Currently in Japan where the autumn leaves are making me happy - as is the fact that today is the day The Birdcage Library comes out in the US! Thank you so much to all at Union Square & Co. for all their hard work on this absolutely beautiful edition! Please do check out for all your

On LBC in 15 mins with the marvellous Shelagh Fogarty to discuss the rise and fall of Asma al-Assad and the appalling fascination of dictators' wives

After the incredible events in #Syria this last week, I was so honoured to be invited onto LBC to discuss the fall of Asma al Assad, a key inspiration for my novel The Dictator’s Wife. I find her and women like her completely fascinating. Do they soften these men, or whitewash

This photo made my day. Solidarity with #GiselePelicot and all survivors.

The Guardian is cancelling my contract after 19 years continuous employment with no pay-off so totes happy to go to the Indie to continue my investigation into Evgeny’s dad, the ex-KGB spy. The UK media: so many fine choices. theguardian.com/media/2019/nov…

Lecteur, l’homme que j’aime cherche à me tuer…Très heureux que mon livre sorte en français aujourd’hui! My schoolgirl French really helped me with writing the translation of Le Bibliothèque aux Oiseaux, aka The Birdcage Library. Just joking - the translation is courtesy of Anouk

We think MPs should listen to what's gone wrong in Canada's assisted dying. Donna Duncan's story must be heard - told by her brave daughter Alicia. It's one of somersaulting horror - and state and professional failure of a fiercely independent woman.

Turns out gene editing is a lot like book editing theguardian.com/science/2025/m…

“The key difference between us? He had the internet to read at night whereas I had Terry Pratchett and Judy Blume.” We have to ban phones for children now - no ifs or buts or weasel equivocations. We are ruining young lives by failing to act. theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2…

Well this just sounds excellent Bobby Palmer

Ten Great Novels set in the GOLDEN AGE of Detective Fiction tripfiction.com/ten-great-nove… Including Martin Edwards Tom Mead Fiona Veitch Smith Cara Miller / C. L. Miller Freya Berry

I'm speaking at the Open University! Please join me and the wonderful Priscilla Morris, author of the very moving Black Butterflies, as we talk about creating worlds in fiction. Part of a whole day's cultural symposium for just £25 NB: I once took an 江辞 course in marine

This ought to be very special from the superb Sean.Lusk

Can’t wait to get stuck into this one Emma Stonex! ☀️🧡☀️🧡☀️

I have idly wondered this about once a week for about 15 years and NOW I KNOW

Very authory day yesterday, giving a talk at the The Open University symposium on writing place in fiction at the v imposing Senate House. Then off to Hatchards summer party where I completely failed to take any photos but did nearly spill champagne on William Dalrymple and wore

Feels like our cultural landscape is in decline? It was amazing to have my book The Dictator's Wife featured on #BetweenTheCovers a couple of years ago but it reminded me how rare it is to see books on TV. Seems it's about to get rarer

Pretty devastating from James Marriott

Crawling out of finishing book 3 like