For over three decades Dr Norman Swan has been answering the questions Australians have been asking about the medical and lifestyle issues that concern all of us. With his trademark honest, straightforward approach Dr Norman Swan brings it all together in this one-stop handbook that helps us get to the truth.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Dr Norman Swan about the real Mediterranean diet, living younger longer and the importance of a wholistic approach to health and wellbeing.

Dr Norman Swan takes on the wellness 'bullshit' in So You Think You Know What's Good For You?

Dr Michael Mosley presents the latest scientific research explaining how the ketogenic diet works and why it is good for you. This new approach helps you lose weight safely, improve mood and reduce blood pressure, inflammation and blood sugars.

The Fast 800 Keto is a dynamic new weight loss program that combines a ketogenic diet with low-calorie intermittent fasting to give you the key to long term success. It includes clear advice on which foods will help put you into ketosis, and an easy step-by-step program along with 50 delicious low-carb recipes and menu plans.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs talks to Dr Michael Mosley about why intermittent fasting and rapid weight loss is the best approach, how to 'flip the metabolic switch', the importance of quitting processed food, and how honesty is the best policy in making a permanent lifestyle change.

Dr Michael Mosley on eating well, burning fat and managing weight long term in 'The Fast 800 Keto'

'Growing up Wiradjuri' is a collection of personal stories by Wiradjuri Elders. The writers are Uncles and Aunties who came of age in New South Wales in the 1950s and 1960s.

In a strong collective voice, they share their stories of the difficulties of marginal life, backbreaking labour and family separation, but also of fond memories of their own Elders, Aunts and Uncles who cared for them and taught them culture. Contributors describe happy memories of family and community life on country, working the land, sitting around campfires, hunting, fishing, and playing games in the bush with their cousins, brothers and sisters. They talk about the values that were imparted by parents and grandparents, what it means to come from a family where everyone takes care of each other during hard times, and the work they have done to build stronger communities.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Anita Heiss about bringing together this collection of short stories from Wiradjuri Elders, how the common values of family, care, friendship and fun that are part of these stories are things we all share, and how we can all play a part in reconciliation by reinvigorating indigenous culture through great storytelling.

Anita Heiss on 'Growing Up Wiradjuri: Stories from the Wiradjuri Nation'

Crown Resorts, the Bond Group, James Hardie, HIH Insurance, Geoffrey Edelsten’s Allied Medical Group, 7-Eleven and Rio Tinto, the list goes on…

Australia has suffered from the continual sting of business scandals since corporate cowboys like Alan Bond and Christopher Skase wrought so much damage during the 1980s. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Australians have been affected, with many left traumatised when corporations collapse due to gross mismanagement and profits being put before people.

Award-winning author Quentin Beresford takes us inside corporate Australia’s highest-profile scandals and the factors that drive them — the rise of celebrity CEOs, timid regulators, inept boards, the murky links between big business, governments, banks, media and lobby groups — and explores a path towards higher ethical standards from organisations. It’s a wild ride into the heart of corporate Australia.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Quentin Beresford about the continuous string of corporate scandals that has plagued Australia over the last forty years, the gallery of rogues who have been at the helm of these scandals, and the scourge of crony capitalism and the lack of regulation that has allowed these scandals to proliferate.

Quentin Beresford goes inside Australia's biggest corporate scandals in 'Rogue Corporations'

'All Time High' is a comprehensive guide on how to enter the cryptocurrency market as a complete beginner and to prosper. Cryptocurrencies have the power to radically transform not only our financial lives, but our personal freedom, sovereignty and mindset. Powered by blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies offer a new way for investors to create wealth and a potential early retirement without having to be a trader, have financial knowledge or a prior skill level. Sydel Sierra has documented this success blueprint in five easy steps and within each part are the practical tools to discover the power of this asset class.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Sydel Sierra about what exactly is cryptocurrency and why it is so important in the financial world of the future, why Bitcoin is the foundation of this asset class but why holding a portfolio of cryptocurrencies is crucial in finding success in investment, and why good research is critical when exploring this investment class.

Sydel Sierra on the power of cryptocurrencies and how to invest the right way in, 'All Time High'

Thrown out of the pack for being a weakling, Laurence the Wolf is down on his luck. He knows he’s strong, and brave, and cool, but nobody else seems to think so. What’s more, he’s STARVING. A clever plot to gobble up Little Red Riding Hood once and for all is foiled by all the creatures of the fairytale forest and just as things are getting desperate, he catches a whiff of something delicious. Could those be . . . vegetables?

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Ben Miller about why Lawrence, the Big Bad Wolf, has taken to writing a diary, why Lawrence has been thrown out of the wolf pack and why he likes to tell stories from the point of view of the bad guy.

Ben Miller on his illustrated fairytale mash-up, 'Diary of a Big Bad Wolf'

In this enticing new cookbook, Dr Clare Bailey shows you how to create fabulous bakes, sweet treats and desserts with recipes that are low in sugar, high in protein yet irresistibly delicious!

From family favourites such as brownies, cheesecakes and crumbles to healthy cupcakes and bite-size muffins, The Fast 800 Treats Recipe Book brings you sweet treats and savoury snacks that won't send your blood sugars soaring. Featuring 80 indulgent recipes that make use of healthy and natural ingredients, plus top tips on ingredient swaps and how to weave these recipes into your Fast 800 Programme, this book is full of snacks and treats for every occasion.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Dr Clare Bailey about the fundamentals of the Fast 800 Keto diet, why snacks can still be part of a healthy diet, how to reset the sweet palate, and the many tasty and healthy substitutes that are available to use in place of processed ingredients to create delicious treats the whole family can enjoy.

Dr Clare Bailey on enjoying the things you love to eat in 'The Fast 800 Keto Treats Recipe Book'

Two fugitives, a man and a child, drive all night across a stony desert. As dawn breaks, they roll into an abandoned mine site. From the vehicle they survey a forsaken place – middens of twisted iron, rusty wire, piles of sun-baked trash. They’re exhausted, traumatised, desperate now. But as a refuge, this is the most promising place they’ve seen. The child peers at the field of desolation. The man thinks to himself, this could work. So begins a searing, propulsive journey through a life whose central challenge is not simply a matter of survival, but of how to maintain human decency as everyone around you falls ever further into barbarism.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Tim Winton about the climate change challenge that is already upon us, what a post-apocalyptic existence might look like and how even in the face of the gravest of situations can still bring out the best in us.

Tim Winton on a story of catastrophe, survival and the power of humanity in 'Juice'

Vaccination is arguably the greatest public health achievement in history, yet the disappearance of many diseases has also seen an increased focus on the side effects of vaccines and the rise of the anti-vax movement. The COVID-19 pandemic propelled anti-vaccination sentiment into the mainstream – including from some leaders in the medical profession – in an explosion of pseudoscience and disinformation that’s made it increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction.

In Vaccine Nation, internationally acclaimed epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre examines the history of vaccines and how they work, vaccine safety, public policy, cutting-edge new technologies, and the miraculous new developments in vaccines to fight cancer and other chronic diseases. At a critical time when vaccination rates are falling globally, MacIntyre argues that science must reclaim the stage or we will lose centuries of gains that vaccines have brought to the world.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Raina MacIntyre about how vaccines work and why they are essential for public health, about the new mRNA technology and how it may change our treatment for a whole range of conditions, and the threat of misinformation, pseudoscience and the ant-vaccine movement on the progress of medical science. 

Raina MacIntyre on science, reason and the threat to 200 years of progress in 'Vaccine Nation'

In the magical city of Nevermoor, long-buried secrets are coming to light, and Morrigan Crow's life is about to turn upside down. When Morrigan is invited into Nevermoor's wealthy Silver District, she discovers a world of extravagance and a family mystery she's eager to unravel. She could never imagine where it will lead: a white wedding, a golden dragon and a red pool of blood.

Embroiled in suspicion and danger, Morrigan leaps headfirst into a murder investigation, while also grappling with her ever-growing Wundersmith powers. And although her friends are there to help, she fears that could change if they learn she's keeping a terrible secret of her own. As shadowy forces awaken in Nevermoor, can Morrigan find a killer and solve the mystery in her own past before the clock strikes midnight?

In this episode Gregory Dobbs gets a first-hand tour of the world of Nevermoor, direct from it's creator, Jessica Townsend. Jessica also talks about the developing powers of the exceptional Wundersmith that is Morrigan Crow in this spellbinding tale of magic, mystery and murder.

Jessica Townsend on the fourth in her Nevermoor series, 'Silverborn The Mystery of Morrigan Crow'

The liver's ability to heal and regenerate can greatly improve your wellbeing. Clinical nutritionist and bestselling author Sarah Di Lorenzo’s four-week plan has helped hundreds of her#diet patients repair their inner health and now she’s sharing it with you.

One in three Australians have a fatty liver, one of the most prevalent liver conditions worldwide. Revitalising your liver health can increase energy, aid weight-loss, improve sleep, slow aging, reduce headaches, improve skin health, reduce brain fog and lower anxiety.

The Liver Repair Plan offers practical guidance, easy-to-follow meal plans, and more than 50 delicious, nutrient-dense recipes that will support your liver's health and vitality.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Sarah Di Lorenzo about what this incredible organ does for our body, it's amazing capacity for repair and the simple steps we can all take to improve every aspect of our wellbeing.

Sarah Di Lorenzo on the steps to transform your liver health in 'The Liver Repair Plan'

In the dying days of the Roman republic, a remarkable woman steps out of the shadows and beyond the boundaries imposed on her sex, driven by an unstoppable ambition. Kaarina Parker's stunning debut novel, told in the compelling voice of this brilliant woman from history, brings Fulvia and the society in which she lived vividly to life.

Born into a wealthy but unimportant family, Fulvia is raised in the peace of the Etruscan countryside but longs for a life of excitement and influence. When her father dies and her inheritance is threatened, she makes her way to the city of Rome to secure her future.

Motivated by both passion and opportunism, Fulvia marries Clodius, a hedonistic young senator. They are perfect partners - risk takers, scornful of convention and eager for change. Although Clodius is heir to a leading aristocratic family, he has spent his life criticising the rules of his class and championing the common people. As a wife and mother, Fulvia fulfils her role in a society that denies women any influence outside the home - but she is also a ruthless political strategist, intent on seeing her husband rise through the ranks of Rome's governing body, the senate. And, through him, wielding her own authority. But Rome is a dangerous place, and power can become notoriety overnight. Fulvia soon learns just how high the stakes really are, and that her ambitions may come at a terrible cost.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Kaarina Parker about her passion for Roman history, the hedonsim of the late Roman Empire, and how Fulvia, a young woman from the provinces, rose to become one of its most influential citizens.

Kaarina Parker on a remarkable woman of the Ancient Roman Empire, 'Fulvia'

The Haunting of Mr and Mrs Stevenson tells the story of Robert Louis Stevenson’s friendship with the charming Eugene Chantrelle and the murder mystery that contributed to Robert’s need to create a novel focused on the dualistic nature of the psyche.

From a séance with the Shelleys at Boscombe Manor to a haunted wardrobe made by an infamous Scottish criminal, the novel is underscored by the story of two writers very much in love. Fanny and Robert were married in 1880, when she was forty and he was twenty-nine. An American who divorced her philandering husband to marry Robert, she was already the mother of children, a self-supporting writer, and with intelligence and wit very much the rock in their relationship.

Brilliantly told in Fanny’s voice, this atmospheric novel is both the story of an unconventional literary relationship and a page-turning mystery that reveals the truth about the people, objects and events that inspired Stevenson to write The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Belinda Lyons Lee about her fascination with all things nineteenth century, the remarkable Fanny Osbourne Stevenson, and how a haunted wardrobe may have been the genesis of a literary classic.

Belinda Lyons Lee on her gothic horror story, 'The Haunting of Mr and Mrs Stevenson'

Where’s Moon? follows a day in the life of June, a toddler who is searching for the moon! The story was written by Speech Pathologist, Olivia Purvis, and edited by her sister, Amelia. The story was inspired by their young nephew, Sebastian, who innocently enquired about the Moon’s whereabouts one day. Olivia’s inner Speech Pathologist could not resist weaving a strong narrative with a variety of language features to support emergent literacy during shared book reading. The story works in harmony with the illustrations to invoke a sense of wonder while making subtle references to Australian culture. This “cheeky” book is sure to capture the hearts of young and old!

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Olivia Purvis about the origins of Where's Moon?, how elements of her speech pathology training found their way into the book, and the importance of an enthusiastic caregiver in engaging young children and enhancing language development.

Olivia Purvis on her first book for young children, 'Where's Moon?'

Brisbane, 1975: Andie Tanner's world is small but whole. Her mum is complicated, but she adores her dad and the kennel of racing greyhounds that live under their house. Andie is a serious girl with plans: finish school with her friends, then apprentice to her father until she can become a greyhound trainer, with dogs of her very own.

But real life rarely goes to plan, and the world is bigger and more complicated than Andie could imagine. When she loses everything she cares about - her family, her friends, the dogs - it's up to Andie to reclaim her future. She will need all her wits to survive this new reality of secrets and half-truths, addictions and crime.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Toni Jordan about how her varied work history found its way in this story, how the triangulation of mother, father and daughter shapes relationships and character, and how we are all truly children in adult form.

Toni Jordan on greyhounds, gambling and growing up, in her new novel, 'Tenderfoot'

Walking Sydney invites you to walk with a city’s writers as they share their places of home and imagination. From the streets of the suburbs to the shores of the harbour, as we walk amid diasporas, countercultures, activists, artists, dreamers and thieves, the city comes alive with story. Written by Belinda Castles from walks taken with fifteen writers, Walking Sydney is an opportunity to see the city afresh. 

Eveleigh and Carriageworks with Jazz Money – Surry Hills with Fiona Kelly McGregor – The Rocks, Walsh Bay and Circular Quay with Gail Jones – Parramatta with Eda Gunaydin – King Street, Newtown with Vanessa Berry – Freshwater with Malcolm Knox – Yagoona and Bankstown with Sheila Ngọc Phạm – Rushcutters Bay Park and Elizabeth Bay with Delia Falconer – North Willoughby and Middle Cove with Jakelin Troy – Casula and Liverpool with Max Easton – Kings Cross, Elizabeth Bay, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills with Neal Drinnan – Bronte and Clovelly with Beth Yahp – Bankstown and Punchbowl Boys’ High School with Michael Mohammed Ahmad – Cooks River with Michelle de Kretser – City and Redfern with Larissa Behrendt.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Belinda Castles about her fascination for the people, places and history of the city of Sydney, why walking is both a physical and creative experience, and the hopes she has for the future of this city and for its people.

Belinda Castles on discovering literary Sydney on foot in 'Walking Sydney'

Jessie Hickman was a woman who lived outside the norms of her time. A brave and formidable woman, Jessie lived a life full of adventure, action and danger. At the age of eight she joined a travelling bush circus, learning to perform as a whip cracker, sharpshooter and rough rider. She would perform dangerous feats, like tightrope walking or handstands on bare-backed ponies. When the circus closed, Jessie became an outlaw and cattle rustler, famous for her daring escapes.

This picture book brings to life the fascinating but little-known story of Jessie Hickman (1890–1936), Australia’s so-called ‘Lady Bushranger’. This lavishly illustrated picture book immerses the reader in the wilderness of what is now the Wollemi National Park as Jessie’s life unfolds with every turn of the page.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Mark Greenwood and Frané Lessac their shared passion for Australian history, about life in a travelling bush circus at the turn of the twentieth century, and how a young girl from humble beginnings became an Australian bush legend.

Mark Greenwood and Frané Lessac on their children's picture book, 'The Legend of Jessie Hickman'

For Blake 'Blakey' Johnston growing up around the beaches of Cronulla, life was good and surfing was everything. At sixteen, he turned pro and took off around the world, chasing his dream to become the world's best. The thing about dreams, though, is that they change - sometimes by choice and sometimes by circumstance. For some people, that change can be too much.

'SwellBeing: Everyone Deserves to Feel Awesome' is a powerful memoir and mental health toolkit from the world record holder for longest surf. Blake Johnston's first book is an honest and inspiring story about carrying a family history of suicide and struggling with mental illness, what he did to rise back up and the lessons he wants to share to help others. 

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Blake Johnston about his idyllic childhood growing up in the beachside suburb of Cronulla, his early success on the pro surfing circuit, and the toolkit everyone one needs to make it through the tough times and live their best lives.

Blake Johnston on surfing success, change and resilience in 'Swellbeing'

When Little Peach Tree was just a sapling, all they could see was row upon row of other peach trees. And, on top of the hill, watching over the orchard - the Peach King. As seasons pass, bringing cycles of change, Little Peach Tree grows and grows. But darker changes are stirring. Soon rain is scarce, the forests turn brown, animals flee and the sky turns red.To protect the orchard, the Peach King faces grave danger and Little Peach Tree must find their voice.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Inga Simpson and Tannya Harricks about their shared passion for the natural world, why stories of resilience in nature have meaning for us all, and why the peach is the king of fruit.

Inga Simpson and Tannya Harricks on their picture book for children, 'The Peach King'

Hirsch is checking firearms. The regular police audit: all weapons secured, ammo stored separately, no unauthorised person with keys to the gun safe. He’s checking people, too. The drought is hitting hard in the mid-north, and Hirsch is responsible for the welfare of his scattered flock of battlers, bluebloods, loners and miscreants.

He isn’t usually called on for emergency roadside assistance. But with all the other services fully stretched, it’s Hirsch who has to grind his way out beyond the Mischance Creek ruins to where some clueless tourist has run into a ditch.

As it turns out, though, Annika Nordrum isn’t exactly a tourist. She’s searching for the body of her mother, who went missing seven years ago. And the only sense in which she’s clueless is the lack of information unearthed by the cops who phoned in the original investigation.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Garry Disher about the character of Paul Hirschhausen he originally envisaged, how his own research into far right and sovereign citizen groups turned out to be very timely, and why small town Australia is defined by the people who live there.

Garry Disher on the fifth in the Hirsch crime thriller series, 'Mischance Creek'

"How do you library?" is a statewide campaign that aims to expand visitation and encourage deeper engagement and participation at libraries across Queensland by highlighting the diversity of services, programs, resources and surprising things people can do at their local library. 

Libraries offer much more than you think; they are places for everyone to connect to knowledge, ideas, technology, community, history, and even other people, the list goes on. Using the word library as a verb invites the reader to consider how they currently engage with their library and how they can curate their own experience to connect to the people and things that matter to them.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Katie Edmiston about how your local library is no longer just about books, magazines and newspapers but are now critical community hubs for learning, engagement and services, how going digital has opened up new worlds for accessing information and broadening collections of all kinds, and while libraries will remain the go-to destination for quality information and research guidance, libraries around the state have a bright future that will continue to serve the changing needs of both urban and rural communities. 

Katie Edmiston from Queensland State Library on 'How do you Library?'

'I am Nannertgarrook' is based on the true story of Tasma Walton’s ancestor, a powerful, heart-wrenching novel about maternal love that endures against pitiless odds. Kidnapped by sealers and enslaved far from her homeland, Nannertgarrook has a spirit that refuses to bow/ From her idyllic life in sea country in Nerrm (Port Phillip Bay, Victoria), Nannertgarrook is abducted and taken to a slave market, leaving behind a husband, daughter and son. Pregnant when seized, she soon gives birth to another son, whom she raises with the children of her fellow captives.

In the distant highlands, a puma named Dusk is killing shepherds. Down in the lowlands, twins Iris and Floyd are out of work, money and friends. When they hear that a bounty has been placed on Dusk, they reluctantly decide to join the hunt. As they journey up into this wild, haunted country, they discover there's far more to the land and people of the highlands than they imagined. And as they close in on their prey, they're forced to reckon with conflicts both ancient and deeply personal.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Tasma Walton and Robbie Arnott about their ARA Historical Novel Society of Australasia's prize winning novels for 2025. Tasma and Robbie share their thoughts about the role of mythology within the genre of historical fiction, the destruction of landscape and culture that has come with colonisation, and how very different approaches to research have informed their novels.

Tasma Walton and Robbie Arnott on their ARA HNSA 2025 prize-winning novels

Europe, 1940. With war on their doorstep, German classmates Klara and Rachel, and French brothers Lucien and Paul, are forced to leave their homes. They are taken to Gurs, a French detention camp in the south-west of France. It's a crowded place, with little comfort and even less food. When Klara and Rachel are promised safe refuge in a remote French village, Lucien and Paul are anxious to join them — and will risk their own lives to get there. Filled with adventure, danger and intrigue, this is the story of four unlikely friends desperate to escape from a war that keeps coming closer.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Suzanne Leal the source of her fascination with World War II history, why finding the right setting for young people's introduction to historical fiction is critical, and why combining themes of loss, resilience and empathy with a great story are essential to engaging with the subject.

Suzanne Leal on her HNSA award-winning book for young adults, 'The Year We Escaped'

Retired academic Martin Pottinger's romantic aspirations for the delectable head of his former university's archaeology department, Professor Mary Blake, seem about to be realised. If only he could devise a plan to manage the demands of his eccentric elderly mother, Edwina. Recently bereaved Grace Cavendish spends her days helping out at All Souls Church, making it her mission to drown out the Reverend Rod's tone-deaf hymn-singing and give each funeral recipient a hearty send-off. Yet the peace she craves remains elusive despite the comforts offered by psychic medium Rhondda and her eight-year-old son, Hudson. When Martin and Grace meet and bond at an All Souls service, they unwittingly set off a chain of events with far-reaching consequences. They become funeral crashers. But who could have predicted that crashing funerals might have such life-changing and life-affirming outcomes?

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Joanna Nell about how funerals are not just a stage in the grieving process, her role as a GP in aged care and advocacy for ageing positively, and creating stories and characters that reflect the realities of later life.

Joanna Nell on her heart-warming story celebrating life and love in, 'The Funeral Crashers'

Overnight, Seka Torlak’s life as a regular teenager is upended as Srebrenica, her once peaceful town, falls under siege and she faces starvation, shelling, and sniper attacks. When desperately needed antibiotics and food disappear and are sold on the black market, Seka vows to investigate the corruption and bring the culprits to justice.
 
As the war ravages Srebrenica, Seka's resilience is tested as she navigates the harsh realities of war. Yet, amidst the devastation, she finds a glimmer of hope as her relationship with Ramo blossoms from friendship to love. But as she fights for justice and love the brutal war threatens to tear everything apart.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Amra Pajalic about the complex Balkan history behind this story, Amra's own experience of living in Bosnia, and how historical fiction has the power to tell the stories of real people amidst the brutal realities of war.

Amra Pajalic on her thrilling Balkan war murder mystery, 'Time Kneels Between Mountains'

When acclaimed historian Henry Reynolds moved from Hobart to Townsville to teach Australian history in the 1960s, he discovered the books of the period covered very little about northern Australia and First Nations peoples. He set out to help remedy the situation and ended up transforming Australian history in ways he could never have imagined.
 
In 'Looking from the North', Reynolds again turns Australian history on its axis with an exploration of colonisation north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Reynolds tells the stories of the European, Chinese, Japanese and Pacific Islander people who were vital to the settlement of the north. Along with the experience of First Nations peoples, from employment on stations and as native police to the land rights and homelands movements,

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Henry Reynolds about how the the colonisation of Australia's north was very different to the south, how there has never truly been a 'white Australia' in this part of this continent, and why the implications of the Australian Federal government's white paper Our North, Our Future of a decade ago may be contrary to Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007.

Henry Reynolds on Australian colonisation from the top down in 'Looking From the North'

Things are going well for Matt Buchanan. After some hard times, life is peaceful as sole-charge constable for the small, isolated settlement of Haast on New Zealand's wild West Coast. He's made friends among the locals, won their trust. He keeps their little world safe. And he's working in spectacular surroundings - the fierce Tasman Sea, the dense beech forest, the dark, cold swamps, the snowy Southern Alps.

But then his much-loved predecessor, Gus, is discovered beside a river with a bullet through his head. He'd been looking into a disturbing murder-suicide from 1978: the parents' bodies were found, but not their daughter's. Suspecting a darker truth, Matt is certain the answers can't be too far away in this close-knit community. How does former forest service ranger Liam, with his gang links, fit into the story? What about Joe, the alcoholic hermit whose knowledge and intelligence seem so at odds with his appearance and lifestyle?

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Chris Blake about the wild west coast of the South Island of New Zealand as the perfect setting for a dark and bloody crime thriller, how Senior Constable Matt Buchanan might have has escaped his demons, and the challenges for Chris Blake as both a serving police officer and an award-winning novelist.

Chris Blake on his crime thriller set on New Zealand's wild west coast, 'Softly Calls the Devil'

When rebellious Ruby is bequeathed her late grandfather’s personal letters, she is pulled from peacetime 1973 Australia, to 1917 World War 1 France. Without identification or any way home, she sets out to right a wrong that has broken her family for generations. She meets her young grandfather, an Australian soldier, who has a secret family – a French wife and daughter. Ruby is the only person who knows the true danger they are in, and sets out to rewrite her family’s past. A local resistance fighter Henri, with secrets of his own, is the only person who can help her. As they navigate dangerous terrain, Ruby is torn between the love of this mysterious hero, and the life she left behind.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Vicki Bennett about the enduring power of the hand-written letter, how the letter can facilitate communication across time and generations, and her deep personal and family connection to this story.

Vicki Bennett on her story of love, war, and inter-generational healing, 'The Letters'

As a seventeen-year-old officer Aaron Tait was deployed to a war in the Middle East. Far Horizons is the story of what happened next. From war zones to slums, Aaron Tait has travelled to and worked in more than 70 countries across the globe as a military officer, humanitarian and social entrepreneur, and now writes to help people live deliberate lives filled with purpose.

Far Horizons is a globe-spanning coming-of-age memoir of a fighter turned peace-seeker on a vibrant journey of transformation, adventure and love, set against backdrops of the Iraq War, Africa and the world beyond. Fresh and introspective, it will lead you to exploring not only the far corners of the world but also the uncharted aspects of yourself.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Aaron Tait about the physical and psychological challenges he faced in training as a Royal Australian Navy clearance diver and as part of a non-compliant boarding unit in the Persian Gulf, how he was morally challenged by his experiences of war and what he did about it, and how the love of his life led him to live and work in Kenya and Tanzania in search of redemption

Aaron Tait on his journey from war to peace in 'Far Horizons'

What do you get when you put the story of history's greatest pandemic in the hands of the Queen of Crime? Something truly un-put-downable.

Minette Walters had sold over 25 million crime thriller novels when she stopped writing in 2007. In the midst of a 10-year hiatus, she made a grisly discovery in her town near Dorset, UK. That discovery inspired her new series about the Black Death that follows a heretical young woman, Lady Anne, as she defies the church to protect her people.

Books mentioned in this podcast:

The Last Hours - bit.ly/2B5IDrl
The Turn of Midnight - bit.ly/2OHyWmE

Minette Walters on the silver lining of the Black Death

Anna Austen has always been told she must marry rich. Her future depends upon it. While her dear cousin Fanny has a little more choice, she too is under pressure to find a suitor.

But how can either girl know what she wants? Is finding love even an option? The only person who seems to have answers is their Aunt Jane. She has never married. In fact, she's perfectly happy, so surely being single can't be such a bad thing?

The time will come for each of the Austen girls to become the heroines of their own stories. Will they follow in Jane's footsteps?

In this episode, historian Lucy Worsley chats to Erin Christie about her love of history and Jane Austen, and how she plans to pass this on to the next generation of young girls through her writing.

The Good Reading Podcast

Lucy Worsley on a lifetime of loving Jane Austen

Book talk and author interviews aimed at helping you discover your next favourite read, presented by Good Reading Magazine.

The Good Reading Podcast

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