Book Club – Mike Nicol on his book Falls the Shadow

In this episode of Lunch with Pippa Hudson, crime writer Mike Nicol joins the Book Club to discuss his new novel, Falls the Shadow, the first in a fresh series featuring Zara Dwayne, a tough and complex internal affairs officer within the South African police force. Nicol reveals the organic, almost serendipitous origin of Zara’s character—inspired by a name he encountered in Paris, a real-life tragedy, and a desire to explore corruption from within the system. The conversation delves into the writing process, the deliberate construction of obstacles for his protagonist, and the thematic weight of police corruption, which, though written pre-Midlanger Commission, now feels eerily prescient. Nicol reflects on the balance between realism and fiction, the necessity of hope in storytelling, and the role of humor through the beloved side character Janet. He also confirms that books two and three are already completed, with the sequel set for release in February. The episode closes with a call to action for aspiring writers to join Nicol’s masterclasses and attend the Funchook Literary Festival, where he’ll be leading panels and workshops.