Quick Book Reviews with Philippa Hall

In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa talks to author Claire Leslie Hall about her extraordinary novel Broken Country — a story of love, grief, longing, and the choices that shape our lives.
Set against the backdrop of the English countryside, Broken Country begins with a shocking line: a man is dead — but who is he, and why? From there unfolds a deeply emotional story of a marriage under strain, a first love that returns, and a community divided.
Claire shares the fascinating journey behind the book — from the moment of inspiration during lambing season in rural Dorset to the four-year writing process that included rewrites, abandoned drafts, and even stepping away to write another novel before returning to the story.
Philippa and Claire discuss:
The real-life moment that sparked the opening scene
Why the novel took four years to write and dramatically changed along the way
How the book blends genres — love story, mystery, and courtroom drama
Watching a murder trial at the Old Bailey for research
The meaning behind the title Broken Country
The evolution of the book’s cover design
The surreal moment the novel was chosen for Reese’s Book Club by Reese Witherspoon
Claire’s background as a journalist and how it shaped her writing style
What readers might expect from her next novel
Plus: dream writing sheds, nightmare writing locations, the joy (and terror) of editorial notes, and the all-important biscuit question.
If you love character-driven fiction with emotional depth and a touch of suspense, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Books Mentioned
Broken Country — Claire Leslie Hall
Pictures of Him — Claire Leslie Hall
Days You Were Mine — Claire Leslie Hall
To Kill a Mockingbird — by Harper Lee
The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian
Odette Rising by Julianne Edwards
Quick Book Reviews features author interviews and book reviews with no spoilers.
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
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Bestselling author Patrick Gale joins Philippa on the Quick Book Reviews Podcast to discuss his powerful new novel Love Lane, plus brilliant escapist book recommendations including The Selection and An Offer from a Gentleman.
In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa talks to bestselling author Patrick Gale about his moving and deeply personal new novel Love Lane.
Patrick returns to the podcast to discuss the inspiration behind the book, how family history shaped the story, and why this emotional historical novel might be his most personal work yet. The conversation also dives into writing routines, fountain pens, notebooks, and the joy (and therapy!) of storytelling.
If you enjoy powerful character-driven fiction, family sagas, and historical novels filled with heart, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Pre-order Love Lane
Patrick Gale’s beautiful new novel Love Lane publishes soon — and pre-orders really help authors and bookshops.
Pre-order your copy here:
👉 https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16356/9781472257468
👉 https://www.waterstones.com/book/love-lane/patrick-gale/9781472257468
👉 https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/love-lane/patrick-gale/9781472257468
(Choose your favourite bookseller and support authors and bookshops!)
In This Episode
Philippa chats with Patrick Gale about the emotional story behind Love Lane
Why writing about family history can be both revealing and healing
Patrick’s unusual writing routine — fountain pens, notebooks, and writing in ink
The real people who inspired the novel
The secrets hidden in family letters
Dream writing locations vs nightmare writing locations
The biscuit that powered the writing
Books Reviewed in This Episode
Philippa also shares some unexpected reading choices while recovering from illness — stepping away from crime fiction and diving into romance and escapist reads.
Books discussed:
The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Elite by Kiera Cass
The One by Kiera Cass
An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
A New Start at the Happily Ever After Bookshop by Emma Bennett
Expect reality-TV-style royal romance, Bridgerton escapism, and the ultimate cosy bookshop novel set in Cornwall.
About the Podcast
Quick Book Reviews is the podcast where you get book recommendations, interviews with bestselling authors, and honest reviews — always spoiler-free.
Hosted by Philippa, each episode helps you discover your next great read.
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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa speaks to actor, comedian and author Andi Osho about her third novel, Most Wanted.
Most Wanted explores the housing crisis through the story of a couple pushed to desperate measures in their attempt to get on the property ladder. Blending sharp comedy with serious social themes, the novel examines control, financial pressure, responsibility and how quickly one decision can spiral.
In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, Andi discusses:
The real-life frustrations that inspired Most Wanted
Why property fiction feels so timely
Balancing humour with serious themes
Writing morally complex characters
Planning twists versus letting the story evolve
Narrating her own audiobooks and performing her characters
Creativity, acting and moving between genres
Perimenopause, brain fog and recording in the booth
The realities of buying property in the UK
We also talk about scripts versus novels, the pressure of second and third books, and the biscuits that powered the writing process.
If you enjoy fiction that reflects real life, explores big social themes and still makes you laugh, this episode is for you.
Most Wanted by Andi Osho is available now in hardback, ebook and audiobook.
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
📧 Email: [email protected]
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@quick_book_reviews
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Full programme and booking information: https://www.hayfestival.com/hay-on-wye/home
Planning a visit to the Hay Festival this year?
In this special episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa travels to Hay-on-Wye to speak with festival organisers Heather Salisbury and Jacqueline Hewer about the exciting new programme.
Discover:
• The brand-new Crime Day
• A fantasy and romantasy focus for 2026
• Celebrity readers sharing their “Life in Books”
• Debut author showcases
• Over 400 events celebrating books and ideas
Plus the guests reveal the authors they’re most excited about — including Emma Thompson, Bear Grylls, Elizabeth Strout and Val McDermid.
And yes… the Hay Festival biscuit debate returns.
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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa speaks to bestselling crime author Nadine Matheson about her gripping new novel The Shadow Carver, the latest instalment in the Inspector Henley series.
We discuss:
Writing dark crime fiction with legal authenticity
How her background in criminal law shapes her storytelling
The emotional toll of writing morally complex characters
Building long-running crime series readers can’t quit
Why readers are drawn to justice-driven thrillers
Plus, Philippa shares thoughts on one of the most talked-about new psychological thrillers, Room 706, and what makes it such a compulsive listen on audio.
If you love crime fiction, legal thrillers, police procedurals, and intelligent psychological suspense, this episode is for you.
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram & Threads:
@quick_book_reviews
🎵 TikTok: @quickbookreviews
🐦 X: @quickbookrevie3
🦋 Bluesky: quickbookreviews
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.