Hello and welcome. It's another Books of the Year podcast from your friends at Books of the Year the People who make podcasts.

Very good book for you in just a moment. An email from Lorraine says, Simon and Matt,

I've only recently come across your podcast, which I find hard to believe, given that...

We've been going for ages, Lorraine. People say that we are the number one books podcast.

Has that come across, has it? Oh, right. Good. Anyway, as it continues, your same banter and camaraderie,

which is the backbone of your drive-time show.

Backbone.

And I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

As many others have said,

the podcast has introduced me to books and authors that I would previously not have considered.

Recent downloads to my Kindle include Abigail Dean and Chris Whitaker,

both which I discovered thanks to your pod.

I still prefer the feel of a real book, though, and I've been visiting my local library

frequently. I recently borrowed bad money by Jodi Picou, a long-term favourite of mine, and Jennifer

Finney Boylan, both of whom were on your podcast a couple years ago. Whilst browsing the shells last week, I stumbled across a book by a certain Simon Mayo Caden knife edge. Yes. I absolutely loved it. I've also now placed a reservation on TikTok. This is very good. Yes, very good. I didn't realize it was just going to be a piece of self-promotion. Imagine how this got through. Keep up the good work. Your podcast has elevated my morning dog walks to a whole new level of fun. Lorraine, that is why we're here. Indeed. An email from Gareth in Taunton. Dear, bookish ones, just a quick note to say thank you for featuring Francis Buffard on the pod. I've been a fan of his for quite a while, but not sure I've ever heard

him speak about his writing before. I really enjoyed non-such, genre-bending in the best sort of way.

Nice one, lads, says Gareth. And it was good having Francis on, and he was right at the very

beginning of his promotion. So he was trying to work it all out as we went along. You can email us at any time. Books of the Year Yahoo.com. We're on Instagram threads and Blue Sky at Books of the Year. And we've got some great recommendations coming up. Anthony Horowitz, Michael Connolly and Matt Haig to name just a few. Make sure you follow and subscribe to the pod so you never miss an episode and look out for our YouTube channel coming soon.

Did you know about that?

Oh, indeed.

Makeup and wardrobe is going to be guaranteed.

Okay, top guest, top book on the way. All right, let's talk to John Lancaster.

...