Reading Between Deadlines Podcast

• Dervla McTiernan Makes Us Read IN THE WOODS by Tana French

  Do all crime novel mysteries need to be resolved?This episode's pick: In the Woods by Tana French, the award-winning, Celtic-mist-soaked psychological mystery that launched the Dublin Murder Squad. When a young girl is found murdered at an archaeological dig, detective Rob Ryan is forced back into the very woods where he once vanished as a child, an incident he has no memory of, except for his blood-soaked shoes. As Rob and his partner Cassie Maddox investigate, the line between past and present blurs. It’s atmospheric, character-driven, and the kind of book that makes you glance over your shoulder at every little noise.This week’s guest - Dervla McTiernan is an internationally bestselling Irish-Australian crime writer and a great friend of ours. She’s the powerhouse behind the Cormac Reilly series, as well as the gripping standalones The Murder Rule and What Happened to Nina?. Her novels have topped bestseller lists around the world and earned shelves of awards, and we’re thrilled to have her with us.In this episode, we cover:Dervla being a superstar. What Dervla loves about Tana French’s writing.The expectations of a crime novel.Unreliable narrators.What makes a great villain.Authors reading their own reviews 📚 Books Mentioned on the PodTanya French – The LikenessTanya French – Secret PlaceTanya French – The Witch ElmStephen King – The OutsiderStephen King – Lisey’s StoryMarian Keyes – This Charming ManRhys Bowen – The Royal Spyness Series💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?Which way did the votes fall? You’ll have to listen in…⏰ Timestamps1.0 Welcome to Only Fans for Middle Aged Ladies in Glasses Cum-unity.2.03 – Meet Dervla McTiernan – Just how many awards is it legal to win??4.35 – Meet Tanya French – Into the Woods (not as many awards as Dervla..!)6.45 – Anthea bans Dervla for all time – serves her right.9.39 – Time to Kiss, Kill, Marry!12.13 – Dervla’s favourite backhanded compliment (looking at you Lit-fic!)13.44 – Rach tries to sort out Rob Ryan’s love life.14.36 – What do you MEAN they don’t solve the crime??18.43 – Just because people have been murdered, doesn’t mean we can’t have fun.20.40 – Is Rob Ryan a bit immature?21.41 – Rosalyn – DO NOT DATE.24.20 – Rob – unreliable narrator? Liar? MURDERERERER??24.40 – Dervla sensationally admits to ripping off Steven King and Marian Keyes.(we’ll never tell…)29.43 – The joy of reading to your (disinterested) partner.35.12 – Dervla recommends reading the back of the Cornflake box.39.24 – Demon Copperhead. What a pile of crap!40.34 – Brutal honesty – is the best policy. Sometimes.41.34 – Reading reviews – fun for ALL the family!42.20 – Dervla’s favourites.45.02 – Dust off Persuasion – and drag out your piano forte! Jane Austen rides again. Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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• We Read ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker

  Did ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK live up to the hype?This episode’s pick: ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK - a million-copy bestseller, this sweeping novel follows childhood best friends Patch and Saint, torn apart when Patch is abducted. Trapped in darkness, Patch forms an intense connection with a girl he never sees, and when they escape, she vanishes. As Patch spends years searching for her, Saint is determined to uncover the truth of what happened. A powerful story of love, obsession, and the cost of finding answers.In this episode, we cover:Weird twists and character decisionsThemes of friendship, love, women’s rightsStories that take place across decadesSexual love vs friendshipChris’s intricate plotting💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?⏰ Timestamps. 00 – Welcome to Episode 21!!1.00– Rach goes on tour and Anthea hits the bottle.4.50 – Blurb time, so you can pretend you’ve read it at parties.6.40 – Chris Whitaker – Here’s his bio – he sounds hot.9.22 – Do we Kiss, Kill or Marry?10.45 – Jimmy – What a dick. (note to self – do not marry).12.10 – Plot timeline – long, but in a good way.13.11 – What a great cast of characters.16.11 – Does Patch throw his life away? Discuss.16.54 – Patch and Grace 4 EVA.18.05 – A secret love story.20.00 – Just how did Chris write this thing?20.43 – Did Patch care too much? The search for Grace.21.43 – Facing execution is pretty noble…I guess?25.16 – Rachael starts blubbing..!27.39 – What are we reading next? Ohhh… really!? WOW! I’ll defo listen in to the next episode!📖 Coming up next: 👉Next Ep we’re chatting to Dervla McTiernan about In The Woods by Tana French. Then comes Persuasian by Queen Jane Austen, followed by A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman with author Sally HepworthIn January we will answer our own regular reading questions for the first episode and the second episode we’ll discus Circe by Madeline Miller with Virtually Annie - can’t wait! 🎽 Do you read between deadlines too? Grab the merch☕ We try to keep the podcast free and fun for everyone - but it does take time (and a lot of editing). If you’re loving the show, we’d be so grateful if you’d buy us a coffee (or a prosecco). Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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• Kelly Rimmer Makes Us Read HOW HIGH WE GO IN THE DARK by Sequoia Nagamatsu

  How would you survive the apocalypse? Would you need a talking pig?This episode's pick: Set in the near future after a devastating pandemic, How High We Go in the Dark follows a series of interconnected characters as humanity tries to rebuild. From a theme park for terminally ill kids to a talking pig and space travel, the stories explore grief, resilience, and what it means to be human when the world keeps changing. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever read before!This week’s guest - Kelly Rimmer is a bestselling Australian novelist, goat wrangler, and owner of Collins Booksellers Orange in regional NSW. She’s the author of The Midnight Estate as well as international hits The Things We Cannot Say, The Warsaw Orphan, and The German Wife. Her books have appeared on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Todaybestseller lists.In this episode, we cover:Kelly’s green thumb and Rach’s murder of cactiRobodogsBooks about pandemics and dystopian fictionPassion projects - writing a book just for youAnthea’s brief liaison with sci-fi (aka Hans Solo)And of life theme parksGoat-dogsAuthors reading from their own books 📚 Books Mentioned on the PodZ For Zachariah by Robert C O’BrienChildren of the Dust by Louise LawrenceTomorrow When The War Began by John MarsdenMad Mabel by Sally HepworthHeidi by Johanna SpyriA Mother’s Confession by Kelly RimmerThe Things We Cannot Say by Kelly RimmerThe War Nurses by Anthea HodgsonThe Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. 💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?Which way did the votes fall? You’ll have to listen in…⏰ Timestamps00:00 – The Lucky Sisters releases this week and we intro our guest KELLY RIMMER04:00 – Judging Kelly’s bio - her latest release is THE MIDNIGHT ESTATE (Anthea raves)07:00 – Intro HOW HIGH WE GO IN THE DARK and judging of Sequoia Nagamatsu’s bio10:00 – Kiss, Kill, or Marry verdict13:00 – Why Kelly loves this novel told in short stories16:00 – Anthea marries and chats her thoughts on sci-fi and the human experience18:00 – Rach is surprised by the interconnected stories23:00 – Do we like the world building?27:00 – Title chat - is it good?31:00 – Would we go to space?35:00 – Book recs40.00 - Where Kelly Reads/Book Clubs45 00 - What we’re reading next Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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• We Read BUTTER by Asako Yuzuki

  Did Butter live up to the hype?This episode's pick: Butter by Asako Yuzuki is a Japanese literary sensation that’s an unusual blend of murder mystery and food writing. Inspired by a true crime case, it’s about women, food, desire, and manipulation. Did it win us over, or was it all sizzle and no steak (or…butter)?In this episode, we cover:How hype and translation shaped our expectationsFood writing: sensory delight or just too much butter?The themes of feminism, appetite, and self-denialWhat worked (and what didn’t) in the structure and pacingThe real-life case that inspired the storyCultural context: Japanese gender expectations, food, and shameWhy we both found the ending half-baked💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: travel tales, hotel room hijinks, and book club catch-ups03:00 – Book reveal: Butter by Asako Yuzuki07:00 – Author bio: awards, accolades, and first English translation10:00 – Our Kiss, Kill, Marry ratings reveal14:00 – First impressions: love, food, and frustration20:00 – Food obsession or feminist statement?28:00 – Thoughts on setting, style, and Japanese cultural nuance37:00 – That turkey chapter and the world’s longest ending40:00 – Real-life inspiration: the “Konkatsu Killer” case44:00 – Ethics of writing fiction based on true crime48:00 – Final thoughts: what was the point (and why butter, not margarine)?📖 Coming up next: 👉Next Ep we’re chatting to Kelly Rimmer about How High You Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu. Then comes All The Colours of the Dark, by Chris Whitaker followed by In the Woods by Tana French with author Dervla McTiernan. Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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• Rebecca Heath Makes Us Read WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME by Gillian McAllister

  How far would you go back to save your child?This episode's pick: Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister—a Reese’s Book Club thriller where a mother sees her teenage son commit a murder… only to wake up the next day and realize she’s gone back in time. As each morning takes her further into the past, she pieces together secrets about her son, her husband, and herself. It’s a murder mystery, a time-travel puzzle, and a meditation on motherhood all rolled into one. But did the high-concept premise deliver?This week’s guest: Rebecca Heath —thriller author and laser chemist turned novelist, party wrangler, and dog lover. She’s the author of The Last Encore and three other adult novels (The Summer Party, The Dinner Party, The Wedding Party). She lives in Adelaide with her husband, three children, and border collie.In this episode, we cover:The Reese factor: hype, Lisa Jewell blurbs, and whether the book club pick lived up to expectations.That hook: a mother watches her son stab a man—and then starts living time backwards.The pacing problem: did the constant “one more day back” structure get repetitive, or was it clever plotting?Time travel, fate, and suspension of disbelief—fantasy or crime?Plot twists we didn’t see coming: missing babies, undercover cops, and suspiciously convenient husbands.The emotional punch: how McAllister balanced high concept with heart.Rebecca’s reading habits: auto-buy authors, DNFs, hype regrets, and books that made her cry (one of them was Rach’s latest - out soon!)📚 Books Mentioned on the PodAnne of Green Gables by L.M. MontgomeryBoy Swallows Universe by Trent DaltonThe Lucky Sisters by Rachael JohnsAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid1984 by George OrwellRebecca’s auto-buy authors:Liane MoriartyTaylor Jenkins ReidJane HarperGillian McAllistarLucy FoleyEvery author Rebecca knows 😊💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?Which way did the votes fall? You’ll have to listen in…⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: meet guest author Rebecca Heath04:00 – Setting up Wrong Place Wrong Time (and the Reese factor)08:00 – Gillian McAllister’s bio and book accolades11:00 – Kiss, Kill, or Marry verdict14:00 – Clever concept vs. pacing problems19:00 – Time travel, disbelief, and the “mum strength” theory24:00 – Plot Twists29:00 – Craft chat: avoiding clever-for-clever’s-sake32:00 – Rebecca’s reading life: DNFs, recommendations, hype regrets37:00 – Crying at Rachael Johns and TJR41:00 – What we’re reading next Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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