Bookreporter Talks To – Details, episodes & analysis

Clare Leslie Hall joined us for November's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group to discuss her New York Times bestseller, BROKEN COUNTRY, a Bookreporter Bets On selection that has received numerous "Best Of 2025" accolades. Clare talks about her inspiration for the novel, as well as the different paths that she took to writing it. She shares details on the development of her characters and explains how the trial was woven throughout the pages. She also touches on her earlier books, PICTURES OF HIM and DAYS YOU WERE MINE, which released this summer in the US as trade paperbacks.

PLEASE NOTE: Spoilers are included in this program!

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Lily King: https://youtu.be/ir_IaUnaru4

Virginia Evans: https://youtu.be/6FtYT5KRW2Q

Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://youtu.be/7O3gIC1IJN4

Sharon Kurtzman: https://youtu.be/CMCnGJitKMY

Francesca Serritella: https://youtu.be/XmmvtzilXg0

Bruce Holsinger: https://youtu.be/KukE7DscmsY

Megan Abbott: https://youtu.be/IXRkJuh3_eU

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Brisa Carleton joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her debut novel, LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. The inspiration for the book came when Brisa was visiting The Savoy Hotel in London more than a decade ago. She saw a footnote about Ada Coleman in a cocktail menu and was surprised that so little information existed about her. Ada was a prominent mixologist at the hotel from 1903 to 1925, and she invented many cocktails, including the "Hanky Panky."

Brisa discusses writing a dual timeline for the book: the historical story about Ada and the modern one featuring Cinnamon Scott, an aspiring New York writer who travels to London to help her pregnant sister, Rosemary, at The Savoy. An award-winning Broadway producer with three Tony wins to her credit, Brisa also talks about her role as a producer and how it differs from being a writer.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Lily King: https://youtu.be/ir_IaUnaru4

Virginia Evans: https://youtu.be/6FtYT5KRW2Q

Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://youtu.be/7O3gIC1IJN4

Sharon Kurtzman: https://youtu.be/CMCnGJitKMY

Francesca Serritella: https://youtu.be/XmmvtzilXg0

Bruce Holsinger: https://youtu.be/KukE7DscmsY

Megan Abbott: https://youtu.be/IXRkJuh3_eU

Kaira Rouda: https://youtu.be/0P_bOFWTFQ8

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

J. Courtney Sullivan joined us for July's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group to discuss her novel, THE CLIFFS, a Reese's Book Club pick and a Bookreporter Bets On selection that is now available in paperback.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Bruce Holsinger: https://youtu.be/KukE7DscmsY

Megan Abbott: https://youtu.be/IXRkJuh3_eU

Kaira Rouda: https://youtu.be/0P_bOFWTFQ8

Jeanine Cummins: https://youtu.be/sZL0N-UuChk

Julie Clark: https://youtu.be/L3MTzzyFcG4

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/GScWl6dBexk

Chris Pavone: https://youtu.be/8icmR8CaYBk

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/-X7szSaX-DE

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Bruce Holsinger joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss his latest novel, CULPABILITY, which is Oprah's Book Club pick for July and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Bruce explains why he chose to explore AI and the decision to have each member of a family be culpable in a car accident involving an autonomously driven vehicle. The beach house that the Cassidy-Shaws retreat to is similar to the one that Bruce and his family enjoyed during the pandemic, and that peaceful setting kept coming back to him as he wrote. He also talks about the audiobook's narrators, Stacy Carolan and January LaVoy, and how they each played roles that served the book. And yes, Bruce walks us through what it was like to get "the call" from Oprah.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Megan Abbott: https://youtu.be/IXRkJuh3_eU

Kaira Rouda: https://youtu.be/0P_bOFWTFQ8

Jeanine Cummins: https://youtu.be/sZL0N-UuChk

Julie Clark: https://youtu.be/L3MTzzyFcG4

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/GScWl6dBexk

Chris Pavone: https://youtu.be/8icmR8CaYBk

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/-X7szSaX-DE

Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/9DTZoKTNAOA

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Megan Abbott joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, EL DORADO DRIVE. This is the first book that Megan has written about suburban Detroit, which is where she lived for her early years. The story is set during the time when the automobile market crashed, jobs were suddenly lost, and the lifestyle to which people were accustomed disappeared. Megan talks about those days when the rug was pulled out from under people after years of not worrying about money. She also explains what it was like to write about sisters, even though she only has a brother. And she shares the exciting screenwriting news of what is next for her.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Kaira Rouda: https://youtu.be/0P_bOFWTFQ8

Jeanine Cummins: https://youtu.be/sZL0N-UuChk

Julie Clark: https://youtu.be/L3MTzzyFcG4

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/GScWl6dBexk

Chris Pavone: https://youtu.be/8icmR8CaYBk

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/-X7szSaX-DE

Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/9DTZoKTNAOA

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Fiona Davis joined us for June's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group to discuss her New York Times bestseller, THE STOLEN QUEEN, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She shares how the idea for the book came to her, the extensive research that she did (yes, including a trip to Egypt), and what it was like spending hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to better understand how it is run behind the scenes. Fiona also explains how she developed her characters to work well with the timing of the story. And, to the delight of her readers, she talks about what's next for her.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Kaira Rouda: https://youtu.be/0P_bOFWTFQ8

Jeanine Cummins: https://youtu.be/sZL0N-UuChk

Julie Clark: https://youtu.be/L3MTzzyFcG4

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/GScWl6dBexk

Chris Pavone: https://youtu.be/8icmR8CaYBk

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/-X7szSaX-DE

Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/9DTZoKTNAOA

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Kaira Rouda talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest thriller, JILL IS NOT HAPPY. Note: Kaira IS very happily married to her husband, Harley, which is something you need to know as you read this book. Kaira did get the idea for the novel when she and Harley went to Utah during the pandemic. She saw that the landscape there could lend itself to a number of terrifying moments as her characters, Jill and Jack, head off on a weekend road trip together.

Jill wants time with her husband. Jack does not want to go but does so begrudgingly. Once they return home, he will leave Jill; to him, their marriage is a charade. Kaira addresses how she ramped up the tension in this cat-and-mouse game.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Jeanine Cummins: https://youtu.be/sZL0N-UuChk

Julie Clark: https://youtu.be/L3MTzzyFcG4

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/GScWl6dBexk

Chris Pavone: https://youtu.be/8icmR8CaYBk

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/-X7szSaX-DE

Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/9DTZoKTNAOA

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/sq4T8qGV5ko

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Jeanine Cummins joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new novel, SPEAK TO ME OF HOME, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She shares her inspiration for the book and talks about the significance of home. What does it mean to different people and to different generations? Jeanine and Carol point out that we go through life either as passengers or as those who "control the wheel of the bus." There is a family tree in the front of the book, which is helpful in following the story — and Jeanine shows its beautiful design.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Julie Clark: https://youtu.be/L3MTzzyFcG4

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/GScWl6dBexk

Chris Pavone: https://youtu.be/8icmR8CaYBk

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/-X7szSaX-DE

Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/9DTZoKTNAOA

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/sq4T8qGV5ko

Katy Hays: https://youtu.be/mNOW8_CJ0zM

Georgia Hunter: https://youtu.be/E0zRbp6ti8g

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Julie Clark joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest thriller, THE GHOSTWRITER, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Julie shares how she approached writing this book, including how a ghostwriter tackles a subject and handles the storytelling. She also talks about her process, which includes early mornings of writing, and why she will never be a book-a-year author. Julie's character had some unexpected challenges that derailed her career, and she explains how these obstacles upped the stakes for her.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/GScWl6dBexk

Chris Pavone: https://youtu.be/8icmR8CaYBk

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/-X7szSaX-DE

Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/9DTZoKTNAOA

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/sq4T8qGV5ko

Katy Hays: https://youtu.be/mNOW8_CJ0zM

Georgia Hunter: https://youtu.be/E0zRbp6ti8g

Jeff Hobbs: https://youtu.be/Y-B_yErFlvI

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Lori Foster joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, THE GUEST COTTAGE, which kicks off her Firefly Summer series. She explains how she developed the book, including the first idea that came to her, and where she sees the series headed. Fittingly, they talk about their mutual fascination with fireflies. Lori also shares information about her very successful "Reader & Author Get Together" event, and how it has grown and changed through the years.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Chris Pavone: https://youtu.be/8icmR8CaYBk

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/-X7szSaX-DE

Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/9DTZoKTNAOA

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/sq4T8qGV5ko

Katy Hays: https://youtu.be/mNOW8_CJ0zM

Georgia Hunter: https://youtu.be/E0zRbp6ti8g

Jeff Hobbs: https://youtu.be/Y-B_yErFlvI

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/q1lwGj7ZUlg

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions