In this episode of 'Coffee Break', bestselling and award winning author of 'Take It Back', 'Truth Be Told', 'Next of Kin' and 'Those People Next Door', Kia Abdullah joins me to talk about her new book, What Happens In the Dark.

With her trademark twists and meticulous plotting, this novel delivers both a page-turning thriller and a thought-provoking exploration of justice. Discover why readers and fellow authors alike find themselves messaging Kia Abdullah after finishing her books, desperate to discuss the shocking revelations that leave them reeling.

What Happens In the Dark

Lily and Safa were best friends growing up. Now, Lily is the nation’s favourite breakfast TV presenter and Safa, once a renowned journalist, is reeling from a recent fall from grace.

When news breaks about suspicious bruises on Lily’s body, Safa attempts to rekindle their old friendship. But Lily claims the bruises are nothing to worry about.

And then one night the police are called to Lily’s home. Lily is strangely calm – and a body lies dead at her feet.

Lily pleads not guilty, and then says nothing more. Driven by her desire to give a voice to all victims, Safa begins her own investigation into what happened that night.

But Safa is not prepared for what her quest for justice will uncover …

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Rachel Ward never planned to become an author. After 25 years working in local government, she began writing in her mid-30s simply to explore her creativity. Little did she know this casual exploration would lead to an international bestseller and a complete transformation of her life.

During our conversation, Rachel reveals the stunning contrast between her early success with her debut YA novel "Numbers", the brutal realities she later faced in publishing, her pivot into self-publishing and the release of her new novel, the fifth book in her cosy crime series, "The Missing Heirloom Mystery".

The Missing Heirloom Mystery

Meet Bea Jordan: a checkout girl with a heart of gold and a knack for solving murders.

With the annual Kingsleigh Flower and Produce Show fast approaching and a tomato thief on the loose, Bea and best friend Ant have had little time for each other.

Now a grizzly discovery is waiting for them by the pumpkin patch . . .

The body of Dylan Bradley, their old history teacher. Someone stuck a trowel in his head and left him for dead.

But who would want to hurt Dylan?

When the discovery of a second body throws the townsfolk into full-blown turmoil, Bea must juggle small-town secrets, rivalries and murder with her growing feelings for Ant.

Can Bea dig up the truth before the killer strikes again, or has she finally planted the seed for her own demise?

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You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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What does it take to find your creative voice in a world that often pushes you toward the practical? In my conversation with debut author Mel Pennant, we explore the winding path that led to her debut novel "A Murder for Miss Hortense" , a journey spanning decades of creative exploration, professional balancing acts, and the courage to tell stories that authentically represent her community.

Mel shares how she maintained her creative practice alongside a demanding legal career, describing writing as her "hideaway place" that provided balance when life's other aspects felt constraining.

Whether you're a writer seeking inspiration, a reader hungry for fresh perspectives in crime fiction, or simply someone who appreciates stories of creative perseverance, this conversation offers wisdom that transcends the page.

A Murder For Miss Hortense

Retired nurse, avid gardener, renowned cake maker and fearless sleuth Miss Hortense has lived in Bigglesweigh, a quiet Birmingham suburb, since she emigrated from Jamaica in 1960. She takes great pride in her home, starching her lace curtains bright white, and she can tell if she's been short-changed on turmeric before she's even taken her first bite of a beef patty. Thirty-five years of nursing have also left her afraid of nobody - be they a local drug dealer or a priest - and an expert in deciphering other people's secrets with just a glance.

Miss Hortense uses her skills to investigate the investments of the Pardner network - a special community of Black investors, determined to help their people succeed. But when an unidentified man is found dead in one of the Pardner's homes, a Bible quote noted down beside his body, Miss Hortense's long-buried past comes rushing back to greet her, bringing memories of the worst moment of her life, one which her community has never let her forget.

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"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
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Lola Akinmade, author, photographer, travel writer, and former IT professional shares her remarkable journey from programming interactive maps to traveling the world capturing stories through multiple creative mediums. Her path hasn't been straightforward; despite facing over 70 rejections for her debut novel because publishers didn't want Black women centered in Nordic settings, she persisted. That persistence paid off, allowing her the freedom to write her latest novel, Bitter Honey, exactly as she envisioned.

Throughout our conversation, we explore what it means to create with intention rather than seeking external validation, social media, friendship, and life's unexpected turns

Join us for this enriching conversation about cultural connection, the importance of being seen and heard, and embracing what Lola calls "the soft life."

Bitter Honey

Two women. Four decades. A lifetime of secrets.

1978: A scholarship draws Nancy from Gambia’s warmth into Sweden’s winter. When her friendship with charismatic scholar Lars blossoms into something more, she thinks she may have finally found her place. But there’s more to Lars than his charming persona, and Nancy is about to discover the danger of being drawn into his world…

2006: Tina has had her taste of fame as the nation’s Eurovision pop princess. But beneath her glittery façade, Tina is desperate to discover who she really is. Her mother, Nancy, seems desperate to keep the past under wraps, but will an unexpected figure help open the door?

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"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
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Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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In this episode of 'Coffee Break', New York Times Bestselling author of Blacktop Wasteland, Razorblade Tears and All The Sinners Bleed, S.A. Cosby joins me to talk about his new book 'King of Ashes'.

Whether you're already a devoted fan or discovering SA Cosby for the first time, this episode offers rare insights into the mind of a writer who continues to redefine contemporary crime fiction while never losing sight of the human heart beating beneath the darkness.

King Of Ashes

A son returning home. A dangerous debt. Secrets about to ignite . . . and a family consumed by flames.

Roman Carruthers left the smoke and fire of his family's crematory business behind in his hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia. He is enjoying a life of shallow excess as a financial adviser in Atlanta until he gets a call from his sister, Neveah, telling him their father is in a coma after a hit-and-run accident.

When Roman goes home, he learns the accident may not be what it seems. His brother, Dante, is deeply in debt to dangerous, ruthless criminals. And Roman is willing to do anything to protect his family. Anything.

A financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, Roman must use all his skills to try to save his family while dealing with a shadow that has haunted them all for twenty years: the disappearance of their mother when Roman and his siblings were teenagers. It's a mystery that Neveah, who has sacrificed so much of her life to hold her family together, is determined to solve once and for all.

As fate and chance and heartache ignite their lives, the Carruthers family must pull together to survive or see their lives turn to ash. Because, as their father counseled them from birth, nothing lasts forever. Everything burns.

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Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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"I don't know what it is about writing," muses Linwood Barclay in the opening moments of this conversation. "Even when you've had success and think, 'I don't have to write anymore, I've got money in the bank,' there's always this feeling that if I could write just one more book, maybe it'll be perfect."

This pursuit of the perfect novel drives our fascinating conversation with the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author, whose journey from aspiring writer facing countless rejections to international success offers a masterclass in patience and perseverance. Barclay candidly reveals how his 30-year career in newspapers provided invaluable training before publishing his first novel at 49, and how it was actually his fifth book, "No Time For Goodbye" that became his breakout hit.

We delve into publishing industry changes, the challenges of adaptation attempts, and the reason his latest supernatural thriller "Whistle" (which aims to make toy trains as terrifying as horror cinema has made dolls) was the most fun he's had writing in a decade.

Whether you're a writer seeking inspiration or a reader curious about the mind behind bestselling thrillers, this episode offers wisdom, humour, and Linwood Barclay's surprisingly practical advice for authors.

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Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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What happens when reality becomes stranger than fiction? Author Michael Idov sits down with me to explore the fascinating world of spy fiction writing in our increasingly unpredictable geopolitical landscape.

Michael reveals how his spy thriller "The Collaborators" navigates a middle path between cerebral procedurals and over-the-top action fantasies, creating stories grounded in authentic global politics while still delivering heart-pounding sequences. Drawing from actual events like the 2021 Ryanair incident in Belarus, he demonstrates how truth provides the perfect foundation for compelling fiction.

Michael's journey from journalist to screenwriter to novelist offers valuable insights for creatives navigating multiple storytelling formats.

Whether you're fascinated by espionage, curious about the craft of thriller writing, or interested in how personal experiences shape fiction, this episode illuminates how writers transform cultural understanding into narrative gold.

The Collaborators

A brilliant young intelligence officer and a troubled heiress stumble into a global conspiracy that pits present-day Russia against the CIA in this electrifying, globetrotting spy thriller.

Criss-crossing the globe on the way to this shocking revelation are disaffected millennial CIA officer Ari Falk, thrown into a moral and professional crisis by the death of his best asset, and brash, troubled LA heiress Maya Chou, spiralling after the disappearance of her Russian American billionaire father. The duo’s adventures take us to both classic and surprising locales – from Berlin and Tangier to Latvia, Belarus and a semi-abandoned technopark outside Moscow.

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"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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Author Lola Jaye joins me for a "Coffee Break" to talk about her new book "The Manual For Good Wives." This is the conversation that gave me the idea to launch the 'Coffee Break' series.

As well as talking about her novel, Lola Jaye talks about what it takes to succeed as an author when the publishing industry doesn't know "where to place someone like you"? "Maybe that was the problem," she reflects, "because I wasn't writing about civil wars in Africa." Instead, she crafted stories about grief, love, and family; human experiences that transcend race yet feature characters who look like her.

The Manual For Good Wives

Everything about Adeline Copplefield is a lie . . .

To the world Mrs Copplefield is the epitome of Victorian propriety: an exemplary society lady who writes a weekly column advising young ladies on how to be better wives.

Only Adeline has never been a good wife or mother; she has no claim to the Copplefield name, nor is she an English lady . . .

Now a black woman, born in Africa, who dared to pretend to be something she was not, is on trial in the English courts with all of London society baying for her blood. And she is ready to tell her story . . .

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Lola Jaye is a critically acclaimed author & psychotherapist who has penned seven novels and a self-help book. She was born and raised in London, England and has lived in Nigeria and the United States.

Lola has a keen interest in Black history and bringing untold stories to life. In 2024 Lola appeared as an expert in a major two part Channel Four documentary entitled, ‘Titanic in Colour,’ highlighting stor

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Follow Me:
www.nadinematheson.com

BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinematheson Instagram: @queennads
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