Episode 162: Interview with Belinda Bauer, author of The Impossible Thing

Top Shelf at the Merrick Library

Belinda Bauer on The Impossible Thing… A Crime Story Like No Other

A taut, brilliantly imagined novel packed with intrigue at every turn, The Impossible Thing cements Belinda Bauer’s place as one of our great crime writers. From the two-time winner of the CWA Crime Novel of the Year and Sunday Times bestselling author of Snap and Exit, this gripping new mystery follows a young girl, an impossible discovery, and a crime that remained unsolved for a century—until now.

Blending crime caper with historical mystery, Bauer crafts a story so compelling it’s impossible to put down. In this episode, she shares the fascinating true story behind the novel—the real-life case of the missing Maitland eggs—along with insights into the book’s intricate structure, the challenges of writing it, and how her screenwriting background shaped the narrative flow. Plus, she reveals why she always knows the last line of her books before she begins.

Belinda, thank you for such an insightful and engaging conversation! It was a true joy to have you on the show. Belinda Bauer recommends: Tommy the Bruce by James Yorkston; High Rollers by Jack Bowman, and Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson.

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