Thriller writer Mick Herron and his Slow Horses – the inspiration for the hit TV show - kick off our new series. Our clubbers decide if it’s first past the post or last over the line. Plus, comedian Shaparak Khorsandi tells Graham about her Scatterbrain and Alex Clark lifts the lid on a different kind of literary gang. All that plus what’s hot and what’s hotter in the book charts. Come and join the Club.

Best-selling author Juno Dawson casts a spell on Graham with Her Majesty’s Royal Coven - a tale of witches, prophecies, supernatural happenings in Hebden Bridge and Spice Girls fandom. Were the clubbers spellbound or cursing? Plus, Blue Lights and Sex Education actress and stand-up, Andi Osho, talks about her Tough Crowd, Sara Collins gets nostalgic, and we get a heads up on the next big thing on the book charts.

Graham talks to Booker Prize-winning author George Saunders about Lincoln in the Bardo, his innovative best-seller full of ghostly voices, and our Clubbers decide if it was heavenly or hellish. Plus, national treasure Clare Balding takes us on a tour of her Isle of Dogs, Alex Clark explores the supernatural and we discover what’s out of this world on the book charts.

Graham speaks to Andrea Lawlor about their story of sex, shape-shifting and mix-tapes, Paul Takes the Form of Mortal Girl, while actor Matthew Holness takes the form of spoof horror writer Garth Marenghi for the audiobook of his terrifying Incarcerat. Sara Collins is all about the sport, our Clubbers agree to disagree and we discover what’s at the top of the charts.

Just to note - Graham and the Club talk about books for adult readers, which means that, sometimes, some of the themes discussed may not be suitable for younger ears.

Our book is Terry Pratchett’s tale of mail, Going Postal, and his biographer and assistant, Rob Wilkins, tells Graham about helping this master of fantasy create his magic. Derry Girls and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan talks about her knack for audiobooks and Sara Collins looks at the state of the nation. All this and Clubber debate, chart favourites and the answer to the burning question - what actually is an axelotl?

UK Women’s Prize for Fiction winner, Kamila Shamsie, talks to Graham about her hit title, Best of Friends - and everyone’s favourite classicist, Mary Beard, lifts the lid on the more eccentric side of being Emperor of Rome. Alex Clark is all about the slightly naughty doorstoppers, from Lace to The Thorn Birds, and we get a sneak peek into the book charts.

Graham talks to Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah about his searing take-down of the US carceral system, Chain-Gang All-Stars. Our Clubbers deliver their verdict, Sara Collins does time with prison novels, and none other than Hollywood superstar, Arnold Schwarzenegger, tells us about his seven tools for life in Be Useful. All this plus chart news and other book chat. Come and join our club.

Please note, the book this week contains references to violence that some people might find upsetting.

Kiley Reid tells Graham about writing her Booker long-listed debut novel, Such a Fun Age, and former Conservative Party leadership candidate and The Rest is Politics co-host, Rory Stewart talks us through his Politics on the Edge. The Clubbers express some strong opinions, Alex goes a bit Downton Abbey and we get the inside track on what’s tearing up the charts.