Audiobooks narrated by Kate Handford

Brought to you by Penguin. Reminiscent of her classic story 'The Lottery', Jackson's disturbing and darkly funny first novel exposes the underside of American suburban life. 'Her books penetrate keenly to the terrible truths which sometimes hide behind comfortable fictions, to the treachery beneath cheery neighborhood faces and the plain manners of country folk; to the threat that sparkles at the rainbow's edge of the sprinkler spray on even the greenest lawns, on the sunniest of midsummer mornings' Donna Tartt In Pepper Street, an attractive suburban neighbourhood filled with bullies and egotistical bigots, the feelings of the inhabitants are shallow and selfish: what can a neighbour gain from another neighbour, what may be won from a friend? One child stands alone in her goodness: little Caroline Desmond, kind, sweet and gentle, and the pride of her family. But the malice and self-absorption of the people of Pepper Street lead to a terrible event that will destroy the community of which they are so proud. Exposing the murderous cruelty of children, and the blindness and selfishness of adults, Shirley Jackson reveals the ugly truth behind a 'perfect' world. Shirley Jackson's chilling tales have the power to unsettle and terrify unlike any other. She was born in California in 1916. When her short story The Lottery was first published in The New Yorker in 1948, readers were so horrified they sent her hate mail; it has since become one of the greatest American stories of all time. Her first novel, The Road Through the Wall, was published in the same year and was followed by five more: Hangsaman, The Bird's Nest, The Sundial, The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, widely seen as her masterpiece. Shirley Jackson died in her sleep at the age of 48. 'An amazing writer' Neil Gaiman 'Shirley Jackson is one of those highly idiosyncratic, inimitable writers ... whose work exerts an enduring spell' Joyce Carol Oates 'An unburnished exercise in the sinister' The New York Times © Shirley Jackson 1948 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Shirley Jackson (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

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The Poisoner's Ring: A Rip Through Time Novel

A modern-day homicide detective is working as an undertaker's assistant in Victorian Scotland when a serial poisoner attacks the men of Edinburgh and leaves their widows under suspicion. Edinburgh, 1869: Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is adjusting to her new life in Victorian Scotland. Her employers know she’s not housemaid Catriona Mitchell—even though Mallory is in Catriona’s body—and Mallory is now officially an undertaker’s assistant. Dr. Duncan Gray moonlights as a medical examiner, and their latest case hits close to home. Men are dropping dead from a powerful poison, and all signs point to the grieving widows… the latest of which is Gray’s oldest sister. Poison is said to be a woman’s weapon, though Mallory has to wonder if it’s as simple as that. But she must tread carefully. Every move the household makes is being watched, and who knows where the investigation will lead. New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong is known for her exquisite world building, and this latest series is no exception. The Poisoner's Ring brings the intricacies of Victorian Scotland alive as Mallory again searches for a 19th-century killer as well as a way home. A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

Kelley Armstrong (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

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The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom

Offering a nuanced and transformative take on immigration, multiculturalism, and America's role on the global stage, The Newcomers follows and reflects on the lives of twenty-two immigrant teenagers throughout the course of their 2015-2016 school year at Denver's South High School. Unfamiliar with American culture or the English language, the students range from the age of fourteen to nineteen and come from nations struggling with drought, famine, or war. Many come directly from refugee camps, and some arrive alone, having left or lost every other member of their family. Their stories are poignant and remarkable, and at the center of their combined story is Mr. Williams: the dedicated and endlessly resourceful teacher of their English Language Acquisition class-a class which was created specifically for them and which will provide them with the foundation they need to face the enormous challenges of adapting to life in America. Thorpe writes with great compassion...Her story will entertain and enlighten readers, creating a wider, more sympathetic view of the world and its inhabitants-certainly something we need right now.

Helen Thorpe (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

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The Moon Over Kilmore Quay

It's time to curl up with Carmel... When your heart belongs in two places, can you ever truly find home? Brooklyn, New York, Bea has grown up in the heart of the Irish community, always hearing stories of home. When she discovers a letter from her younger self, written years before, it sends her deep into her own family history. Kilmore Quay, Ireland. Years earlier, Lucy Mernagh leaves her much-loved home and family in search of the New York dream. The Big Apple is a world away from the quiet village she grew up in, and the longing for home aches within her. When Bea uncovers a shocking secret, it takes her back across the water to Kilmore Quay, where - finally - long-buried truths will come to light. But fate has one last twist in store...

Carmel Harrington (Author), Kate Handford, Michele Moran (Narrator)

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The Kingfisher Secret

Who owns the most powerful man in the world? Her code name is Kingfisher. Her mission: to seduce and marry a man of wealth and political influence. Now she must protect a terrifying secret. October 2016: In America, the election is a few weeks away. Journalist Grace Elliott has just landed a scoop that she believes will make her career. A porn star is willing to talk about her affair with the man some hope and many fear will become the next president of the United States. But no one will touch it. Not even Grace's boss, the right-wing publisher of America's leading tabloid. Instead, Grace is sent to Europe where she discovers a story so big, so explosive that it could decide the American election and launch a new Cold War. As long as she can stay alive long enough to tell it. Spies, murder, and one of the biggest conspiracies of our time lie at the heart of this immersive thriller.

Anonymous (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

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The Kingfisher Secret

Her codename is Kingfisher. Her mission: to seduce and marry the most powerful man in the world. October 2016: In America, the election is a few weeks away. Journalist Grace Elliot has just landed a scoop that she believe will make her career. A porn-star is willing to talk about her affair with the man some hope and many fear will become the next president of the United Stares. But no one will touch it. Instead, Grace is sent to Europe where she discovers a story so big, so explosive that it could decide the American election and launch a new Cold War. If she can stay alive long enough to tell it... Spies, murder and one of the biggest conspiracies of our time lie at the heart of the thriller of the year.

Alex Urban, Anonymous (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

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The Descent

Kweku Ashworth is a child of the cataclysm, born on a sailboat to parents fleeing the devastation. Growing up in a world forever changed, his only connection to the events that set the earth on its course to disaster are the stories his step-father, now long-dead, recorded in his manuscript, THE FORCING. But there are huge gaps in the story that his mother steadfastly refuses to speak of, even thirty years later. When he discovers evidence that she has tried to cover up the truth, he knows that it is time to find out for himself. Determined to learn what really happened during his mother's escape from the concentration camp to which she and his father were banished, and their subsequent journey halfway around the world, Kweku and his young family set out on a perilous voyage across a devastated planet.

Paul E. Hardisty (Author), Greg Miller Burns, Kate Handford (Narrator)

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The Bluebell Girls

'I am at loss of words to explain how I felt about this. I loved the plot... the author has really done an amazing job in writing this wonderful book. Well done, you have written a wonderful masterpiece... will stay with me for a long time.' Goodreads reviewer. Returning home to her family's little lake house is the perfect way for Jenna to escape her heartbreaking divorce. Her mother Sweet has been losing her memory and Jenna is sure that taking her daughter Sophie for a break with Sweet in Lake Summers, tucked under the Adirondack Mountains, is what they all need. Jenna finds comfort in lazy afternoons along the water, and during long nights overlooking their bluebell garden, she's relieved to hear Sweet telling stories about her long-lost loves. Surrounded by family, it seems that some of Sweet's memories have returned and Jenna knows she has made the right decision to come home. But when she meets handsome next-door neighbour Troy, she is reminded of a tragedy in her past she has tried hard to forget. Troy is the boy with whom Jenna shared her very first kiss-she's relived that moment under the stars every night since she was seventeen. But though he once swept Jenna off her feet, he also broke her heart, and living next door to him for the summer feels impossible. But sometimes the only way to heal is with those who know you best, and despite her best efforts, Jenna is drawn to Troy again. With her family reunited at last and happier than ever before, is she finally brave enough to face up to her past, and settle down in Lake Summers forever? An unforgettable romance that will whisk you away to the sunny shores of Lake Summers. Perfect for fans of Carolyn Brown, Debbie Macomber, Mary Alice Monroe and anyone who's ever dreamed of rekindling a long-lost love. What readers are saying about The Bluebell Girls: 'We would all love to be supported by the quirky characters of idyllic Lake Summers. I wish I could run away there myself! You will need to read The Bluebell Girls to find out their stories, and their story may just change your own.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I loved this book... such a great read, the characters were wonderful and the family story and secrets made this a page-turner. Now excuse me as I pack to move to Lake Summers.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Reading The Bluebell Girls was such a wholesome and comforting escape from the reality of truly difficult times in our world. Barbara Josselsohn conjures up a special, timeless place... a feel-good, hopeful tale.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars. The Lake Summer series has sold over 12,000 copies For fans of Carolyn Brown and Debbie Macomber - Barbara Josselsohn is an award-winning journalist and novelist. Her novels center around second chances, family relationships and, of course, romance. She is the author of the Lake Summers series set in the fictional town of Lake Summers, nestled in the Adirondacks Mountains, which includes the books The Lilac House and The Bluebell Girls. She lives just north of New York City.

Barbara Josselsohn (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

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The Blue Afternoon

Brought to you by Penguin. WINNER OF THE SUNDAY EXPRESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD A quest for secrets in the blue afternoon . . . Los Angeles, 1936. Kay Fischer, a young and ambitious architect, is being followed by an old man. When confronted, he explains that his name is Salvador Carriscant - and that he is her father. In a matter of weeks Kay will join Salvador on an extraordinary journey as they delve back into his past to not only learn the truth behind her own birth, but also to discover the whereabouts of a woman long thought dead - and to uncover the identity of a killer. 'Achingly memorable' The Times 'The finest storyteller of his generation' Daily Telegraph 'An extraordinary story' John Mortimer, Sunday Telegraph, Books of the Year 'Terrific' Jeremy Paxman, Independent, Books of the Year 'Richly entertaining' Independent 'A brilliant achievement' Time Out © William Boyd 1993 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

William Boyd (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

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The Anne of Green Gables Collection: Anne Shirley Books 1-6 and Avonlea Short Stories

Fans of L.M. MontgomeryÄôs Anne Shirley rejoice! Collected here are all eight of the original Anne Shirley books in the order they were published. This collection includes Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside, Chronicles of Avonlea, and Further Chronicles of Avonlea. Published between 1908 and 1921, these heartwarming tales of hidden hopes and cherished dreams will enchant fans and new listeners alike.

L. M. Montgomery, L.M. Montgomery (Author), Barbara Barnes, Kate Handford, Susie Berneis, Tara Ward (Narrator)

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That Green Eyed Girl: Be transported to mid-century New York in this evocative and page-turning debu

Brought to you by Penguin. Be transported to mid-century New York City in this page-turning, emotional and evocative novel... 1955: In an apartment on the Lower East Side, school teachers Dovie and Gillian live as lodgers. Dancing behind closed curtains, mixing cocktails for two, they guard their private lives fiercely. Until someone guesses the truth . . . 1975: Twenty years later in the same apartment, Ava Winters is keeping her own secret. Her mother has become erratic, haunted by something Ava doesn't understand - until one sweltering July morning, she disappears. Soon after her mother's departure, Ava receives a parcel. Addressed simply to 'Apartment 3B', it contains a photo of a woman with the word 'LIAR' scrawled across it. Ava does not know what it means or who sent it. But if she can find out then perhaps she'll discover the answers she is seeking - and meet the woman at the heart of it all . . . © Julie Owen Moylan 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Julie Owen Moylan (Author), Georgina Sadler, Kate Handford (Narrator)

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Running: A Novel

Running brings together an ensemble of outsiders who get by as runners-hustlers who sell tourists on low-end accommodations for a small commission and a place to stay. Bridey Sullivan, a young American woman who has fled a peculiar and traumatic upbringing in Washington State, takes up with a queer British couple, the poet Milo Rollack and Eton drop-out Jasper Lethe. Slipping in and out of homelessness, addiction, and under-the-table jobs, they create their own kind of family as they struggle to survive. Whether in the red light district of Athens or the world of fire jumpers in the Pacific Northwest, we are always in a space of gorgeously wrought otherness. Running shows novelist Cara Hoffman to be writing at the peak of her craft.

Cara Hoffman (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Kate Handford