Kick-off the new year with a warm and insightful conversation about two of your favorite things: animals and books! The PBS Books Readers Club is excited to start off our third season with international best-selling author Charlotte McConaghy and her novel, “Once There Were Wolves.”

“Once There Were Wolves” follows Inti Flynn as she arrives in the remote Scottish Highlands with a bold mission: to reintroduce gray wolves to a landscape ravaged by overgrazing. Fierce, determined and carrying her own bruised history, Inti believes restoring the wolves is the key to healing the land, and perhaps herself. But when a man from the community turns up dead, suspicion falls squarely on the pack. To protect the animals she’s worked tirelessly to save, Inti makes a fateful choice that entangles her in a mystery far more human than anyone expects.

We’ll also chat with McConaghy about her newest novel that topped a lot of readers’ lists in 2025, “Wild Dark Shore.” This emotional thriller follows Dominic Salt and his three children, lone caretakers of a remote island’s seed vault as climate change closes in. When a mysterious woman named Rowan washes ashore during a brutal storm, their fragile isolation and buried secrets begin to unravel. As the sea rises and the truth about Rowan’s past, and Dominic’s, comes to light, trust is tested, loyalties shift and the stakes become more than just survival.

Together these two novels weave deeply emotional human narratives with the complexities of the rapidly changing environments around us, the grief that comes along with it and how we move forward.

Charlotte McConaghy is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels “Wild Dark Shore,” “Once There Were Wolves” and “Migrations,” which are being translated into more than twenty languages. She is based in Sydney, Australia.

Hear from McConaghy about how these heart-wrenching novels came to be. Join us at 6 p.m. on January 28, 2025, to learn about McConaghy’s inspirations and the research that went into these stories, along with other behind-the-scenes stories of her journey as a writer.

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More about PBS Books Readers Club

Every month, the PBS Books Readers Club curates a selection of outstanding books and provides exclusive interviews with renowned authors. It’s the perfect community for book enthusiasts to connect and discover their next captivating read. Catch new episodes on the last Wednesday of each month via the PBS Books Facebook page, the PBS Books YouTube Channel, and the PBS app on your smart TV or device. Each episode pairs perfectly with your favorite PBS shows and features books that promise to be unforgettable. Members can access extended interviews with authors on Arizona PBS Passport and enjoy an on-demand library of quality public television programming. Additionally, subscribers receive a bi-monthly e-newsletter packed with exclusive interviews, engaging book-related articles, and more book recommendations. Tune in to our new digital video series, the Readers Club, for in-depth conversations with some of today’s most prolific and thought-provoking authors and PBS personalities.

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Don’t miss the PBS Books Readers Club Facebook group

The PBS Books Readers Club Facebook group is your go-to destination for everything literary. With a growing community of thousands, you’ll find an endless stream of discussions, recommendations, and bookish insights. We’re excited to offer this vibrant interactive platform where book lovers can engage in reading together, discuss their favorite reads, discover new recommendations, and chat with like-minded readers. Plus, you’ll have the chance to pose questions to featured authors and participate in lively book club conversations. Join us and be part of a thriving community of book enthusiasts.

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