The Brighton Book Club

This month we meet the Brighton and Hove based authors of four gripping stories: Robin Brookes discusses The Arrival, a twist-filled thriller inspired by a fascinating scientific idea. Robin Newbold explores When the Darkness Swallowed the Sun, a dark psychological thriller set in Thailand. Alex Hay takes us into the glamorous, dangerous world of The Midnight Guests, set in a luxurious 1920s London hotel. Iona Hepburn talks about Bonfire, a gripping crime debut inspired by Lewes Bonfire Night.

The Coast is Queer LGBTQ+ Literary Festival is back in 2026 with a stellar lineup including the wonderful Dean Atta. As mentioned in the show, Dean will be appearing at 2 events at the Festival:The Coast is Queer Launch 2026: Roots, Routes & FuturesPoetry Paradise with Dean Atta, Nikita Gill and myndstate 

Find out more about this month's guests at the links below:Sarah Crossan, Jill Johnson, Lesley Bungay and Louisa Bello

Find out more about this month's guests:Joanna GlennJackie WillsSimon MaddrellVictoria WestAffordable Writing Retreat in Italy! 

Literary Producer at Brighton Festival Bea Colley joins us to talk about May's exciting programme. Tickets and more info here.

On the latest episode of the show, we're joined by Brighton-based Maria Cohut, whose debut poetry collection MULTIPLE EXPOSURES is out now with Flight of the Dragonfly Press; to Alice Wright, whose thrilling book LIE QUIETLY is out now with Vine Leaves Press; and to friend of the show Daren Kay about the final instalment of his Brightonians trilogy.Althea Wolfe from Brighton Book Festival also joins us to talk about this year's Brighton Book Festival which runs from 17-21 June 2026.

We caught up with the brilliant Joelle Taylor to find out more about her performances at Brighton Festival in May. Get your tickets here!

On this month's show, we're joined by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees, talking about their new book You & Me and You & Me and You & Me; by Jess Robinson, to talk about her memoir Life is Rosi, to Suzy Quinn about her latest novel The Greatest Love Story Never Told and to friend of the show and all-round brilliant human Laura Mugridge about her audio series INSIDE THE LINES as well as her book reccomendations. 

In this episode, we're joined by former Brighton resident Hattie Williams, author of BITTER SWEET, to Brighton-based Katherine Bradley about her new book THE INSTITUTE, and Kate Beales joins us to talk about a writing retreat she's co-hosting with Anna in March and reads from her debut novel BROKEN HORSES.

Our bumper Christmas Recommendation episode is here! Whether you're looking for inspiration for gifts to buy loved ones, or to put on your own wish-lists, Elizabeth Perry and I have got you covered! We also speak to Brighton-based writer Gabrielle Griffiths  about her debut novel GREATER SINS.Books we discussed on the show:FictionThe Safekeep by Yael van der WoudenThe Lilac People by Milo ToddAll the Colours of the Dark by Chris WhitakerHeartwood by Amity GaigeThe Artist by Lucy SteedsThe Two Roberts by Damian BarrDeath of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor.Moderation by Elaine CastilloA Family Matter by Claire LynchThe Correspondent by Virginia EvansNon-fictionLone Wolf by Adam WeymouthDeep House by Jeremy Atherton LinNuclear War by Annie JacobsenBunker by Bradley Garrett / In Love with Love by Ella RisbridgerChallenger by Adam HigginbothamParadise by Lizzie JohnsonSupremacy by Parmy OlsonIf Then by Jill LeporeQuestion 7 by Richard FlanaganThat Dark Spring by Susannah Stapleton