The Book Show

Are you Team Poirot or Team Marple? When it comes to Agatha Christie's most popular detectives, there are plenty who will favour the moustachioed Belgian Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells. But for Scottish crime writer Val McDermid the spinster, amateur sleuth Jane Marple is a far superior character. She makes the case for Miss Marple at our latest meeting of The Agatha Christie Murder Club.
Guest: Val McDermid, author of many gritty crime novels
David Astle, the ABC's resident puzzle master has devised devious cryptic puzzles inspired by Agatha Christie's books. Each episode he'll provide a new clue and the answer will be the title of one of Agatha Christie's books.
Episode #4 Clue: Terribly rude mother then picked up cat
David Astle will be back next time with the answer, and a new mystery for you to solve. 
Email thebookshow@abc.net.au if you know the answer to the puzzle. 
Find out more about the five-part series here.

Ian Rankin decided his crusty Edinburgh detective John Rebus needed a break and his first standalone novel in 20 years, The Heights stars a much younger detective.
Detective Sergeant Gillian Gish is a cop from Tottenham who's determined, a bit reckless and juggling her job and mother with dementia. Set at the high end of London with the murder of a security guard, the book tackles themes of social class and economic inequality. As Ian Rankin tells Claire Nichols, many of the ideas for his books start when he's on holiday (which does not impress his wife and family).
Whether he returns to his new detective is yet to be seen but next year is the 40th anniversary of the first Rebus novel and the big mystery is whether we'll see another chapter in the Edinburgh detective's life.
If you want more Inspector Rebus, in 2022 Claire spoke to Ian about A Heart Full of Headstones.
And there's more for crime fiction lovers! Dive into The Book Show's new series The Agatha Christie Murder Club as we solve mysteries about Christie, her books and legacy. Each week you'll have a chance to solve a cryptic puzzle devised by puzzle master, David Astle.
Download a printable Top 100 Australian Books 1-100 ranked.
Relive your favourite moments of the Top 100 Books countdown.

What's so cosy about murder? Cosy crime is taking over our screens and books but it all began with Agatha Christie. So what makes a crime novel "cosy" and why does this genre have such strong appeal? We also debate whether Agatha Christie actually wrote cosy books.
Guest: crime writer Shamini Flint, author of the Inspector Singh Investigates series.
David Astle, the ABC's resident puzzle master has devised devious cryptic puzzles inspired by Agatha Christie's books. Each episode he'll provide a new clue and the answer will be the title of one of Agatha Christie's books.
Episode #3 Clue: Cryptically close
David Astle will be back next time with the answer, and a new mystery for you to solve. 
Email thebookshow@abc.net.au if you know the answer to the puzzle. 
Find out more about the five-part series here.

What's in a name? Florence Knapp reclaimed her own name for her novel The Names, but before that she had a crafting blog with the moniker "Flossie Teacakes".
As Florence Knapp describes to Claire Nichols, names are intrinsic to how we see ourselves and how others see us. The Names is about a woman's choice of name for her newborn son - should she call him Gordon, Julian or Bear? There are deep questions about what shapes us - nature versus nurture - and the 'what if' sliding door moments. Florence reveals her own sliding door moment when she moved to Australia as a child. 
The story also explores the power of the handmade, and if you feel like making something with your hands after reading The Names, look up Flossie Teacakes' Guide to Paper Piercing. 
This conversation discusses domestic violence, if you or anyone you know needs assistance call 1800Respect.
This event was recorded at the 2026 Sydney Writers Festival with Florence Knapp via satellite.
The Book Show interview with Florence KnappLove Agatha Christie mysteries? Dive into The Book Show's new series The Agatha Christie Murder Club as we solve mysteries about Christie, her books and legacy. Each week you'll have a chance to solve a cryptic puzzle devised by puzzle master, David Astle.
Download a printable Top 100 Australian Books 1-100 ranked.
Relive your favourite moments of the Top 100 Books countdown.

We have reconvened to solve another perplexing case: how does Agatha Christie plot the murder? We break down one of Agatha's most popular books — Murder on the Orient Express — to discover her tricks of the trade and learn about her commitment to the rules of fair play, her creative use of language clues and the closed circle mystery format.
Guest: Comedian and author Benjamin Stevenson (Australia) is the author of the Christie adjacent novels, including Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect.
David Astle, the ABC's resident puzzle master has devised devious cryptic puzzles inspired by Agatha Christie's books. Each episode he'll provide a new clue and the answer will be the title of one of Agatha Christie's books.
Episode #2 Clue: Crows above estate?
David Astle will be back next time with the answer, and a new mystery for you to solve. 
Email thebookshow@abc.net.au if you know the answer to the puzzle. 
Find out more about the five-part series here.