The Master Crime Writer and Phil's all time favourite writer, Michael Connelly, returns to Bestsellers to talk about his 40th novel. NightShade features a brand new character, Detective Stilwell, whom Michael loves so much, he's going to return to in future books.

We chat to him about the challenges of creating a brand new series when you're forty books in; where Stilwell fits into the Connelly Universe that already includes Bosch, Ballard and The Lincoln Lawyer and why his characters who all work around law enforcement, seem to be Anti Establishment!

We love Mike here at Bestsellers and wish him well with the unforeseen medical procedures his doctors have ordered, which have led to the cancellation of his UK and US tour. This information was not in the public domain at time of recording, hence why we don't talk about it.

Chris Chibnall is responsible for writing some of the biggest moments in British television. From Broadchurch to Dr Who, you'll have seen his work on screen. Now he's turned his attention to novel writing and speaks to Phil and Natalie about his debut, Death at the White Hart. It's a Christie-esque whodunnit with a follow up already in the works and he's adapting his own novel himself for ITV.

Here he speaks about the challenges of page versus screen, the joy of acquiring new skills later in his career and how he has to be very careful not to wipe the entire plot off his whiteboards when things aren't going his way!

The bestselling author of Elizabeth is Missing is back with a brand new chilling thriller called Sweat. Set around gyms and exercise, the book features a woman who gets the opportunity to exact revenge on a controlling ex-boyfriend. But will she get away with it and at what cost..?

It's a deeply personal book for Emma. She talks openly about obsessive fasting and over exercising after pregnancy and how both these things influenced this novel.

There's also plenty of laughs and no amount of persuasion is ever getting Natalie into the gym!

This is the book for you if you've ever wanted to know what it's *really* like to do a job that is very different to yours. Charlie Colenutt has interviewed and collated the work stories of 68 employees, from a range of backgrounds, at varying stages in their careers, who all share the truthfulness of their working lives. There's joy and stress and sadness and life-changing moments to enjoy here, and Charlie himself is a gifted storyteller.

Charlie also shares the books he loves that you might like to read as well, so head to www.bestsellerspodcast.com and click on 'Author Recommends' to see those now.

You can also support the production costs of making this podcast by purchasing Nat and Phil a metaphorical coffee at https://ko-fi.com/bestsellerspodcast

This book has so much to offer. It delves into cultures of silence within families, how that affects relationships between mothers and daughters, and draws on Tara's exoticism, as she describes it, being a child of divorce growing up in Kolkata in the 1980s. And we haven't even mentioned the descriptions of food yet, which are many, all deserving of their place here and might make you hungry. A most excellent combination in storytelling.

Plus for more detail on the books Tara has loved as a reader, just head to www.bestsellerspodcast.com and click on 'Author Recommends'.

You can also support the production costs of making this podcast by purchasing a metaphorical coffee at https://ko-fi.com/bestsellerspodcast

Julia Raeside is no stranger to writing or comedy, having written for a number of UK broadsheet newspapers. But this is her debut novel which she's set in the world of stand-up comedy. It explores the sometimes toxic nature of male comedians using coercive controlling behaviour with women and is adroitly observed.

Julia tells Phil and Natalie why she thinks Comedy needs it's own HR department; she talks about what it was like completing and editing a novel for the first time and she reveals the moments from her own life, that made into the lead character's life in the book.

This is fiction, pure fiction, but Asia Mackay has a particular skill for making this tale about a married couple who happen to be serial killers, relatable. There's so much humour in her writing, and it feels incredibly cinematic which is why it's being adapted for the screen already. Asia has also started a parallel career as a screenwriter too, which we get into in this episode as well, so plenty to enjoy whether you're a reader, a writer or aspiring to be in the future.

Plus Asia has a stack of book recommendations to share, and you can get previous season's authors' recommendations on our website at bestsellerspodcast.com

Bestsellers is back for Season 8. Phil & Natalie have sweat blood and tears to bring some of the bestselling writers in the world to your ears for this season.

And we start with the master of the courtroom thriller, making a welcome return to Bestsellers: Scott Turow. Scott created Rusty Sabich forty years ago for Presumed Innocent. Now he's back in the final of the Presumed triumvirate, titled Presumed Guilty, where the lawyer finds his life turned upside down when his lover's son is accused of murder.

It'sh a brilliant epic Courtroom drama and Scott explains here how he put it together, why the sleeve notes give too much away for him and he updates us on whether this book will follow in the footsteps of Jake Gyllenhaal to Apple TV+ or signal a return for Harrison Ford to the big screen.