Welcome to Story Deep Dive!

In this episode, Rachel and Dana kick off their latest book selection: The Whistleblower by Robert Peston. Whether you’re a crime writer, storyteller, or curious reader, you’ll gain valuable insights into writing morally gray protagonists, crafting layered political conspiracies, and integrating emotional arcs into high-stakes narratives.

From wild writing tangents to serious craft deep dives, this episode sets the stage for a thoughtful, hilarious, and eye-opening look at one of the most structurally sound crime novels you’ve probably never heard of.

You can also watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

Estimate Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & First Impressions

Rachel and Dana introduce The Whistleblower and set expectations for the series. Dana confesses her early resistance to the book, and they discuss how genre expectations shaped her reading experience.

03:10 – Crime Writers Workbook & Creative Projects

Rachel shares exciting updates on the second edition of her Complete Crime Writers Workbook, along with her plans to add a mini-course. Dana talks about writing, quilting, and building a Notion database for her cozy romance series—and the hilarious chaos that comes with it.

14:40 – AI, Notion, and Rat Hands (Yes, Really)

The hosts dive into how AI tools are transforming their writing process, with a healthy dose of laughter over villain hands and spicy scene drafting. This section is peak unfiltered Rachel and Dana energy.

19:40 – Lucy Score, Genre-Bending, and Reverse Harem Realness

They discuss the structure and evolution of Lucy Score’s brand, how authors train readers to accept new tones and tropes, and Dana’s journey writing a reverse harem romance. Expect laughs, behind-the-scenes stories, and valuable reflections on writing outside your comfort zone.

34:50 – Introducing The Whistleblower

Rachel summarizes the novel and its unique strengths. Dana offers a caveat for new readers: it’s a dense read, but the payoff is worth it. They tease the layered storytelling and moral complexity that make this story so rich for discussion.

42:10 – Crime Writing Takeaways

The hosts explore what crime writers can learn from Peston’s work:

Crafting a suspect pool full of secrets

Using a protagonist’s profession to drive the plot

How setting a story during an election naturally raises the stakes

48:25 – Emotional Depth & Character Arc

They unpack how Gil’s emotional journey (grief, guilt, redemption) is seamlessly woven into the investigation, creating a rare and rewarding emotional arc within a crime novel.

53:45 – Writing Flawed (Even Unlikeable) Protagonists

Rachel and Dana explore how Peston makes Gil compelling despite his moral failings. Writers get a masterclass in handling flawed narrators readers still want to root for.

56:10 – Timeline, Tension, and Plot Structure

Attaching the story to a concrete political event (the 1997 British election) gives the plot natural urgency and escalates every conflict. Rachel and Dana highlight how structure supports tension.

59:40 – First-Person Mastery & The Payoff of a Second Read

They close with a nod to Peston’s incredible line-level writing, use of first-person POV, and why a second read truly unlocks the depth of the novel. Rachel also gives Dana props for finishing the book—and Dana owns her villain origin story.

Book Selection

1997. A desperate government clings to power; a hungry opposition will do anything to win. And journalist Gil Peck watches from the sidelines, a respected commentator on the sport of power politics. He thinks he knows how things work. He thinks he knows the rules.But when Gil’s estranged sister Clare dies in a hit-and-run, he begins to believe it was no accident. Clare knew some of the most sensitive secrets in government. One of them might have got her killed.As election day approaches, Gil follows the story into the dark web of interests that link politics, finance and the media. And the deeper he goes, the more he realises how wrong he has been.But power isn’t sport: it’s war. And if Gil doesn’t stop digging, he might be the next casualty…

Where to Find the Book

The Whistleblower by Robert Peston is available in physical formats. It’s also widely available in libraries and online retailers. Details on the author’s website.

Next Episode:

In the next episode, Rachel and Dana will break down the plot of The Whistleblower, highlighting what makes the structure work, where it takes risks, and what writers can learn from how the mystery unfolds. Don’t miss it!

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