Explore every episode of the podcast Books on the Beach

Sir Ian Rankin takes The Quick Dip, our bonus quick-fire round on Books on the Beach.Ian explains why every crime writer he knows secretly wants to be a rock star, and why he doesn’t like swimming, which is an odd confession for a guest on a show called Books on the Beach!Want the full conversation? Listen to my main interview with Ian, where we talk about his first standalone thriller in 20 years, 40 years of Rebus, and his folder of big ideas.📚 Enjoyed The Quick Dip?Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyNew episodes every Thursday and a Bonus Ep every Monday

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Sir Ian Rankin has written his first standalone thriller in 20 years. He joins me on Books on the Beach to talk about The Heights, why he hates the super rich and the 40th anniversary of Rebus next year - the character who changed crime fiction. Plus Ian opens up his folder of big ideas, the place where his next stories begin.

🎁 WIN A SIGNED COPY OF THE HEIGHTS

I’m giving away my own proof copy, signed by Ian on camera. It’s UK only and closes Sunday 25 October. Enter HERE

📚 Enjoyed the episode? Join the newsletter, The Beach Read, Instagram: @books_on_thebeach

Come for A Quick Dip with Six Million Seller, Adele Parks.

Answering Questions like: Beach or Pool, Favourite Bookshop in the World, Plotter or Pantser...?

We chat Yoga, Parenting and Adele gives you an Exclusive 11 word set up for 2027's brand new novel that she's currently writing.

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This week on Books on the Beach, I'm joined by the queen of the domestic thriller herself, Adele Parks. With over six million books sold, Adele has kept readers turning pages late into the night for years, and her latest, EYES ON YOU, is a spine-tingling thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder!We chat about why she's the only author Phil's ever met who agents herself; her background in advertising including the famous Hello Boys! Wonderbra ad, and why people constantly ask her if she can sing...purely because she's called Adele!Grab your sun lounger, pour yourself something cold, and settle in. 🏖️📚👉 EYES ON YOU is out now. Grab your copy wherever you buy books.👉 Subscribe for more conversations with your favourite authors👉 Follow us on Instagram: @books_on_thebeach👉 Join The Beach Read, our free Newsletter:

The Quick Dip is your new Bonus Ep which asks questions like:

Physical Book/E-Book/or Audiobook?

Beach or Pool?

Writing Snack of Choice?

Plotter or Pantser?

Name a famous writer you've NEVER read?

Charlie Higson is the first to take those answers on, and we somehow manage to talk farts too. I blame Ian Fleming!

Make sure you're signed up to the newsletter. And thank you to our sponsors for this Ep, H.W. Fisher - Accountants who specialise in looking after writers and self employed creatives. If you need someone to look after your books, whilst you write yours, go to their website.

Charlie Higson is on his 26th Novel. The Fast Show star has been commissioned by the Ian Fleming Estate to write a Brand New James Bond 007 Novel for adults. King Zero is that book: A brilliantly funny, contemporary Bond thriller. In this brand new Ep, we discuss Bond and how he influenced Swiss Toni, the difficulty of creating fresh Action set pieces and why farts are still funny, even though we should both know better!

This Episode is sponsored by H.W. Fisher - Accountants who specialise in looking after the Books of creative professionals. To find out more, or to inquire about them assisting you with your tax affairs go to their website

And Join Our Newsletter for the all the inside, guest reveals, giveaways and much much more.

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes give you writers' answers to two very simple questions: 1. Best Holiday You've Ever Been On?2. Best Book You've Ever Read On Holiday?

These are Chris Brookmyre's answers including a Book that he says is so large it should come with wheels and a carry handle!

Season 2 is coming in October, so make sure you're signed up to the mailing list for exclusive guest reveals, giveaways and the inside track on Books on the Beach. https://joinbooksonthebeach.co.uk

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes give you writers' answers to two very simple questions:

1. Best Holiday You've Ever Been On?

2. Best Book You've Ever Read On Holiday?

These are Jamie Smart's answers which include a rare French comic and why his best holiday happened on one of his birthdays.

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes give you writers' answers to two very simple questions:

1. Best Holiday You've Ever Been On?

2. Best Book You've Ever Read On Holiday?

These are Abir Mukherjee's answers which include why he preferred holidaying in the Maldives to living there and how the best book he took finally unlocked his next novel after writers' block.

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes give you writers' answers to two very simple questions:1. Best Holiday You've Ever Been On?2. Best Book You've Ever Read on Holiday?These are Sarah Vaughan's answers. Find out why she can't read a book set in a cold place, if she's sunning herself...!

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes give you writers' answers to two very simple questions:

1. Best Holiday You've Ever Been On?

2. Best Book You've Ever Read on Holiday?

These are Anthony Horowitz's answers, which also ponder on whether the holiday setting you're in, affects your choice of book and why I Am Pilgrim got passed around his entire family.

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes give you writers' answers to two very simple questions:

1. Best Holiday You've Ever Been On?

2. Best Book You've Ever Read on Holiday?

These are Heidi Perks' answers with some brilliant book recommendations here too and why you won't find Heidi in the Pool playing ball!

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes give you writers' answers to two very simple questions:

1. Best Holiday You've Ever Been On?

2. Best Book You've Ever Read On Holiday?

Here are Dorothy Koomson's Answers which include the one holiday that led her to emigrate. She also reveals how many books she can burn through on a fortnight away and her Holiday Read is a blockbuster by the late, great Sophie Kinsella.

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes give you writers' answers to two very simple questions:

1. Best Holiday You've Ever Been On?

2. Best Book You've Ever Read on Holiday?

Here are Ardal O' Hanlon's answers... Now with added Howler Monkey...! His full Ep is also available here, just scroll down.

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes give you writers' answers to two very simple questions:

1. Best Holiday You've Ever Been On?

2. Best Book You've Ever Read on Holiday?

Here are Michael Connelly's answers. His full Ep is also available here, just scroll down.

The Bonus Beach Bites Episodes, give you writers’ answers to two very simple questions:

1. Best holiday you’ve ever been on?

2. Best book you’ve ever read on holiday?

Here’s Lynda La Plante’s answers. Her full Ep is available here too, just scroll down.

We end Season 1 with a genuine National Treasure.

Lorraine Kelly has been on British television for over 40 years. Two years ago, she published her debut novel, The Island Swimmer and now she's back with the follow up, The Island Secret.

In this interview Lorraine talks about her writing process; how she resented her brother appearing in her family as a little girl and the time the Daily Mail accused her of not having a proper Scottish accent !!

Your life can only be enhanced by an hour with Lorraine.

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Chris Brookmyre is the multi-award winning author of 31 books, spanning an incredible thirty year career. He’s back with a follow up to his debut: Quite Ugly One Morning, which is called Quite Ugly One Evening.

In this wide ranging interview we talk about confected anger on the Internet; Views overtaking News; and how Chris learnt the guitar in later life to allow him to play alongside Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Luca Veste, Doug Johnstone and Stuart Neville in the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers.

Chris is a brilliant writer and a lovely interviewee and as well as checking out Quite Ugly One Evening, you should also read The Cracked Mirror, Chris’ previous novel which is mind blowingly good. What a pleasure it was to spend an hour in his company. Enjoy. 

The Brilliant Heidi Perks is the Sunday Times Bestselling Author who brought you, Now You See Her.

She’s back with a page turner of a locked room thriller, called It Ends Here, which Phil really loved. In this chat you can hear about Heidi’s beginnings in marketing; why it took five years for her to get a publishing deal; how she’s scrapped endings of books on police advice, and why Mr Perks is grateful for a shout out on this podcast…!

Phil really loved meeting Heidi for the first time. They even played table tennis together after the show! See the Books on the Beach Instagram channel for the footage!

You’ll love this Ep. If you’ve ever wanted to write your own book, it’s super insightful.

Phil did Abir Mukherjee’s first national broadcast interview a decade ago for his debut, A Rising Man. Since then, Abir’s won the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year, the British Book Awards Crime & Thriller Novel of the Year, the CWA Dagger for best Historical Novel, and much much more.

In this Episode, we get Abir’s views on India; his Jeffrey Archer impression (!) and we learn his family’s Indian pet name for him. His new book The Pinnacle is also out today and is his funniest book to date. Enjoy!

Jamie Smart has sold millions of children's books: The Bunny vs Monkey series, Looshkin and Megalomaniacs. His books are hilarious punk graphic novels for children and make my own kids howl with laughter.

In this very special episode, some of Jamie's junior readers get to put their questions to their hero, one of which he says not even his own Editor has ever asked..!If you've got children, they'll love this. There's tonnes of new info about the next few books and some specials to come before the end of 2026.

This one'll hit you, 'Oof...Right in the Puddings.'

Sarah Vaughan is the brilliant Million Seller behind hits like Anatomy of a Scandal and Little Disasters.

She's back with a brand new novel - Based Upon a True Story - which is a family saga rooted in King Lear. It's brilliantly observed, satirical and also tackles some serious issues like Gambling Addiction.

Phil and Sarah chat about the novel plus Sarah's views on Instagram Influencers, her former career as a print journalist covering harrowing news stories and why she writes for therapy.

Michael Connelly is Phil's all time favourite writer. He's delighted that Michael said Yes to another interview.

In this Ep, you'll hear Michael talk candidly about a life changing health event; his brand new Detective Stilwell novel, IRONWOOD; he'll outline what the brand new Bosch nobel will be about which lands this Autumn, and gives vital TV updates on Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer and Ballard.

It's a Must Watch/Listen for all Michael Connelly fans obsessed with the BoschVerse!

You don't need me to tell you about Ardal O'Hanlon, right..? Stand up comedian, actor, writer. It's been a while since he gave us a Novel, though. His third - A Plot to Die For - is the first in a new series of gentle, funny, crime books.

In this chat we discuss the novel, learn some Irish vernacular; we talk Fame, Celebrity and Howler Monkeys. Plus plenty of hilarious stories.

Dorothy Koomson has sold over three million books and is Britain's Biggest Selling Black Writer.She stops by to tell Phil all about The Quiet Girls, her brand new 22nd novel; why she's a big scaredy cat when it comes to storylines that are too sinister and why she's lovely until you cross her...then you're guaranteed to turn up in one of her books...as a Baddie..!! She's great fun. Enjoy!

The wonderful Anthony Horowitz chats to Phil about his new Hawthorne Thriller: A Deadly Episode. In a wide ranging chat they cover: Retirement; why his grandchildren aren't allowed to use the G word; how often Anthony misses his stop on the train because he's too busy writing on his laptop; why he has no interest in Awards Shows and which Producer he describes as 'a skunk.' He's warm, funny, engaging and Phil loved recording this chat for you.

This is indeed, A Deadly Episode..!!!

Welcome to the first ever episode of Books on the Beach. And what a woman to kick things off with. Lynda La Plante is still crafting page turning thrillers at the age of 83 years young, and in this chat she talks about why she doesn't own any of her Prime Suspect or Widows characters; her association with The Krays and life prisoner Charles Bronson; her career before writing as a jobbing actor in The Sweeney and why she has a body in her cellar..!

Books on the Beach is a brand new Books podcast from Broadcaster, Phil Williams, profiling the Books you'll find on every sunlounger across the Globe. This new visualised podcast will celebrate the big commercial fiction, non-fiction and children's books by profiling one author per Ep.

Even the most casual reader takes a book on holiday. This podcast will help you to choose the right read for your relaxation.