Welcome to Book Club and Episode 2519 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Richard Hough. Today Richard is in conversation with David Hewson and Philip Gwynne Jones to discuss their careers as crime writers and the crime fiction festival they inspired, Venice Noir.
On the bookshelf:
The books discussed in today’s episode include:
Semana Santa (reissued as Death in Seville) by David Hewson
Romeo and Juliet, A Novel, by David Hewson
The Venice Project (reissued as To Venice with Love) by Philip Gwynne Jones
Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct Series
Roads to Rome by Catherine Fletcher
The works of H. P. Lovecraft
The Predicament by William Boyd
Travel Tips:
The places and recommendations mentioned in today’s show include:
Osteria ai Pugni, Venice
Adagio, Venice
Al Canton Santa Marta, Venice
Birreria Santa Maria, Verona
Mancondo Alberoni Beach Bar, Venice
Read more about the typical Venetian dish La Castradina in David Hewson’s blog on the subject:
https://davidhewson.com/your-november-venice-challenge-hunt-the-castradina/
For more information about Venice Noir which takes place in Venice from 14-16 November 2025 visit: https://www.venicenoir.it/
About today’s guests:
David Hewson is a British author known for his mystery novels, particularly the Nic Costa series set in Rome. He transitioned to full-time fiction writing after a long journalism career, which included working for publications like The Times and The Sunday Times. His debut novel, Semana Santa, was adapted into a film, and he has also written adaptations of the Danish TV series The Killing.
Connect:
Website: https://davidhewson.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david.hewson/
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/davidhewson.com
Philip Gwynne Jones was born in South Wales in 1966, and has since lived in Holland, Germany and Scotland. He first came to Italy in 1994, when he spent some time working for the European Space Agency in Frascati, a job that proved to be less exciting than he had imagined. He currently lives in Venice with his wife Caroline. He is the author of the Nathan Sutherland series, set in contemporary Venice. His latest book, The Magus of Sicily, was published in July 2025. He enjoys cooking, art, classical music and opera; and can occasionally be seen and heard singing bass with the Cantori Veneziani.
Website: https://philipgwynnejones.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipgwynnejones
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/pgjonesvenice.bsky.social
More about the host:
Richard Hough is the editor, translator and project curator behind The Art of Wine Storytelling, Wine Democracy and Vine and Prejudice. He has also published several books about life in Verona, chronicling the city’s history, culture and daily life, not forgetting, of course, its wine, including Verona Campione, published in May 2025. With a long-standing passion for whisky and beer, he’s a relative newcomer to the world of wine and is now desperately trying to make up for lost time! He is the host of Book Club on the Italian Wine Podcast.
Connect:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rickhough.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verona_campione
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhough/
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Until next time, Cin Cin!