112: Nikki Smith on Destination Thrillers, Big Hooks and Why the Best Twists Feel Inevitable

This week on In My Good Books, I'm joined by debut author Divya Maniar to discuss After Care, a darkly compelling novel exploring reality TV, influencer culture, social media and our desperate need to be seen. Grace was once a reality TV star, but two years after appearing on a dating show, her fame is fading and the brand deals are drying up. When a former castmate and rival dies, Grace suddenly finds herself back in the spotlight. But just how far is she willing to go to stay there? Divya and I chat about her fascination with reality television, the inspiration behind her bcomplicated protagonist and the uncomfortable questions the novel raises about fame, validation and our own relationships with social media. And, of course, we finish with some book recommendations! Books mentioned: Motherhood – Sheila Heti

What happens when a former police officer turned executive coach becomes caught up in a dangerous investigation involving corruption, religion and the British royal family? This week on In My Good Books, I'm joined by acclaimed crime writer Leye Adenle to discuss Fall From Grace, the first book in his new crime thriller series featuring Bobby Fatukan. Leye and I discuss the inspiration behind Bobby, the challenges of writing a character who questions his own judgement, and his determination to create a crime thriller that readers simply cannot predict. We also talk about the extraordinary journey to publication, his experiences at international book festivals, and what's coming next for Bobby and his Amaka thriller series. Plus, Leye shares some brilliant crime fiction recommendations, including: Lightseekers and Gaslight by Femi Kayode

This week, I’m joined by Lord Peter Hain, whose extraordinary career has taken him from anti-apartheid activism to more than 20 years as an MP and roles in Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments – including Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Peter’s latest thriller, Smuggler Kingpin, takes readers into the world of tobacco and gold smuggling across Zimbabwe and South Africa, where organised crime, corruption and political power collide. We talk about the real-world criminal networks that inspired the novel, the research involved in writing about a secretive and dangerous world, and how Peter’s own experiences – including surviving a letter bomb sent by apartheid agents – inform his fiction. Peter recommends four books spanning Westminster, geopolitics, espionage and the Cold War: Get In by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund, Surviving Chaos by Mark Leonard, A Duty of Care by Gerald Seymour and Code to Zero by Ken Follett.

Come with me to Bloody Scotland 2026 for a special episode recorded behind the scenes at Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival in Stirling. I spent the weekend in the very busy festival green room, grabbing authors for quick conversations between their events and getting a taste of what Bloody Scotland is really like behind the scenes. Mark Billingham looks back on his long history with the festival, from the infamous Scotland v England crime writers’ football match to interviewing Richard Osman, and tells me about his latest Declan Miller novel, The Shadow Step – as well as giving us a tantalising first look at his next standalone novel. I also get to sit down with one of my favourite crime writers, S.A. Cosby, to talk about King of Ashes, his love of The Wire, memorable encounters with readers and what he's writing next. C.M. Ewan takes us aboard the Eurostar for his latest thriller I Spy and talks about writing page-turners in confined settings, his writing routine and the advice he’s been sharing with aspiring writers. Then I bring together all five authors shortlisted for the 2026 McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year – Tariq Ashkanani, Gavin Bell, Philip Miller, Frances Crawford and Zoë Rankin – before the winner is announced. We talk about their shortlisted novels, what the recognition means to them and those final nervous hours before the ceremony. There are also conversations with Ajay Chowdhury, whose writing career began with a Bloody Scotland competition, about his standalone thriller Eden Falls and its timely exploration of AI; and Luca Veste, who reflects on more than a decade of Bloody Scotland memories and introduces his new Liverpool crime series beginning with Liar Liar. Plus, some of my bookish friends share their own favourite moments from the weekend and why they think Bloody Scotland is such a special festival. Expect crime fiction, new books, writing chat, festival stories, awards, plenty of laughs – and all the noise and chaos of a green room packed with crime writers. If you love crime and thriller books, author interviews or book festivals, this is your chance to come behind the scenes at Bloody Scotland with me.

Michael Robotham is one of the world’s most acclaimed crime writers. Across a career spanning 20 novels, his books have sold millions of copies around the world, he’s twice won the CWA Gold Dagger, and his Joe O’Loughlin and Cyrus Haven series have made him one of the biggest names in crime fiction. But Tell Me Something True, Michael’s 20th published novel, takes him right back to where it all began. Set in the small Australian town of Yulara, Tell Me Something True follows Arlo Hackett, who returns home after serving 12 years in prison for his involvement in a terrible crime. The town doesn’t want him back, but as hostility towards him grows, Arlo begins questioning what really happened all those years ago. In this episode, Michael and I talk about why the time was finally right to revisit his first manuscript, what it was like reading the work of his 22-year-old self, and why this became his first novel set in Australia. We also talk about Michael’s unusual approach to writing. He doesn’t plot his novels in advance, describing the process as being like an acrobat working without a safety net — a method that allows him to be surprised by his own stories and, he hopes, surprise his readers too. Michael also discusses how his journalism career shaped his writing, why he believes opening pages are more important than ever, the challenge of writing crime fiction in an age of mobile phones, the importance of giving readers an emotional payoff, and the story of the childhood letter to Ray Bradbury that first made him dream of becoming a writer. Plus, we hear what’s coming next from Michael and get his latest book recommendations. Books recommended by Michael: The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent The Hunter by Tana French Whistler by Ann Patchett Tell Me Something True by Michael Robotham is out now.