The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 18th June 2026 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining hosts Jonathan Posner and Cathy Dodd were Helena Dixon and Mary Georgina de Grey. 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 The Final Target by Nora Roberts.
Our thoughts? Listen below to find out.
Available on Amazon.
The second hour featured an interview by Cathy Dodd with author Brett Orchard.
Cathy also played some great music – including songs from Devon band Fintan May.
Listen to the show in full here:
The next show is at 2pm on the 16th July 2026. Book review – TBC.
GUEST NEWS
Helena Dixon’s Events and Releases:
- July 8th Chudleigh Lit Fest and literary supper
- July 26th Whitehill Country Park 2-4
- August 2nd Whitehill Country Park 2-4
- August 9th Whitehill Country Park 2-4
- August 12th and 13th Torbay Lit Fest
- August 16th Whitehill Country Park 2-4
- August 23rd Whitehill Country Park 2-4
- August 30th Whitehill Country Park 2-4
- September 29th Dame Hannah’s dinner Boringdon Park
- October 4th Crime at the Coast Lit Fest
Helena’s sponsored charity for 2026 is Cancer Lifeline South West
Helena’s Book releases
- August 18th Murder in a Yorkshire Village – Miss Underhay series
- October 15th The Crossword Murders – The Secret Detective Agency series
- November 16th Murder at the Mistletoe Ball – Miss Underhay series
Helena’s website is nelldixon.com
Mary Georgina de Grey latest book is Disappeared, a thriller, and was published on the 1st of May.
Children at risk, snatched from the streets of the capital, Bogotá, and trafficked. The fortunate ones end up as slaves, half-starved, on neighbouring estates within Colombia. But what about the others, those who cross the Caribbean Sea? Is their fate even worse?
Meet investigative journalist, Antonia Brooks, as she strives to penetrate a suspect charity and find out who is behind the gang in this first in the series.
Available on Amazon.
Information about all Mary Georgina’s books is available on her website.
Mary Georgina will be at a multi-media event which will involve art, music and writing at Birdwood House, 44 High St, Totnes TQ9 5SQ, Sunday 18th to Saturday 24th October 2026, 10am-5pm.
Books by Mary Georgina de Grey will be available throughout the week.
Find more information and the full programme at https://www.birdwoodhouse.org.uk/
BOOK NEWS THIS MONTH
BOOKS AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD RETAILERS
One of Britain’s most beloved novelists, Maggie O’Farrell, returns with what could be one of the literary events of the summer. Set in nineteenth-century Ireland, Land came out on June 2nd from Tinder Press. The book follows a family involved in the mapping of a country still scarred by famine and upheaval. Maggie O’Farrell has a remarkable gift for combining history with deeply human stories, and this looks destined to become a major book club favourite.
Also published on June 2nd (by Bloomsbury) is Whistler from Ann Patchett. She has built a huge international following with novels like Tom Lake, Bel Canto and The Dutch House – and particularly novels that that blend family drama with memorable characters. Whistler promises another richly drawn story full of emotional depth and beautifully observed relationships. For readers who enjoyed Tom Lake or Bel Canto, this is one of the season’s biggest releases.
Melissa Harrison has become one of Britain’s finest writers about landscape and community. Her latest novel, The Given World, was published on My 14th by Penguin. This book combines compelling storytelling with a vivid sense of place, exploring how people and the natural world shape each other. The Financial Times says it’s ‘a state-of-the-countryside novel… rich in detail but vast in scope’. The Given World is ideal for readers who enjoy thoughtful fiction that still delivers an engaging narrative.
Fresh from winning the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans has become one of the year’s surprise success stories. Through a series of letters, it tells the story of a woman looking back over her life and trying to put old wrongs right. Warm, funny and moving, it’s attracting readers of all ages.
For listeners who enjoy darker and more dangerous fiction, Headlights combines psychological tension with horror elements to create a genuinely unsettling read. C.J. Leede has developed a reputation for bold storytelling and memorable imagery, and this latest novel looks set to attract plenty of attention. It came out on 18th June – so you can order it on Amazon, although it will probably be in all the bookshops soon.
Known for his sharp wit and bestselling fiction, Andrew Hunter Murray has just returned with Bad Deeds, a story mixing mystery, humour and social observation. His novels have a knack for taking unusual premises and turning them into compelling page-turners, making this an excellent recommendation for mainstream readers. Bad Deeds came out in early June, from Penguin.
Five by Ilona Bannister came out on May 5th, published by Juniper. This is an intriguing new novel where psychological suspense meets family drama. As long-buried secrets begin to emerge, relationships are tested and loyalties questioned. It’s exactly the sort of contemporary thriller that keeps readers guessing, while delivering plenty of emotional stakes along the way.
This book came out last year, published by Macmillan, but we’ve included it as it’s a great summer read. It’s Summer Island by Kristin Hannah. This author has won millions of readers with emotionally rich stories about families, friendships and resilience. Summer Island promises another heartfelt tale full of memorable characters and dramatic turns, making it an ideal if you’re looking for some accessible, uplifting fiction while you’re lying on the beach or by the pool.
