I am constantly fascinated by the writing routines of writers. Mainly because I am trying to squeeze hours in wherever I can. Oh, to have the time to write full time! How would I organise my day?

The writing routines that entertain me the most are the ones from writers that I admire. My favourite author at present is John Steinbeck. I am slowly making my way through his canon. So it was with fascination that I discovered how he produced classics such as East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath.

Steinbeck approached his writing as a gruelling 9-5 job rather than an artistic calling. He believed in intense discipline and treated his desk as a factory workbench.

He would spend many hours deep in the zone, especially when he was writing his two masterpieces mentioned above. For a writer, he had a remarkably strict routine; one we could all take something from.

Early Morning Warm-Up (7:00 AM - 8:00 AM)

Compared to many writers, Steinbeck was an early riser. Once awake, he would have a quick breakfast, which largely consisted of black coffee. By 7:30, he sat at his desk.

However, he did not start writing at this point. Before working on his current masterpieces, he would force himself to go through his warm-up routine. He would open his journal and write a full page of stream-of-consciousness prose. Similar to morning pages that Julia Cameron made famous.

In these entries, he would complain about his backache, worry about his dogs, and generally detail his anxieties. This process cleared his mind and warmed his hand for longer writing sessions.

Narrative Sprint (8:00 AM - 1:00 PM)

Steinbeck would then write straight through for roughly four to five hours. He had a strict quota of two thousand words, which worked out as roughly four pages of his large ledger.

He was very superstitious about his writing and the tools that he used. He hated typewriters because he said the mechanical noise interrupted his train of thought. He wrote by hand using wooden pencils.

In the morning, his routine would begin with sharpening twenty-four to thirty-six pencils and placing them in a box. It was a routine that Roald Dahl also used. Once the pencil went dull, he would drop it in a box and grab a fresh one. It is estimated he used , more than, three hundred pencils to write East of Eden.

He preferred writing on large, heavy ledger paper. He loved the colour of yellow legal pads or cream-coloured ledger sheets because white paper reflected too much glare under his desk lamp and made his eyes ache during his morning sprints.

During this process, he refused to stop or look back until he had reached the two thousand words. He never edited as he wrote, as he believed this destroyed his organic rhythm.

His first draft was completed before he rewrote or edited anything.

Physical Labour (1:00 PM - Evening)

By the afternoon, Steinbeck was mentally exhausted. He believed writers had only a few hours of true creative energy daily, and forcing longer sessions resulted in poor work.

Like Dickens, who used to take an afternoon stroll, Steinbeck preferred physical labour in the afternoons. He would garden, build furniture, repair the house, or go for long walks.

This physical work allowed his subconscious mind to process the next day’s plot points without active strain. It is similar to going for a walk when you are stuck on a project.

For years I have looked for the perfect pencil... I found one the other day made by Eberhard Faber... It is very soft and will not hold a point past a legibly written page... but the blackness of the line is a joy. - John Steinbeck, Journal of a Novel

It is clear, by the books he produced, that Steinbeck’s routine worked extremely well for him. As with all writers, we can all take something away from his routine and add it to ours.

What is your writing routine?

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The Mysterious Disappearance of the Father of Cinematography

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Counting Connections

The fluorescent bulb above aisle seven had that low-grade hum that made you slowly question your own sanity. It was almost as if Jess could feel the vibration going through the soles of her safety boots. She wondered for the fifth time if she should turn it off, but then the darkness of the warehouse would engulf her on a night shift.

Outside, the rhythmic drumming of the rain lashed the corrugated roof, and a distant low rumble of thunder sounded as the June thunderstorm engulfed the small town. It bounced between the hills and the sea, getting louder and quieter as it moved across the sky, trying to escape. Jess smirked. She knew what it was like to be trapped somewhere you didn’t want to be.

Still standing here in the stark white glare of the overhead lights, everything was reduced to the sharp beep of the inventory scanner and the cold, metallic smell of the galvanised steel shelves.

“Zero-four-four-nine-two,” Clara read from the clipboard. Her voice was slightly hoarse, rounded by the exhaustion of a twelve-hour shift. “Brass hex nipples. Three-quarter inch.”

Jess leaned over the bottom shelf, her knees groaning against the cold linoleum floor. She plunged her hand into the dusty plastic bin. The brass fittings clinked together like heavy, dull coins. Clack. Clink. She counted them into her palm in sets of five.

“Twelve,” Jess said, her voice dropping into the cavernous quiet of the aisle. “No, wait. Thirteen.”

“Thirteen,” Clara repeated, the scratch of her ballpoint pen against the paper loud against the backdrop of the rain.

They had been at it since seven in the evening, moving methodically through plumbing, trade accounts, and outdoor fixtures. It was tedious, mind-numbing work that left a fine layer of grey metallic dust on their fingertips and the taste of stale, lukewarm coffee on their tongues.

A shared thermos sat between them on a flat pack of timber, a single plume of steam rising from the plastic cup that served as their communal mug.

Jess shifted her weight, sitting back on her heels. Her shoulder brushed against Clara’s arm. It was a contact they had made a thousand times over the last two years; stacking pallets, squeezing past each other in the staff room, sharing the tight space behind the trade counter. But tonight, with the store locked and the dark windows pressing against the glass greenhouse section next door, the contact felt different. It felt heavy. Static.

Clara didn’t move away. She adjusted the clipboard on her knees, her thigh resting just a millimetre from Jess’s trouser leg. The fabric of their heavy work trousers rasped together with a dry, quiet shhhk.

“Next one,” Clara murmured, her eyes fixed on the sheet, though she hadn’t turned the page. “Zero-four-four-nine-five. Washers. Small.”

Jess reached into the next bin. Her fingers were cold from the metal, the skin rough around the cuticles from a winter of lifting timber. She scooped a handful of the tiny brass rings. They were small enough to slip through her fingers if she wasn’t careful, tiny golden circles catching the harsh fluorescent light.

“Hold out your hand,” Jess said.

Clara dropped the clipboard onto her lap. She didn’t just hold out her palm; she moved her hand slowly, sliding it across the cold floor until it was directly beneath Jess’s.

The inventory scanner in Jess’s left hand gave a faint, electronic chirp as it went into sleep mode, but neither of them looked at it.

Jess leaned forward to drop the washers. But instead of letting them fall from a distance, she lowered her hand until her palm was nearly touching Clara’s. She uncurled her fingers. The tiny brass pieces cascaded into Clara’s hand with a soft, metallic whisper—chhh-clink.

But Jess didn’t pull her hand back.

Her index finger lingered, trailing down the side of Clara’s thumb. It was a slow, deliberate movement, the friction of skin against skin entirely different from the cold finality of the metal they had been handling all night. Jess’s fingertips caught on the slight roughness of Clara’s palm, tracing the line where the metallic dust had settled into the creases of her skin.

Clara froze. Her breath caught, a tiny, sharp intake of air that Jess heard perfectly over the roar of the rain on the roof. Clara’s fingers closed, not around the brass washers, but tilting upward just enough so that her fingertips brushed the inside of Jess’s wrist, right over the steady, jumping pulse.

The silence between them became absolute, a tiny pocket of warmth carved out of the massive, draughty warehouse.

Jess looked up from their hands. Clara was already looking at her. Her hair was tied back in a messy, loose bun, a few dark strands falling around her face, her eyes wide and dark under the shadow of the metal shelving. There was no grand speech. There was no cinematic shift in the weather. It was just the two of them, sitting on a dirty floor in Aisle Seven, surrounded by industrial plumbing supplies.

The air in the aisle had changed. It felt thick, charged with a sudden, dizzying clarity, as if the storm had somehow found its way into the warehouse. Under the touch of a dusty finger, everything they had lived behind for months simply dissolved.

Clara’s thumb moved, a tiny, tentative stroke against Jess’s skin, testing the reality of it.

“How many?” Clara whispered. Her voice was barely a breath, completely swallowed by the storm outside, yet it felt like the loudest thing Jess had ever heard.

Jess didn’t look down at the washers in Clara’s hand. She couldn’t. “I don’t know,” she replied, her voice just as soft. “Count them again.”

Clara didn’t move her hand away. Instead, she let the brass washers slide out of her palm. They scattered loosely onto the linoleum with a bright, clattering ring, rolling under the bottom shelf, lost in the shadows.

Neither of them cared.

Clara shifted her hand completely, her fingers sliding between Jess’s, locking them together, cold skin turning warm in the space between them.

The rain continued to lash against the tin roof, a thousand miles away. Under the humming light of Aisle Seven, the stocktake was entirely forgotten.

Unless you have been on holiday for a week, you cannot have missed the controversy over Substack’s release of its AI checker. There are privacy concerns, concerns over a witch hunt of writers, and generally a good old moan up on Notes.

First, there is no way this should be a witch hunt for writers who use AI. If you are a writer and not using some of the tools that AI offers, then you are losing time you could spend writing. But there is also a larger issue here: writers who are using AI to produce all their content - 100% AI-generated articles.

Before you think these people don’t exist, I was playing with the tool yesterday, and one of the True Crime writers I have followed for years, who is highly popular, is 100% AI-generated.

Yes, this may be an accident, but it might also be that I have been fooled all this time. That is a concern. Not that I am going to out their name; no, I come from the civilised generation. But I am not reading their writing anymore; I feel, well, conned in a way.

My AI Use

With that in mind, I thought I would be totally honest about my AI use. I don’t want any of my readers feeling as I have.

The primary way I use AI is as an editing partner. It picks up the typos and grammar mistakes I have made. When you have read something many times, your brain starts substituting what is there with what should be there. AI helps me find these problems.

Secondly, AI produces some of my images, especially the background ones I use on my articles. With True Crime, it is very hard to find an image you have the legal rights to share. For obvious reasons, some are too gruesome to share, and I always worry about sharing images of people, especially if a conviction has not been obtained yet.

Finally, I use AI to create an SEO- optimised title and description for my article, which I then copy and paste into the article settings. I have seen a huge increase in outside visitors to my newsletter since doing this.

Occasionally, AI will sort my research notes into a logical order when I have gone down a rabbit hole and have 50 pieces of paper with various handwritten facts on them. Occasionally, it will suggest cases for me to look into so I can roughly connect my Monday and Wednesday articles.

That is it for my writing. Do I feel guilty about using AI to help me with these tasks? Absolutely not. But I don’t feel guilty about putting my clothes in a washing machine rather than going down to the river to clean them, either.

Until next time: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

Sam

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I thought it was time for a bit of a personal update, a structural reshuffle, and a massive confession: I am officially taking my reading hobby back.

For a while now, I’ve been trying to keep up with the steady fortnightly rhythm of running The Book Chronicles. But somewhere along the line, turning my favourite books into structured “content” started draining the absolute joy out of reading. I found myself thinking more about framing posts. I was no longer just getting lost in a brilliant story.

So, I’ve made a big decision to clear my desk and refocus my creative energy.

Here is what is changing, what is moving, and where you can find me moving forward:

The Book Chronicles is officially closing

I am winding down the standalone Book Chronicles newsletter. For those of you who were on a paid tier, your subscriptions have been turned off so you won’t be rebilled (and I am currently sorting out any recent annual sign-ups).

That doesn’t mean all the content has gone. You can find it on this website under Reading. I will be adding to this section whenever I have something to say.

Sam H Arnold is becoming “Schedule-Free”

My personal site and newsletter here aren’t going anywhere, but the pressure is officially off.

There is no more strict fortnightly schedule.

From now on, this is a space where I will post completely organically. When I have something meaningful to share about my writing journey, a major milestone, or an article I genuinely care about, it will land in your inbox. You can always chat with me in chat if you have questions.

All my energy is moving to Murder Mayhem UK

By clearing away the noise, I am finally able to pour 100% of my focus into the project I am most passionate about right now: Murder Mayhem UK.

Because I’m no longer splitting my focus, I am dedicating serious time to deep-dive research. I am unearthing gripping historical cases and delivering the highest-quality true crime writing possible.

Moving forward, I’ll be publishing two comprehensive articles every single week.

If you love deeply researched investigative history, dark social histories, and cases that keep you up turning the pages, I would love to have you over there. It’s where the absolute bulk of my writing energy is going, and the community we are building in the comments section is incredible.

Murder Mayhem UK

Thank you so much for reading, for supporting my work across these different projects, and for allowing me the space to evolve my writing platform.

I’ll see you over at Murder Mayhem for some dark history, or right here whenever the creative lightning strikes!

Until next time: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

Sam

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The World Cup Massacre in County Down

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As we are halfway through the year, I thought it would be fun to look at my top five reads to date. I am pretty sure that these will change by the end of the year; at least, I hope so, or it could be a pretty dismal last half.

You can find full reviews of these books on my reading tab, but here are the five that I consider my best reads and why they have stayed in my heart. In no particular order.

Ship of Magic & Mad Ship — Robin Hobb

I am going to put the first two together as they come from a series. For me, Mad Ship has that added 1%. This is because I love second books in fantasy series; the first sets the scene, and you meet the characters, whereas the second is where the world-building happens.

This is the second trilogy in the Realm of the Elderlings series. I had planned to read this trilogy in 2026, but I’ve nearly finished it. I’ve already bought the next trilogy, which I can’t wait to start.

Robin Hobb is a master of character development, and you even find yourself relating and empathising with the despicable as well as the heartwarming. These books tell the story of the Bingtown Traders, mainly the Vestritt family, who have a liveship, a ship that can interact and talk to you. The ships are as much of a character as the two-legged humans. One of my favourite characters in the book is Paragon, the slightly immature liveship.

For fans of the Farseer Trilogy, there is an unusual cameo in the book, but see if you can spot it.

If you love fantasy, alongside characters you learn to love and watch grow, then this is a must-read. Start with the Farseer Trilogy and move on to The Liveship Traders.

Burning Bright — John Steinbeck

This is a very short novella by Steinbeck, but it packs just as much punch as East of Eden. Some of the reasons I love this book are personal; at its heart, it deals with the issue of parenting, regardless of genetics.

This unique book is told over three acts, each set in a different location, but featuring the same characters and continuing the story. It’s a must-read, and you can finish it in one sitting at only 90 pages.

Out of all Steinbeck’s novels, this is possibly talked about the least, but it sits right up there with East of Eden and Of Mice and Men for me.

The Will of the Many — James Islington

It is hard to sit here and know what to say about The Will of the Many. This tells the story of Vis, who must infiltrate the enemy and pretend to be one of them to survive and gain revenge. The world-building and concept are incredible, and if you like books set in academic settings, this is a must-read. I could not put this book down from the first page to the last, with all its twists and turns.

So, why is it hard to write about?

Because, having read this, I could not wait to read the second in the series, The Strength of the Few, and I hated it. I DNF’d it at 150 pages. The second book lacks the amazing qualities of the first. I’m happy to stop at the first book, but I’m disappointed that it didn’t improve throughout the series.

Blood Over Brighthaven — M.L. Wang

If you are looking for a standalone fantasy novel with engaging characters and amazing world-building, then this is for you. M.L. Wang’s intricate and mysterious tale is captivating and impossible to put down.

This is one of the only books that made goosebumps stand out on my arm during one of the twists. It is a masterclass of storytelling.

I would urge anyone to pick this up, even if you are not into fantasy, as this will have you hooked from the first page and leave you thinking about issues that relate to our world as well as this fantasy one.

There you have it: my five favourite books from 2026. What has been your favourite read of the year so far?

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I remember seeing that if you want your children to move away from electronics, you should lead by example. This stuck with me. That is why I always try to have a book in my hand as much as my phone.

The other thing that has helped reduce my phone consumption considerably is a tiny, pocket-sized notebook. I keep it with me at all times. This notebook contains my to-do list, ideas, appointments, and random thoughts. It is a catch-all for my brain.

To spark your creativity, you need time and space to think. To allow your brain to do this, you cannot be holding things in there you need to remember. Writing this down in a tiny notebook will free your brain.

The bonus is you tend to remember things better if you write them down.

Writing them down seems to move the information out of your short-term holding brain into your long-term memory. You no longer need to think about it. It is just there.

It does not need to be pretty; it just needs to be practical. So consider grabbing yourself a cheap notebook from your local supermarket and keeping it with you.

Write down ideas as they come to you. They can be as stupid as possible.

At the end of the week, go through these notebooks. Discard the rubbish and action the gems. This way, you should never find yourself searching for an idea to write about again.

Until next time: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

Sam 😊

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Throughout this newsletter, I have always said that reading should be about pleasure, not numbers. That is why I am happy to show you all that I only read three books this month. Life got in the way.

Mythos - Stephen Fry ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Stephen Fry’s Mythos is a fascinating retelling of the classics that breathes vibrant, witty life into the ancient Greek myths. Fry approaches these age-old tales of gods, monsters, and mortals with a deep love and a dry, modern humour that makes them incredibly accessible.

As an experience, it is incredibly easy to listen to. The prose flows beautifully, and the sheer joy Fry has for the subject matter is infectious. However, Greek mythology is famously complex, packed with a staggering number of characters, shifting alliances, and overlapping genealogies. Because of all that information, I found myself thinking I might have been better off reading it than listening to it. It is a lot to take in as an audiobook, and there were times when I wished I could flip back a few pages to double-check a family tree or a specific god’s lineage.

That being said, the audiobook format has one massive, unbeatable selling point: Stephen Fry reads it. His performance is flawless. He voices the petulant Olympian gods and the tragic mortals with distinct, theatrical personalities, making the entire journey feel like a cosy, fireside storytelling session.

If you are looking for a brilliant, accessible primer on Greek mythology, this is a masterpiece. Just be prepared for a massive influx of names and details—and perhaps keep a notepad handy, or pair the audiobook with a physical copy so you can fully appreciate the incredible depth of Fry’s research!

Sweet Thursday - John Steinbeck ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

There is a distinct, nostalgic pleasure in returning to the world of Monterey with John Steinbeck’s Sweet Thursday. It was absolutely lovely to spend time with these characters again, revisiting the eccentric, colourful cast of the post-war Cannery Row. Checking in on Doc, Hazel, and the rest of the gang felt like catching up with old friends after a long absence.

That being said, I have to admit that I didn’t like it quite as much as Cannery Row. Where the first book felt like a series of effortless, beautifully drifting vignettes, this sequel has a slightly more structured, almost romantic-comedy plot that didn’t capture the same lightning in a bottle for me.

However, in fairness to Steinbeck, that might be more about my reading mood than the book itself. Sometimes we pick up a book wanting a very specific atmosphere, and if our headspace doesn’t align with the story’s tempo, it can alter our overall enjoyment.

Sweet Thursday is undeniably charming, whimsical, and written with Steinbeck’s trademark empathy and humour, so it may simply deserve another look when my reading appetite is in a different place.

Ultimately, it remains a delightful, easy-going companion piece to a classic. If you love the characters of Cannery Row, it is still a journey well worth taking to see where life’s currents have carried them.

Mad Ship - Robin Hobb ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I am absolutely blown away by this book. Having now fully immersed myself in this world, I can confidently say that this trilogy is so much better than the first (The Farseer Trilogy). The scale, the ambition, and the sheer depth of what Robin Hobb is doing here is on an entirely different level.

There is so much to unpack on such a deep level with the world-building and the lore. Hobb doesn’t just build a fantasy setting; she crafts an ancient, living history that slowly unravels before your eyes. The characters are brilliant, and having even more of them take centre stage for this instalment made the narrative feel incredibly rich. In particular, I love the Rain Wild Traders—their unique culture, their mysterious environment, and their physical transformations add a fascinating dimension to the story.

I’ve noticed a real pattern in my reading lately: I don’t know what it is about fantasy, but in almost all the series I have loved, the second book has always been my favourite. Whether it’s the escalating stakes, the familiarity with the cast, or the expansion of the world, Mad Ship perfectly fits this trend. The addition of complex political intrigue adds another fantastic layer for me, transforming the story from a seafaring adventure into a high-stakes struggle for power and survival.

My original plan was to pace myself and read this trilogy slowly over the course of the year. However, Hobb’s writing has completely ruined that plan! I am itching to move onto the last in the trilogy immediately. Yet, at the same time, I feel a wave of sadness knowing that I won’t spend any more time with them once it’s over.

This book is that rare thing that left me totally satisfied and completely immersed in the world. It is a flawless masterclass in epic fantasy, and I am utterly captivated.

What was your favourite read of June?

So, please dive into Kathy’s isolated work at the oil rig and experience the horror she brings.

The Moirai Shadow

Kathy stood back, shielding her eyes as the rotor blades whipped the air into a frenzy. She took one last look at Lindon’s silhouette behind the glass before the helicopter began its ascent. Mist swirled around the platform, clinging to the iron struts and giving the rig a ghostly, skeletal appearance. The machine hovered for a moment, suspended two feet above the deck; on the far side, the heavy door slammed shut with a metallic echo, and then it rose, vanishing into the grey.

Kathy turned away, unable to watch him leave despite the promise that they would be reunited in a fortnight. They had rowed about her staying behind last night, but she had remained firm. She needed to see the project through, to shut the rig down properly and organise a year’s worth of research before returning to the mainland.

Feeling foolish, she turned back to watch the helicopter cut across the sky, now no larger than a child’s toy. She followed it with her eyes until the speck vanished over the horizon. All she was left with now was the endless, churning sea, the howling wind, and her skeleton staff: three scientists and two security guards.

It had all started a year ago when she was appointed to head a research team on this decommissioned oil rig. Their remit was to study a strange strain of prehistoric algae. What started as a routine discovery mission shifted the moment the results came back. The algae, nicknamed Moirai, turned out to be more virulent than anthrax. Six months ago, the military had moved in. Now, they were being told the rig was finally being mothballed. Or so they thought.

Kathy retreated to her quarters. The wind threw itself against the glass, making the frames rattle in their surrounds. The room had felt homely when she shared it with Lindon; now, it felt hollowed out and deserted, much like the rest of the superstructure. She pulled the curtains shut. There was nothing to see anyway, just endless black water stretching in all directions. Two weeks. Fourteen days, and she would put this episode behind her to start a new chapter.

A sharp knock at the door broke her trance. Jane, tall and blonde, filled the doorway. “Lindon got off okay?” she asked.

“Yeah. No problems,” Kathy replied, forcing a small smile.

Jane walked over and wrapped her arms around her. “You’ll be back with him before you know it. Until then, we’ve plenty to keep us busy.”

Kathy embraced her friend tightly. “I know. Where’s Tom?”

“Cleaning out Lab Three. We’re almost done; he’s packed everything he can. The goons were circling earlier, making sure nothing ‘confidential’ was being nicked.”

“Were we stupid, Jane?” Kathy asked quietly. “Not to see where this was going?”

“I’m not even sure the company knew. Let’s just get this over with and get home.”

Kathy nodded. When they had first arrived, she had revelled in the isolation. Now, the rig felt like a cage.

“Coming down for dinner?” Jane asked.

“I don’t fancy it. Do you mind if I bail? I think I’m just going to sleep.”

“Okay, sweetheart. We’ll see you tomorrow. Start the countdown, only fourteen days.” Jane gave her a final squeeze before stepping out, the heavy door clanging shut behind her.

Despite her racing mind, Kathy fell into a deep, heavy sleep, drained by the emotional toll of the departure. She woke with a start as her door flew open, hitting the wall with a bang.

“You need to come. Now!” Jane screamed.

“What? What time is it?” Kathy sat up, disoriented.

“Two in the morning. Kathy, something awful has happened.” Jane was hysterical, practically dragging Kathy from the bed. Kathy grabbed a hoodie, pulling it over her pyjamas, and followed Jane into the corridor. The rig moaned in the gale, the very foundations seemingly vibrating with dread.

They raced down the internal staircases to the lower levels, to the pool where the submersible was docked. As they reached the platform, Kathy saw Tom. He looked ashen.

“Thank God,” he breathed.

“What’s going on?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I came down to start stripping the sub. The water usually calms me... that’s when I found them. I should have known something was wrong; the door was already unlocked.”

“Found who?” Kathy asked.

“Bert and Ernie. The guards.”

The room was circular, dominated by the gaping hole in the floor where the ocean churned below. On the far side of the platform, Kathy saw a tangled mess of hair and gore. A few feet away lay a second, indistinct mound.

Kathy knelt as close as she dared, the metallic stench of blood coating the back of her throat. She reached out to turn the head towards her to identify the man. She recoiled instantly. The nose had been sheared off. One eye had been torn from its socket, dangling against a pale cheek by a single, white nerve cord. The lower jaw was gone, along with an arm and a foot. Even after six months of daily contact, she couldn’t tell which guard it was.

“The second one is worse,” Tom whispered. It looked as though the body had been dismantled; limbs had been torn from their sockets and flung across the cold steel floor.

“Who did this?” Jane sobbed.

“I don’t know,” Kathy said, her voice trembling. “But we need to get out of here in case they’re still in the room. Move!”

She shoved the others toward the exit, slamming the door and sliding the deadbolt. “Help me!” She began heaving a heavy equipment cabinet across the doorway to barricade it.

They spent the remainder of the night huddled in the mess room. No one ate. They simply clutched mugs of tea for warmth, never taking a sip. They ran through every scenario, but none made sense. Tom suggested an intruder, but the scanners showed no movement since the helicopter had departed twelve hours earlier.

“Maybe someone got off the chopper?” Jane suggested.

“I was there,” Kathy insisted. “From landing to take-off. No one got off, I promise you.”

The only explanation, however impossible, was an animal.

“But what animal?” Tom asked.

“Maybe something we don’t know about,” Kathy replied darkly. “After all, we didn’t know about Moirai a year ago.”

By seven that morning, the research didn’t matter. The evidence against the government didn’t matter. They just wanted to live. They headed to the communications centre to demand an emergency evacuation. Tom dropped into the chair and began toggling switches frantically.

The radio was dead. No static, no lights, no life. Kathy saw silent tears track through the dust on Jane’s face.

“Don’t worry, we have the satellite phones,” Kathy said, though her heart was hammering. She opened the storage locker. Her stomach dropped. The cradles were empty. Every single phone was gone.

“Fuck,” Tom whispered over her shoulder.

“We’re stuck. We’re going to die here!” Jane’s voice rose to a scream. “I’m taking the lifeboat. I don’t care about the storm, I’m not staying here to be eaten!”

Jane bolted for the door.

“Jane, wait!” they yelled, racing after her. Kathy caught her by the arm. “You’ll die out there in this swell! We stay here, together. We stay away from the pool and the water. It’s only thirteen days. When the scheduled pickup arrives, we leave. We just have to wait it out.”

Kathy wished she felt even half as confident as she sounded.

For the next ten days, they lived in a state of hyper-vigilance. They moved as a pack, never leaving one person alone, even outside the washrooms. The wind battered the rig, throwing salt spray against the high windows, but the interior remained deathly silent.

Kathy didn’t know what woke her on their final night. She opened her eyes and felt the wrongness of the room immediately. The familiar sounds of her friends’ breathing were gone. The room was silent.

Fuming that they had left her alone, she hurried to the control room. The thermal sensors showed two heat signatures on the external deck. What on earth are they doing out there?

She pulled on an oilskin coat and pushed through the heavy exterior door. The wind nearly took her off her feet. Reasoning that a fall into the Atlantic would be fatal, she threw the switches for the floodlights, illuminating the platform in a harsh, white glare. For protection, she grabbed a fire axe from the emergency red box.

She moved toward the corner where the sensors had tripped, the winch station. The machinery was whirring, the cable inching slowly downward. She leaned over the railing. In the churning foam below, she saw the dark, triangular fins of sharks.

Then, the floodlights hit the man dangling from the winch. When he looked up, Kathy found herself staring into the terrified eyes of Tom. He didn’t scream; he couldn’t. He opened his mouth and a wet, gargling sound emerged just as a shark breached the surface, latching onto his leg and dragging the cable taut.

Kathy lunged for the controls to reverse the winch. The electronics had been smashed to pieces. She searched for the manual crank handle, missing. She tried to jam the axe handle into the gear socket, but it wouldn’t fit.

Hope drained out of her. She looked back over the edge. Tom was gone from the waist down, the sea turning a violent crimson as the frenzy intensified. He looked into her eyes one last time before the light faded from his.

A piercing scream erupted from the far side of the rig. A woman’s scream.

Kathy ran. Halfway across the deck, she realised with a jolt of horror that she had left the axe behind.

She found Jane. Her friend was standing perfectly still, her head locked into the frame of the industrial crusher. The machine had been tilted on its side, the heavy hydraulic plates moving inward with agonising slowness. Jane was handcuffed to the frame, a metal rod bolted behind her neck to keep her spine straight.

“Talk to me!” Kathy sobbed.

Jane opened her mouth. Kathy gagged. Jane’s tongue had been removed, leaving only a jagged, bloody stump. The plates were already beginning to fold Jane’s ears back.

“I’ll get you out, I promise!” Kathy screamed. She grabbed a metal pole from a nearby bannister, using it as a lever to try and pry the plates apart. The industrial hydraulics didn’t even flicker; the pole snapped like a twig. Jane’s eyes turned bloodshot from the pressure. She looked through Kathy, her gaze fixing on something behind her.

Then, Jane’s head gave way like a ripe melon.

An arm snaked around Kathy’s shoulders, pulling her back. A familiar, warm voice whispered in her ear.

“You really shouldn’t have chosen them over me, Kathy.”

He released his grip. Kathy spun around, staring into the eyes of the only man she had ever loved. “Lindon? Why?”

“All my life, I’ve been second best,” he said, his voice eerily calm. “Second to my brother, second in my class. You were supposed to be different. But you put me second to them. You stayed for them instead of leaving with me.”

“But... I saw you leave. The helicopter...”

“You saw me get in. You didn’t look long enough to see me get out. You were too keen to get back to your friends.”

Kathy remembered the door slamming. He had closed it from the inside and slipped out the other side while the mist shielded him.

“We’re going to take a romantic trip to the bottom of the ocean in the sub,” he smiled.

“The hull isn’t rated for that depth, Lindon. You know that.”

“I know. We’ll be together for eternity. Now, are you walking, or am I carrying you?”

“I’m walking,” she spat.

The stench of the pool room was unbearable. He shoved her through the door toward the two putrefied remains of the guards.

“Sit there,” he commanded, pointing to the gore-slicked floor between the corpses.

Kathy collapsed, sobbing as the fluids from the bodies soaked into her clothes. Lindon ignored her, humming to himself as he punched in the launch sequence for the submarine.

Her leg brushed against a severed limb. She began to gag, but then she saw it: the glint of a combat knife tucked into the dead guard’s boot. Moving with agonising slowness, she kept her eyes on Lindon’s back. She slid the blade free and hid it up her sleeve.

Lindon turned with a flourish. “Finished. I thought we could go watch the sharks. Shall we?”

He grabbed her by the shoulder as they reached the sub’s hatch.

“Take your clothes off. You stink of them.”

She began to undress, her hands shaking. As Lindon bent down to unlatch the heavy circular hatch, Kathy lunged. She shoved him with every ounce of strength she possessed and bolted for the exit.

Lindon was fast. He caught her by the hair, yanking her head back. Kathy spun, the hidden blade flashing in the light. She buried the knife deep into his eye socket.

He shrieked, releasing her. She threw herself through the door and slammed it shut just as he surged forward. The heavy steel edge struck the hilt of the knife, driving the blade through his skull. He fell backwards.

Michael Abrahams settled the helicopter onto the ‘H’ with practised ease. He was here to evacuate the remaining five staff before the government sanitised the rig; blowing it to pieces to bury the Moirai secret forever.

He spotted a lone woman slumped against the railing. He hopped out of the cockpit and approached her. Michael had worked with many veterans, but he had never seen a look as haunting as the one in this woman’s eyes.

“You Kathy?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Where are the others?”

She didn’t look at him. “There aren’t any. It’s just me. Can we go?”

Every bit of Michael’s training told him to ask more questions. But the sight of her shaking hands stopped him. He helped her into the cabin.

As he climbed back into the pilot’s seat and started the rotors, Michael felt a chill that his thermal flight suit couldn’t block. Looking back at the rig through the glass, he felt as though the Devil itself was watching them depart. The best thing for this place, he decided, was for it to be reduced to pieces.

Many people say they would like to read more books but don’t have the time. If you are one of these people, look at your phone’s screen time. If it is above an hour, then you have more time to read.

Here are more practical tips on how to increase the number of books you read. However, a word of caution: this should be so that you enjoy more books, not so you can reach some arbitrary reading goal or compete with others. The main principle of all reading should be to enjoy it.

Audiobooks

When I started listening to audiobooks, I heard all the advice from people who listened on 2x speed and thought, how? The truth is I still do not listen at that speed. But there are books where you can increase the speed, and every little helps.

My biggest tip is not to set yourself a rigid speed that you always listen to. Instead, adjust this for each book; some narrators naturally read more quickly than others. For example, recently I listened to an Elly Griffiths book on 1.8x speed. My next read, Mythos by Stephen Fry, I slowed down to 1.2x.

Another way to fully absorb the books you read is to tandem read. Simply put, you listen to the audiobook whilst reading the physical book. This takes some juggling to get the speed right, but it is a truly immersive way to read.

Quit Hard Books

I worry when people say they have never DNF’d (did not finish) a book. There are so many books in the world that no one will ever read them all, so why struggle through a book you are not enjoying?

Do not be afraid to say, “No, this is not for me,” and walk away. Sometimes you might come back to the book later, and it is simply a case of wrong book, wrong time. Sometimes the book isn’t for you.

This is especially true if you follow BookTok or Bookstagram. Books are recommended there all the time, and you feel like you will miss out if you do not read the book that everyone is talking about. The truth is you will not be the only person who did not like a popular book, and there are too many others you could love instead.

Read more than one book at a time

Most of us watch multiple television shows at a time. Sure, with the invention of Netflix, some of us binge-watch shows. But most of us know that sometimes we sit down and fancy a heavy drama, and sometimes we want to watch The Real Housewives and concentrate on nothing.

This is the same for books. Sometimes I want to read a history book; sometimes, an easy novel. Have multiple books on the go at once. That way, you always have a selection for whatever you are in the mood for.

I also have different formats that I read on. At a minimum, I always have an audiobook and a physical book on the go at once. That way, when you are doing something with your hands, you can still listen to a story. Some books are better in one form than another, so if you DNF’d a book recently, try it on an alternative format and see if you like it.

Read what you love

There is a lot of snobbery around reading, and I have no idea why. “You must read the classics.” “If you haven’t read any Dickens, are you even a reader?” It is all rubbish. Whether you are into fantasy, romantasy, or plain smut, read what you love.

Never let anyone shame you for the books you are reading. Because no matter what you are reading, you are accomplishing something many people don’t: reading a book.

Fun fact: when Fifty Shades of Grey was released, so many people did not want others to see what they were reading that sales of Kindle devices doubled.

Take a book everywhere with you

This last tip is so simple I shouldn’t have to write it, but if you want to read more, you have to have a book with you everywhere you go. Every day, I carry a book in my bag so I can read when I get five minutes.

If you want to keep your books beautiful and can’t bear the thought of throwing them in your bag, then get an e-reader—even if it is just an app on your phone.

You will be surprised how these five minutes, grabbed here and there, can mount up to be a whole extra book in a month.

What is your number one tip to read more? Pop it in the comments and let us all know.

Drop me a comment: Have you read any of the books mentioned let me know in the comments.

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Just a heads-up, this is the last newsletter you’ll get from me on a Sunday. Before you all start crying and begging me—no, the newsletter isn’t stopping. The day is simply changing to Friday.

Now, for those of you who hate change, like my daughter, I am hoping you will let my little newsletter nestle in your inbox until Sunday. You can then pick it up and read it as part of your usual routine.

For those of you who embrace a little chaos, you will receive the next edition on Friday. It will continue to land every other week. In the opposite weeks, when I am not telling you about my writing journey, I will be sharing my reading with you on The Book Chronicles.

Of course, if you like a little murder, mayhem, and history, you can find this every Monday and Wednesday on Murder Mayhem UK.

The other change you will notice in this newsletter is that I am going to start sharing some of my fiction short stories with you. They have been waiting on my main page for you to explore since this newsletter began, but I have not yet sent them to you via email for you to enjoy.

On 19th June, you will receive your first short story from me—a horror story set on an oil rig. You can check out my other short stories here:

Fiction

I really hope you stay with me for this ride.

Until next time: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

Sam 😊

Articles

Murder Mayhem UK

The Tragic Mystery of Delvonte Tisdale

It was the 15th November 2010, when an unidentified driver discovered a body in the middle of a residential street in the Boston suburb Milton. The body was that of a mutilated Black youth. He wore n…

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2 months ago · 4 likes · Sam H Arnold

Murder Mayhem UK

The Irish Potato Famine

The Irish Potato Famine was the worst in Europe during the 19th century. Had the British government acted differently, it is without question that they could have saved lives…

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3 months ago · 3 likes · Sam H Arnold

Murder Mayhem UK

How Queen Victoria Became the Head of an International Drug Cartel

It would be an understatement to say that the British love tea. This was as true in Victorian London as it was during the Second World War, when Winston Churchill had severe reservations about rationing it…

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2 months ago · 3 likes · Sam H Arnold

The Book Chronicle

Could This Be My Favourite Book Ever?

A very mixed bag this month, most were good but did not wow me. One though I think could be a contender for one of my favourite books ever…

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3 months ago · 1 like · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold

A very mixed bag this month, most were good but did not wow me. One though I think could be a contender for one of my favourite books ever.

The Hobbit - J.R.R Tolkien ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Returning to The Hobbit is always a joy, and I found it to be just as good on a re-read as all the other times I have read it. There is a timeless quality to this story that makes it the perfect introduction to the work of Middle-earth.

The amazing characters of the company are so well-defined, but Bilbo will always be one of my favourites. His transformation from a comfort-loving hobbit to a brave adventurer is one of the most satisfying arcs in all of literature.

This particular read was made even more special because I listened to it on audiobook read by Andy Serkis. Hearing the man who brought the character to life on screen perform the narration is a transformative experience. His Gollum cannot be rivalled; the “Riddles in the Dark” chapter is absolutely spine-tingling and brings a level of authenticity to the book that no other narrator could achieve.

Whether you are a lifelong fan of Tolkien or a newcomer to the series, this is a must-experience version of the story. It is a whimsical, dangerous, and heart-filled adventure that serves as the perfect foundation for the epic journey that follows in The Lord of the Rings.

The Wolf Den - Elodie Harper ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Most historical fiction set in the Roman Empire focuses on senators, soldiers, or emperors, but The Wolf Den does something far more profound. It takes us inside the Wolf Den, the notorious brothel of Pompeii, to tell the story of a group of she-wolves (lupae). Yet, more than just a historical account, this is a deeply moving story about female friendship and survival.

The history is incredibly vivid, but it never overwhelms the narrative. Instead, the story centres entirely on the women while giving a unique look into daily Pompeii life. You feel the dust of the streets, the heat of the tavern kitchens, and the claustrophobia of their small stone rooms. Elodie Harper manages to build a world that feels completely real, populated by women who are fiercely alive despite the cages they are kept in.

What I respected most about the writing is how it handles the brutal reality of their lives. It is a brilliantly told story that does not go into graphic sexual detail too much, but still allows you to feel the true horror of what these women go through. The trauma and the loss are tangible, yet the book never feels exploitative. Instead, the emotional heart of the novel lies in the quiet moments of solidarity, the shared laughter, and the small ways these women protect and keep each other human.

Though this is the first in a trilogy, it finishes in a very satisfactory way on its own. There is a complete arc here that leaves you feeling a sense of quiet triumph rather than a frustrating cliffhanger. While I will definitely read on, there is no frantic urgency to rush into the next book immediately. It is a story that invites you to pause, appreciate the resilience of these women, and let their voices linger in your mind.

Burning Bright - John Steinbeck ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

When people think of John Steinbeck, they usually think of Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, or East of Eden. Yet, tucked away in his bibliography is Burning Bright, a powerful, beautiful book that is not spoken about nearly as much as his other stories, but absolutely deserves to be recognised as a masterpiece.

What makes this book so structurally brilliant is its design. Steinbeck places the same four characters in three completely different locations, a circus, a farm, and a ship at sea. Despite the shifting backdrops, their names, relationships, and core conflict remain identical. By stripping away a fixed setting, Steinbeck proves that the struggle at the heart of the story is a universal truth, completely unconfined to any single individual, class, or era.

At its core, Burning Bright teaches us that genetics mean absolutely nothing in parenting. It is a fierce, deeply emotional defence of the idea that fatherhood and motherhood are defined by love, sacrifice, and the choice to care for a child, rather than bloodlines. In a world obsessed with legacy and biological inheritance, Steinbeck’s message is both radical and profoundly comforting.

It is a short, intense, and deeply poetic read. The prose has a rhythmic, almost theatrical quality that elevates the drama to something mythic. If you have loved Steinbeck’s more famous novels, you owe it to yourself to seek this one out. It is a stunning, overlooked gem that will completely change how you think about family.

This may be one of my favourite books ever.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter - Stephen Graham ⭐️ ⭐️

Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a book that offers a truly fascinating mix of horror and historical literature. It blends the rugged, brutal reality of the historical frontier with dark, supernatural elements, creating an atmosphere that feels incredibly immersive.

To be completely honest, I liked the book, but I didn’t quite love it. My main struggle was that the first part took me a long time to get into. The setup and the world-building felt a bit slow to find their footing, and it required some patience to push through those opening chapters before the story really started to take hold.

However, once the momentum picked up, the supernatural elements made it worth the wait. I absolutely love a vampire novel, and this book provides a highly interesting spin on a famous trope. Setting vampires against the backdrop of historical buffalo hunting adds a gritty, raw edge to the lore that feels entirely fresh. It strips away the romanticised, polished versions of vampires we so often see and replaces them with something far more primal and suited to the harsh historical landscape.

If you have the patience to get through a slow-starting first act, this is a very unique read. It’s a creative genre-blend that historical fiction buffs and horror fans alike will find highly intriguing, even if the pacing isn’t always perfect.

What was your favourite read of May?

Drop me a comment: Have you read any of the books mentioned let me know in the comments.

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We’ve all been there. You stare at the blinking cursor. The cursor stares back. It’s a silent, digital standoff, and right now, the cursor is winning. That has been me this week.

Sometimes there is not enough time to wait for the mythical inspiration fairy to turn up. Sometimes you just have to write. Even though your motivation is down a hole. If famous writers only wrote when they were motivated, then most of the books, articles, and newsletters out there would never exist.

I have a few methods I use when I feel like this. Maybe one of these will help you when the writing slump hits.

Lower the Bar

Perfectionism is the absolute enemy of progress. When you lack motivation, the thought of writing a masterpiece feels exhausting. So, don’t try to.

Permit yourself to write absolute rubbish. Tell yourself, “I am going to write the worst first draft in human history.” Ryan Holiday talks a lot about how the only goal he sets for himself is two crappy pages a day. It frees your brain from the pressure. You can easily fix a page of bad writing; you can’t fix a blank page.

Change the Scenery

If you’ve been sitting at the same desk, staring at the same monitor for hours, your brain goes into a stagnation loop. Break the circuit.

Move to the kitchen table, sit on the floor, or head to a local cafe. If the screen itself is the problem, step away from it entirely. Grab a notebook and a favourite pen, or pull out an iPad and an Apple Pencil to scribble things down by hand.

There is a strange, tactile magic in physical writing that often bypasses the mental blocks standard typing creates.

Use the 10-Minute Micro-Timer

When motivation is zero, committing to a three-hour writing session feels like climbing Everest. It’s too intimidating, so you procrastinate instead. I have even been known to favour the washing-up over writing.

Trick your brain by bargaining with it.

Set a timer on your watch or phone for just 10 minutes. Tell yourself that you only have to write until the alarm goes off, and if you still want to quit after that, you have full permission to walk away.

Nine times out of ten, once you break the friction of starting, the momentum carries you right past the 10-minute mark.

Follow the Energy, Not the Outline

If you’re working on a longer piece, you do not have to write it chronologically. If chapter one or the introduction feels like wading through wet cement, skip it.

Look ahead at your outline and find the one section, scene, or tip that actually sparks a tiny bit of interest. Write that part first.

Writing is modular; you can stitch the pieces together later. Capturing a bit of genuine enthusiasm anywhere in the piece will help generate the momentum you need to tackle the drier bits.

How do you tackle the blank page when you’re feeling completely uninspired? Let me know your go-to tricks in the comments!

Until next time: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

Sam 😊

Articles

Murder Mayhem UK

The Hindenburg Disaster

When the tragic accident happened with the Titan in 2023, I remember thinking to myself: what made these people get into what was nothing short of a bean tin to travel to the bottom of the ocean…

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3 months ago · 4 likes · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

Murder Mayhem UK

The Assassination of James A. Garfield

When we talk about presidential assassinations, we talk about Lincoln and JFK. Some might also mention the many failed attempts on Trump, but few mention James A. Garfield…

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3 months ago · 4 likes · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold

The Book Chronicle

The Enigma of Canterbury

Christopher Marlowe has always held a special place in my heart. It isn’t just because of his legendary status in English literature, but a more personal connection: he was born and raised right in the area where I live. I’ve spent many an evening at the Marlowe Theatre, named in his honour, watching pantomimes and plays in the very city that shaped him…

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3 months ago · Sam H Arnold

This might be the craziest thing I have done to date, but I have started a new Substack not a newsletter but a completely new Substack dedicated to my working life as a full-time teacher of students with additional needs.

The new Substack felt the right way to go, the content is completely different and nothing I have ever included in my writing. Yes, I will need to grow it, but many of my followers here may not be interested in education.

In the newsletter, I plan to share educational resources, tips and tricks. Over thirty years of teaching have meant I have created a massive amount of resources and these are what I want to share with you all. So whether you are a parent or a teacher there should be something to help you here.

To give you an example, one of the key texts in the GCSE English Literature exam is An Inspector Calls, so this week I shared a revision guide for the book, covering the key information a student will need before their exam. With my knowledge of SEN (special educational needs), this is not a boring sheet of notes; it is broken up in a way that all can appreciate. If you are interest there is a link below to it.

This might seem like a lot of work and it is, but this feels right to share what I have learned over all these years and to put my company on Substack which is fast becoming one of the leading platforms in generating contacts.

Check it out if you are interested.

Until next time: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

Sam 😊

Mistakes are learning opportunities.

Articles

Murder Mayhem UK

The Mystery of Atlantis

Some great thinkers considered Atlantis a fictional island Plato had made up to teach philosophy, whilst others consider that he based it on a real place lost to history. There are even mentions of i…

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4 months ago · 5 likes · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

Murder Mayhem UK

The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations

The weather was bright on the day The Great Exhibition opened. All the dignitaries gathered to catch a glimpse of Queen Victoria and Albert; this was the culmination of many late nights for Albert…

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3 months ago · 3 likes · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold

Murder Mayhem UK

The Library of Alexandria

The famous Library of Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the most important repositories of knowledge in the ancient world. Built in the fourth century B.C., it flourished for some six centuries, serving as the cultural and intellectual centre of the ancient Hellenistic world…

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3 months ago · 2 likes · Sam H Arnold

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Free Resources - An Inspector Calls

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Half of the books I read this month, I actually listened to which is still reading before anyone comments. My main read this month was a history non-fiction and I have found myself drawn to non-fiction at the moment which is how my reading goes, cyclical in nature I go between genres.

Here are the four books I read two audiobooks and two paperbacks.

The Killing Time - Elly Griffiths ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

The Killing Time is a good second edition to this new series. While I’ll admit the characters are still growing on me, I find that it is always hard to start a new series when you are so in love with the characters from an author’s previous work. However, Elly Griffiths is starting to find her rhythm with this new cast.

What makes this particular series special for me is the addition of Victorian London. As a massive nerd when it comes to that period in time, seeing the characters navigate the fog, the history, and the atmosphere of the 19th century was a total delight. The time-travel element adds a unique layer to the mystery that sets it apart from your standard procedural.

This is an easy, quick crime read—the perfect kind of book for when you want to rest and not have to think too much. It provides a great balance of intrigue and escapism without being overly taxing. If you enjoy a bit of historical flair mixed with your mystery, this is a solid choice. I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.

Victoria, The Queen - Julia Baird ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Victoria: The Queen is nothing short of a masterpiece of research. What makes this biography stand out is how incredibly easy it is to read; Julia Baird writes with a flow and grace that makes the history feel like reading a novel.

Queen Victoria has always been my favourite queen, if one can have such a thing, and this book only solidified that for me. She was a fascinating, wonderful woman, complex, stubborn, and deeply human. Baird peels back the layers of the “widow in black” persona to reveal the passionate, vibrant, and often misunderstood woman underneath.

The depth of information provided is staggering, making this a must-read for history fans. I was a little disappointed that there was no mention of Jack the Ripper, especially considering how that shadow loomed over the later years of her reign. Still, the rest of the book is so rich with detail that it hardly detracts from the experience.

From her isolated childhood to her legendary partnership with Albert and her long years as a monarch, this biography covers it all with stunning clarity. It is an essential portrait of a woman who defined an era.

Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Slaughterhouse-Five is a book that defies easy categorisation. I’m not entirely sure what genre this falls into, and honestly, that is part of its genius. It weaves together parts that are historical fiction, parts that feel almost autobiographical, and elements of fantasy and sci-fi. It doesn’t matter that it doesn’t fit into a box, because the result is a brilliant read that is engaging from the very first page.

The story follows Billy Pilgrim, a man who has become “unstuck in time,” moving between his experiences as a chaplain’s assistant in WWII, his life in suburban America, and his time in an alien zoo on the planet Tralfamadore. While that sounds chaotic, Vonnegut’s prose is so grounded and conversational that it never feels confusing.

As a smaller book, it is also a quicker read, but it carries a weight that lingers long after you finish it. It deals with the horrors of the firebombing of Dresden and the nature of free will with a “so it goes” attitude that is both heartbreaking and profoundly wise.

This was my first foray into Vonnegut’s world, and it certainly won’t be my last. I will definitely be reading more by this author. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates literature that pushes boundaries and makes you look at the world a little differently.

The Hallmarked Man - Robert Galbraith ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

In true Strike tradition, Robert Galbraith has delivered an intricate crime thriller that is impossible to put down. This is a masterclass in plotting, weaving a complex story through many cases and suspects, keeping you guessing until the very final reveal.

The heart of this series has always been the relationship between our leads, and in this instalment, the combination of Robin and Strike is as powerful as ever. Their chemistry, professional respect, and the evolving tension between them remain the engine that drives the story forward.

I honestly think this is my favourite of all the Strike books, though I admit I probably said that about the last one, too. Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) has a way of making each mystery feel fresh while deepening our connection to the recurring cast. The attention to detail, this time involving the fascinating world of silver and masonry, is just incredible.

My only complaint is a personal one: how dare she leave it on a cliffhanger! After hundreds of pages of buildup, the ending leaves you desperate for the next chapter in Strike and Robin’s lives. I really hope J.K. Rowling is writing the next one as we speak, because I need to know what happens next immediately—a brilliant, addictive addition to the series.

Drop me a comment: Have you read any of the books mentioned let me know in the comments.

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There is a common mistake that writers are making with their Substack and it is a problem that I was making until very recently. They are relying on their header and footer to drive their subscriptions. The problem with this is that these sign-ups only show up on emails which means the person has already subscribed.

Yes, there is a subscribe button when people find your posts but it is not your personal message to your readers.

If a person finds you through a search engine, a social media post, or organically through Substack, they will not see your header or footer.

So how do you remedy this?

The solution is simple, take that information you are using and place it into Substack’s new template feature. It is easy to do: go into a post, click template, add new, and put the information in there. Then when you produce a post slip the template in where you want to. You don’t have to keep producing the same sign-up -templates take care of that, but those who access your articles through one of the methods previously mentioned will see it.

Until next time: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

Sam 😊

Reading Update

I have hit a bit of a reading slump at the moment, I can find many things to do rather than pick up a book. When I get to this stage I never push it I let my brain rest and know that I will get back to reading at some point.

Articles

Murder Mayhem UK

The Grooming of Breck Bednar

Breck Bednar represented every parent’s modern nightmare: he met someone he didn’t know online. If you have children, you understand the dread this causes. Tragically, Breck’s story ended in the most…

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4 months ago · 5 likes · 5 comments · Sam H Arnold

The Book Chronicle

The Oxford Scenius That Re-Enchanted the World

As someone who writes, reads avidly, and is obsessed with history, there is nothing I love more than a group of writers coming together to hone their craft; especially when those writers produced the books that shaped my life…

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4 months ago · 3 likes · 3 comments · Sam H Arnold

Murder Mayhem UK

Was Frank Abagnale Jr. Telling the Truth?

When we talked about scammers on Wednesday, one name was probably at the front of your mind: Frank Abagnale. If you have watched Catch Me If You Can, he is the character Leonardo DiCaprio plays. He even makes a small cameo appearance in the film…

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4 months ago · 5 likes · 3 comments · Sam H Arnold

Recommended Article

I have read a lot about Richard Feynman and as always loved this article from Noted on the great man.

Noted

Richard Feynman's Notes For Self-Education

Formal education, at its best, prepares us for a life of learning. After all, we are only in school for a fraction of our lives and there is so much to learn…

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4 months ago · 207 likes · 36 comments · Jillian Hess

Drop me a comment: Do you have a writing related question you need answering.

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Substack released a wealth of new features this month, including drop caps and templates. Although, I welcome belonging to a progressive platform that adds new features all the time a drop capital is not going to get your readers and subscribers.

Do you know what will?

Quality writing resonates with your readers. Whether you write about history, as I do, or the mating cycle of a tortoise as long as people are interested they will subscribe.

Many marketers will tell you they can train you to do this, but I am here to tell you that writing should be a passion and you improve the more you do it. Still want to learn more then find a free YouTube video or buy a book.

Having said that I am sure there are questions that niggle at you. That was when I started and I was lucky enough to have two amazing mentors who answered my mundane questions for free, when I started on Medium. Shout out to and .

I am also here to answer the questions that niggle so hit reply to this email and ask away. I will answer as many as I can, and in the next newsletter do a round-up for you all.

So whether it’s about books, writing, Substack, or history and crime hit reply and ask away.

The only stupid question is the one not asked

Until next time: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

Sam 😊

Articles

The Book Chronicle

Fantasy, Classics and Disappointment

Every month I am shocked by how many books I have read. Reading should never be a competition so if you read one book this month then that is more than most people. Also bear in mind with this list that 50% of the books I read I listened to on audiobook in the car and my work requires a lot of driving which helps me devour the books I do…

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4 months ago · 2 likes · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold

Murder Mayhem UK

Why Smart People Fall for Famous Scams

Undoubtedly, some will read this article and think, “This would never happen to me.” To think that would be naive; I have nearly been caught a couple of times myself…

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4 months ago · 4 likes · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold

Murder Mayhem UK

The Cobra Effect

Politicians are notorious for implementing poorly conceived decisions that inadvertently trigger more problems than they solve. This phenomenon has repeated itself throughout history, serving as a ca…

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4 months ago · 5 likes · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold

Recommended Article

On Substack

New on Substack: Post templates, Notes scheduling, drop caps, and more

This month, we’re shipping a range of updates that give you more control over your publishing workflow—from scheduling Notes in advance to new live video tools, post templates, and design details that make your publication feel unmistakably yours. Here’s what’s new…

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4 months ago · 2590 likes

Every month I am shocked by how many books I have read. Reading should never be a competition so if you read one book this month then that is more than most people. Also bear in mind with this list that 50% of the books I read I listened to on audiobook in the car and my work requires a lot of driving which helps me devour the books I do.

So in no particular order here are the books that thrilled me and bored me in March.

The Pearl - John Steinbeck ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

While this is not the normal location for many of the Steinbeck novels I have read, it proved to be just as engaging and deeply atmospheric as his California-based stories. There is a rhythmic, fable-like quality to the writing that pulls you in immediately, but don’t let the simplicity fool you; it is a devastatingly powerful narrative.

Much like Of Mice and Men, this story deals with the American Dream and how it corrupts people. It explores the tragic irony of how a “blessing” - the finding of a magnificent pearl, can quickly transform into a curse when greed and status come into play. Steinbeck brilliantly illustrates how the hope for a better life can be twisted into an obsession that destroys the very things we hold most dear.

It is a thought-provoking, quick read that packs an incredible emotional punch. The ending is haunting, serving as a stark reminder of the cost of ambition and the fragility of peace. This is a story that will live with me for many years to come, and it reinforces why Steinbeck remains one of the greatest observers of the human condition and one of my favourite writers.

A Time of Blood - John Gwynne ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

If there is one thing you can always count on with John Gwynne, it is that he always excels at Book 2. Just as he did with his debut series, he has taken the foundation laid in the first instalment and elevated every single element.

The emotional core of this book is its greatest strength. The characters are so engaging and vividly drawn that I genuinely love spending time with them. There is a rare sense of intimacy in Gwynne’s writing; these aren’t just figures on a page, but people who feel like friends. In fact, I am actually sad there are only three books in this series, because this is a world and a cast of characters that I could spend my life with.

The stakes are significantly higher this time around. The sense of dread from the first book has blossomed into a full-scale struggle for survival, and the action is so well-written—visceral, clear, and emotionally charged. You aren’t just watching a battle; you are feeling every heartbeat and every blow alongside the characters you’ve grown to love.

True to form, the pacing is relentless. The ending leaves you wanting to grab the next book straight away, desperate to know how these souls will survive the coming storm. It is a masterful middle chapter that proves why Gwynne is a modern titan of epic fantasy. I absolutely love it.

I Who Have Never Known Men - Jacqueline Harpman ⭐️ ⭐️

I went into I Who Have Never Known Men wanting to understand the deep, existential dread that so many readers rave about. I certainly understand the premise, it is a bleak exploration of identity and the harrowing reality of a life lived as a lab rat, stripped of every human comfort. However, while the concept is powerful, the execution just was not for me.

The reading experience felt boring and monotonous. Even in the rare moments when the action finally picks up, the story seems to slow down to a crawl almost immediately after. This constant stuttering of momentum made it incredibly difficult to stay engaged with the world.

A major hurdle for me was the lack of pace and characters that you can relate to. While I understand the protagonist is supposed to be detached due to her upbringing, that distance made it impossible for me to care about her journey. To top it off, the book concludes with what I consider to be one of the worst endings ever. It felt less like a profound mystery and more like a lack of resolution.

Despite the philosophical layers, the actual act of reading it was a chore. I really cannot see what all the hype is about with this one, it’s a story that promises a lot of depth but, for me, delivered only a very long, very slow walk through a void.

Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Wuthering Heights will always remain a classic favourite for me, but for reasons far removed from the versions we see on screen. The biggest thing that the movies get wrong is that they concentrate almost entirely on the first quarter of the book, attempting to twist this dark, visceral tale into a conventional love story.

Let’s be clear: this is not a love story, and it is all the more brilliant for it.

The novel is a masterpiece of psychological depth, unflinchingly looking at generational trauma, racism, abuse, and the incredibly complex aspects of family life. It explores how pain is passed down from parent to child, and how a toxic environment can warp the human soul. Brontë’s exploration of the “true” story, the cyclical nature of revenge and the ghosts of the past, is haunting and far more impactful than the sanitised Hollywood version.

A film that did the book justice would be a masterpiece, because the book itself is exactly that. It isn’t about two soulmates pining on a moor; it is a raw, often uncomfortable examination of what happens when love turns to obsession and hate.

This is a book everyone should read to experience the real Heathcliff and Cathy, not the romanticised icons they’ve become, but the broken, destructive, and deeply human characters Brontë actually wrote. I will always champion this book for its true story, not what Hollywood would like us to believe.

Golden Son - Pierce Brown ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Golden Son is a fantastic second instalment that succeeds in exactly the way a sequel should: it expands the world while allowing you to spend more time with those you have fallen in love with. While the first book was a struggle for survival, this is a struggle for the soul of a civilisation.

What makes this series so haunting is how it carries on asking questions about not just their society, but our own. As I read, I couldn’t help but wonder how close we could be to a system as described in the book. The parallels between the “Golds” and our own global elite are uncomfortable and thought-provoking. It makes you realise that we might already be living in a version of this hierarchy, where power is concentrated in the hands of the few while the many are kept in the dark.

If I had one criticism, it would be that the fight scenes become a bit repetitive. At times, it felt like there were too many of them, and the constant barrage of action began to lose its impact. I found myself wanting to return to the political manoeuvring and character dynamics rather than another skirmish.

Having said that, I am straight onto the third book. The cliffhangers and the emotional weight of Darrow’s choices are too compelling to put down. This series has a momentum that is hard to resist, and I am desperate to see if the system can truly be broken.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Reading Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief with my daughter has been such a highlight. As a parent, you’re always looking for that “Goldilocks” book, one that is exciting enough to hold their attention but doesn’t cross the line into being overwhelming, and this was perfect.

It is a good, fast adventure story that she could easily follow and understand. The plot is action-packed from the very first chapter, keeping her (and me!) eager to see what monster or challenge Percy would face next. What I appreciated most was that while there are stakes and battles, it was not too scary for a younger listener, making it a safe but thrilling gateway into the world of fantasy.

We both loved the Greek god knowledge woven throughout the story. It’s a brilliant way to introduce mythology, turning “lessons” into part of the fun. Seeing her eyes light up as she learned about Zeus, Poseidon, and the quirks of the Olympians made the reading experience even more special.

This was a fantastic introduction to the series, and we will definitely be reading more. It’s a rare book that manages to be educational, hilarious, and genuinely heart-pumping all at once.

A Time of Courage - John Gwynne ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I find it hard to put into words the feeling of finishing this book; I can’t believe my journey in the Banished Lands has finished. John Gwynne has achieved something truly remarkable here. Despite being set 100+ years after the original series, the connection to the first set of books is so profound that the entire saga feels like one cohesive, epic whole rather than two separate series.

The characters in this trilogy were every bit as engaging as those I fell in love with in The Faithful and the Fallen. Gwynne has a way of writing heroes that you don’t just admire, but truly care for. However, the absolute main standout for this series is the character of Drem.

As I’ve noted before, Drem is clearly autistic, but he is written with such deep, lived-in empathy. It is the kind of portrayal that any parent of an autistic child would be proud to read to their child. Drem is a complete hero—not “despite” his nature, but with it. He never lets his specific ways of seeing and interacting with the world get in the way of his adventures, his bravery, or his loyal friendships. To me, he is my favourite character ever in fantasy. Seeing him find his courage and save his world was deeply emotional.

The action is, as always, cinematic and heart-stopping, but it is the heart of the story that lingers. This finale is a masterclass in how to end a series: it provides closure, honours the history of the world, and leaves you feeling like you’ve been part of something truly special. It is a time of courage, indeed, and a journey I will never forget.

Morning Star - Pierce Brown ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Morning Star is a perfect end to the trilogy. After the relentless, massive scale of the previous book, this instalment feels much more grounded. There is less mass war and more individual stories, focusing on the personal stakes and the heavy emotional toll of the revolution. This shift in focus is exactly what makes this one of the best books I have read in a long time.

The tension builds brilliantly throughout, but the last 20 pages are some of the best I have ever read. Pierce Brown masterfully weaves together suspense and payoff in a way that leaves you breathless. It is a conclusion that feels earned, honouring the journey Darrow and his friends have taken since the first page of Red Rising.

However, I find myself in a strange position now that I’ve finished it. The ending was so satisfying and so complete that I am not sure I want to read on into the second trilogy. This felt like the perfect end, and there’s a part of me that wants to let these characters rest in the peace they fought so hard to achieve.

Whether I continue or not, this trilogy will stay with me. It is a powerful, visceral, and ultimately hopeful story about the cost of freedom and the enduring strength of human connection.

The Strength of the Few - James Islington ⭐️

I am struggling to process how I could love The Will of the Many so deeply, it was a contender for my book of the year, and yet find myself disliking this sequel so much. It is a rare and painful experience to have a series go from a “six-star” high to a total DNF, but that is exactly where I landed.

The biggest issue for me was that everything I loved about the first book was gone. The atmosphere, the tension, and most importantly, the characters I had grown to love were not there. Instead, the story pivots into new worlds that bored me to tears. The shift in focus felt jarring and lacked the spark that made the original so addictive.

I tried to push through, but full disclosure: I DNF’d this book after 50%. I found myself waiting for the magic to return, for the pace to pick up, or for a connection to the characters to rekindle, but it never happened. Even the philosophical depth that I praised in the first book felt buried under a narrative that didn’t move me.

I can’t tell you how disappointed I was with this one. It felt like a betrayal of the foundation laid in the first book. While others might enjoy the expansion of the universe, for me, it lost the heart of what made this story special. A truly gutting experience for a series I had such high hopes for.

What was your favourite read of March? Drop it in the comments because I am always looking for more books to add to my out-of-control TBR list.

Until next time: Read to learn. Read to escape. Read to smile.

The cabin was narrow: a dark world that smelled of wood and polish. For Silas, it was a palace of endless bounty, every corner revealing something new and wonderful. He pressed his body against the side, feeling the rhythmic vibration of the great vessel’s heart.

“Is it time to move again?” Elena whispered beside him. Her voice was a soft breath in his ear. It felt like they had been travelling for weeks; in truth, it may only have been hours. The anxiety of constantly moving and avoiding detection had exhausted Elena on the lower decks.

“Just a little longer,” Silas replied. “I like it here.” Silas loved every part of the ship. Elena saw it as a necessity to escape, but nothing more. Her only focus was to stay undetected until they reached dry land.

They were an inseparable pair, two souls bound by a singular mission: to survive the Great Voyage. They were not among the dignitaries on the upper decks. They had no polished brass nameplates or velvet-lined quarters. They were the stowaways, the uninvited, the ones who lived in the margins of the blueprints.

The memories of the boarding remained vivid. It had been a chaotic, rhythmic march. Silas remembered the thunderous footsteps of the Great Ones, the massive, heavy-treaded passengers who boarded in strict, ceremonial duos.

Everywhere Silas looked, the world had been divided into twos as the passengers moved up the ramp onto the great ship. Some moved slowly. Some sprinted. Some kept their heads down, not wanting to be recognised, while others puffed out their chests so that all recognised them for the kings they were.

The sound would stay with Silas the longest: the constant hum of voices competing, the cries of a predator, and the whispers of those less powerful. The smells, the sounds, and the sights had all merged into one kaleidoscope of senses that Silas would never forget. This was a voyage unlike any other.

“They think they are the only ones who matter,” Elena had remarked as they sneaked onboard, tucking themselves into a corner where no one would look. “They carry their pedigrees and their divine right, while we carry only our hunger, and move constantly to avoid detection”

Silas didn’t care for the politics of the upper deck. He cared for the world around him. The ship was a marvel of engineering - massive, sprawling, and built with a singular purpose.

He had heard the passengers talking in the echoes of the vents. They spoke of a new world, a “Reset,” and the cleansing of the old ways. “If the world is being reborn,” Silas muttered, “then it needs a foundation. And we are simply... refining it. We are as important to the new world as any of those on the upper deck.” It was clear from her expression that Elena did not agree.

Above them, the Great Ones were fed regularly with food that could only be dreamed of. Down in the depths, Silas and Elena found themselves getting a bite to eat wherever they could. They slid past the other occupants when no one was looking, finding even the slightest morsel to fulfil their hunger.

They became the masters of unclean corners. They watched for gaps where they could hide and fill their stomachs with food that no one else considered edible. They stayed hidden until they satisfied their hunger and their stomachs had stopped rumbling. Silas would then want to go and stare at the other occupants, but Elena preferred to stay hidden.

They were not the only ones sneaking around corners. Occasionally, they would catch a glimpse of another couple hiding out of the way, unnoticed by the top-deck passengers or those who served this great ship.

“We are the forgotten guest list,” Silas joked.

“Do you think the ship will hold?” Elena asked, her eyes reflecting the dim light of a flickering lamp from the hallway. “The vibrations are changing. The weight of the water outside feels heavier.”

“It’s a sturdy vessel,” Silas assured her. “Built to last an eternity. Or at least until we reach dry land.”

They spent their nights, or what they perceived as nights, burrowing deeper. They memorised intricate, lace-like tunnels through the heart of the ship. Anything to stop the hunger and stay alive.

It was a strange day when Silas noticed a change in the atmosphere. The frantic energy of the boarding had been replaced by a heavy, stagnant dread. The Great Ones were restless. There was a roaring noise that had not been there before, followed by a silence, as if everyone was collectively holding their breath.

The staff they glimpsed from their hold looked tired and worried as they rushed about the ship. Elena observed, “They walk as if the weight of the whole world is on their shoulders.”

“There is nothing wrong,” Silas replied. “We would know if there was.”

“But we are not even on the passenger list. How would anyone know to look for us?” Elena replied.

Silas was not paying attention. He had snuggled down in a junction where three massive beams met near the very bottom of the hull. It was the keel, the spine of the entire ship. He was happy here, warm, with enough food to see him through to the end of the voyage.

“Silas, maybe we should stop,” Elena whispered, feeling the timber groan under the pressure of the surrounding sea. “I can hear the water whispering on the other side. It sounds angry. Maybe we should make others aware we are here. We are too far across for them to put us out now, surely.”

“Just one more tunnel, Elena. We need to reach the other side before we settle down in the New World. We must be strong for what comes next.”

They moved in tandem, their tiny noise lost in the cacophony of the storm outside.

They were the ultimate survivalists, the parasites of the divine plan, thriving on the very thing meant to save the worthy.

The end didn’t come with a crash or a cry. It began with a trickle. Suddenly, the rhythmic vibration of the ship’s heart skipped a beat. A high-pitched groan vibrated through the floorboards, the groan of a body being hollowed out from within.

Silas had just broken through a final, stubborn layer of resin when the texture changed. It wasn’t wood anymore. It was cold. It was wet.

“Silas!” Elena cried out, as a jet of icy, dark water sprayed through their meticulously carved tunnel.

The pressure was immense. The unsinkable sanctuary, the great Ark that had carried the weight of a planet’s hope, began to shudder. The wood, weakened by months of silent, uninvited feasting, could no longer hold back the abyss.

Above them, the Great Ones began to panic. The two-by-two formation broke. The Captain’s voice rose in a frantic, confused shout, wondering how the gopher wood could fail. He had followed the dimensions to the cubit; he had sealed it with pitch; he had selected only the finest.

But he had forgotten the guests he didn’t invite. The world was being cleansed, indeed. But as the Ark settled into the rising deep, Silas knew one thing: no matter how big the ship, or how divine the plan, there would always be someone in the cracks, eating away at the foundation.

As the dark water rose to fill their tunnels, Silas grabbed Elena’s pincer. They weren’t afraid. They were the survivors of the margins. As the great vessel began to tilt, heavy with the weight of its own purity, the two small stowaways let the current take them.

The life of a woodworm was never easy, and it appeared that neither was the end as the water took them and all the Great Ones. In the end, everyone was equal, regardless of their size or status in the kingdom.

Those who notice these things will see that I have reduced this newsletter to every other week. It is part of my yearly plan to be more focused on deep work, my new crime book, and more present for my family.

I dropped this note last week:

One of the comments was, “FIVE newsletters? Oh, Sam, I shudder.” It explains perfectly how I have overstretched myself.

This is not the only newsletter I am moving to a fortnightly schedule; I am also dropping The Book Chronicles so that I can fully concentrate on Murder Mayhem UK. I have taken on too much.

But, as writers, are we not all guilty of this? We want to succeed so badly that we throw as many balls in the air as we can, only to drop them eventually. We end up doing five things poorly instead of concentrating on the one thing that got us into writing in the first place: the love of the craft.

We all set wild New Year goals, and by now, most of them are broken. This is why I prefer to have a “spring clean” of my work every year. As the flowers push through and the fairer weather arrives, it feels like the perfect time to declutter our lives.

I would suggest you all consider a spring clean of your own input and re-evaluate what truly matters. With that in mind, pop into the comments and tell me one thing you would like to change in your writing career.

Until next Sunday: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

Sam 😊

Reading Round-Up

I was very lucky that the sequel to The Will of the Many arrived in my Libby this week; I am currently busy devouring it as I loved the first. I have to say the second is a slower starter, yet it remains hugely intriguing.

My audiobook listen is The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith. Having read the entirety of this series, diving into this latest edition feels like coming back to spend time with old friends.

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Murder Mayhem UK

The True Story of the Fake Hitman

Neighbours often saw Gary Johnson as a quiet, polite psychology professor who lived with two cats. However, those who met him in the shadows had no idea that to others he was also known as Mike Caine…

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5 months ago · 7 likes · Sam H Arnold

The Book Chronicle

The Decline of the Mass Market Paperback

The era of the traditional mass market paperback (MMPB) is effectively coming to an end. While a few publishers still utilise the format for specific legacy genres, a series of industry shifts between 2024 and early 2026 has signalled its near-total phase-out…

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5 months ago · Sam H Arnold

Murder Mayhem UK

The London Plague a Disease of Class

At the moment, where I live, we have an unprecedented number of meningitis cases. It is all anyone talks about. The anxiety hangs heavy in the air, making it easy to imagine what it must have been li…

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5 months ago · 4 likes · Sam H Arnold

Recommended Article

Pick any of the articles from this newsletter and if you love Dracula you will not be disappointed.

You Want It Darker?

How Bram Stoker Wrote Dracula

Dear Reader…

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6 months ago · 46 likes · 14 comments · Monica Van Fleet

The era of the traditional mass market paperback (MMPB) is effectively coming to an end. While a few publishers still utilise the format for specific legacy genres, a series of industry shifts between 2024 and early 2026 has signalled its near-total phase-out.

In my opinion, this is incredibly sad. The MMPB has made reading accessible to all; therefore, anything that reduces people’s ability to read must be considered a bad thing.

What is a Mass Market Paperback?

An MMPB is a small, pocket-sized book designed for high-volume sales at a low price point. Historically, they were the ‘disposable’ version of the publishing world. They were perfect to shove into a back pocket or bag to read in those little moments.

Once read, you could easily recycle them or, my favourite, pass them on.

They were not the best quality books. With their low-grade paper and glued pages, they would never make an attractive bookshelf edition, but they were cheap and easy to get hold of.

What truly made a book ‘mass market’ was where it was sold. Unlike hardcovers, which were primarily sold in specialised bookstores, MMPBs were designed for ‘non-traditional’ retailers:

• Grocery stores and supermarkets

• Drugstores (CVS, Walgreens)

• Airport newsstands

• Train stations and bus terminals

• Gas stations

What made them popular with retailers was the return system. Rather than shipping the whole book back to the wholesalers, shops could send the cover and receive a credit. The rest of the book could then be recycled.

The most popular genres for these books were romance, science fiction, fantasy, crime, and thrillers. Many people started reading because of these cheap alternatives to hardcovers. They also made many authors popular.

Stephen King

While Stephen King’s debut, Carrie, saw a modest initial hardcover release, it was the record-breaking $400,000 sale of its paperback rights to New American Library that truly ignited his career.

The spinner rack accessibility of MMPBs allowed King’s early masterpieces— Salem’s Lot, The Shining, and The Stand, to bypass the gatekeeping of elite bookstores and land directly in the hands of millions of commuters and casual readers.

By saturating the market with affordable, portable editions that featured iconic, tactile cover art, the mass market format transformed King from a struggling teacher into a cultural phenomenon. This ensured his name became synonymous with the modern horror genre in every household across the country. He himself has spoken about this and how the sales from these books transformed his life.

So Why Phase Them Out?

The most significant blow to the format occurred at the end of 2025, when Readerlink, the largest distributor of books to mass merchandisers like Walmart, Target, and Kroger, officially stopped distributing mass market paperbacks.

Readerlink had an estimated 60–70% of the market and locations for these books. Sales plummeted because the eBook industry likely replaced the “quick read” market that MMPBs once dominated—dropping from 131 million in 2004 to just 21 million in 2024.

Following this, most major publishers shifted their ‘entry-level’ physical books to Trade Paperbacks (larger, higher-quality paper) or digital formats. Companies such as Penguin Random House and Harper Collins have moved from MMPB to the more expensive Trade Paperback because the larger format offers higher profit margins and fits more easily into modern production lines.

Furthermore, the rise of ‘BookTok’ and the aesthetic side of social media has changed what readers want. Books are now often seen as decorative objects for a ‘shelfie,’ and the flimsy MMPB doesn’t look as good on camera as a sturdy Trade Paperback.

Publishers state that, with rising costs, they could not keep the price as low as people had become used to. To justify increasing the price, they increased the quality of trade paperbacks, pricing some books as high as £18.99. They also state that these more expensive books last longer.

Reader Effect

Look carefully and you will still find some MMPBs from authors such as Danielle Steel and John Grisham as publishers exhaust their supplies. However, unless we as readers do something, the end of the MMPB seems imminent.

This decline is one more example of readers increasingly finding it difficult to have access to literature. Ebooks are priced almost as much as their physical relatives, and paperbacks are becoming as expensive as hardcovers. If you are a vivacious reader, you could be spending hundreds of pounds.

Reading should be for all, regardless of your income. Make sure you purchase those MMPBs when you see them; show the industry they are wrong to phase them out. Tell your reading friends about this, as it is something the industry is reluctant to publicise. And if all else fails and you can’t afford to read—remember there is always a library.

Until next Friday: Read to learn. Read to escape. Read to smile.