Podcast by Mal Bernhardt
01 November 2025
In this week's episode, we'll be looking at 'Queen B' by Juno Dawson. It's the prequel to the Sunday Times Bestselling Her Majesty's Royal Coven series. In this podcast, we'll ask whether dipping into a prequel after reading only one book in a trilogy is an advantage, a disadvantage or it doesn't matter. In addition, we'll look at the themes of revenge and how the persecution of these Tudor witches matches attacks on trans communities in 2025. Finally, Mal takes time to recommend visiting Haworth and Hebden Bridge if you're in the vicinity. It's a busy episode!
Content: Contains swearing
You can find and follow Mal on Bluesky: outoforderbookclub.bsky.social
Useful links and helpful sources:
Independent article by Juno Dawson: This was written earlier this year and was quoted in the podcast. This is a personal article rather than about her writing career.
The books of my life - Juno Dawson
BBC Doctor Who - Interview: If you're interested in the Whoniverse and/or you are a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest and are curious about how it could play out on an intergalactic level, then this is for you.
Behind the Words with Juno Dawson: I shared this on Bluesky as well as here, as I quoted it several times in the podcast. This focuses directly on 'Queen B'.
Bookseller Interview from 2024
The Word is Out: Val McDermid selects Britains 10 most outstanding LGBTQ writers
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25 October 2025
In this week's episode, we'll be looking at 'Death Shall Overcome' by Emma Lathen. Emma Lathen was the creation of two writers: Martha Henissart and Mary Jane Latsis. This episode involves me discovering who this "Agatha Christie of Wall Street" was, and dealing with the fact that the key sleuth/hero is the Vice President of Sloan Guaranty Trust. This shows how much times have changed since a Wall Street hero seems unimaginable at this point in time.
Content Warning: I'll be looking at the themes of racism within this book which directly deals with that topic. This books was published in 1966, so although the writers clearly don't agree with the racist behaviour in their book the language and attitudes they use can be patronising and very problematic. However good this book is, it is a product of it's time.
You can contact Mal on Bluesky: outoforderbookclub.bsky.social
Helpful links and useful sources:
The Passing Tramp: This is really helpful about the background of Emma Lathen, but also the suspicious nature of the most recent additions (post-1997) to the Emma Lathen series.
Neil Nyren - Crime Reads: I used this before and during the podcast, it is a great read for anyone like me who had no idea about Emma Lathen.
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18 October 2025
In this episode, we'll be arriving very late to an epic story by looking at the fifth and final book in the Sir Benfro series, 'The Obsidian Throne' by J. D. Oswald.
I am a person who reads more crime fiction than fantasy, so it may seem strange to dive into Oswald's fantasy epic rather than his McLean crime series. However, that's all part of the fun of being an 'out of order' reader. This episode will take you through a short rant about which McLean novels are in my local library, then on to how much emotional commitment can carry you through a novel so late in a series. I'll do this while reminding you (repeatedly) that I unknowingly decided to read the fifth book in a five book series. What could possibly go wrong?
Content warning: Some swearing!
You can find Mal on Bluesky: outoforderbookclub.bsky.social
Useful links and helpful sources:
Interview with Civilian Reader: A really interesting interview about this book which I quote in the episode because it focuses on the publication of this final part in the series.
Page One Interview: There is a lot here about how Oswald used Amazon to start his career success and bypass traditional publishing in the inital stages of his crime writing career.
The Courier Interview: Not only an interesting interview, but it also contains shots of some very lovely cows. I'm not being sarcastic, the cows look amazing.
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11 October 2025
Welcome to the first bitesize edition of Out of Order Book Club! It's about half the size of our usual podcast and the aim is to take a quick look at a book that has been recommended from a listener, a book that came up in a previous podcast or a book that has been suggested in real life.
In this bitesize edition, I'll be taking a look at 'Save the Cat' by Blake Snyder, as this was recommended by multiple authors at a crime writing festival earlier this year. In this episode, I will focus on the importance of beats, wonder whether this book is useful for a new writer and go on a minor rant about mumbo jumbo and petit women in crime fiction.
You can contact Mal on Bluesky: outoforderbookclub.bsky.social
Useful links and helpful sources:
Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody: Here's the 'Save the Cat' version that I mentioned in my prologue. It is definitely on my list and I'll definitely be doing a follow up episode about this.
Harrogate Crime Writing Festival Website: This is where I heard about 'Save the Cat' by Blake Snyder.
Oliver Harris Website: During the podcast, I kept blanking on the name of Oliver Harris' police officer character who I thought was a great example of character that 'saves the cat'. The character is Nick Belsey and I'd really recommend the series. It's certainly a series I'm considering doing an episode on since I'm 100% reading it out of order!
Save the Cat Website: Full disclosure I didn't do any research for this podcast other than read the book, as I just wanted to share my responses to it and provide my own analysis. However, afterwards I discovered there is a website with coaching etc. I don't know if this was set up by Blake Snyder, who died in 2009 but I thought I'd just share the link for the curious. This is not an endorsement. This is not advertising.
Save the Movie! by Peter Suderman (2013): This article from Slate gives you an idea of the 'controversy' or problems people see in this book. His argument, which I don't think I have enough knowledge to either agree or disagree with regarding films, is that the beat structure has actually turned screenwriting formulaic.
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04 October 2025
This week's podcast looks at 'Smoke and Ashes' by Abir Mukherjee, the third book in the very successful Wyndham and Bannerjee series. In fact, the sixth book in the series comes out next month, so it seems like a good time to visit this series as an 'out of order' reader.
In this episode, Mal sees connections between the events and themes in this book and 2025. Plus, she goes off on a tangent about the content of her history lessons at school, gets a little obsessed (confused?) with how much research is involved in writing a historical novel, and the importance of historical novels shining a light on things we know nothing about. Spoiler: It's important!
Contents: Contains some swearing
You can contact Mal on Bluesky: outoforderbookclub.bsky.social
Helpful resources and useful links:
Harrogate Crime Writing Festival Interview (2018)
Author Series - Hudson Library and Historical Society (2022)
Les Artisans De La Fiction (2023)
The Scoundrel Harry Larkyns and his pitiless killing by the photographer Eadweard Muybridge by Rebecca Gowers (2019): This is a book I mention in the podcast, and it is well worth a read. It is a microscopic study of the life of someone dismissed in favour of the more famous person he 'crossed paths with', to put it politely. It's both a history lesson, and a lesson in how people can be made victims over again by the retelling of history.
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27 September 2025
This week, I'll be looking at 'The Loo Sanction' by Trevanian. In this episode, I probably say the word 'smut' a little too much, I wonder why a 'spoof of a spoof' can have a contemplative ending and I think the language on the first page is full of pretentious sexual imagery even though it is a death scene. (Let's not consider what that says about me!)
I'd never heard of Trevanian (real name: Rodney William Whitaker) until I picked this book up on a charity bookshelf either this year, which is a huge surprise since he was a very successful author in the 1970s. The first book in this 'series', 'The Eiger Sanction', was even turned into a film by Clint Eastwood, though it's fair to say the author didn't rate it very much.
Content Warning: Keep in mind this is a spoof spy novel from the 70s with a lot the sexual and racial language and attitudes that come from that period. This is discussed in the podcast, but it is worth bearing that in mind before you begin listening.
You can follow Mal on Bluesky: @outoforderbookclub.bsky.social
Useful links and helpful sources:
Trevanian Website: The Loo Sanction
Trevanian Website: The Eiger Sanction
Far Out Magazine: The Clint Eastwood movie that tragically killed a stuntman
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