Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Jennifer Niven (bestselling author of 'All The Bright Places' joins Simon and Matt for a natter about her first adult fiction novel.
'Meet The Newmans' is about a famous American TV family in the 1960s - and their subsequent unravelling! Jennifer chats about her inspirations for the novel and why she decided to turn to writing for adults (after a huge career as a YA author). They also discuss TV culture from the 60s, the present day reality shows - and - America (then and now)

Bestselling crime author, Ann Cleeves, answers questions about her writing processes and some of her favourite authors and books.
Simon and Matt also surprise her with a question from Steph McGovern - and - find out who she'd invite to her fantasy dinner party.

Ann Cleeves - crime novelist, library advocate and creator of best-loved characters Vera Stanhope, Matthew Venn and Jimmy Perez - joins Simon and Matt for a natter about her latest novel, 'The Killing Stones'.
This new Jimmy Perez mystery is perfect for this time of year - and we can highly recommend you get a copy and curl up under a blanket over Christmas and enjoy it.
Ann chats about getting bored with Jimmy (and then liking him again), her love of Orkney and Shetland, the Kirkwall Ba and why she won't ever kill off one of her main characters.

Bestselling author and journalist, Jonathan Freedland, discusses some of his favourite authors, The Beatles, his writing process - and - gives us some brilliant book recommendations too.
We also hear from Jeremy Vine - who is a big fan of Jonathan's books - and find out who would be invited to his fantasy dinner party.

Journalist and bestselling author, Jonathan Freedland, joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his latest book - 'The Traitor's Circle'
They chat about his extensive research, love of history, the incredible real-life stories of bravery he discovered and put in the book and how and when he likes to write. Although this book is non-fiction, it reads like a thriller! Some of the stories in it are quite remarkable!
Here's a bit more info on the book:
A thrilling true story of courage, resistance and ultimately betrayal in the Third Reich, captured by internationally bestselling author and prize-winning journalist Jonathan Freedland.
The Traitors Circle tells the true, but scarcely known, story of a group of secret rebels against Hitler. Drawn from Berlin high society, they include army officers, government officials, two countesses, an ambassador's widow and a former model - meeting in the shadows, whether hiding and rescuing Jews or plotting for a Germany freed from Nazi rule. One day in September 1943 they gather for a tea party - unaware that one among them is about to betray them all to the Gestapo. But who is the betrayer of a circle themselves branded 'traitors' by the cruellest regime in history?
In another page-turning work of nonfiction that reads like a thriller, Jonathan Freedland, acclaimed author of The Escape Artist, sheds light on one of the most dramatic episodes of the second world war, telling a story of courage, resistance and ultimate betrayal that has deep moral resonance for our own time, and asks what kind of person it takes to risk everything and stand up to tyranny.