Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

The reading habits of bestselling author Ian Rankin - covering the likes of Charles Dickens, Alistair MacLean, RagnarJonasson...and Jilly Cooper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See if Matt can keep his sh*t together in front of his all time favourite author...Ian Rankin comes in to chat about his new bestseller In A House of Lies - the 22nd Rebus novel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The author of the multi million selling Jack Reacher thrillers talks about his reading and writing habits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The multi million selling author of the Jack Reacher books pops in to the pod to talk coffee, movies and cotton buds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan and Anna from the No Such Thing As A Fish podcast discuss their Book of the Year - amazing facts from 2018. And explorer Levison Wood tells us about his latest adventure, which he has written about in his new book Arabia - 13 countries, 5000 miles...on foot, camel and tank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the reading habits, loves and suggestions of explorer Levison Wood and the QI Elves Anna & Dan (No Such Thing As A Fish). Levison has written a book about his recent journey around the Arabian Peninsular - 13 countries & 5000 miles via foot, tank and camel. The Elves have released the Book of the Year - amazing facts that may have passed you by in the past 11 months or so. Hosted...

Two of the world's finest authors grace our studios...three if you include Simon. But even Matt would agree 4 would be stretching it. Markus Zusak's debut novel The Book Thief sold over 8m copies. His latest effort Bridge of Clay has been over a decade in the making. Anthony Horowitz has written books featuring Sherlock Holmes and James Bond (not together, yet...) His new novel The Sentence Is Dea...

Simon and Matt find out the reading habits of authors Anthony Horowitz and Markus Zusak. Plus your tweets, letters and suggestions. Anthony Horowitz is one of Britain's most successful writers - specialising in mystery and suspense. His work for young adult readers includes The Alex Rider series. His work for adults includes two Sherlock Holmes novels The House of Silk and Moriarty ; plus Magpie M...

Heather's debut novel The Tattooist Of Auschwitz has become an international best seller. Based on the recollections of Lale Sokolov, who confided his life story to Heather back in 2003 - this is a love story in the most brutal of settings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon and Matt chat to the best selling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz about her reading habits. Heather Morris' debut novel, at the age of 65, is an incredible piece of work based on her interviews with Lale Sokolov - about his experiences in the Holocaust, and the love of his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our children's special, Chris Riddell talks about Beedle The Bard which he has illustrated for JK Rowling - one of 7 books he has out at the moment. In 2015 he was appointed the UK Children's Laureate. Radio presenter Dermot O'Leary talks about the second outing for his blind ninja cat Toto - in The Incredible Cheese Heist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dermot O'Leary & Chris Riddell talk about their reading habits, loves and recommendations. Plus your letters and tweets. (If you corresponded with us.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Take That frontman opens up about his life, his eating disorder, his songwriting and the stress of being an X Factor judge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary will help you fall asleep. Full interview in the next show. If you are awake in time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Norton pops in to catch some germs from Simon and Matt - and to talk about his latest novel A Keeper. Graham is one of the UK's best loved broadcasters. He presents The Graham Norton Show on BBC1, has a weekly show on BBC Radio 2, and writes a column for the Telegraph. He is the winner of eight BAFTA awards. Born in Dublin and raised in West Cork, Norton now lives in London.  His debut nove...

Enid Blyton, Richmal Crompton, Anne Griffin, Mary Lawson and more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(The failing...) New York Times Bestseller Ben MacIntyre pops in to chat at length about his latest effort The Spy and The Traitor. If anyone could be considered a Russian counterpart to the infamous British double-agent Kim Philby, it was Oleg Gordievsky. He took his first posting for Russian intelligence in 1968 and eventually became the Soviet Union’s top man in London, but from 1973 on he was...

In a (sort of) music special, journalist and broadcaster Mark Kermode and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson talk us through their new memoirs - which focus on their fledgling music careers, stolen instruments and failed bands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guests answer a quickfire Q&A on their reading habits including what book do you remember being read to you as a child? Is there a book on your shelf that you love and no-one else does? Is there a book you have used to impress a potential partner? And the book you would love to step inside of… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Boyne is one of a rare breed of authors who actually enjoy writing. He has written 11 adult novels - as in novels for adults, rather than the fruity kind. And 5 for young readers. His latest A Ladder To The Sky focuses on the life of an author who will stop at nothing for fame, adulation and respect. Shaun Usher is the writer and sole custodian of the popular blogs lettersofnote.com, listsofn...

A taster of our next pod featuring authors John Boyne and Shaun Usher Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate joins Simon and Matt to chat about her new release Transcription. It tells the story of Juliet Armstrong, who is recruited as a young woman by an obscure wartime department. In the aftermath of war she joins the BBC, where her life begins to unravel. Kate won the Whitbread Book of the Year prize with her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum. Her four bestselling novels featuring forme...

Sebastian is invited in to chat about his latest novel Paris Echo - plus an excellent Q&A about his reading habits. Best known for the French trilogy, The Girl at the Lion d'Or, Birdsong and Charlotte Gray (1989-1997) Faulks was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1993 and appointed CBE for services to literature in 2002. In Paris Echo he deals with questions of empire, grie...

Carnegie Medal winning author Melvin Burgess (The YA-Father!) on his latest book The Lost Witch. Plus twice named Sportswriter of the Year Michael Calvin on his new book State of Play - addressing areas of football which are not on the back pages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manda Scott and Tracy Borman are the first to face our author Q&A. Manda has written A Treachery of Spies, focusing on the French Resistance. And Tracy's debut novel A King's Witch is set in the reign of James Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.