The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 18th September 2025 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining host Cathy Dodd were Alison Huntingford and Jason Mann. Click the names to find out more about them, and use the audio bar below to listen to the full show.
We reviewed The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe.
Available on Amazon.
Our discussion was a revisit to a perennial topic – Are you a plotter or a pantser?
The second hour featured a discussion on: What makes a literature festival a success?
Cathy also played some great music!
Listen to the show in full here:
The next show is at 2pm on the 16th October 2025.
NEWS
David Sharp’s new book, One of the Few, is set in idyllic Jersey. This captivating novel proves murder can occur in the most picturesque of places, committed by those least likely. Here’s the blurb: With another mysterious cold case on their radar, DI David Lancaster and DS Marie Viday travel to the island of Jersey in the English Channel, to investigate the death of Peter Urbawicz, a retired World War II spitfire pilot, whose death twenty years prior was recorded by the island police as ‘accidental’.
With his daughter, Lady Stottard, adamant that her father died in suspicious circumstances, can these two detectives investigate without ruffling any feathers? Can they pick apart the facts and route out the clues to prove his death was not an accident, when said facts and clues have lain buried for twenty years?
When their enquiries trigger a visit from British Counter Terrorism operatives, the case becomes even more complicated, and they are left wondering how an IRA terrorist, a French boatyard owner, and an ex-East German STASI officer fit into their case.
David will be doing a Meet the Author talk on Thursday October 2nd at the Ivybridge Bookshop.
Publication date is 30th September. Pre-Order on Amazon.
Kathy Morgan’s book Death on the Village Green is published in paperback and e-book tomorrow, Friday 19th September, and is available on Amazon. The second in the Yvonne Parker Mystery series, the audiobook will be available on Audible soon too.
Georgia Hill’s new book, Magpie, came out this week, inspired by the Bideford Witches. This is a dual timeline novel, set in both the 1660s and contemporary Devon. A twisty tale of secrets and witchcraft, it’s perfect for fans of Weyward!. Here’s the blurb:
When Beth Loveday retreats to a shadowed corner of the Devon coast, she hopes to rebuild her life in peace. But the old timbered shop she buys—Tenpenny House—has other plans. Strange objects are hidden in the walls. There’s a book of forgotten remedies. And dreams that feel like memories.
In 1660, Susanna Loveday walks the same worn floors. Apprentice to a healer, she’s swept into a deadly game of suspicion and power when whispers of witchcraft begin to spread. As danger closes in, a single choice will echo through time.
Linked by blood and bound by secrets, Beth and Susanna are caught in a web that spans centuries. The truth lies buried—but Tenpenny House remembers everything… Available on Amazon.
Emily Higgins is pleased to announce that she is now 36,000 words into her debut novel. She’s longed to write a book for a while and finally stopped procrastinating long enough to start! She’s just had feedback for her first chapter from her lovely BETA readers and it’s been invaluable. If anyone wants to keep up to date with her writing journey, she’s keen for you to follow her on Facebook. She says she also updates her website regularly.
We at The Thursday Book Club wish Emily all the best with her writing and look forward to hearing more about her book in future.
Peter Hall’s latest novel The Accidental Realmshifter was published on Amazon on 27th August. It’s available on Amazon in eBook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook (in the US). It’s a complex time-travel thriller set in Barnstaple, and follows an autistic computer programmer on an emotional and spiritual journey to save humanity from slavery under a future AI dictator. The logline is: “The Accidental Realmshifter—where Quantum Leap meets Doctor Strange, and neurodiversity becomes a superpower.”
Jenny Leggott has flagged the Looe Festival of Words. This is a free celebration for readers, writers and anyone who loves words. Workshops, crafts, walks, storytelling, a Book Fair, and more! It’s on from October 1st to the 5th. There’s more info on Facebook, and booking is via the Looe & Polpero website.
Jonathan Posner has a ‘Meet the Author’ event coming up on September 25th at the Ivybridge Bookshop. He’ll be introducing and reading from his Tudor adventure The Lawyer’s Legacy, and there will be signed copies available. It’s at 5:30pm, and it’s FREE, so do please come along.
More info on the event at ivybridgebookshop.com.
The Lawyer’s Legacy is available on Amazon.
Jack Stainton (from Sidmouth)’s latest psychological thriller – Her Perfect Husband is described as a totally addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. It is set in the heat of southern Spain. A tense, unsettling psychological thriller that explores how easily the mind bends under pressure—and how far people will go to keep their secrets buried. Available on Amazon.
Kit Fielding’s third novel – Under Vixens Mere – is being launched/released on September 30th and is available to pre-order now from Inkspot Publishing, Amazon, and the usual outlets. The novel is set mainly at a canal marina and embraces secrets, love and more, plus murder and retribution. It is sprinkled with dark humour and touched with magic realism. Kit likes to think that there’s something in this book for everyone!
