The first episode of The Critic Books Podcast: in conversation with J. R. Thorp.

Here are three of our most praised writers with new offerings written during one or more lockdowns and that also take in the pandemic in their subject matter

Discover “one of the finest novelists of her and our time.” 

Professor Jeremy Black rounds up the best autumnal reads that are successful in grounding a sense of place

The most anticipated book of the year, a Booker Prize nominee and a posthumous release: John Self on three new, big releases this month

Three books that each offer a traditional holiday-reading pleasure

Jeremy Black recommends a menagerie of disturbing animal-themed stories to entertain throughout the summer

In this month’s fiction selection, John Self discovers novels that successfully use their style to enhance rather than simply describe the story

From midnight Parisian walks and femmes fatales to jazz and corruption, Jeremy Black rounds up the best murders

Young Adult fiction has become cancel culture’s savage front line