Audiobooks narrated by Jamie Parker

Tory Nation: How one party took over Audiobook

'A witty, lucid investigation into one of the great political mysteries of our time: the enduring love felt by the British people for the party which regularly manages to persuade them, against all the evidence, that it has their best interests at heart' JONATHAN COE, author of Bournville 'A highly readable history' Observer The story of the most successful political party in the world, and a nation made in its image. Since 2010, the Conservative Party has presided over countless corruption scandals, blundered its way through a pandemic and trapped Britain in a cycle of permanent dysfunction. This has coincided with four election wins in a row, each one with a larger share of the vote than the last. How? The strange dissonance between the Conservatives' destructive record in government and their record of victory - which has seen them suffer only seven major defeats in the last 150 years - is one of the defining riddles of British politics. Tory Nation sets out to solve this puzzle. With dazzling clarity and insight, Samuel Earle explores the roots of the current crisis and the real reasons for the Conservatives' success, from their ruling class origins in the eighteenth century and their disproportionate influence on the British press to their stranglehold over national identity. He also sheds light on the Conservatives' historic appeal among the working classes and why the Labour Party so often disappoints. Tory Nation describes the making of Britain through one party's astonishing staying power. It's only by reaching into our history, Earle argues, that we can understand how we got here - and how we can find a way out 'Finally, someone has explained why the British electorate behaves like Turkeys voting for Christmas. Sam Earle has set out clearly and eloquently why our democracy is incapable of solving our political problems' ROBERT VERKAIK, author of Posh Boys 'Eviscerating. Less a political book and more a mystery novel . . . untangles the riddle of the strange cognitive dissonance between the Tories' bumbling, destructive political record and their inexplicable electoral success' i-D 'Tory Nation explores the remarkable resilience of the Conservative party, which ought to be of interest to friend and foe alike'The Spectator

Samuel Earle (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Gothic Imagination: Dracula, Frankenstein & more: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

A BBC chilling collection of classic gothic horror and ghost stories adapted or written by women In this breathtaking collection of gothic horror and eerie tales, draw the curtains and pull the blankets close for two classic Victorian horror tales in new adaptations, Dracula starring Nicky Henson, Charles Edwards, Don Gilet and Ellie Kendrick and Frankenstein, with Jamie Parker (Harry Potter) as Frankenstein and Shaun Dooley (Gentleman Jack, Broadchurch) as the Monster. Next is a thrilling drama about the scandalous Mary Shelley and Lord Byron in Bloody Poetry. In the sensational psycho-sexual thriller The Mysteries of Udolpho with Robert Glenister (Suspicion, Spooks), a young woman is trapped in a castle of nightmares and villains. But who can she trust? Four spine-chilling dramatised tales follow: The Cold Embrace, where a handsome artist makes a terrible mistake, Man Sized in Marble, in which newly-weds must face a horrifying truth, Afterward sees a couple paying the price for an unexpected windfall, and The Demon Lover, featuring Jenny Howe (Silent Witness, Eastenders) about a woman struggling home through the Blitz. Finally, two of Mary Shelley's finest short stories, The Mortal Immortal - when a young apprentice drinks a potion to cure his heartbreak but discovers a feeling far worse - and Rodger Dodworth: The Reanimated Englishman - where a man is woken after 170 years encased in ice. Cast and credits Dracula Written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz Story written by Bram Stoker Directed by Jessica Dromgoole First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 14 October 2012 Frankenstein Dramatised by Lucy Catherine Written by Mary Shelley Directed by Marc Beeby First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 28 October - 4 November 2012 Bloody Poetry Written by Howard Brenton Adapted by Alison Hindell Directed by Alison Hindell First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 20 October 2012 The Mysteries of Udolpho Written by Ann Radcliffe Dramatised by Catherine Czerkawska Directed by David Blount First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 13 October - 24 October 1996 The Cold Embrace Written by Mary Braddon Produced by Marion Nancarrow Directed by Christopher Hawes First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 26 July 1997 Man Sized in Marble Written by Edith Nesbit Produced by Marion Nancarrow Dramatised by Christopher Hawes First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 17 November 1997 Afterward Written by Edith Wharton Produced by Marion Nancarrow Directed by Christopher Hawes First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 24 November 1997 The Demon Lover Written by Elizabeth Bowen Produced by Marion Nancarrow Directed by Christopher Hawes First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 17 July 1997 The Mortal Immortal Written by Mary Shelley Produced by Gemma Jenkins First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 3 December 2005 Rodger Dodworth: The Reanimated Englishman Written by Mary Shelley Produced by John Cardy First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 24 May 1982 ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ann Ratcliffe, Bram Stoker, Edith Nesbit, Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Bowen, Howard Brenton, Lucy Catherine, Mary Braddon, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Author), Charles Edwards, Don Gilet, Ellie Kendrick, Full Cast, Jamie Parker, Maggie Steed, Robert Glenister, Shaun Dooley, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

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The Fate of Abraham: Why the West is Wrong about Islam

As the Cold War faded into history, it appeared to have been replaced by a new conflict - between Islam and the West. Or so we are told. After the events of 9/11 and the advent of the 'war on terror', this narrative seemed prophetic. But, as Peter Oborne reveals in this masterful new analysis, the concept of an existential clash between the two is a dangerous and destructive fantasy. Based on rigorous historical research and forensic contemporary journalism that leads him frequently into war-torn states and bloody conflict zones, Oborne explains the myths, fabrications and downright lies that have contributed to this pernicious state of affairs. He shows how various falsehoods run deep, reaching back as far as the birth of Islam, and have then been repurposed for the modern day. Many in senior positions in governments across the West have suggested that Islam is trying to overturn our liberal values and even that certain Muslims are conspiring to take over the state, while Douglas Murray claims in his new book that we face a 'War on the West'. But in reality, these fears merely echo past debates, as we continue to repeat the pattern of seemingly wilful ignorance. With murderous attacks on Muslims taking place from Bosnia in 1995 to China today, Oborne dismantles the falsehoods that lie behind them, and he opens the way to a clearer and more truthful mutual understanding that will benefit us all in the long run.

Peter Oborne (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Cold Reckoning

'A rollercoaster ride of a thriller . . . will keep you hanging on by your fingertips until the tense final moments' PETER ROBINSON THE DARKNESS FROM HIS PAST WILL FINALLY COME TO LIGHT For sixteen years, DS Adam Tyler has been searching for answers to his father, Richard's, death. Convinced it wasn't suicide, he has been investigating the case in secret. When a body is found in a frozen lake, linked to a cold case from 2002, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the death of his father - except Tyler knows Richard was investigating the same case shortly before he died. And Tyler doesn't believe in coincidences. As he throws himself into finding out what really happened that day, Tyler uncovers a string of botched investigations, mysterious disappearances and, ultimately, deep-seated police corruption. There are dangerous people who don't want Tyler asking questions - and the truth always comes at a price. This time, it could cost him everything. From the bestselling author of FIREWATCHING and NIGHTHAWKING. Praise for COLD RECKONING 'Compelling and totally immersive. It's a brilliant read for anyone with a love of tense intelligent thrillers, with pitch-perfect dialogue' KATE RHODES, author of DEVIL'S TABLE 'I was hooked on DS Adam Tyler from the first page . . . Spot on' SAM HOLLAND, author of THE ECHO MAN Praise for the DS Adam Tyler series 'Hard-hitting' SUNDAY TIMES, CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH 'Riveting' HEAT 'Exceptional' AJ FINN 'Clever and compulsive' LOUISE CANDLISH 'I loved it' LEE CHILD 'Fresh and original' KATE RHODES 'Superb' JAMES DELARGY 'A cracking read with a terrific new detective lead' SARAH HILARY 'Totally absorbed me' CASS GREEN 'Intelligent, pacy and compelling, it's everything you could want from a crime novel' SARAH WARD

Russ Thomas (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth

Brought to you by Penguin. The Treeline is a spellbinding blend of nature, travel and science writing, deeply researched and beautifully written, underpinned by an urgent environmental message. The Arctic Treeline - the northern limit of the boreal forest that encircles the globe in an almost unbroken green ring - is the second largest biome on our planet. At this little-known frontline of climate change, the trees have been creeping towards the pole for fifty years already. Six of the tree species that populate these forests (Larch, Spruce, Mountain Ash, Downy Birch, Balsam Poplar and Scots Pine) form the central protagonists of Ben Rawlence's story. In Scotland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland, he discovers what these trees and the people who live and work alongside them have to tell us about the past, present and future of our planet. Scientists are only just beginning to understand the astonishing significance of these forests for all life on Earth. At the Treeline, Rawlence witnesses the accelerating impact of climate change and the devastating legacies of colonialism and capitalism. But he also finds reasons for hope. Humans are creatures of the forest; we have always evolved with trees. The Treeline asks us where our co-evolution might take us next. © Ben Rawlence 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Ben Rawlence (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Operation Black Key: A Dom Riley Thriller

Perfect for fans of Ollie Ollerton, Andy McNab and Stephen Leather - the second compulsive thriller from Sunday Times bestseller and bomb-disposal expert, Kim Hughes GC. THE ENEMY IS CLOSE TO HOME . . . Left reeling from the disappearance of his daughter and ex-wife, Staff Sergeant Dom Riley is a haunted man. After months of investigating, he has exhausted nearly all leads in his hunt for answers. As Riley decides to make one final, desperate push for the truth, it emerges that multiple bombs have been located on board a civilian cruise ship and he is thrown into action in the middle of the ocean. With little information on the person behind the threat other than the alias BaseHeart, Riley must keep his head together if he has any chance of neutralizing the threat. And it's not long until the first bomb detonates. But it's not the journey, nor the bombs themselves, that pose the real danger. In fact, in travelling halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, Riley will ultimately learn that the enemy is much closer to home . . . PRAISE FOR KIM HUGHES GC 'A taut thriller that seizes your attention from the first page' Daily Express 'A terrific start to a new series . . . Light the blue touch paper and retire to a comfortable chair' The Times 'A powerful tale from an author who knows his stuff. Addictively compelling, you'll be reading into the small hours' Alan McDermott, author of the Eva Driscoll thrillers 'Gripping . . . The plot beautifully twists several parallel and intertwining story-lines together, at pace. There is a bit of something for everyone here: military detail, spy conspiracy, dastardly terrorist plot and the pieces of the jigsaw all fall into place nicely. Thoroughly recommended' Army Rumour Service 'Kim Hughes is the man who stands between us and oblivion' Andy McNab, author of Bravo Two Zero

Kim Hughes (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Nighthawking

The latest novel by the author of FIREWATCHING, by 'a bold and brilliant new voice in crime fiction' Sheffield's beautiful Botanical Gardens - an oasis of peace in a world filled with sorrow, confusion and pain. And then, one morning, a body is found in the Gardens. A young woman, dead from a stab wound, buried in a quiet corner. Police quickly determine that the body's been there for months. It would have gone undiscovered for years - but someone just sneaked into the Gardens and dug it up. Who is the victim? Who killed her and hid her body? Who dug her up? And who left a macabre marker on the body? In his quest to find her murderer, DS Adam Tyler will find himself drawn into the secretive world of nighthawkers: treasure-hunters who operate under cover of darkness, seeking the lost and valuable… and willing to kill to keep what they find. That which was lost... will always be found again Praise for RUSS THOMAS and FIREWATCHING 'I loved it! Nighthawking turns Sheffield into a dark and terrifying underworld, and the plot is wonderfully fresh and original' KATE RHODES 'Superb. Every part of Nighthawking is so well woven together . . . the end dragged me around and spat me out a broken man. Highly recommended' JAMES DELARGY 'In the clever and compulsive Firewatching, DS Adam Tyler navigates a complex cast of villains and victims in a cold case that suddenly turns very, very hot' LOUISE CANDLISH 'A pitch-perfect blend of the best of the old and the best of the new . . . I loved it' LEE CHILD 'Devoured in three days. A cracking read with a terrific new detective lead. Red hot debut for 2020' SARAH HILARY 'A fantastic read with a plot that left me guessing and a cast of very real and well imagined characters.' JAMES DELARGY 'A great read. Totally absorbed me' CASS GREEN 'Intelligent, pacy and compelling, it's everything you could want from a crime novel' SARAH WARD, author of the DC Childs mysteries

Russ Thomas (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Operation Certain Death: A Dom Riley Thriller

'A powerful tale from an author who knows his stuff. Addictively compelling, you'll be reading into the small hours' Alan McDermott, author of Fight to Survive HE THOUGHT HE'D LEFT THE WAY BEHIND. BUT IT'S COME HOME WITH HIM. A bomb explodes in a newly designed shopping complex, ripping through the lives of everyone in its wake. Confirmed as a targeted terrorist attack, special units are quickly brought in to lock down the area. For bomb-disposal expert, Staff Sergeant Dominic Riley, Afghanistan never feels far away and that's especially true on the morning of the bombing. And it's only just beginning. The bomb-maker has bigger plans in place, designed for maximum destruction. Plans that are personal to Riley - and his family. And he has no qualms about how many innocent bystanders are caught in the firestorm. But our fate is in the hands of a man who has his own demons to face. And they might just push him over the edge . . . Perfect for fans of Ollie Ollerton, Andy McNab and Mark 'Billy' Billingham, this is the first breathless, edge-of-your-seat thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author and bomb disposal expert, Kim Hughes GC. Praise for Kim's memoir Painting the Sand: 'Breathtaking. Kim Hughes is the man who stands between us and oblivion' Andy McNab (author of Bravo Two Zero) 'An uplifting and enlightening account of the personal courage and dedication required to do a very lonely job in the most extreme of conditions' John Nichol (The Mail On Sunday)

Kim Hughes (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Ways Of Escape

Brought to you by Penguin. With superb skill and feeling, Graham Greene retraces the experiences and encounters of his extraordinary life. His restlessness is legendary; as if seeking out danger, Greene travelled to Haiti during the nightmare rule of Papa Doc, Vietnam in the last days of the French, Kenya during the Mau Mau rebellion. With ironic delight he recalls his time in the British Secret Service in Africa, and his brief involvement in Hollywood. He writes, as only he can, about people and places, about faith, doubt, fear and, not least, the trials and craft of writing. ©Graham Green 1980 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Graham Greene (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Berlin: The Story of a City

There is a particular frisson about Berlin, a combination of excitement, anticipation, nervousness and the unexpected. Through all its life it has been a city of tensions. Its position, on the frontier of Europe, on the 'Mark', where Christianity met paganism, where the Huns met the Slavs, where Europe met Russia and where fertile land met the sands, swamp and forests of Pomerania and Prussia, gave Berlin a geographical tension. It was also long a city of religious tension, between a largely Lutheran people and a Calvinist government. In the nineteenth-century political tension became acute between a city that was increasingly democratic, home to Marx and Hegel, and one of the most autocratic regimes in Europe. Artistic tension, between free thinking and liberal movements, once championed by monarchs like Frederick the Great, started to find themselves in direct contention with the formal, some would say stultifying, official culture. Underlying all this was the ethnic tension, between multi-racial Berliners and the Prussians; Berlin may have been the capital of Prussia but it was never a Prussian city. Then there is war. Few European cities have suffered from war as Berlin has. It has been sacked by the Hapsburg armies and the Swedes in the 30 Years War; by the Austrians and the Russians in the eighteenth century; by the French, with great violence, for nearly eight years in the early nineteenth century; by the Russians again in 1945 and subsequently occupied, more benignly, by the Allied Powers from 1945 until 1994. Nor can many cities boast such a diverse and controversial number of international figures. Apart from the Electors, Kings and Kaisers, several of whom like The Great Elector and Frederick the Great are deservedly international figures in their own right, with accompanying statesmen like Bismarck, a cast that boasts Schinkel and Gropius; Hegel and Marx; Mahler and Hoffman; Dietrich and Bowie; Lieberman and Köllwitz; Isherwood, Brecht, Wolf and Mann gives Berlin a cultural history that is as varied as it was ground-breaking. In the story of Berlin also lies at least part of the answer to one of the greatest enigmas of the twentieth century. How could a people as civilised, ordered and religious as the Germans support first a Kaiser and then the Nazis in inflicting such misery on Europe? Berlin was never as supportive of the Kaiser in 1914 as the rest of Germany; it was the revolution in Berlin in 1918 that lead to his abdication and Germany suing for peace. Nor was it as supportive of Hitler, being home to much of the opposition to the Nazis, although paradoxically Berlin suffered more than any other German city from Hitler's war. In unwrapping the story of Berlin it is possible to find at least a partial answer to this puzzling question which lies partially in the unique, curiously un-Germanic tradition of its capital city.

Barney White-Spunner (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Firewatching

'A pitch-perfect blend of the best of the old and the best of the new . . . I loved it' Lee Child * ONE FALSE MOVE Someone is setting fire to Sheffield. It starts with small things - dustbins and abandoned sheds - so people don't notice at first. But the calling card is there if you look for it. WILL IGNITE Soon the fires spread to offices, homes, people. The Firewatcher's followers are growing and they have one particular blaze in mind - one that the police would do well to pay attention to. THE CITY But D/S Adam Tyler is distracted by a case, one that he is unknowingly connected to. And if he can't discover the link between the fires and himself, he will burn - along with the entire city. * Fans of Adrian McKinty, Ian Rankin, Sharon Bolton and Broadchurch will love Firewatching, a compulsive, breathless and twisty thriller with an incredible lead detective at its heart.

Russ Thomas (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

The multi-million copy selling, international bestseller. Kim Jiyoung is a girl born to a mother whose in-laws wanted a boy. Kim Jiyoung is a sister made to share a room while her brother gets one of his own. Kim Jiyoung is a female preyed upon by male teachers at school. Kim Jiyoung is a daughter whose father blames her when she is harassed late at night. Kim Jiyoung is a good student who doesn't get put forward for internships. Kim Jiyoung is a model employee but gets overlooked for promotion. Kim Jiyoung is a wife who gives up her career and independence for a life of domesticity. Kim Jiyoung has started acting strangely. Kim Jiyoung is depressed. Kim Jiyoung is mad. Kim Jiyoung is her own woman. Kim Jiyoung is every woman. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is the South Korean sensation that has got the whole world talking. The life story of one young woman born at the end of the twentieth century raises questions about endemic misogyny and institutional oppression that are relevant to us all. A GUARDIAN 'ONE TO LOOK OUT FOR 2020' A RED MAGAZINE 'CAN'T WAIT TO READ' BOOK OF 2020 Riveting, original and uncompromising, this is the most important book to have emerged from South Korea since Han Kang's The Vegetarian. "This is a book about the life of a woman living in Korea; the despair of an ordinary woman which she takes for granted. The fact that it's not about 'someone special' is extremely shocking, while also being incredibly relatable." Sayaka Murata, author of Convenience Store Woman 'This witty, disturbing book deals with sexism, mental health issues and the hypocrisy of a country where young women are "popping caffeine pills and turning jaundiced" as they slave away in factories helping to fund higher education for male siblings.' The Independent 'Jiyoung is no raging feminist, rather a passive vessel, which makes her eventual breakdown all the more powerful, while the calm, matter-of-fact prose style adds to the reader's growing sense of disquiet.' Metro 'I loved this novel. Kim Jiyoung's life is made to seem at once totally commonplace, and nightmarishly over-the-top. As you read, you constantly feel that revolutionary, electric shift, between commonplace and nightmarish. This kind of imaginative work is so important and so powerful. I hope this book sells a million more copies.' Elif Batuman, author of The Idiot (shortlisted for The Women's Prize) 'After reading Kim Ji-young, Born 1982, I started to think about things in a way I hadn't thought about them before. It reminded me of the unfair treatment I had experienced being a woman and I felt like I was caught off guard.' Soo-young, member of Girls' Generation "A book with unique implications; I was so impressed." RM, BTS "Written with unbearably clear-sighted perspective, Kim JiYoung, Born 1982 possesses the urgency and immediacy of the scariest horror thriller - except that this is not technically horror, but something closer to reportage. I broke out in a sweat reading this book." Ling Ma, author of Severance "A fierce and powerful look at modern day Korean society through the lens of a refreshingly new protagonist. Born in 1982, Kim Jiyoung wins us over with her tolerance and strength. She is every one of us who has been invisible." Weike Wang 'To read the book is to imagine being a restive, aggrieved millennial and to trace her path through everyday misogyny.' New York Review of Books

Cho Nam-Joo (Author), Jamie Parker (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Jamie Parker