117: Alasdair Gill Knives and Spoons - A Memoir of Addiction, Recovery & Hospitality | Reading is Political

117: Alasdair Gill Knives and Spoons - A Memoir of Addiction, Recovery & Hospitality | Reading is Political

This week on In My Good Books, I'm joined by chef, writer and journalist Alasdair Gill to discuss his memoir Knives and Spoons, as part of my Reading Is Political series. Alasdair's book explores life inside professional kitchens, the realities of addiction, and the long road to recovery. Through stories of restaurant life, family, food and sobriety, he reflects on the people who shaped him, the communities he found in hospitality and why kitchens can become both a refuge and a place where addiction is allowed to flourish. We talk about what really goes on behind the pass, why hospitality attracts so many people searching for somewhere to belong, the relationship between obsession, cooking and addiction, and why writing this memoir became an important part of Alasdair's recovery. As always in Reading Is Political, Alasdair also recommends books that have helped him better understand people, addiction, hospitality and the world around him. Books recommended in this episode: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Hunter S. Thompson The Rum Diary – Hunter S. Thompson Without Reservation – Jeremy King Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain This Is Going to Hurt – Adam Kay White Heat – Marco Pierre White Find Ali here: https://www.instagram.com/aligill__/ Buy Knives & Spoons: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/knives-and-spoons-a-chef-s-story-of-kitchens-addictions-and-mayhem-alasdair-gill/ed8f21fa754f5840?ean=9781037401435&bkshp-astro=t

116: May Rinaldi on Liar Thief | Bloody Scotland 2026

This episode is part of my Bloody Scotland 2026 series. My guest this week is debut crime author May Rinaldi, whose novel Liar Thief has already enjoyed an incredible journey. After winning the Black Spring Crime Novel Prize and securing a publishing deal, the novel has gone on to be shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026. We discuss the long road from a short story written over a decade ago to becoming one of Scotland's standout crime debuts, why May writes as a "pantser", and how her characters often surprise her while she's writing. We also explore the unusual structure of the novel, unreliable memory, friendship, loyalty and why readers are left questioning whether Ginny Queen is really the serial killer she claims to be. As part of our Bloody Scotland chat, May also recommends some of the festival panels she's most looking forward to this year: S.A. Cosby in conversation with Denise Mina: https://bloodyscotland.com/event/denise-mina-presents-sa-cosby-534010/ Femme Fatales: Liz Nugent, Harriet Tyce & Andrea Mara: https://bloodyscotland.com/event/femmes-fatales-liz-nugent-harriet-tyce-andrea-mara-542410/ See May live at Bloody Scotland 2026: Debut Prize Panel Friday 18 September 3:00pm https://bloodyscotland.com/event/debut-prize-panel-frances-crawford-kirsty-lockwood-may-rinaldi-539210/ Find May here: https://www.instagram.com/mayrinaldi56/ Buy Liar Thief: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/liar-thief-may-rinaldi/f6de426c45920a5f?ean=9781917788205&bkshp-astro=t If you're attending the festival, make sure you book early as this panel is always hugely popular.

115: Nicci Cloke on Her Many Faces | Crime Fiction, Identity and Unreliable Narrators

This week I'm joined by bestselling author Nicci Cloke to discuss one of the most inventive psychological crime novels I've read this year. Recently shortlisted for the CWA Twisted Dagger Award, Her Many Faces follows Katie, a young woman on trial for poisoning four powerful men. But instead of hearing from Katie herself, the story unfolds through the five men who believe they know her best. In this episode we discuss: * The inspiration behind Her Many Faces * Why the novel is told through five male perspectives * Writing distinct character voices * The challenge of second-person narration * Crime fiction, conspiracy theories and media narratives * How readers bring their own biases to a story * Nicci's creative process and plotting style * Recovering from creative burnout * An exclusive look at her upcoming novel Book recommendations: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder Find Nicci here: https://www.instagram.com/niccicloke/ Buy Her Many Faces: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/her-many-faces-nicci-cloke/21b8d59184fd944b?ean=9781529938180&bkshp-astro=t

113: Sally Hepworth Discusses Mad Mabel | Crime Fiction, Family Secrets and Female Friendship

This week I'm joined by internationally bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth to chat about her brilliant new novel, Mad Mabel. At the heart of the novel is 81-year-old Elsie, better known to the world as the infamous "Mad Mabel" a woman convicted of murder as a teenager who finds herself under suspicion once again decades later. Books recommended: Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout BuyMad Mabel here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/mad-mabel-sally-hepworth/cedf8452e1c72443?ean=9781037409875&bkshp-astro=t Find Sally here: https://www.instagram.com/sallyhepworth/ If you enjoy the episode, I'd be so grateful if you could follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with another book lover.

114: Amy Abdelnoor on Ever Land | Reading Is Political

Welcome to a new series of Reading Is Political. My first guest is debut novelist Amy Abdelnoor, whose extraordinary novel Ever Land draws on her experiences living and working in the West Bank and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Through the intertwined stories of two young women, Amy explores identity, belonging, memory and the lasting impact of political conflict. We discuss why she chose fiction rather than non-fiction to tell this story, how her own experiences shaped the novel, and why storytelling can sometimes achieve something history books cannot. Amy also talks candidly about writing and publishing a novel about Palestine during one of the most significant periods in the region's recent history, and reflects on the responsibility of telling stories that have so often been overlooked. As always on Reading Is Political, Amy also recommends the books she believes everyone should read to better understand this subject, from powerful Palestinian fiction to moving memoir and thought-provoking non-fiction. Whether you're looking to understand more about Palestine, discover outstanding literary fiction, or simply hear a fascinating conversation about the power of books, this is an episode not to miss. Books discussed: Minor Detail – Adania Shibli Enter Ghost – Isabella Hammad A Diary of a Young Doctor: Notes from the Genocide in Gaza – Dr Ezzideen Shehab Apeirogon – Colum McCann Home Fire – Kamila Shamsie Daybreak in Gaza – edited by Matthew Teller and Mahmoud Muna Bel Canto – Ann Patchett Sex and Stravinsky — Barbara Trapido You can find Amy here: https://www.instagram.com/amyabdelnoor/ Buy Ever Land here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/ever-land-amy-abdelnoor/ee13136a5140c89a?ean=9781529155129&bkshp-astro=t If you enjoyed this episode, please follow In My Good Books, leave a rating or review, and share the podcast with a fellow reader.