Audiobooks narrated by Philip Bretherton

The Jury: A BBC Radio Full-Cast Drama Audiobook

"Twelve jurors. One verdict. Can the jury decide? When high-profile company director Virginia Hart fights a libel case against journalist Pat Carver, twelve ordinary people find themselves navigating the complex and unfamiliar world of the civil court. A woman’s reputation is on the line, and they alone must decide whether the allegations made against her in the satirical magazine Shady Tales count as freedom of speech, or scurrilous defamation. But it soon becomes clear to the jury members that the trial will have an impact on their own lives. From big-shot banker Tyrone to shy, illiterate Shane; chatty, overly helpful Carol; feisty fashion model Samantha and aspiring businesswoman Folosade, they are each dealing with their own issues – and they all bring their own flaws, fears, values and prejudices to the case. The prosecution has barely made its opening statements before two of the jurors are at loggerheads, and tensions quickly begin to rise within the group. The lies, scandal and intrigue unfolding in the courtroom are mirrored in the jury room, and as the trial moves towards its climax, can the jurors work together to ensure justice prevails? Written by acclaimed actor and dramatist Matthew Solon, whose radio credits include Takeover, The Bid and Five Days in May, this thrilling drama features a star cast including Bill Nighy, Maggie Steed, Patrick Robinson, Gary Olsen, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Bhasker Patel. Production credits Written by Matthew Solon Directed by Andy Jordan and Jocelyn Boxall Cast Virginia Hart – Suzanne Bertish Tyrone Spencer – Patrick Robinson Gilly Baxter – Maggie Steed Megan Evans – Rachel Atkins Pat Carver – Bill Nighy Michael Whitely – Gary Olsen Dermot O'Connor – Denys Hawthorne With Joseph Bennett, Philip Bretherton, Colin Bruce, Harry Ditson, Abi Eniola, Robert Hands, Jenny Howe, Kelly Hunter, Frances Jeater, Jonathan Keeble, Don McCorkindale, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Bhasker Patel, Dominic Power, Christopher Scott, Irene Sutcliffe, Badi Uzzaman, Geoffrey Whitehead First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 September-16 October 1998 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Matthew Solon (Author), Bill Nighy, Denys Hawthorne, Frances Jeater, Full Cast, Gary Olsen, Maggie Steed, Philip Bretherton, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Wicked Spirits: Mysteries, Spine Chillers and Lost Tales of the Supernatural

"It is said that books are written to bring sunshine into our dull, grey lives – to show us places we want to escape to, lives we want to live, people we want to love. But there are also stories that can only be found in the deepest, darkest corners of the library. Stories about the unexplained, of lost souls, of things that go bump before the silence. Before the screaming. And some stories just disappear. Stories printed in old newspapers, broadcast live on the wireless, sometimes not even published at all – these are the stories you cannot find on even the dustiest of library shelves. This follow-up volume to the bestselling Ghosts from the Library resurrects forgotten tales of the supernatural by some of the most accomplished mystery authors of all time. Close the windows. Draw the curtains. Just don’t let the lights go out…"

Tony Medawar (Author), Philip Bretherton, Sherry Baines (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bodies from the Library 6: Forgotten Stories of Mystery and Suspense by the Masters of the Golden Ag

"Bodies from the Library brings into the daylight the forgotten, the lost and the unknown, and the 2023 volume is another indispensable collection for crime fans. The sixth volume of Bodies from the Library includes the usual eclectic mix of pre- and post-war stories by classic crime and thriller writers. Unearthed from ephemeral publications, newspapers and magazines, some of these ‘lost’ stories are by authors who have appeared in previous volumes, with others who are new to the series: We welcome back to the Library familiar Golden Age detective writers in the form of stories by Christianna Brand, Alice Campbell, Joseph Commings and Cyril Hare, a previously unknown novella by Anthony Gilbert, and a short novel by Margery Allingham. We also welcome for the first time George Bellairs, Victor Whitechurch and Andrew Garve, with E. C. Bentley’s ‘Greedy Night’ providing a humorous parody of Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey, before five thriller writers including Geoffrey Household and Dennis Wheatley round off the collection with an unusual and exciting round-robin novella. And, whether this is your first encounter with Bodies or a return to the Library, we welcome you, the reader. Complete with revealing biographies of all 16 featured authors by Tony Medawar, we hope you will find this to be an indispensable collection for your bookshelf."

Tony Medawar, Various (Author), Philip Bretherton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Vision Changing Charity: RNIB in Socio-Political Context 1970-2010

"The late twentieth century saw charities grow from timid service deliverers into major providers with campaigning teeth. What caused this? How did they gain confidence and strength? In this fascinating history, examined through the eyes of RNIB from 1970 to 2010, Ian Bruce examines the internal drivers and the external socio-political environment that allowed and encouraged this explosion. Bruce’s experience of leading a charity at the forefront of this change, and his participation in the wider charity sector for fifty years as both activist and academic, gives him an unsurpassed understanding of what happened and why. His first-hand knowledge will speak to charity workers as well as academics, covering themes such as the rise of beneficiary power against patronising providers; the change from welfare to rights; the shift from the medical to the social model of disability; and the adoption of social welfare and business professionalisms such as Strategic Planning and Charity Marketing. Today’s charities have much to learn from the successes and mistakes of this dynamic period."

Ian Bruce (Author), Philip Bretherton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ghosts from the Library: Lost Tales of Terror and the Supernatural

"A brand new anthology of previously unpublished and uncollected supernatural mysteries by some of the masters of the Golden Age – thrills, spills and chills perfect for Halloween. It is said that books are written to bring sunshine into our dull, grey lives – to show us places we want to escape to, lives we want to live, people we want to love. But there are also stories that can only be found in the deepest, darkest corners of the library. Stories about the unexplained, of lost souls, of things that go bump before the silence. Before the screaming. And some stories just disappear. Stories printed in old newspapers, broadcast live on the wireless, sometimes not even published at all – these are the stories you cannot find on even the dustiest of library shelves. Ghosts from the Library resurrects forgotten tales of the supernatural by some of the most acclaimed mystery authors of all time. From Arthur Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr to Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier, this spine-chilling anthology brings together thirteen uncollected tales of terror, plus some additional surprises. Close the windows. Draw the curtains. Just don’t let the lights go out…"

Tony Medawar (Author), Philip Bretherton, Sherry Baines (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bodies from the Library 5: Forgotten Stories of Mystery and Suspense from the Golden Age of Detectio

"Classic crime fiction's 'Indiana Jones' Tony Medawar unearths more unpublished and uncollected stories from the Golden Age of suspense. ‘Five books in, and the selection here might well be the strongest yet. This series continues to delight with the high standard of forgotten gems that Medawar uncovers, and there’s sufficient range to ensure that all fans of the genre will find something to enjoy. Book 6 can’t come soon enough.’ Jim Noy, author of The Red Death Murders The end of the First World War saw the rise of an insatiable public appetite for clever and thrilling mystery fiction and a new kind of hero – the modern crime writer. As the genre soared in popularity, so did the inventiveness of its best authors, ushering in a “Golden Age” of detective fiction – two decades of exemplary mystery writing: the era of the whodunit, the impossible crime and the locked-room mystery, with stories that have thrilled and baffled generations of readers. The Golden Age still casts a long shadow, with many of the authors who were published at that time still hugely popular today. Aside from novels, they all wrote short fiction – stories, serials and plays – and although many have been republished in books over the last 100 years, Bodies from the Library collects the ones that are impossible to find: stories that appeared in a newspaper, magazine or an anthology that has long been out of print; ephemeral works such as plays not aired, staged or screened for decades; and unpublished stories that were absorbed into an author’s archive when they died . . . Complete with fascinating biographies by Tony Medawar of all the featured authors, this latest volume in the annual Bodies from the Library series once again brings into the daylight the forgotten, the lost and the unknown, and is an indispensable collection for any bookshelf."

Tony Medawar (Author), Philip Bretherton (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Year in the Life of Ancient Egypt

"Spend a year in the company of the ancient Egyptians, during the twenty-sixth and final year of the reign of Amenhotep II (c.1400 BC), which saw a royal transition bringing Thutmose IV to the throne of Upper and Lower Egypt. While builders from the secluded village of royal tomb workers rush to complete Amenhotep's tomb, and craftsmen labour to finish the numerous extravagant objects to accompany the god-king in his burial, most Egyptians go about their daily lives in ways unchanged for eons. Following the Egyptian calendar year, which was divided into three seasons (inundation, sowing and harvest), we will meet a farmer and his family, an embalmer, an artisan, a royal physician, a priest and even a royal wife as they live their lives in Thebes and Memphis during the eighteenth dynasty of the New Kingdom in this remarkable year in ancient Egyptian history."

Dr Donald P. Ryan (Author), Philip Bretherton (Narrator)

Audiobook

My Sister’s Child

"‘Wow! This book cast suspicion on so many characters that I had no idea how it would turn out! The definition of the perfect suspense novel!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I promised her I'd protect him… and I'll do anything to keep him safe. Five years ago, my sister Rachel left her baby boy on my doorstep. A little bundle wrapped in blankets. I loved him. I cared for him. I called him Noah and raised him as my own. Rachel was full of secrets, and the truth about Noah was one we shared. A secret just between sisters. Now, my sister is dead. The police say it was an accident… But I’m convinced that’s a lie. I owe it to Rachel to uncover the truth… Even if I risk losing the family I’ve fought so hard for. Dark family secrets rise to the surface in this utterly gripping and emotional page-turner! My Sister’s Child will keep you reading long into the night and is perfect for fans of Nicole Trope and Claire Amarti! Readers LOVE My Sister’s Child! ‘A brilliant psychological thriller… the twists that happen will leave you on the edge of your seat.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it… Gave me chills. Solid five.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Had me hooked right from the start… I honestly cannot recommend this book enough!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An addictive and chilling read… great story, pace and development!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was completely enthralled and the ending wow a huge twist I did not see coming at all!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Karen Clarke is an incredible writer… I had to keep reading as I needed to unravel the story further.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A tense and emotional read, with well-drawn, menacing and intriguing, characters.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved it!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

Karen Clarke (Author), Philip Bretherton, Rose Robinson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bodies from the Library 4: Selected Lost Stories of Mystery and Suspense by Masters of the Golden Ag

"This annual anthology of rare stories of crime and suspense brings together tales from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction for the first time in book form, including a short novel by Christianna Brand. Mystery stories have been around for centuries—there are whodunits, whydunits and howdunits, including locked-room puzzles, detective stories without detectives, and crimes with a limited choice of suspects. Countless volumes of such stories have been published, but some are still impossible to find: stories that appeared in a newspaper, magazine or an anthology that has long been out of print and unpublished stories that were absorbed into an author’s archive when they died . . . Here for the first time are three never-before-published mysteries by Edmund Crispin, Ngaio Marsh and Leo Bruce. Together with a newly unearthed short story by Ethel Lina White that inspired Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes, and a complete short novel by Christianna Brand, this diverse mix of tales by some of the world’s most popular classic crime writers contains something for everyone. Complete with indispensable biographies by Tony Medawar of all the featured authors, the fourth volume in the series Bodies from the Library once again brings into the daylight the forgotten, the lost and the unknown."

Christianna Brand, Edmund Crispin, Ngaio Marsh (Author), Philip Bretherton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Six Against the Yard

"A unique anthology for crime aficionados – six ‘perfect murder’ stories written by the most accomplished crime writers of the 1930s, designed to fox real-life Scotland Yard Superintendent Cornish, who comments on whether or not these crimes could have genuinely been solved. Is the ‘perfect murder’ possible? Can that crime be committed with such consummate care, with such exacting skill, that it is unsolvable – even to the most astute investigator? In this unique collection, legendary crime writers Margery Allingham, Anthony Berkeley, Freeman Wills Crofts, Ronald Knox, Dorothy L. Sayers and Russell Thorndike each attempt to create the unsolvable murder, which Superintendent Cornish of the CID then attempts to unravel… This clever literary battle of wits from the archives of the Detection Club follows The Floating Admiral and Ask a Policeman back into print after more than 75 years, and shows some of the experts from the Golden Age of detective fiction at their most ingenious. For true crime aficionados, this new edition includes an essay by Agatha Christie, one of the inaugural members of the Detection Club. Unseen since 1929, her article discusses the infamous Croydon Poisonings, a real-life perfect murder, the solution to which remains a mystery to this day…"

Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Freeman Wills Crofts, Margery Allingham, Ronald Knox (Author), Philip Bretherton, Sherry Baines (Narrator)

Audiobook

Revolutions: How They Changed History and What They Mean Today

"Revolutions hold a distinct place in the popular imagination. This may be because their rhetoric, such as ‘liberty, fraternity, equality’, articulates aspirations with which we identify; or because we are shocked by the destructive forces unleashed when social conventions break down. Yet each revolution is unique – a product of its time, its society, its people – and the outcomes vary dramatically, from liberal reform to cruel dictatorship. Twenty-four leading historians, each writing about their country of origin, consider revolutions from England’s Glorious Revolution of 1688 to the Arab Spring of 2011, reflecting not only on their causes, crises and outcomes, but also their long-term legacies and their changing, sometimes contested, meanings today. They reflect on key questions, such as: What were the reasons for the revolution? What were the main events and dominant ideologies, and who were the leading protagonists? How is it considered today and what is its ideological legacy? Whether as inspiration or warning, the legacies of these revolutions are not only important to those interested in protest, political change and the power of the people but also impact on virtually every one of us today. Introduction ©2020 Peter Furtado Text edited by Peter Furtado"

Peter Furtado (Author), Debra Michaels, Philip Bretherton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bodies from the Library 3: Selected Lost Stories of Mystery and Suspense by Masters of the Golden Ag

"This anthology of rare stories of crime and suspense brings together 16 tales from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction for the first time in book form. The Golden Age of detective fiction had begun inauspiciously with the publication of E.C. Bentley’s schismatic Trent’s Last Case in 1913, but it hit its stride in 1920 when both Agatha Christie and Freeman Wills Crofts – latterly crowned queen and king of the genre – had crime novels published for the first time. They ushered in two decades of exemplary mystery writing, the era of the whodunit, the impossible crime and the locked-room mystery, with stories that have thrilled and baffled generations of readers. This new volume in the Bodies from the Library series features the work of 16 prolific authors who, like Christie and Crofts, saw their popularity soar during the Golden Age. Aside from novels, they all wrote short fiction – stories, serials and plays – and although most of them have been collected in books over the last 100 years, here are the ones that got away… In this book you will encounter classic series detectives including Colonel Gore, Roger Sheringham, Hildegarde Withers and Henri Bencolin; Hercule Poirot solves ‘The Incident of the Dog’s Ball’; and Dorothy L. Sayers’ chilling ‘The House of the Poplars’ is published for the first time. With a full-length novella by John Dickson Carr, this diverse collection concludes with some early ‘flash fiction’ commissioned by Collins’ Crime Club in 1938. Each mini story had to feature an orange, resulting in six very different tales from Peter Cheyney, Ethel Lina White, David Hume, Nicholas Blake, John Rhode and – in his only foray into writing detective fiction – the publisher himself, William Collins."

Agatha Christie, Anthony Berkeley, Dorothy L. Sayers, Nicholas Blake (Author), Philip Bretherton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Philip Bretherton

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