Julia Raeside is no stranger to writing or comedy, having written for a number of UK broadsheet newspapers. But this is her debut novel which she's set in the world of stand-up comedy. It explores the sometimes toxic nature of male comedians using coercive controlling behaviour with women and is adroitly observed.

Julia tells Phil and Natalie why she thinks Comedy needs it's own HR department; she talks about what it was like completing and editing a novel for the first time and she reveals the moments from her own life, that made into the lead character's life in the book.

This is fiction, pure fiction, but Asia Mackay has a particular skill for making this tale about a married couple who happen to be serial killers, relatable. There's so much humour in her writing, and it feels incredibly cinematic which is why it's being adapted for the screen already. Asia has also started a parallel career as a screenwriter too, which we get into in this episode as well, so plenty to enjoy whether you're a reader, a writer or aspiring to be in the future.

Plus Asia has a stack of book recommendations to share, and you can get previous season's authors' recommendations on our website at bestsellerspodcast.com

Bestsellers is back for Season 8. Phil & Natalie have sweat blood and tears to bring some of the bestselling writers in the world to your ears for this season.

And we start with the master of the courtroom thriller, making a welcome return to Bestsellers: Scott Turow. Scott created Rusty Sabich forty years ago for Presumed Innocent. Now he's back in the final of the Presumed triumvirate, titled Presumed Guilty, where the lawyer finds his life turned upside down when his lover's son is accused of murder.

It'sh a brilliant epic Courtroom drama and Scott explains here how he put it together, why the sleeve notes give too much away for him and he updates us on whether this book will follow in the footsteps of Jake Gyllenhaal to Apple TV+ or signal a return for Harrison Ford to the big screen.