Explore every episode of the podcast Red Hot Chilli Writers

In this episode, we talk to thriller writer Erin E. Adams about her debut Jackal, and discuss the 'black horror' genre in film and books. 

In this episode we chat to BBC broadcaster turned crime writer Louise Minchin about her debut, Isolation Island, and discuss a one-hundred-year-old frozen foot found on Mount Everest.

In this episode we speak to bestselling Canadian thriller writer Shari Lapena, discuss the fact that Mount Everest is getting taller, and the strange case of the defector who undefects.

In this episode we chat to suspense thriller writer T.M. Logan about his new book The Dream Home, and compare him to the sauve conmen that starred in the film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

In this episode we chat to writer Gareth Rubin about his new book Holmes & Moriarty, and examine innovative literary structures such as Tête-bêche and Mise en Abyme. We also discuss Abir's holiday and Vaseem's left big toe.

In this episode mystery writer Tom Mead discusses his latest book, Cabaret Macabre, and his fascination with locked room mysteries; and we also talk about diamond heists and the world's second largest diamond. 

In this episode we chat to crime writer Rachel Abbott, discuss her latest novel, The Last Time I Saw Him, restoring Italian monasteries, and poodle-clipping at the Olympics.

In this episode we talk to crime fiction newcomer Ram Murali about his debut Death in the Air, and discuss this year's Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

In this episode, we chat to thriller writer Jack Jordan about his new novel Redemption, and his fascination with existential moral dilemmas 

In this episode we speak to thriller fiction legend Karin Slaughter, discuss her latest book This Is Why We Lied, and touch on the cricket world cup in America

In this episode Australian thriller writer Michael Robotham and British crime writer MW Craven discuss their latest books Storm Child and The Mercy Chair. We also discuss the recent rise of Aussie Noir.

In this episode we chat to author Jo Callaghan, to discuss her crime thrillers featuring an artificial intelligence policing hologram, and to debate the transformative impact of new technologies and the possibility of AI Armageddon 

In this special episode dedicated to the British Book Awards 2024 we chat to shortlisted authors Claire Douglas and David McCloskey, discussing their thrillers, the CIA, and boy band haircuts.

In this episode we discuss new thrillers by Abir Mukherjee and Imran Mahmood, Hunted and Finding Sophie, chat about loans sharks and deadly Deliveroo drivers.

In this episode we talk to journalist, broadcaster and crime writer, Stig Abell, about his new novel Death in a Lonely Place, working at the Press Complaints Commission, and the phenomenon of bits falling off satellites and back to Earth.

In this epside we chat to historical and thriller writer Erin Young, discuss her gold kitchen, banned trousers, and Christianity's oldest religious book to ever go on sale - the Crosby-Schøyen Codex.

In this episode we chat to crime writer Harriet Tyce, discuss her new book A Lesson in Cruelty, and pontificate on Chaucer's unfinished Canterbury tales

In this episode we chat to barrister and thriller writer Tony Kent, discuss great legal thrillers, and get a peek into the world's most famous courtroom at the Old Bailey

In this episode we chat to bestselling crime writer BA Paris about her new novel The Guest, and discuss Arabian Noir, a crime anthology set in the Gulf, curated by writers Michael Lynes and Alex Shaw.

In this epsiode we speak to Canadian mystery writer Nita Prose, discuss the advent of dog poop DNA testing, and muse on the recent advances in cold fusion science and how many hot baths the new tech might power

In this bumper episode we chat to Anna O author Matthew Blake, discuss homicidal somnambulism, and then talk to Guy Kennaway, author of Good Scammer, while taking a look at some of the best books ever set in the Caribbean.

In this episode we chat to Australian crime writer Chris Hammer, discuss the TV adapation of his novel Scrublands, talk about deadly funnel-web spiders, and present secrets for superior gut health in the new year.

In this episode prolific book blogger Tracy Fenton reviews her ten favourite novels of the past year, while we take a look at dodgy Xmas parties, and chat about Micky Mouse's original avatar arriving in the public domain.

In this episode we talk to biographer Andrew Lycett, whose new work The Worlds of Sherlock Holmes explores anew the world's most famous detective. With added Cucumber Sherlock.

In this episode we chat to barrister and author Imran Mahmood about his latest thriller, Finding Sophie; discuss the height of author winterwear, as modelled by your hosts; and dissect the most famous tea party in fiction.

In this episode we talk to crime writer Susi Holliday, discuss female serial killers, before Susi takes a stab at explaining the meaning of Diwali

In this episide we chat to crime writer and former journalist, Fiona Cummins, her momentous meeting with George Clooney, discuss new research showing the range of cats' facial expressions, and dissect the case of the Aussie mushroom poisoning

In this episode we talk to screenwriter turned novelist Suk Pannu, a core writer on shows such as Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No 10. Suk discusses his debut novel Dead and Scone, and the unstoppability of Indian aunties.

In this episose we talk to historical crime writer Nev March, discuss the unsolvled Bombay Rajabai Clocktower Deaths, and debate research about the happiest times in our lives - and in the lives of orangutans.

In this episode we talk to historian Matthew Parker about his new book One Fine Day, discuss EM Forster and George Orwell in India, dissect the Booker Prize shortlist, and reflect on the British PM's Seven Deadly Bins

In this episode we talk to TV personality-turned-writer AJ West, discuss his time on Big Brother and our greatest ever ghost stories, including the one about the saucy ghost ape of Dorset

In this episode we discuss summer holidays, India's moon landing, Christie's Evil Under the Sun, and David Suchet's unusual method for perfecting Hercule Poirot's walk

In this episode we talk to thriller writer Simon Toyne, discuss how to avoid wild animal attacks, and the etymology of famous phrases, aswell as reflecting on the St Hilda's Crime Weekend, and a crime writers rap battle in Bute, Scotland.

In this episode we chat to crime writer Sarah Hilary, and discuss neurodiversity in fiction. Vaseem launches a competition to win a pair of signed books, to celebrate the upcoming publication of Death of a Lesser God, and we bear witness to the invention of the 'blousers' - the bladder trousers.

In this episode we chat to thriller-writing legend, Karin Slaughter, remember literary great Cormac McCarthy, and discuss authors whose deaths range from the gruesome to the downright bizarre... including death by flying tortoise

In this episide we chat to historical crime 'writer' Ambrose Parry, discuss Shakespeare's grammatical legacy, and briefly dissect a gameshow that is effectively a sort of nude 'blind date'

In this episode we talk to crime fiction legend Mark Billingham about his new book The Last Dance, discuss Hitler's dream of a Nazi playground in Blackpool, England, and Abir tells us about his 'Broken Arse' hell

In this episode, we discuss the MOTIVE festival in Canada and the Joffe Books Prize, chat to crime writer and ecology professor Harini Nagendra, and examine the notion of male trees v female trees and their effect on Abir's hayfever. Meanwhile, Vaseem is elected as the first non-white chair of the 70-year-old UK Crime Writers' Association...

In this epside we talk to superstar American crime writer Robert Dugoni, reflect on our visit to the British Book Awards, and discuss appropriate behaviour at literary festivals

A special episode recorded live at the 35th Malice Domestic crime fiction convention in Maryland, USA where we debate the eternal question... Which is better? American or British Crime Writing?

In this episode we chat to Sophie Hannah, discuss the new Hercule Poirot novel, and talk about authors whose iconic characters have been taken up after their death

In this episode we talk to former cop turned crime writer Graham Bartlett, investigate the world's oldest police forces, and walk in the footsteps of Napoleon

In this episode we talk to crime writer Alis Hawkins, discuss the Welsh Rebecca Riots, chat about Gŵyl Crime Cymru, Wales' international crime fiction festival, and profile some of history's most infamous poisoners.

In this episode we chat to crime writer John Lincoln Williams, discuss his new novel, punk rock, and interviewing Great American Crime Writers, as well as his biography of pop legend Shirley Bassey. We also talk about writers who were terrible people.

In this episode we speak to renowned crime writer Andrew Taylor who leads us through Restoration England, discuss Edgar Allen Poe in London, and the TV crime show 'Ozark'

In this episode we talk to bestselling crime writer Laura Wilson, discuss Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, and the ins and outs of French publishing

In this episode we talk to crime writing legend Peter May about his new novel in which crime fiction meets climate change. We also discuss Friday the 13th, the superstitions, the films, and how numerology often trumps rational decision-making

In this episode we chat to crime writer Helen Fields, discuss her new novel The Institution, dissect Prince Andrew's autobiography, and talk about our favourite biographies, quite possibly the best biographies of all time.

In this episode we chat to thriller superstar Lisa Jewell, discuss a cunning plan to meet your New Year's resolutions, talk about books to look out for in 2023, and reveal 101 recipes using chickpeas that no one really wants to eat.

In this episode we chat to global crime writing superstar Jane Harper, author of The Dry, discuss Outback Noir, and pontificate on the merits of our sexy Christmas underwear