Read On - The Audiobook Show from RNIB

In Read On this week, we are focusing on resilience: Mick Dawson and blind veteran Steve Sparky Sparks discuss their gruelling journey to row across the Pacific Ocean. Sarah Jane Douglas and Richard Frazer reveal the reconciliation each of them found through walking and contemplation. Ed Caesar introduces us to 'The Moth and The Mountain': the extraordinary story of a World War One veteran who sought to climb Mount Everest. And we return to Mick Dawson, to hear the books of his life.

Vicky Goldie reveals how working for RNIB and her own personal circumstances informed the character of her blind detective. Paul Mylrea reviews Ngaio Marsh's 'Scales of Justice'. Tim Finch discusses his novel Peace Talks, which has been short listed for the Costa Award. And Anna Bell shares a cautionary tale in her new rom com We Just Clicked.

In this Read On 2020 Booker Prize special episode, host Red Szell interviews each of the six shortlisted authors, shares some fun facts about the world's most prestigious literary prize and reveals the winner through the Books of Their Life.

The Best of Read On 2020 Part 2: Robert Kirkwood talks to the winner of the Costa First Novel award, Sarah Collins. Stuart Turton takes us on a mysterious and murderous voyage in his new novel The Devil and the Dark Water. We hear the heart warming story of how an RNIB volunteer, a musician and a holocaust survivor came together to create a Talking Book The RNIB Library’s Lynne Livingstone gives us her literary antidote to lockdown. Best selling novelist Sarah Morgan transports us to the Lake District in search of family harmony. And SD Robertson shares the Books of His Life.

The Best of Read on 2020: Part 1 Costa Award Winner Jack Fairweather introduces us to 'The Volunteer'. We hitch a ride with an enchanted suitcase and author LD Lapinski’s 'Strange Worlds Travel Agency'. Husband and wife narrators Alastair Petrie and Lucy Scott reveal how they kept calm and carried on narrating despite lockdown. Blade Runner meets Forrest Gump in Simon Stephenson’s android rom-com, Set My Heart To 5. And loyal listener Penny Melville Brown shares some of her audiobook highlights of 2020.

This week a snowy special: Lucy Foley takes us to the Scottish Highlands in her chilling crime thriller ‘The Hunting Party’. Robert introduces Red to a comedy classic set on the slopes of a Himalayan mountain. Sir Chris Bonington shares some of his own, real life, tales from the snowy peaks. And we discover more about another cool customer at home in winter conditions – the robin.

Charlie Mackesy discusses both writing, illustrating and recording (in his barn) 'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse'. Joanna Toye catches us up with the goings on at Marlow's Department Store in 'Christmas for the Shop Girls'. Emma Powell talks about narrating RNIB's Read-A-Long book 'Red and the Wolf'. And we return to Charlie Mackesy for the Books of his Life.

In today's show, we focus on Contemporary Crime. Mark Billingham on 'The Killing Habit' Matthew Parris on 'Scorn' Chris Brookmyre on 'Want You Gone' Emma Swan on narrating 'That'll Be The Day' And Red reviews 'Trunk Music' by Michael Connelly

Sally Gardner brings us a fairy tale for adults with The Snow Song. Tineka Smith and Alex Court on 'Mixed Up: Confessions of an Interracial Couple'. Robert Kirkwood talks to Charlotte Levin about her debut novel 'If I Can't Have You'. And we return to Sally Gardner for the Books of her Life.

This week we’ll be using our little grey cells to investigate some new developments in classic crime... Sophie Hannah tells us why Hercule Poirot is working with a new partner, and her publisher talks about how the collaboration came about. Lynn Shepherd discusses adding crime scenes to stories inspired by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. And Red finds the book in The Library that made him want to be a crime writer.