Lee Child with staff from The Reading Agency and HMP Prisons: photo credit MOJ

So good to hear that nearly half a million Quick Reads are to reach prisons across the UK, with a collection shaped with people in prison and prison staff, as part of the UK’s largest-ever prison book gifting programme and championed by Prison Reading Laureate Lee Child.

Crime and thriller writing is strongly represented in the collection, led by internationally bestselling author and the UK’s first Prison Reading Laureate (and a favourite of mine) – Lee Child – alongside a broader selection spanning memoir, wellbeing, contemporary fiction and creative writing. The collection includes books by A. A. Dhand, Dreda Say Mitchell, Fiona Cummins, Leye Adenle and Alex Wheatle, alongside memoir and wellbeing titles by Andy McNab, Lemn Sissay, Dr Alex George and Cathy Rentzenbrink.

Nearly 500,000 Quick Reads books will be distributed across prisons in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, helping to make engaging, accessible books available to people in custody across the UK. The landmark programme marks the 20th anniversary of Quick Reads and has been made possible with funding from The Henry Smith Foundation, with additional support from The Balcombe Trust and Clays. Prison Reading Laureate Lee Child said: “Reading matters in prison. Short, compelling stories can spark a renewed interest in books — and that spark can lead anywhere. Making sure that every prisoner has access to engaging, well-written books during the National Year of Reading is not just symbolic. It’s practical, purposeful and potentially life-changing.”

The need to make reading accessible within prisons remains significant. Ministry of Justice statistics for 2024–25 show that 65% of English initial-assessment results across public prisons in England were at Entry Levels 1–3, while 11% were at Level 2 or above. Just an example of why Quick Reads are specifically designed to remove some of the barriers that can prevent adults from reading for pleasure. Short, compelling and accessible without being simplistic, they offer an entry point both for established readers and people who may not have picked up a book for years.

In fact, the Reading Agency is not working alone, but HM Prison and Probation Service, the Ministry of Justice, Scottish Prison Service and Northern Ireland Prison Service also actively support delivery across the prison estate. As Karen Napier MBE, CEO of The Reading Agency, said: “When we put a book directly into someone’s hands, we are offering more than words on a page. Reading can offer escape, connection and space for reflection, while supporting wellbeing, confidence and learning. At the heart of this programme is choice. We have listened to people in prison about what they want to read and are bringing together books spanning crime and thrillers, memoir, wellbeing and creative writing. We want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to find a book that grabs them and discover where reading might take them.”

The 11 books were selected with input from people in prison and prison staff, helping ensure the collection reflects a range of interests and reading experiences. Crime and thriller writing emerged as a particularly strong thread. High Heat by Lee Child takes a teenage Jack Reacher into New York during the 1977 blackout; Cell One by Leye Adenle is a fast-moving Lagos-set kidnap thriller; and Darkness Rising by A. A. Dhand features Bradford detective Harry Virdee. One False Move by Dreda Say Mitchell is a tense 24-hour story about a woman newly released from prison trying to go straight, while Fiona Cummins’ A Boy Called Saul brings together a troubled teenager and former detective with a dark shared past.

But the collection deliberately offers a range of other ways into reading.

Former SAS soldier Andy McNab’s Today Everything Changes tells how learning to read and the Army’s education system changed the course of his life after a childhood marked by poverty and petty crime. At 17, McNab had the reading age of a nine-year-old. He said: “Reading is so important, not just for education but to escape the confines of life. As someone who, at seventeen, had the reading age of a nine-year-old, becoming a reader changed my life. Reading not only provided me with an education and the ability to compete in the world but also sparked my imagination and that gave me a positive outlook for my future.”

Poet and author Lemn Sissay’s My Name Is Why explores his experience growing up in the care system and his fight to understand his identity, while The Mind Manual by Dr Alex George offers an accessible guide to looking after mental health and wellbeing. Cathy Rentzenbrink’s Write It All Down encourages readers to tell their own stories, while Dead Simple brings together eight short stories by bestselling writers for readers looking for something they can dip into and enjoy. Alex Wheatle’s Witness follows a young man facing an impossible choice between truth and loyalty. Dr Alex George said: “Reading can be a moment of stillness and a chance for your mind to escape into another world. Seeing The Mind Manual adapted as a Quick Read means more people can access support when they need it most. I’m honoured it’s part of the prison collection — reading can be a lifeline in tough moments.”

A. A. Dhand, whose Darkness Rising is among the selected books, said: “Books should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances or their previous relationship with reading. In prison, reading can provide far more than temporary escape. It can build confidence, create empathy and give people the opportunity to see the world and themselves differently. If the right book reaches the right person at the right moment, it can open a door that may otherwise have remained closed.”

Alongside the distribution of books, Quick Reads in Prisons will be supported by a national engagement programme designed to make reading visible, accessible and enjoyable throughout the prison estate and connect writers directly with readers. Activities include author-led workshops and creative writing activity, dedicated National Prison Radio content around the Quick Reads titles, and practical resources and activities to help prison libraries, education teams, peer supporters and staff bring the books to life.

The programme will encourage prisons to make Quick Reads available at different places and moments throughout someone’s time in custody – from libraries, wings and education to workplaces and other shared spaces – helping create more opportunities to encounter and enjoy a book. Undoubtedly the project is one of the most ambitious reading-engagement programmes delivered across the UK prison estate and forms part of the National Year of Reading 2026.

THE 11 QUICK READS PRISON COLLECTION TITLES

Leye Adenle – Cell One (Simon & Schuster) Fiona Cummins – A Boy Called Saul (Pan Macmillan) AA Dhand – Darkness Rising (Penguin Random House) Lee Child – High Heat (Penguin Random House) Dr Alex George – The Mind Manual (OctopusLemn Sissay – My Name Is Why (Canongate) Dreda Say Mitchell – One False Move (Hodder) Andy McNab – Today Everything Changes (Penguin Random House) Alex Wheatle – Witness (Profile Books) Cathy Rentzenbrink – Write It All Down (Pan Macmillan) Various authors – Dead Simple (Orion)

The Reading Agency is a UK charity that inspires social and personal change through the proven power of reading. The Reading Agency reaches over 2.5 million people a year but with a UK population of over 67 million that’s not nearly enough. We want to get more people fired up about reading because everything changes when you read. Get in touch today to find out more about what we do and to help us on our mission.  readingagency.org.uk | @readingagency

Frost Magazine loves the Tormek T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener with its fine-grained diamond grinding wheel, it’s both exquisitely beautiful and incredibly useful. The first real knife sharpener for the home chef, unusually for a home device, it sharpens the entire bevel of the knife, achieving professional sharpness in minutes.

Always looking to innovate and improve, Tormek have now introduced the NEW Coarse Diamond Wheel. Easy to mount and specifically designed for the Tormek T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener, the coarse diamond surface removes material more quickly than the standard grinding wheel, making it especially useful for very blunt knives or heavily worn kitchen knives, damaged edges and worn tips. 

A true quality product, the NEW DC-150 Conical Diamond Wheel Coarse, 360-grit diamond grinding wheel, RRP £130 is available from shop.tormek.co.uk.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Bellavita Luxury Honey Oud Unisex Eau de Parfum is seriously punching above its weight and Bellavita Luxury is definitely a brand to watch.

I absolutely love Honey Oud’s blend of fragrances – top notes of bergamot and honey hit the senses first, creating a light citrus introduction; relax into the sensuous middle notes of rose, patchouli and oud (for the uninitiated, oud is a dark resinous heartwood, known as liquid gold, which is found as incense or in luxury essential oils and perfumes.) Finally, as if these delicious aromas weren’t enough, we’re left with the base notes of warm vanilla, amber, soft musk and yet more exotic, woody oud, which simply lasts and lasts. In summary, it’s just a wonderful, rich, warm perfume which lasts and lasts.

Such a complex and exciting eau de parfum would normally command a three figure price label, so I was stunned to discover that you can buy this from Boots for just £19.99 for 100ml – honestly, this isn’t a misprint – no wonder it’s TikTok’s #1 selling fragrance.

So why are you still reading? You need to hurry down to Boots and grab this before it’s snapped up. It makes the perfect Christmas present – but at this price you can afford to treat yourself too – after all you deserve it.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Coming just in time – on October 29 – The Folly Murders by Mike McConnell is a gripping British crime thriller following DI Gabriel Swan, a detective forced to return to the remote English Channel island where he grew up. When the harbourmaster is found ritualistically murdered, Swan is drawn into an investigation which dives into an old wartime legend, buried secrets and a community where everyone seems to have something to hide. Then… Oh no, read on, you won’t regret it. For the pre-order price of £0.99 @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GX2YPYXV/

If you like psychological twists, Bonnie Traymore’s The Good Sister is your Halloween reading. When her mirror twin goes missing, Casey is led into an inescapable ‘paradise’. She and Nora are identical – but not quite – Casey is right-handed, Nora is left-handed, they even have moles on opposite cheeks. The are also very different characters: Casey is calm, sensible – Nora, not so much. So, when Nora disappears after a fight with her husband, Casey shouldn’t really be concerned as this isn’t the first time – or should she because this time, things feel different?  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GH2BR3PQ/ @ £3.49

A good ‘un from Linda Renham in which we meet Joanna Neal, an excellent paediatric surgeon, her husband Daniel, who is a successful finance director – and their wonderful son. Indeed, they are the perfect family. They buy and renovate a romantic Cotswold country and all seems tickety-boo. But… Joanna vanishes without trace on the evening of her 10th wedding anniversary, and everything begins to crack wide open as blackmail and lies… Nope, I can’t spoil it for you. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GX2WRBKH/ @£2.99

After years of hardship, Emma’s chance of happiness is tinged with heartbreak. Together with her husband Paul and their daughter, Mollie, she takes a chance and moves to France, where an old ruin is set to become their new home, far away from their problems in England. But she’s forced to leave her son behind. Things start to go wrong. It’s not just the challenges of life in a foreign country but strange incidents… https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H94VMGHK/ @ £2.99

Halloween is an ideal time to read something eerie and R.G Belsky has written just the thing. A paranormal thriller – you know, hide behind the sofa stuff.

When Megan and her husband Patrick agree to spend the summer at a luxurious house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut, everything seems almost wonderful. Yes, the rent is absurdly low, but the host is uncomfortably over attentive. The other guests seem pleasant but ‘seem’ it appears is the operative word. Then Megan sees a lad, Tommy playing, but then he isn’t. He’s just… gone. Oh crikey… https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FYFY4SYD/ @ £3.49

And now something to relax us all, a little. J.New’s An Accidental Murder (Book 1 of 6) is cozy crime at its best. Recently settled into a charming home on Linhay Island – known as The Yellow Cottage – Ella finds herself entangled in a murder investigation – as yer do. But she’s not solving it alone. A rather, shall we say, strange presence from The Yellow Cottage’s past, helps. Ella follows a trail of cryptic clues into the heart of 1930’s London, and must confront a foe before she becomes the next target. Will she sort it out in time? https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F2JJQY64/ @ £1.99

Lots to read over Halloween, so tuck yourselves up by the fire and enjoy.

Milly Adams is the author of The Waterway Girls trilogy https://www.amazon.co.uk//dp/B0FRN1JWMF/ @ £5.97 for all 3 kindles

If you want to read something seasonally themed but not spooky, may I suggest Twig’s Travelling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy. Louella Twig is the only witch of her kind, lacking traditional witch skills but possessing an affinity with books. Her bookshop travels from town to town, by the use of a magical door-handle, where she always finds, not the book the customer wants, but the book the customer needs.

She is living a settled, cosy, life until a mysterious man turns up in the bookshop – handsome, charming, roguish and on the run. All she wants to do is ignore the unwelcome feelings he stirs in her and get him out the door. But when her old mentor turns up in need of help to rescue a precious manuscript, suddenly a handy thief is just what she requires. 

Before she knows it, Louella has gathered a gang of friends and sets off on an adventure, pursuing the lost book, and being pursued romantically by the bandit.

It’s a fun, whimsical read with a touch of romance perfect for a Sunday afternoon curled up in an armchair.

However, if something a bit more chilling is what you fancy, why not try Service by Lauren Mooney. 

After breaking up with a boyfriend, Danielle is homeless. Offered the chance to take care of an old ancestral home by her monstrous boss, she jumps at the opportunity. The house is isolated, the rooms are either shrouded in dustsheets or behind locked doors and she is terribly alone. 

Her only human contact is at the local pub but one night she arrives back to find a bowl of fresh peaches on the dining room table. She hears hobnail boots in the corridor, reaches for an apron she sees but isn’t there, and has vivid dreams of a 19th century housemaid, but are they dreams? 

When her boss and awful son unexpectedly turn up, Danielle finds herself relegated to the servants quarters and gradually finds the lines blurring between PA and maidservant. When the pub refuses to serve her because the ‘lady’ has forbidden it, Danielle decides she needs to get out, but is it too late?

This is a great modern gothic ghost story. It is a genuinely chilling book. Is the house haunted or is it Danielle? As she becomes more disorientated, how much can we believe her? 

But is also a telling tale of the modern loneliness of life, where a person with a job can still be homeless. Where it can be difficult to tell the difference between service and servant. Where if you are born in the wrong class, penury is always just around the corner. A clever, gripping, interesting read.

Twig’s Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy Publisher: Bonnier Books Ltd

ISBN: 9781806171569 £16.99 hardback £9.99 paperback

Service by Lauren Mooney Pub. Manilla Press (an imprint of Bonnier Books)

£16.99 hardback ISBN: 9781786586285

In The Swords of Canterbury, set in 1546 after the shock of the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries – we join the Llewelyn family as they journey in wagons to Canterbury, hoping to find work as stonemasons at the Cathedral. Work is so much scarcer than it was, though, as there were few monasteries left in existence, and therefore fewer places of work for such craftsmen.

Of course, school taught us the bare bones of the Reformation, but the resulting damage to various skilled artisans eluded me. It no longer does, thanks to The Company of Stonemasons series. The protagonist is the young stonemason Edward Llewelyn who has decided to leave his love behind until he can offer her a reliable life and now travels for work with his parents, siblings, uncle and a fellow workman, concentrating on the most reliable of employers – the Cathedrals. They finally smell Canterbury – yes really – and why would it be otherwise when sewage was an ongoing problem, – no flushing lavatories for them. They hot foot it to the Guildhall to make their mark in the Guild register hoping someone would need them.

How interesting is this Guildhall information?

And so the novel goes on, opening up our eyes to the era as we become engrossed in this warm-hearted family group and the twists and turns of the plot; their missing fellow worker, and the arrival of a homeless youth seemingly in need, but is he? A strange old hag with a jackdaw – is that a sinister event, is she even real? Will we learn more? Of course we will. Will there be a fascinating denouement? And what about the violent criminals…

Well I’m not going to tell you, but what I will hint at is that what begins as a possible source of work soon becomes a dangerous adventure with, ultimately, a surprising discovery for this family group. But will the discovery ever see the light of day? Ah, there’s the question. Nope, I will not tell you. Read it, you won’t regret it, this is a most fascinating novel.

The Swords of Canterbury by Graham Williams is in Kindle and paperback: The Swords of Canterbury

Catherine Yardley is the Author of Ember, Where The Light is Hottest, and, now,  The Mothers of SW19. She is a freelance journalist who has written for The Times and Sunday Times, Metro, Telegraph, Stylist, The Bookseller, Mslexia, Writers’ and Artists’, Newsweek, Writing Magazine and Huffpost.

So let’s get to it; the nitty gritty.

Were you an actor first or a writer? Which grew out of which? And have you always wanted to be both?

I would say I was a writer first. Or, more accurately, a reader. It took a lot of time to find the courage to be both. I never thought I would have the talent. I started writing when I was in a band when I was around ten. I would write songs which I later turned into poems. Acting was a dream, but it took going to drama school to build up my confidence. They are more similar than people realise. It’s all about telling a story, one with words, the other with your whole self. 

Do you find yourself observing everything and everyone noting the subtext? So often conversations you overhear and more interesting that the one you are actually having. I would imagine that observation is as essential for an actor, as it is for a writer.

It definitely is. I’m an avid people watcher. I take endless notes. Sometimes nothing is truer than fiction. You’re taking in everything around you all of the time, as well as the news and other books, films, and television shows. 

Have you ever been the victim of the school gate situation?

That would be telling! My oldest is 11 so it’s fair to say that not every single one of the hundreds of parents I have met have liked me. A lot of real life stuff went into the book, but it wasn’t necessarily my own experience. Or is a variation of something. 

Tell us what you actually strove to achieve. We all read books and create our own themes, from our own experiences. It would be fascinating to know your intent, as the layers are revealed.

I really wanted to capture the politics of the school gate. There are so many stories there. All of these people thrown together because they had children around the same time. Then there are those alpha mums. They don’t seem to get that not everyone needs to live the same way. You get that mean girl energy in a grown woman, it’s just unhinged. Mothers need their story told in all it’s messy glory. 

How on earth do you juggle work and 4 kids – tell us a bit about your working day.

I get up at 7am and do the school run. Then it’s just me and the baby. I take him to groups and then when he naps I write and send off pitches. When I have a baby I work around the patch work of their little lives. Sometimes I work evenings or weekends if needed. My life is run from my iPhone. I also have a husband. Once when I had a book deadline I worked until 1am and then got up at 6am. I’m also breastfeeding and I work while I do that. It all adds up to a lot. Mothers are ruthlessly efficient. 

Do you have ambitions to write for theatre or film? Perhaps SW19 would work. I could be granny???

Definitely! I would love that. I already have some interest for The Mothers of SW19. Fingers crossed! I’m open to offers. You would be perfect for the role of the granny! 

What else is in the pipeline? And which has been your most memorable novel to write. I know I enjoyed some more than others.

Lots. My career has never been better. My journalism is going well. I am writing more than ever. There are more books coming. 

The Mothers of SW19 was definitely cathartic. I think every book helps me get an obsession out of my head. I love it. 

What is your advice to any emerging writer?

Be persistent. Read lots and write lots. Join some writing groups. Even if only online. 

And anything else you might which to discuss.

I have a lot of exciting news I can’t share yet. Watch this space! 

We have to leave it there. As always, Catherine is the master of suspense.

Website www.catherinebalavageyardley.com 

The Mothers of SW19 by Catherine Yardley is available here