Episode
TV Wine Expert Olly Smith: Death by Noir & the Birth of Wine Crime Fiction
- Published
- Jun 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2832
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://shows.acast.com/quick-book-reviews/episodes/death-by-noir-wine-crime-writing-book-reviews-with-olly-smit
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Summary
Philippa reviews four very different books — from Tintin to Elizabeth Strout — before sitting down with TV wine expert and debut crime novelist Olly Smith to talk about his joyful new book Death by Noir , and the sub-genre he's invented: wine crime. 📚 Book Reviews The Adventures of Tintin and the Picaros – Hergé A revolutionary adventure featuring Bianca Castafiore and a mysterious plot around carnival time. Fun, but Philippa wasn't left desperate for more Tintin. The Things We Never Say – Elizabeth Strout ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Philippa's first Strout — and now she wants them all. A quietly devastating 200-page novel about a man keeping a secret from the world, and from himself. Exquisite, beautiful writing that made Philippa sob unexpectedly. Unmissable. The Ballad of Small Hope and Penny Royal – Jodi Taylor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Time-travelling bounty hunters, sharp humour, and perfect audiobook narration. Brilliant as a standalone even if you've never read Jodi Taylor before — and book two is coming this summer. The Inheritance – Mark Dawson Book five in the Atticus Priest series. Enjoyable enough, but Philippa felt the magic of the earlier books wasn't quite there this time. 🎙️ Author Interview: Olly Smith on Death by Noir Set in the rolling hills of East Sussex around the town of Lewes, Death by Noir follows Barclay Flint , eccentric proprietor of the Bottle Bank wine shop, who must use his wine-detecting skills to solve a crime and clear his own name — all before the explosive Lewes Bonfire Night finale. Olly and Philippa discuss: How four characters arrived fully-formed in Olly's mind while flying over the Himalayas Why he wrote every word himself (no ghostwriter) Inventing "wine crime" as a new sub-genre The late Peter Hall of Breaky Bottom vineyard, who read his chapters just before he died…