If you had to compare your favourite book to a biscuit, what would it be? The Biscuit Reviews takes on books, TV shows, and podcasts and alongside an in depth review seeks to give you a real flavour of what they're like by scoring them with a biscuit rating. A solid drama might be worthy of a shortbread rating (filling, sturdy, serious) whilst a good blockbuster type show might warrant a choc chip cookie (gives you a rush and feels like a treat.) Why not get yourself a brew and a biccie and join us.
Two astonishing works of art have elevated themselves above their form: Adolescence, the groundbreaking TV show on Netflix, and the novel Transit by Rachel Cusk. They were both so moving, thought provoking and so skilfully produced that it has made me realise I need to spend more time being creative myself. Therefore, this will be the last episode aside from some possible one off specials with a guest or two. Thanks so much to those of you have who listened, shared, and commented - it has been very much appreciated! thebiscuitreviews.co.uk Music in the episode by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/) (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
3/20/25 • 04:37
This episode I get drawn into a murky mystery that started with a fisherman’s discovery in 1996 in Devon and then snaked out across Europe and over the Atlantic. The podcast series Sea of Lies by CBC will have you gripped. In Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, the title gives a clue to the tragedy within as people’s ambitions set them on a path to their own downfall. Its story set around activism, social justice and the selfish super rich might be depressingly familiar, yet the author conjures something poetic and hopeful. Go thebiscuitreviews.co.uk for previous episodes and written reviews. Click to go to Sea of Lies podcast. Music in the episode by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/) (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
3/13/25 • 08:39
Today’s episode takes a swing at redefining reality. First, with the novel Girls of Little Hope by Sam Beckbessinger and Dale Halvorsen. This mystery horror is set in 1996 about a trio of teenage girls who embark on a quest into their town’s past that leaves them doubting what they see, and then doubting themselves. After that, we’re back in our divided present with the Altered Realities mini series podcast by Embedded. In this 3 parter, a journalist has a year long bet with his radicalised Dad that could make or break their family. Find written reviews and short video reviews of all previous episodes at thebiscuitreviews.co.uk Click to go to Altered Realities podcast. https://www.sambeckbessinger.com/ https://www.dalehalvorsen.com/ Music in the episode by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/) (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Additional music by Lidérc at Pixabay
3/6/25 • 09:41
It felt a little like spring might be on its way this week so in the spirit of being brighter and more optimistic, I have two feel good reviews this episode, both bringing a sense of the familiar. First up is You Belong With Me by Mhairi McFarlane. Despite the potential for that title to preface a dark stalker based thriller, it is the sequel to her rom-com smash Who’s That Girl? And then we’re off to the fictional Scottish island of Ronansay as Michelle Collins seeks a new life for her and her two kids in a charming tale with beautiful scenery in BBC drama from the start of the century: Two Thousand Acres of Sky. All episodes have written reviews available on the website: thebiscuitreviews.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/) (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
2/28/25 • 09:48
Two books this episode with stories that gently gnaw at you with themes of eroded and hidden identity and whether we can truly know another person. I picked up Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng to start reading over morning coffee and maybe read a couple of chapters. By lunch time I had finished and needed a bit of time to process the incredible story of the Lee family and the disappearance of teenage daughter Lydia. Assumption by Percival Everett is a slim volume that is actually a triptych of stories about Ogden Walker, a Deputy Sheriff in a small New Mexico town who is confronted with 3 perplexing crimes. I desperately need someone else to read this so we can discuss the ending… Go to thebiscuitreviews.co.uk for full written review and previous episodes All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/) (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
2/20/25 • 10:00
This episode is not for the faint hearted with a macabre double bill of the podcast Noble, and the novel Sign Here, by Claudia Lux. Noble is a true crime series that definitely warrants its content warning as it digs up the bones of a 20 year old case from the town of Noble in Georgia. Amidst the despair and disgust, the outstanding reporting reveals a fascinating portrait of a town and a community. From a metaphorical real hell, to a fictional literal hell in Sign Here by Claudia Lux. Here we meetrecruiter of souls Peyote Trip and his fiendish plan to trick his way out of eternal damnation. Go to thebiscuitreviews.co.uk Noble: httops://www.campsidemedia.com/stories/noble Claudia Lux: https://claudialux.com/ All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/) (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
2/13/25 • 09:00
This episode feels frighteningly prescient as I take a gander at two books that open a can of technological worms - worms that can probably spy on us and read our thoughts. Chuck Wendig’s Wanderers constructs an end of days horror thriller around a virus that divides society, whilst The Ferryman by Justin Cronin produces a vision of a future that actually reminded me a little of the old TV show The Prisoner…step inside and join me…it’s not scary at all…well, no scarier than the news right now I guess… Full written reviews and more info at thebiscuitviews.co.uk Vanessa Armstrong review of The Ferryman. All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/) (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
2/6/25 • 11:15
It is just about 10 years since I first did a couple of podcasts series with my friend James Diamond, and since we both recently massively enjoyed the work of one British screenwriter we thought we would get together for a bit of a 10 year anniversary catch up. In the spirit of those original shows which we recorded in the pub, we went to a new favourite aunt in Leicester to discuss the work of Joe Barton, who - among other films and TV show - has written Giri/Haji, The Half Bastard Son and The Devil Himself, The Lazarus Project, and most recently, Black Doves. After a bit of reminiscing about those early recordings and getting a bit nostalgic for nights in the pub with the microphones, we got down to discussing Joe Barton’s distinctive filmography. And yes, as this is genuinely recorded in the pub, you get the bonus of hearing whatever tunes the bar staff have queued up to play. Written reviews and previous episodes are available at thebiscuitreviews.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/) (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
1/30/25 • 18:27
In this episode, I look at two murder mysteries that couldn’t be more different in style, tone and setting, as I swap from Jane Isaac’s detailed procedural The Lies Within set in Leicestershire, to a global catastrophe for Stuart Turton’s imaginative The Last Murder at the End of the World set on a remote island. The former is a moving and superbly plotted crime thriller, and the latter a wildly inventive whodunnit wrapped in a fantastical end of the world scenario. Both are brilliant, so grab yourself a brew and a biscuit and tune in. Written reviews and previous episodes are available at thebiscuitreviews.co.uk (https://www.thehumanish.co.uk/thebisc...) Jane Isaac: https://janeisaac.co.uk/ Stuart Turton: https://www.stuturton.com/ Kibworth Books: https://kibworthbooks.com/ All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/) (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
1/23/25 • 10:21
On the surface you might not think that the real life accounts of a cosmonaut stranded in space, and a single mum in the West Midlands navigating the school run in her mobility scooter have that much in common. However in this in this episode we'll see how sometimes it's the smallest details, and some human kindness that can cause life's greatest joys in the face of all consuming, life altering events. Join me for the extraordinary tales of writer Josie George and Soviet engineer Sergei Krikalev. Written reviews and previous episodes: http://thebiscuitreviews.co.uk/ Josie George A Still Life. Josie George instagram. The Last Soviet Podcast: https://pod.link/1670630288 All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
4/26/24 • 11:04
We take a trip to the less glamorous side of showbiz for the absurd and slightly caustic comedy TV show Barry, and the investigative podcast series Who Trolled Amber? SNL alumni Bill Hader is the creator and star of Barry, in which he pays the titular hitman who wants to give it up his day job to become an actor. Tortoise media are no slouches with hitting the targets in their investigative series, and this one delves into the murky world of online misinformation and manipulation through the prism of the online noise around the Amber Heard v Johnny Depp court case. Written reviews and are available at thebiscuitreviews.co.uk Go here to find Who Trolled Amber? All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
4/12/24 • 15:13
Episode Notes A bumper episode as we have our second guest author on The Biscuit Reviews. This episode looks at two novels that feature criminal families and historical grievances - one that is brand new, and one that is actually from a few years ago. Both introduce us to characters that will become a part of a series, and both are crime novels that bring something a little different to the crime/thriller genre table. Neil Lancaster’s Dead Man’s Grave introduces us to detective Max Craigie and a mysterious murder that unveils a centuries old feud and leads to a sprawling chase from Glasgow to the Highlands. Whilst my guest this episode is W A Kelly, who joins me to chat about his debut novel Safe Hands - a gritty thriller set on the English coast as retired safe cracker Mickey Blake is called back for one last job. W A Kelly: https://www.waynekellywrites.com Neil Lancaster: https://neillancastercrime.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
3/29/24 • 24:35
Let's step into 2024 with two reviews that kind of sum up my 2023: nature and how we think. I've been meaning to read the novel By Ash, Oak and Thorn by Melissa Harrison for ages and although the novel starts in spring, starting it in the depths of winter proved ideal! We follow three of the ancient Hidden Folk - guardians of nature - as they set off and quest to solve a mystery that threatens their existence. It's a beautiful tale of wonder that will delight readers of all ages. The seven deadly sins get a bad rap don't they? I mean, they're called "deadly" for a start which doesn't bode well. But what if they have their uses? And why do we have these emotions if they're so deadly anyway? Becky Ripley and Sophie Ward's podcast for BBC Radio 4 brings together the science and the social aspects of each "sin" in a thoroughly entertaining series that will have you looking at your own emotions in a new light. Listen to the podcast for both reviews and you can also read each written review by following the links below. Melissa Harrison: https://melissaharrison.co.uk Seven Deadly Psychologies: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001sm83 All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
1/5/24 • 09:53
A sci-fi double bill that takes us to the far reaches of the universe and to the distant future and back again. Adrian Tchaikosvky concludes his astonishing Children of… trilogy with Children of Memory. Building on the combination of evolution, biology and tech in the previous instalments, this final chapter goes darker and deeper into what we even mean by “real”. It is also quite frighteningly current with some of the themes and like classic sci-fi, often acts as a warning. Dr Rachel Handley is a philosopher at Trinity College and a science fiction author and poet. She joins me to chat about her collection Possible Worlds and Other Stories. A hugely entertaining book that delivers thought provoking and vivid stories with a wry sharp sense of humour. Oh, and a world of crabs. Adrian Tchaikovsky: https://adriantchaikovsky.com Dr Rachel Handley links: https://linktr.ee/_rachelhandley http://thebiscuitreviews.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
10/20/23 • 25:27
In The Peripheral (based on William Gibson's book)is an ambitious sci-fi espionage thriller set across different times and different realities. It puts an twist on time travel and mixes genres but is it all a bit too much? Silo on Apple TV is set further into the future and after a catastrophe destroys the planet's atmosphere, a society survives in an underground silo, eking out a bare existence following strict societal rules. But more is hidden beneath the surface than just their homes. Apple continues its pitch to be the place for grand and thoughtful sci-fi with this adaptation of Hugh Howey's book series. For the written review of both of these and any links mentioned in the show go to www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
8/25/23 • 16:49
Secrets. Deception. Affairs. Both the book and the podcast reviewed on this episode dive deep into the drama of the tangled webs we weave. Author Mhairi McFarlane's latest novel Between Us hits the ground running with high drama and high stakes. School teacher Roisin suffers a betrayal at the hands of her long term partner and is forced to wonder what else he might be capable of. The BBC Podcast series People Who Knew Me might draw you in with its A-List cast of Rosamund Pike and Hugh Laurie but it will keep you hooked with the suspense of what Connie will do when her secret past life might need to be revealed. For the written review of both of these and any links mentioned in the show go to www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
8/4/23 • 13:13
Episode 6 looks at the podcast series Witch, and the graphic novel Isabella and Blodwen. In the 13 part podcast series Witch, host and journalist India Rakusen and her team create a spellbinding series with each half an hour episode artfully exploring different aspects of what “Witch” can mean and how it has changed over the centuries. Artist, writer, and comic book creator Rachael Smith has built a loyal following with her autobiographical comic strips. Isabella & Blodwen dives back to her fantastical fictional work and brings together precocious 16 year old Isabella and the chaotic witch Blodwen who vows to help her as she struggles with life at Oxford University. The episode starts with Witch, but you can skip to 10minutes 35seconds if you just want Isabella & Blodwen review. For the written review for both of these and links mentioned go to episodes page at: www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
7/31/23 • 16:37
Caleb Azumah Nelsons debut novel Open Water is an astonishing achievement. Combining poetic prose and rhythms to match the heart wrenching tale of love and identity against the backdrop of a frenetic London and racial tensions. Lisa Jewell has cemented her reputation as an elite thriller writer and The Night She Disappeared is an other hit of the genre - which might seem a long way from her debut novel in 1999 but there are similarities that make both compulsive reading. The episode starts with Open Water, but you can skip to 8 minutes if you just want The Night She Disappeared review. For the full write reviews of both books and for previous episodes go to www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk All music in the episode is by Ketsa. Music By Ketsa freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ (Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
7/31/23 • 13:36
A double header this week. First up, I marvel at how in "Elizabeth is Missing", Emma Healey has crafted a tale about an old lady with dementia into a thrilling and moving mystery. Next up, I consider the themes that connect that novel to the Scandi-noir-esque Canadian detective series "Cardinal". The episode starts with the review of "Elizabeth is Missing", but you can skip to 7minutes 20seconds if you just want the "Cardinal" review. Go to www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk for the written versions of both reviews and all links. Music by Ketsa Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 freemusicarchive.org/music/ketsa
7/31/23 • 13:07
The Power by Naomi Alderman is a provocative near future science fiction novel that poses a “what if?” scenario and dares you to confront the world around you and your place in it. It is quite literally shocking, as well as a world-hopping thriller with graphic action and uncomfortable moral choices. Could it also be the smash hit TV show of 2023? Blog and video version available www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk Music: Gods Among Men by Prox-C. Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 freemusicarchive.org/music/Prox-c Elemental by ATUM. freemusicarchive.org/music/Dlay
7/31/23 • 08:46
The Coming Storm is a BBC podcast by journalist Gabriel Gatehouse and producer Lucy Proctor that on the surface is about the background to the Capitol Insurrection in Washington DC on the January 2021. Whilst the repercussions of that day still reverberate in the news and the courts in the present, this series takes a deep dive into history. What makes this a must listen series and how is it like the best thriller films? www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk Music: Gods Among Men by Prox-C. Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 freemusicarchive.org/music/Prox-c
7/31/23 • 07:46
Did Stephen King write a Young Adult novel? I also think I know the perfect director to make any film adaptation that might be tried of this vast imaginative novel. In the first of my The Biscuit Reviews selections, I give myself a treat by starting with an author who I have re-embraced in the last decade after first leaping into IT and Needful Things when my older brothers got me into horror books as a kid. Let's dive into how the master storyteller gets to grip with one of the oldest story forms - the fairy tale. Get a full guide and other reviews at www.thebiscuitreviews.co.uk Produced by Humanish. Music: Gods Among Men by Prox-C. Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 freemusicarchive.org/music/Prox-c Elemental by Day. freemusicarchive.org/music/Dlay
7/31/23 • 09:26
