Audiobooks narrated by Simon Darwen

Second Strike: The pulse-pounding 2025 thriller from the no.1 bestselling SAS hero

"A single terrible mistake cost David Hawkins everything. His marriage. His relationship with his daughter - and his career in the SAS. Now Hawkins is a man on the downward slope of life. Banished from the Regiment, relegated to a desk job at one of Britain's biggest private defence contractors, haunted by the memories of the past. But when a talented young engineer dies in mysterious circumstances, Hawkins is sent down to Plymouth to investigate. Working alongside the company's new cyber-security expert, Alex Millar, Hawkins must find out who murdered the engineer - and why. What begins as a straightforward case soon turns into a deadly manhunt, as Hawkins and Millar pursue their quarry from the streets of Liverpool to the Firth of Clyde, in a frantic race against time to expose a deadly conspiracy targeting the heart of the UK's defences. Win, and they'll prevent a terrifying attack. Fail, and Britain will be at the mercy of its deadliest enemy..."

Chris Ryan (Author), Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Serpent Under: Treachery, Twists and Terror in Baker Street

"Holmes and Watson face treachery and danger in the latest full-length thriller by Bonnie MacBird, author of the bestselling Sherlock Holmes novel Art in the Blood. Murder, jealousy, and deceit underscore three interlocking mysteries as Holmes and Watson take on a high profile case at Windsor Castle, a boy drowned in the Serpentine, and a crusading women’s rights activist who suspects a traitor in her organisation. The cases send them into danger into locales as varied as the palace itself, a dockland cannery, an arts and crafts atelier, and a gypsy encampment. But is there peril underfoot as well – right at 221B Baker Street? The twisting, breathlessly plotted conjoined mysteries that Bonnie MacBird is known for provide a thrill ride that will delight Sherlockians worldwide."

Bonnie Macbird (Author), Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Killer in the Cold

"‘HELP! I am addicted to this series! Unputdownable’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chilling truths are buried in this snow… When a body dressed in a Santa Claus suit appears in the snow just outside a small village in Cumbria, DCI James Walker is the first to appear on the scene. Almost a year has passed since something so tragic has happened in the close-knit community, and James is hopeful that it’s just an accidental death. But when he uncovers the body, he discovers something that chills him to the bone. The man, a former police officer, was murdered. And it’s not long before another body appears. Time is ticking as James races to uncover the killer’s next victim, before they strike again. But can James find them before the snow washes away the evidence? From the master of wintery crime, comes a thriller that will chill you to the bone… Readers can't put down The Killer in the Cold: 'You know winter is coming when the latest Alex Pine novel drops' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is my favourite book in the series' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What a fantastic book…the killer is a surprise!' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

Alex Pine (Author), Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

What Lies Beneath: My life as a forensic search and rescue expert

"'From cold cases and serial killers to the death of a spy, Peter's true life story is as gripping as the finest thriller' - Peter James, author of Picture You Dead Discover the truth beyond the police tape in What Lies Beneath, the arresting memoir of murder, investigation and justice from Peter Faulding, a world-leading forensic search expert. Recovering bodies, finding discarded remains, identifying unmarked graves and saving people from locations and situations too dangerous for the normal emergency services - all in a day's work for Peter Faulding. From removing protestors from inside dangerous tunnels to the scenes of some of the UK's most notorious crimes, he describes how he has developed into a highly regarded and highly skilled search specialist, whose job is to assist investigators and police as they search crime scenes and bring serial killers to justice. Peter gives new details on some of the country's most harrowing murder cases - including that of serial killer Peter Tobin, the Nicola Payne case and the Helen McCourt murder; sheds new light on mysterious deaths, including MI6 worker Gareth Williams; and details the incredible lengths he goes to when helping investigators. Get ready to join Britain's most extraordinary forensic search expert on his journey through deadly booby-trapped tunnel systems and into dark waters that hold horrific secrets, then onwards through uninviting crime scenes and into the minds of killers."

Peter Faulding (Author), Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

What You Need From The Night

"'One of the most exquisite debuts I've read for some time' Daily Telegraph 'Affecting and haunting' Observer After the death of his wife, a father raises his two sons alone. His bond with Fus, the eldest, and Gillou, the youngest, is a close one. But their town is not one of opportunity, and it soon becomes clear that the boys are heading down different paths. Gillou sets his sights on university in Paris. Fus, despite his socialist upbringing, falls in with the local far-right group. Though he joins mostly for the camaraderie, their activities, which might on the surface appear harmless, lead to a violent confrontation. How can a father and son find common ground when everything seems set to break them apart? A sudden tragedy will force them to find an answer. Tense, sharp and ultimately heartbreaking, Laurent Petitmangin's first novel, What You Need From The Night, shines a spotlight on lives that are unfolding in forgotten corners of France and asks what acts can truly be forgiven. 'A tragedy of unconditional love' - L'Obs 'Heartbreaking . . . haunts you long after you've put it down'- Libération 'As sublime as it is painful' - Le Parisien"

Laurent Petitmangin (Author), Peter Noble, Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

How to be an Ex-Footballer

"Brought to you by Penguin. The funniest man in British sport - Metro Peter Crouch is a comedy genius - Daily Mail Often recruited before they've worn long trousers, today's footballers become superstars who earn huge amounts without ever learning much about the world beyond the training ground. Coddled by their support teams, everything is done for them. They live their lives in the glaring media spotlight, yet only really develop one life skill - how to kick a ball better. Then inevitably, when age catches up with them or injury strikes, these man-children are thrown out into the real world, utterly defenceless apart from their multi-million-pound bank accounts. So what do these Peter Pans, whose careers end just as most people's are getting going, do with the rest of their lives? Crouch speaks from his own experience and discusses with fellow former professionals too - just how do you safely release a near seven-foot striker back into the wild? Peter goes in search of the answer to what his second career might be and encounters stories far more bizarre than anything you'll find on the pitch. From the pleasure and pain of management to the lessons we can learn from Jamie Carragher and Joe Cole on not going to seed. From those staying in the sport - the diehard veterans, coaches, managers, owners and of course the legion of pundits, to those moving on to pastures new. Peter talks to entrepreneurs, men of the cloth, eco warriors, artists, private detectives and budding actors, as well as those who've lost their way in addiction, crime and NFTs. When the final whistle blows, it's still all to play for. © 2022 Peter Crouch (P)2022 Penguin Audio"

Peter Crouch (Author), Peter Crouch, Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

What Child is This?: A Sherlock Holmes Christmas Adventure

"It’s the season of peace and goodwill, but a Victorian Christmas is no holiday for the world’s most popular detective in this new book from Bonnie MacBird, author of the bestselling Sherlock Holmes novel Art in the Blood. It’s Christmastime in London, and Sherlock Holmes takes on two cases. The angelic three-year-old child of a wealthy couple is the target of a vicious kidnapper, and a country aristocrat worries that his handsome, favourite son has mysteriously vanished from his London pied à terre. Holmes and Watson, aided by the colourful Heffie O’Malley, slip slide in the ice to ensure a merry Christmas is had by nearly everybody . . ."

Bonnie Macbird (Author), Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

Expected Goals: The story of how data conquered football and changed the game forever

"Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2022 Football has always measured success by what you win, but only in the last twenty years have clubs started to think about how you win. Data has now suffused almost every aspect of how football is played, coached, scouted and consumed. But it’s not the algorithms or new metrics that have made this change, it’s the people behind them. This is the story of modern football’s great data revolution and the group of curious, entrepreneurial personalities who zealously believed in its potential to transform the game. Central to this cast is Chris Anderson, an academic with no experience in football, who saw data as an opportunity to fundamentally change a sport that did not think it could be changed. His aim: to infiltrate the strange, insular world of professional football by establishing a club whose entire DNA could be built around data. Expected Goals charts his remarkable journey into the heart of the modern game and reveals how clubs across the world, from Liverpool to Leipzig and Brentford to Bayern Munich, began to see how data could help them unearth new players, define radical tactics and plot their path to glory."

Rory Smith (Author), Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

Outcast: The blistering thriller from the No.1 bestselling SAS hero

"After single-handedly intervening in a deadly terrorist attack in Mali, SAS Warrant Officer Jamie 'Geordie' Carter is denounced as a lone wolf by jealous superiors. Now a Regiment outcast, Carter is given a second chance with a deniable mission: locate SAS hero-gone-rogue, David Vann. Vann had been sent into Afghanistan to train local rebels to fight the Taliban. But he's since gone silent and expected attacks on key targets have not happened. Tracking Vann through Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Carter not only discovers the rogue soldier's involvement in a conspiracy that stretches far beyond the Middle East - but an imminent attack that will have deadly consequences the world over . . ."

Chris Ryan (Author), Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Life Inside: A Memoir of Prison, Family and Learning to Be Free

"'Tense and intimate… an education.' Geoff Dyer 'Written with sensitivity and humanity... a remarkable insight into prison life.' Amanda Brown 'Authentic, fascinating and deeply moving.' Terry Waite 'Enriching, sobering and at times heartrending... a wonder' Lenny Henry Can someone in prison be more free than someone outside? Would we ever be good if we never felt shame? What makes a person worthy of forgiveness? Andy West teaches philosophy in prisons. Every day he has conversations with people inside about their lives, discusses their ideas and feelings, and listens as they explore new ways to think about their situation. When Andy goes behind bars, he also confronts his inherited trauma: his father, uncle and brother all spent time in prison. While Andy has built a different life for himself, he still fears that their fate will also be his. As he discusses pressing questions of truth, identity and hope with his students, he searches for his own form of freedom too. Moving, sympathetic, wise and frequently funny, The Life Inside is an elegantly written and unforgettable book. Through a blend of memoir, storytelling and gentle philosophical questioning, it offers a new insight into our stretched justice system, our failing prisons and the complex lives being lived inside. 'Strives with humour and compassion to understand the phenomenon of prison' Sydney Review of Books 'A fascinating and enlightening journey... A legitimate page-turner' 3AM"

Andy West (Author), Simon Darwen (Narrator)

Audiobook

Look Again: The Autobiography

"Eye-opening and candid, David Bailey's Look Again is a fantastically entertaining memoir by a true icon. 'Rollicking . . . with roguish tales as vivid as his era-defining photos' – Daily Mail 'Brilliant' – Telegraph David Bailey burst onto the scene in 1960 with his revolutionary photographs for Vogue. Discarding the rigid rules of a previous generation of portrait and fashion photographers, he channelled the energy of London's newly informal street culture into his work. Funny, brutally honest and ferociously talented, he became as famous as his subjects. Now in his eighties, he looks back on an outrageously eventful life. Born into an East End family, his dyslexia saw him written off as stupid at school. He hit a low point working as a debt collector until he discovered a passion for photography that would change everything. The working-class boy became an influential artist. Along the way he became friends with Mick Jagger, hung out with the Krays, got into bed with Andy Warhol and made the Queen laugh. His love-life was never dull. He propelled girlfriend Jean Shrimpton to stardom, while her angry father threatened to shoot him. He married Catherine Deneuve a month after meeting her. Penelope Tree’s mother was unimpressed when he turned up on her doorstep. ‘It could be worse, I could be a Rolling Stone,’ Bailey told her. He went on to marry Marie Helvin and then Catherine Dyer, with whom he has three children. He is also a film and documentary director, has shot numerous commercials and has never stopped working. A born storyteller, his autobiography is a memorable romp through an extraordinary career."

David Bailey (Author), Jeremy Clyde, Joshua Akehurst, Simon Darwen, Willow Nash (Narrator)

Audiobook

Endgame: The final book in the groundbreaking series, Noughts & Crosses

"Brought to you by Penguin. It is 20 years in 2021 since Malorie Blackman's groundbreaking series began with Noughts & Crosses, which charted the deeply forbidden romance between Sephy (a Cross) and Callum (a nought) - a love affair which had repercussions for their families for generations. Endgame, the breathtaking conclusion to the series, influenced by the unprecedented global events of recent years, is full of twists and turns and emotions, with its incredible characters reaching a dramatic conclusions to their stories. 'The cliffhanger ending will leave fans desperately awaiting the next installment' Mail on Sunday, 'Must-Read Books of the year, 2019' on Crossfire.The powerful conclusion to iconic author Malorie Blackman's ground-breaking Noughts & Crosses -the series that taught a generation to think and act differently. © Malorie Blackman 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021"

Malorie Blackman (Author), David John, Josh Dylan, Masali Baduza, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Rebecca Lee, Simon Darwen, Vivienne Acheampong (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Simon Darwen