Quick Book Reviews with Philippa Hall

In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa talks to Tariq Ashkanani about his latest novel The Hollow Boys, a dark, atmospheric blend of crime, horror and small-town mystery.
Set in the fictional Appalachian town of Aurora, The Hollow Boys begins after two boys go missing. Ten months later, one boy returns — but claims he is the other boy. What follows is a chilling investigation into identity, memory, fear and the secrets buried beneath a dying town.
Philippa also reviews three very different books:
Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
In this episode
Tariq Ashkanani on The Hollow Boys
How crime and horror overlap
Writing dark, atmospheric fiction
Why setting can become a character
Small towns, secrets and creeping dread
The influence of books such as Red Dragon
Writing while balancing another career
Why publishing can move so slowly
Podcasting, author interviews and literary festivals
Philippa’s spoiler-free reviews
About The Hollow Boys
The Hollow Boys is a tense, unsettling mystery about two missing boys, one impossible return, and a town haunted by what lies beneath it.
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
crime fiction
horror-tinged thrillers
dark small-town mysteries
eerie atmosphere
missing person stories
morally complex characters
Books reviewed
Dissection of a Murder – Jo Murray
A gripping legal thriller with courtroom tension, secrets and a compelling murder case.
Bloom – Delilah S. Dawson
A book that begins with cosy romance energy before taking a shocking turn into full horror.
The Magic Faraway Tree – Enid Blyton
A nostalgic return to Moon-Face, adventure, peril and childhood reading magic.
Books and authors mentioned
The Hollow Boys – Tariq Ashkanani
The Midnight King – Tariq Ashkanani
Red Dragon – Thomas Harris
The Death of Us – Abigail Dean
Night Film – Marisha Pessl
Biscuit verdict
Tariq goes rogue with drumstick sweets rather than biscuits — sticky, chewy, nostalgic, and officially allowed.
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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by the powerhouse writing duo Ellis Hunter — Kate Ellis Brown and Becky Hunter — to talk about their hugely anticipated debut Bloodbound.
Already generating major buzz across the book world, Bloodbound is a standout novel blending witches, dragon riders, high-stakes magic, and powerful female friendships.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER
What Blood Bound is about — and why readers are obsessed
Why this book works for both fantasy fans and fantasy beginners
The rise of romantasy and why it’s dominating the book world
How two authors successfully co-write a novel together
The realities of going from publishing professionals to debut authors
Behind-the-scenes insight into book deals, rights, and global publishing
The pressure (and excitement) of writing Book 2
Why female friendship is at the heart of this story
ABOUT BLOOD BOUND
A gripping fantasy set between a Queendom of Witches and a Kingdom of Dragon Riders, where two women on opposite sides of a deadly conflict must face fate, power, and impossible choices.
With:
enemies-to-lovers tension
epic world-building
magic, dragons, and deadly trials
and unforgettable twists
…it’s no surprise this is the book everyone is talking about.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Ellis Hunter is the writing duo of:
Kate Ellis Brown – editor and publishing professional
Becky Hunter – author and former publicist
Together, they bring insider knowledge of the publishing world and a shared love of fantasy to create something fresh, addictive, and emotionally powerful.
INSIDE THE WRITING PROCESS
How they split POV characters (Astrid & Skylar)
Why planning together was key
The challenges of writing collaboratively
How deadlines and real life (including motherhood!) shaped the process
If you love:
fantasy / romantasy
dragons, magic, and epic worlds
behind-the-scenes publishing insight
author journeys and writing craft
LOVE THE SHOW?
Follow, rate and review Quick Book Reviews and share with a fellow reader
OUT NOW
Blood Bound is available now — perfect timing to dive into the book everyone is buzzing about.
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In this special Wednesday episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa chats to bestselling author Laurie Gilmore, creator of the hugely popular Dream Harbor series, which has sold over 4 million copies.
Laurie joins the podcast to discuss her latest book, The Daisy Chain Flower Shop, as well as the magic of cosy small-town romance, why readers have fallen so hard for Dream Harbor, and how comfort reads can help us through difficult times.
In this episode
Laurie Gilmore on The Daisy Chain Flower Shop
The story behind the Dream Harbor series
Why cosy small-town romance is having such a huge moment
Writing books that feel like a hug
Why each Dream Harbor book can be read as a standalone
Christmas romance, seasonal settings and reader comfort
Sprayed edges, special editions and bookish merch
The pressure of following a much-loved bestselling series
What’s coming next with Big Bad Wolf
Laurie’s dream and nightmare writing locations
About The Daisy Chain Flower Shop
The Daisy Chain Flower Shop follows Daisy, who runs the flower shop, and Elliot, a shy architect who has somehow stayed under Dream Harbor’s radar.
Both are nursing heartbreak and neither is looking for love — until a fake dating arrangement begins and, naturally, chaos, chemistry and cosy romance follow.
Expect:
fake dating
small-town charm
emotional warmth
seasonal Dream Harbor vibes
familiar faces from previous books
Books mentioned
The Daisy Chain Flower Shop – Laurie Gilmore
The Pumpkin Spice Café – Laurie Gilmore
The Gingerbread Bakery – Laurie Gilmore
Big Bad Wolf – Laurie Gilmore
For the Wolf – Hannah Whitten
For the Throne – Hannah Whitten
Perfect for listeners who love
cosy romance
small-town settings
fake dating
seasonal reads
comfort books
Christmas romance
book series you can dip into at any point
Biscuit verdict
Laurie chooses a soft, chewy chocolate chip cookie — with sensible dunking rules. Soft cookies should not be dunked. Harder biscuits may proceed with caution.
Coming next
Philippa will be back on Friday with more bookish chat, author interviews and spoiler-free reviews.
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by Ilona Bannister to talk about her striking new novel Five — a tense, original and deeply thought-provoking thriller set over just a few minutes on a train platform.
What would you do if you had only five minutes left and didn’t know it?
That chilling question sits at the heart of Five, a novel about five strangers, interconnected lives, hidden stories, and the ripple effects of tragedy. Ilona talks about the real-life inspiration behind the book, the creation of its unforgettable narrative voice, and why this story led her naturally into the thriller space.
Philippa also reviews:
The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
In this episode
Ilona Bannister on the inspiration behind Five
Why the novel begins on a train platform
How the book explores fate, connection, mortality and missed moments
The challenge of writing a fast-paced novel set across such a short time frame
The creation of the book’s sharp, unusual narrative voice
Why one character had to be cut and another took her place
Writing through lockdown, parenting, and difficult life circumstances
Why thrillers can be powerful spaces for emotional and literary storytelling
Philippa’s latest reading updates and reviews
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by bestselling author Tom Rob Smith to talk about his moving and deeply personal new novel, 20 Years Together.
Known for acclaimed books including Child 44, and for screen work such as London Spy and The Assassination of Gianni Versace, Tom discusses why 20 Years Together is such a different book from his previous work, why he chose to write it now, and how it grew out of real emotional and philosophical questions around love, commitment, and marriage.
This is a conversation about writing, relationships, storytelling, hope, and the challenge of creating an ending that truly lands.
In this episode:
Why Tom Rob Smith wrote 20 Years Together
How the novel was inspired by real questions about marriage and long-term relationships
Why this book is so different from his crime and thriller fiction
The overlap between love stories and thrillers
The challenge of writing emotionally honest fiction
Why endings matter so much
How a book can leave readers in tears
Tom’s thoughts on adapting stories for television, film, or fiction
How place, views, and writing environments shape the creative process
What Tom is reading right now
Books and authors mentioned:
20 Years Together – Tom Rob Smith
Child 44 – Tom Rob Smith
London Spy – Tom Rob Smith
The Assassination of Gianni Versace – based on the book by Maureen Orth
Aftermath – Rachel Cusk
The Swimming-Pool Library – Alan Hollinghurst
The Line of Beauty – Alan Hollinghurst
Our Evenings – Alan Hollinghurst
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – Jean-Dominique Bauby
What to expect
This episode is perfect for listeners who love:
thoughtful author interviews
behind-the-scenes writing conversations
literary fiction
emotionally powerful novels
discussions about relationships, marriage and identity
Tom Rob Smith’s books, television work, and creative process
Philippa and Tom also talk about dream and nightmare writing locations, how different stories reveal themselves as books or screen projects, and the emotional complexity of writing a novel that draws more closely on personal experience.
A conversation about hope
One of the most striking themes in this interview is hope — in fiction, in relationships, and in the stories we tell ourselves about the future. Tom reflects on setting 20 Years Together against the backdrop of 2012 London, and why he wanted to capture a sense of optimism and possibility.
Biscuit verdict
A controversial moment for the podcast: Tom Rob Smith is not much of a biscuit eater. However, there is a nostalgic nod to the chocolate digestive, plus a writing fuel combination of dates and dark chocolate.
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