How do you go from Down Naby to contemporary thrillers?

Katherine Steadman joins us to talk about her newest novel, The Disappearing Act.

In what sense was Nixon's downfall, America's tragedy?

Michael Dobbs will be here to talk about his book, King Richard.

Alexander Alter will be here with the latest in publishing news.

Plus, our critics will join us to talk about the latest in literary criticism.

This is the Book Review Podcast from The New York Times.

It's July 2nd.

I'm Pamela Paul.

Katherine Steadman joins us now from London.

Her new novel is called The Disappearing Act.

Katherine, thanks for being here.

Oh, thanks so much for having me.

So we should say up front that many people will know your name

as an author.

This is your third book, but also as a successful working actress.

What made you decide to write?

Acting has a lot of downtime.

Even when you have a job, you're in trailers or you're in cars going to sat.

I don't know.

Through a process of osmosis, reading so many scripts all the time,

I sort of go into it in the book a bit of just the sheer quantity of things

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