The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 21st May 2026 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining hosts Jonathan Posner and Cathy Dodd were Alison Huntingford and David Sharp. Click the names to find out more about them, and use the audio bar below to listen to the full show.
Our book review was Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister.
Our thoughts? Listen below to find out.
Available on Amazon.
The second hour featured an interview by Cathy Dodd with author Alison Huntingford about her books
Cathy also played some great music – including new (to Phonic) songs from Nigel Smith and from Start Point.
Listen to the show in full here:
The next show is at 2pm on the 18th June 2026.
We’ll be reading and reviewing The Final Target by Nora Roberts. Why not read along with us? Comes out on 26th May.
Order your copy now from Amazon.
NEWS THIS MONTH
BOOKS AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD RETAILERS
On May 5th Kathryn Stockett returned with her first novel since the global bestseller The Help, and that alone makes this one of the year’s biggest publishing events. The Calamity Club is set in 1930s Mississippi, and follows a group of unconventional women navigating scandal, friendship, and survival. Described as ‘Pure hell-raising entertainment’ by the New York Times, it’s emotional, funny, hugely readable, and exactly the sort of big conversation you’ll want to get involved with.
Just out recently – Ironwood by Michael Connelly. Sworn to protect a scenic island meant to be far from the evils of the mainland, Detective Sergeant Stilwell can feel danger closing in. Michael Connelly is one of the biggest names in modern crime fiction, and Ironwood delivers exactly what his fans expect: sharp investigations, morally complex characters, and page-turning suspense. If you love fast-paced detective stories with real momentum, this is one of the safest – and strongest – recommendations of the month.
Nora Roberts combines romance, suspense, and high-stakes drama in another major commercial release. The Final Target follows characters pulled into danger while navigating complicated personal relationships, making it exactly the kind of escapist thriller readers race through over a weekend. A young author becomes the object of a fan’s desire – and rage – in the gripping new thriller by the Sunday Times bestselling author. This has huge mainstream appeal and guaranteed bestseller visibility.
Our book for review on the June show.
Carley Fortune has become a massive name in contemporary romantic fiction, and Our Perfect Storm looks set to dominate summer reading lists. It was published at the start of the month by Michael Joseph, and it’s a warm, emotional story about friendship, unresolved feelings, and second chances, wrapped in the kind of beach-read atmosphere listeners absolutely love at this time of year.
Elizabeth Strout is renowned for writing beautifully observed stories about ordinary lives and complicated relationships, and she’s the bestselling, prize-winning author of Olive Kitteridge and Lucy By The Sea. Her new standalone novel The Things We Never Say explores loneliness, politics, and unlikely friendships with warmth and emotional precision. It’s thoughtful without being difficult, and ideal for those of you who enjoy intelligent, character-driven fiction with book club appeal.
Author Juno Dawson blends sharp humour, pop culture energy, and darker themes in Survival Show, a young adult story set around a reality television survival competition, which came out at the end of April. It’s witty, contemporary, and likely to connect strongly with younger readers and fans of socially aware commercial fiction. A very modern, conversation-starting book from Simon & Schuster imprint Gallery YA, with strong appeal to older readers as well.
Anthony Horowitz continues his hugely successful blend of classic murder mystery and contemporary fiction with a new book that came out at the end of April from Penguin. A Deadly Episode promises clever plotting, sharp dialogue, and plenty of twists. Sunday Times bestselling author Horowitz has become a trusted name for readers who enjoy intelligent but highly accessible crime fiction with broad mainstream appeal. Hello! Magazine says it’s ‘Perfect for Agatha Christie fans.’
Freida McFadden has exploded in popularity thanks to addictive psychological thrillers packed with shocking twists, and The Divorce looks set to continue that trend. It’s a razor-sharp, subversive thriller where love curdles into vengeance, and survival becomes the most dangerous game of all. Expect unreliable narrators, secrets, betrayals, and a plot designed to keep readers saying “just one more chapter” late into the night.
LOCAL NEWS
Paul Toolan tells us that his 7-book Killing Tree crime mystery series just had a cover revamp. The series features Detective Inspector Zig Batten, and takes place in the real landscape of Somerset in the West Country – famous for its apple orchards and vintage cider-makers – as well as on Greek islands and in southern Spain. All seven books are available on Amazon.
Somerset writer Simon John Parkin has just published his debut collection of short stories called 999. It’s 9 stories at 999 words each. From the grimy canals of the Black Country to Brighton via a launchpad in the Texan desert, this debut collection of stories captures moments of crisis, regret and loss. Available from the Amazon, it’s unsettling, darkly comic and achingly tender.
Multi award winning Bournemouth-based travel writer Jackie Lambert had a book launch on the 1st of May. It was the launch of her latest travelogue: From B to A: Britain to Albania. This is the true story of an overland van life adventure through Europe towards the Balkans – with four dogs – in a 16-tonne truck, known as The Beast. Available on Amazon.
Chip Tolson’s 4th novel The Register Of Joe’s Trees was published on Amazon at the end of 2025. The story is of Alice’s life, including her teenage years in the war, her time in the ATS, and her career in the Civil Service. Throughout, she plants wild tree saplings all across the country in memory of her lost US war time lover. The book takes her story up to her 75th birthday in 2002.
