LANE SEVEN – new short story on BBC Radio 4

UPDATE: The story has now aired and is available to listen to here.

I can finally share some special news - I have a short story airing on BBC Radio 4 next month.

LANE SEVEN will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on May 22, 2026 at 15:45.

It’s about Jack, who is unsettled when he spots his ex-girlfriend in the next lane at his local swimming pool. Hadn’t she always said she was afraid of the water?

LANE SEVEN was commissioned by BBC Radio Four’s Short Works, which broadcasts new 15-minute stories every week.

The story was inspired by my twice-weekly swims at my local swimming pool.

My previous novels include If I Die Before I Wake, Keep Him Close and What July Knew. Read more about my books here.

Explore more about me on my website.

For new writing, updates and recommendations, sign up to my readers’ newsletter. You’ll also receive an exclusive short story when you join.

Frequently asked questions

• Where can I listen to LANE SEVEN?

  You can listen to the story here.

• Have you written other short stories?

  Yes! If you sign up to my newsletter you’ll get a free short story as your joining gift. MY MAN IN A BOWLER HAT is inspired by my grandparents. Set in post-war England, in 1946, it is the tale of a young refugee, Hanns, and his new bride Christine, coming up against racial prejudice at a friend’s cocktail party. 

• Do you have a newsletter?

  I do indeed. Sign up here. Enjoy exclusive updates, giveaways, behind-the-scenes insights and reading recommendations when you become a member of the Emily Koch VIP Readers Club. As a thank you for signing up, I’ll send you a FREE short story.

• What genre do you write?

  Psychological suspense with a strong emotional core - often described as book club fiction. My novels focus on relationships, secrets, and the ripple effects of past decisions.

• Where should I start with your books?

  Start with If I Die Before I Wake. My books aren’t a series, so you can read them in any order, but this is my debut novel and a strong entry point into my writing.

• How do you pronounce Emily Koch?

  It’s pronounced with a guttural “ch” sound, a bit like the Scottish “loch.” On radio or podcasts it’s sometimes misheard as Emily Cook, Emily Cox, Emily Cock, or Emily Kotch. I wrote a whole article about it here.