helping Stevie might just give him the purpose he needs. Joined by his old fling, Kim, they discover Stevie's grandmother wasn't the only one of his listeners targeted – this is just the tip of the iceberg. But who is pursuing his ageing audience and why? And can Edward, Stevie and Kim get to the bottom of this mystery before it's too late?JEREMY VINE is a well-known British broadcaster who presents a daily show on BBC Radio 2 called The Jeremy Vine Show — and also a self-titled daily news and chat programme on Channel 5. This is why he likes strong coffee. He has been Sony Speech Broadcaster of the Year, and won Interview of the Year for the seminal moment when Gordon Brown put his head in his hands during the 2010 election campaign. Jeremy also does the BBC election graphics and rides a penny farthing, although not at the same time. 'The Diver and The Lover' is his first serious novel. It came out of a chance encounter with a painting. Born in 1965, he of course loves the music of Joy Division, The Cure and Elvis Costello. He is married to Rachel and they have two teenage daughters.Recommendations Dean Koontz The Watcher, Terry Hayes I Am Pilgrim. Jane Casey, CL Taylor, Lucy Foley. Jodi Picault, Suk Pannu, Vaseem Khan.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out early 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Michael Idov, author of The Collaborators, joins Spybrary to discuss the spy novel everyone in our community is raving about. In this in-depth conversation, Michael shares how his Soviet upbringing, real-world intelligence events like the Ryanair Belarus 'hijacking' incident and Moscow taxi hacker chaos, and his love for British espionage fiction shaped his gripping debut spy novel. We also dive into his work on Deutschland 83, Deutschland 89, his admiration for OSINT warriors like Bellingcat, and his love letter to cities like Riga, Berlin, and London.

GEORGINA CLARKE chats to Paul Burke about her new historical mystery VIPER IN THE NEST, Lizzie Hardwicke, Georgian England, VIPER IN THE NEST: London, June 1759. When a charmless civil servant takes his own life, few are interested in his death. But Lizzie Hardwicke, who plies her trade in the brothels of London whilst also working as an undercover sleuth for the magistrate, can see no reason why a man who had everything to look forward to would wish to end his life.Lizzie's search for answers takes her from the smoke-filled rooms of fashionable gambling houses, where politicians mix ambition with pleasure, to the violent streets of Soho, ready to erupt with riots in the sultry summer heat. All the while, she is navigating her complicated feelings for the magistrate's trusted assistant, Will Davenport, and a disturbing situation at home.Then a gambling house owner is brutally murdered, and Lizzie finds herself tangled in a chaos that she cannot control. The darkest of secrets threatens to turn Davenport against her forever; its exposure will send her to the gallows.Recommendations: Natalie Marlow, CJ SansomPaul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out early 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

RAYMOND BENSON chats to Paul Burke about writing James Bond (6 novels, 3 novelizations and 3 short stories), The James Bond Companion, fantasy spy fiction, Films & Novels, Tom Clancy, The Union, favourite Fleming and Legacy.News: Coming later this year The Hook and the Eye as part of the ever expanding Bond franchise Raymond Benson is writing a novel about American spy Felix Leiter due out in October.JAMES BOND: THE RAYMOND BENSON YEARS For the first time ever, all six of Raymond Benson's original James Bond novels are available together in one omnibus edition.James Bond: The Raymond Benson Years collects Zero Minus Ten, The Facts of Death, High Time to Kill, DoubleShot, Never Dream of Dying, The Man with the Red Tattoo. These classic tales show Benson at his finest and 007 at his most heroic.Raymond Benson is the author of over forty published titles. He is the third--and first American--to write continuation James Bond novels (six original titles and three film novelizations, between 1996-2002), and for the best-selling and acclaimed five-book serial, THE BLACK STILETTO (2011-2014). THE MAD, MAD MURDERS OF MARIGOLD WAY appeared in 2022. His most recent works include the suspense novels, THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE, IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT, BLUES IN THE DARK, and HOTEL DESTINY--A GHOST NOIR. His backlist of original thrillers (EVIL HOURS, TORMENT--A LOVE STORY, ARTIFACT OF EVIL, A HARD DAY'S DEATH, DARK SIDE OF THE MORGUE, and others) as well as his classic reference book from 1984, THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION, are available as Kindle e-books. Raymond is also a prolific tie-in writer: the first two best-selling TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL novels (for the latter he used the pseudonym of "David Michaels"), and with John Milius he wrote HOMEFRONT: THE VOICE OF FREEDOM. He also produced novelizations of other popular videogames--METAL GEAR SOLID and METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SONS OF LIBERTY, HITMAN (HITMAN: DAMNATION, and DYING LIGHT (DYING LIGHT--NIGHTMARE ROW). The full story is at his website... www.raymondbenson.com!Recommendations: Film: The Seventh Seal Dir. Ingmar Bergman, Duck Soup The Marx Brothers.Books: Ruth Rendell Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out early 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

New Crime Fiction for April 2025 reviewed by Paul Burke The Secret Room by Jane Casey ✓Out of the Dark by Heidi Amsinck✓Death and Other Occupational Hazards by Veronika Dapunt✓10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte✓Lovers of Franz K by Burnham Sönmez, trans. from the Kurdish by Sami Hêzil. ✓Sting of the Nettle by Colin Bostock-Smith✓The Children of Eve John Connolly✓Marble Hall Murders Anthony Horowitz ✓Galway Confidential Ken Bruen✓Ken Bruen An Appreciation RIPHuman Remains Jo Callaghan✓Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Wales' only international crime writing festival returns to Aberystwyth 25th-27th April, 2025. Guests include Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths, Mari Hannah, Chris Lloyd, Clare Mackintosh, Zoe Sharp, Graham Bartlett, Vaseem Khan, Abir Mukherjee, Alis Hawkins, Nicola Williams, Louise Mumford, Phil Rowlands. Ayo Onatade, Dr. Noir, Matt Johnson, Gwen Parrott and many more.Paul Burke chats to festival organiser Gail Williams, treasurer Sarah Ward and chair Philip Gwynne Jones about the event. Aberystwyth - lovely seaside location, friendly local reception, beautiful venues, and nearby tourist/countryside attractions.Tickets hereGwyl Crime Cymru Festival Sponsors: Arts Council of Wales, Ceridigeon Museum, Love Ceridigeon, Aberystwyth govt., Literature Wales, Waterstones, Welsh Govt., Lottery, Hugh James and National Library of Wales.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Are we living through a golden age of espionage drama? And what do spy stories tell us about the true nature of the secret world? EI's Alastair Benn is joined by David Omand, ex-head of GCHQ, the British government's world-renowned cyber agency, and author of How Spies Think, Pauline Blistène, an expert on intelligence affairs and spy fiction, and Senior Editor Paul Lay to discuss the enduring popularity and legacy of the spy in fiction. Engelsberg Ideas is funded by the Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation for Public Benefit. EI Talks... is hosted by Paul Lay and Alastair Benn, and produced by Caitlin Brown. The sound engineer is Gareth Jones. Image: Gary Oldman in the 2011 film version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Year, based on the novel of John le Carré. Credit: Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo 

David Goodman's first novel, A Reluctant Spy, is a story about how a man makes a deal and gets more than he bargained for. Show notes: David Goodman (https://www.davidgoodman.net) A Reluctant Spy (https://www.davidgoodman.net/books/) The Americans (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Americans) Moscow X, David McCloskey (https://www.davidmccloskeybooks.com/moscow-x) Learn more about Scrivener (https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview), and check out the ebook Take Control of Scrivener (https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store). If you like the podcast, please follow it on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/write-now-with-scrivener/id1568550068) or your favorite podcast app. Leave a rating or review, and tell your friends. And check out past episodes of Write Now with Scrivener (https://podcast.scrivenerapp.com).

On today's episode, acclaimed spy authors Joseph Kanon and Paul Vidich sit down for an intriguing discussion that delves deep into the world of writing spy fiction. As many of you know, I've been lucky enough to share drinks, meals, and some unforgettable conversations with some of the best spy authors working today. And every time, I think to myself, "I wish I had brought a bug— or called Roddy Ho for some tech to record this!" Well, today, that wish comes true, well, kind of. We're bringing you an intriguing chat with two living legends of spy fiction—Joseph Kanon and Paul Vidich. Now, Joseph needs no introduction. If you're a fan of the genre, you've probably read Los Alamos or Defectors, one of my all-time favorites. He's even ranked number three on Tim Shipman's list of the best spy authors. But why stop there? I thought, why not bring another heavyweight into the mix? So I invited Paul Vidich, author of the brilliant Beirut Station, to host this conversation. Paul's work is always top-notch, and having him on the show alongside Joseph to discuss why they love reading and writing spy fiction is 'premier cru' for us fans of spy novels. Whether you're an aspiring author or a die-hard fan, you'll pick up some valuable insights into the craft of writing spy fiction.   Their conversation spans themes of desperation, moral dilemmas, and the unique ways spy novels probe into character development. They highlight the tension of leading double lives and discuss the differences in British and American spy fiction. Kanon reveals how the setting of a city sparks his storytelling and how he meticulously reconstructs its historical authenticity through detailed research. Both authors underscore the critical role of dialogue in character development. Check out Joseph Kanon's latest novel Shanghai. Joseph Kanon also reflects on the dramatic weight of World War Two settings in his novels and the moral imperatives faced by those in desperate circumstances. The spy authors discuss why they enjoy reading and writing spy ficition and compare and contrast the writing of Len Deighton. Graham Greene and John le Carré. Kanon shares his admiration for Len Deighton's societal observations from an outsider perspective and he reveals some of his own writing habits, which have evolved during the pandemic yet remain rooted at the New York Public Library. Whether you're a dedicated fan of spy fiction or curious about the intricacies of writing spy fiction, today's episode promises fascinating insights . So, sit back and enjoy as Joseph Kanon and Paul Vidich talk all about writing spy fiction.