Audiobooks Narrated by James MacPherson

Cully & more: A BBC Radio Collection

"Ian Rankin introduces a gripping collection of his radio writing, featuring Alexander Morton as the roguish detective Mr Cullender in two original radio dramas, and as Inspector Rebus in Let it Bleed Best known for his Inspector Rebus novels, Sir Ian Rankin is one of Britain’s most successful and acclaimed crime writers. He has won numerous awards, including the CWA Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement, and in 2023 he received a knighthood for services to literature and charity. He has also written extensively for BBC Radio, and in this collection he guides us through a selection of those pieces as they were first heard on the airwaves. The collection opens with two feature-length, full-cast period dramas set in Edinburgh in the 1790s, introducing the resourceful if low-born Mr Cullender (‘Cully’) – caddie, manservant and general dogsbody. The enterprising detective, played by Alexander Morton, goes in search of a double murderer (The Serpent’s Back) and investigates a series of ritualistic wine-cellar killings (The Third Gentleman). Next, Let it Bleed sees Morton starring as Detective Inspector John Rebus in the very first BBC Radio Rebus adaptation, in which the maverick cop probes political corruption and insider dealing – and uncovers the dark underbelly of 1990s Scotland. Among the supporting cast are James Bryce as DI Flower, Sarah Collier as DCI Gill Templer and Crawford Logan as Chief Superintendent Watson. Specially written for Radio 4, the gripping crime serial The Deathwatch Journal, read by Jimmy Chisholm, takes place inside an Edinburgh prison in 1962, where jailer Thomas Scott is watching over a condemned man sentenced to hang for the murder of his wife. But as they wait out the days until his execution, Scott begins to suspect that Telfer is innocent… Also included are eight of Ian Rankin’s short stories – some original tales commissioned for radio, others recorded from his collection Beggars Banquet: ‘The Only True Comedian’ (read by Steven McNicoll), ‘The Confession’ (read by Alec Heggie), ‘Unlucky in Love, Unlucky at Cards’ (read by Billy Riddoch), ‘A Deep Hole’ (read by Steven McNicoll), ‘Step Right Up’ (read by Dominic Cooper), ‘Facing the Music’ (read by James MacPherson), ‘Herbert in Motion’ (read by James Bryce) and ‘The Hanged Man’ (read by Steven McNicoll). Ranging from the comic to the macabre, they feature hit men, con men, comedians, a private eye, a road digger, an art curator, a serial killer – and Edinburgh’s very own John Rebus. Contents The Serpent’s Back The Third Gentleman Let it Bleed The Deathwatch Journal ‘The Only True Comedian’ ‘The Confession’ ‘Unlucky at Love, Unlucky at Cards’ ‘A Deep Hole’ ‘Step Right Up’ ‘Facing the Music’ ‘Herbert in Motion’ ‘The Hanged Man’ Copyright © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ian Rankin (Author), Alec Heggie, Alexander Morton, Billy Riddoch, Crawford Logan, Dominic Cooper, Full Cast, James Bryce, James MacPherson, Jimmy Chisholm, Sarah Collier, Steven McNicoll (Narrator)

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Iain Banks: A BBC Radio Collection: Including The Wasp Factory, The State of the Art & Espedair Street

"Selected readings and full-cast dramatisations from across the literary and science fiction of Iain Banks Iain Banks, aka Iain M Banks, came to fame in 1984 with his transfixing debut The Wasp Factory, described as both ‘a work of unparalleled depravity’ and 'a masterpiece'. In 1993 he was acknowledged as one of the Best of Young British Writers, and his numerous bestselling books include The Crow Road, Complicity and the ‘Culture’ sci-fi series. Collected here are three of his best works, as heard on BBC Radio. The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks’ controversial first novel features one of literature’s most unsettling teenage boys. Sixteen-year-old Frank invites us inside his macabre world, as he describes experimenting with explosives, torturing insects – and killing his relatives. But he is not alone in his madness – his brother, Eric, has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and is making his way back home… Joseph McFadden reads this blackly comic cult classic, abridged by multi-award-winning playwright Craig Warner. The State of the Art – Arriving on Earth in 1977, the Culture ship Arbitrary finds a planet on the brink of self-destruction, obsessed with alien concepts such as ‘property’ and ‘money’. When agent Dervley Linter decides to go native, can Diziet Sma change his mind? Antony Sher, Nina Sosanya and Paterson Joseph star in this thrilling sci-fi novella, adapted for radio by Doctor Who writer Paul Cornell. Piece – As he waits to board a plane, Munro recalls two previous journeys. Travelling by bus and then train, he finds himself in parallel arguments started by the books he is carrying, pitching reason against faith. But life is too complicated for there not to be continual coincidences… This radio adaptation by Craig Warner of Iain Banks’ short story stars Bill Paterson. Espedair Street – Told in the style of a Radio 1 documentary, Paul Gambaccini presents the story behind the spectacular rise and tragic fall of the fictional 1970s mega-band, Frozen Gold – from the album deal that set a rock industry record, to the mysterious deaths of two of the band members. At the centre of it all is Weird, the songwriting genius from a Paisley housing scheme, who suddenly finds himself living a life of sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll… Starring John-Gordon Sinclair, Louise Beattie, James MacPherson and Steven McNicoll, and featuring original music by Iain Banks. Text copyright © Iain Banks 1984 (The Wasp Factory), 1987 (Espedair Street), 1989 (‘Piece’) The State of the Art copyright © Iain M Banks 1989 The Wasp Factory Read by Joseph McFadden Abridged by Craig Warner Produced by Alex Burrett First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 March-5 April 1997 The State of the Art The Ship – Antony Sher Diziet Sma – Nina Sosanya Dervley Linter – Paterson Joseph Li – Graeme Hawley Tel – Brigit Forsyth Sodel – Conrad Nelson Dramatised by Paul Cornell Directed by Nadia Molinari First broadcast BBC Radio 5, 5 March 2009 Piece Munro - Bill Paterson Jack- Harry Jones Mo - Bash Kher Eve/the Voice - Susan Sheridan Adapted by Craig Warner Produced and directed by John York First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 June 1991 Espedair Street Weird – John Gordon Sinclair Christine – Louise Beattie Davey – James MacPherson Ric – Steven McNicoll McCann – Sandy Morton Jean Webb – Margaret Clark Wes – Douglas Russell Wee Tommy – Martin Docherty Inez – Gowan Calder Nightclub manager – Graham Debanzi Pop biographer – Paul Gambaccini Dramatised by Joe Dunlop Music by lain Banks and Nigel Clark Keyboards: Brian Kellock, Guitar: Nick Clark, Drums: Gordon Wilson, Vocals: Monica Queen Directed by Dave Batchelor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8-29 January 2008 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Iain M. Banks (Author), Antony Sher, Bill Paterson, Full Cast, James MacPherson, John-Gordon Sinclair, Joseph McFadden, Louise Beattie, Nina Sosanya, Paterson Joseph, Steven McNicoll (Narrator)

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The Tears of Angels: Anderson and Costello, Book 6

"A few days before the summer solstice, a 92 year old woman is found burned to death in her home. On the same day, a man's mutilated corpse is discovered, his arms ripped from their sockets, with a Tarot card depicting ‘The Fool' inserted in his mouth. When the victim is identified as someone for whom the police have been looking for almost a year, detectives Anderson and Costello find themselves caught up in a case where nothing is as it seems."

Caro Ramsay (Author), James MacPherson (Narrator)

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The Blood of Crows

"The Blood of Crows will be a huge treat for all fans of Ian Rankin and Val McDermid, and establishes Caro Ramsay firmly as one of the most exciting new voices in Scottish crime fiction. DI Colin Anderson is having a bad week. His conviction of paedophile Skelpie Fairbairn is declared unsafe, putting Fairbairn back on Glasgow's streets. Then a succession of strange crimes - a gangster torched alive; a teenage boy tortured then dropped off a bridge; a police suicide; a young girl tied to the river bank and left for the tide – leave Anderson with his hands full. Soon his team discovers that all the crimes are oddly linked to an elusive mastermind called the Puppeteer…"

Caro Ramsay (Author), James MacPherson (Narrator)

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