Quick Book Reviews with Philippa Hall

Part 2 of this special two part episode.
Today I’m joined by the publicity team behind The Ending Writes Itself—Philippa Cotton and Becky Mansell from HQ—to go behind the scenes of one of the most inventive book campaigns in recent years.
We talk about:
How early publicity gets involved in acquiring a book
Building a campaign around secrecy and intrigue
Managing (and protecting) a major author reveal
The viral buzz, wild guesses, and reader engagement
What worked—and what they’d do differently
The realities of publishing behind the scenes
Plus—Bloody Scotland, proof drops, influencers, campaign chaos (including that wifi moment), and answers to the authors’ own questions.
If you enjoyed Part 1 with V. E. Schwab and Cat Clarke, this is the perfect companion episode.

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A special early episode for the bank holiday weekend.
In Part 1, I’m joined by the authors behind The Ending Writes Itself—V. E. Schwab and Cat Clarke—writing together as Evelyn Clarke.
We talk about:
The secret behind their hidden identity
How this ambitious collaboration came together
Writing a sharp, funny satire of the publishing world
The realities (and absurdities) of being an author today
Their unique co-writing process
Plus—Bloody Scotland book festival, Stephen King, FOMO in publishing, and the joy (and chaos) of keeping a literary secret.
Part 2 drops tomorrow, featuring the publicity team behind this standout campaign.
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It’s a crime-packed episode of Quick Book Reviews
Philippa is back with six crime and thriller recommendations—including bestselling psychological suspense, twisty mysteries, and edge-of-your-seat reads—plus a behind-the-scenes interview with the Festival Director of one of the UK’s biggest crime events.
In This Episode
A stack of must-read crime thrillers (out now + upcoming releases)
A surprising turnaround on Frieda McFadden
A standout read from Claire Douglas
Festival insider chat with Lizzie Curl from Capital Crime Festival
Publishing insights, book recommendations & festival gossip
Books Featured
Recently Read & Reviewed:
Dear Debbie – Frieda McFadden
Want to Know a Secret? – Frieda McFadden
The Family Friend – Claire Douglas
Also Mentioned (Out Now / New Releases):
The Move – J.P. Delaney
I Spy – C. M. Ewan
It’s Not What You Think – Clare Mackintosh
Interview: Capital Crime Festival
Philippa chats to Lizzie Curl about:
What really goes into planning Capital Crime Festival
Big author names (including Lee Child)
How the festival attracts new readers
Behind-the-scenes challenges & surprises
Why crime fiction fans shouldn’t miss it
Held in London, this reader-voted, author-packed festival is a must for crime lovers.
Book here: https://www.capitalcrime.org/tickets
Plus…
A mix-up involving “AI”
Kindle Unlimited vs Kobo thoughts (more next week!)
And the ultimate question: what’s the best biscuit for reading?
Perfect For Fans Of:
Psychological thrillers
Fast-paced crime fiction
Book festivals & author events
No-spoiler book recommendations
Follow, rate & review to support the podcast and never miss a book recommendation!
Email Philippa at [email protected]
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Welcome to the Quick Book Reviews Podcast — the podcast featuring author interviews and book reviews with no spoilers.
In this episode Philippa shares 10 new books she’s excited to read this month, covering everything from gripping psychological thrillers and crime fiction to literary fiction and historical drama.
If you're looking for new books to add to your reading list, this episode is packed with brilliant recommendations and upcoming releases.

Books mentioned in this episode
When I Kill You – B. A. Paris
A chilling psychological thriller about secrets, suspicion and the terrifying feeling of being watched.
How to Get Away With Murder – Rebecca Phillipson
A darkly compelling crime novel about a mysterious manual for aspiring serial killers and the detective determined to uncover the truth.
The Arc – Haruo Yuki
A tense survival thriller in which hikers trapped in a flooding bunker must decide who will be left behind.
Dead Heat – Sabine Durrant
A sun-drenched Greek summer turns dark as jealousy, secrets and suspicion simmer among friends.
Unreliable Narrator – Araminta Hall
When a woman sees her life mirrored in a bestselling novel, the line between truth and fiction begins to blur.
Kin – Tayari Jones
A powerful story of friendship, family and identity set against the backdrop of the American civil rights movement.
Whidby – T Kira Madden
A gripping literary thriller exploring justice, revenge and the long shadow of trauma.
Lady Tremaine – Rachel Hockenhauser
A fascinating re-imagining of the Cinderella story told from the perspective of the infamous stepmother.
First to Finish – Rebecca J. Caffery
A high-speed romance set in the world of Formula racing where competition and chemistry collide.
Meet the Newmans – Jennifer Niven
A sweeping novel set in 1960s America about fame, family secrets and the changing world of television.

Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
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Discover 5 brilliant book recommendations plus publishing insider secrets. PR Director Alison Barrow reveals the truth about bestseller lists, book tours and how books really succeed.
⏱ Timestamped Show Notes
00:00 – Welcome to Quick Book Reviews
01:15 – Philippa introduces today’s five standout books
02:10 – This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum
05:40 – Gone for Good by Sarah Crossan
09:30 – The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
14:20 – The Cursed Road by Laura McCluskey
18:30 – Growing Brave by Donna Ashworth
22:45 – Interview begins with Alison Barrow, PR Director at Transworld Publishers
24:10 – Books Alison is currently promoting
• How to Get Away With Murder
• A Far‑Flung Life
29:15 – The reality of bestseller lists
32:40 – How subscription book boxes influence charts
36:00 – Slow-burn bestsellers and long-tail success
39:30 – Books Alison has loved recently
• The Things We Never Say
• Witch Trial
• The Barbecue at Number Nine
• California Gold
48:10 – Listener question: Should authors ask for a book tour?
52:20 – How book tours are funded
55:10 – Typical book event sales conversion rates
58:40 – Alison shares an update on writing her own novel
1:02:30 – What it’s like being both publicist and author
1:05:30 – Philippa wraps up and previews the next episode
Email your questions herel: [email protected]

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