Audiobooks narrated by Simon Vance

In ten days, Hong Kong will pass into the hands of the Chinese¡ªand 007 is on his way there to undertake his most dangerous and thrilling mission yet. In the Australian desert, a nuclear bomb explodes. There are no survivors and no clues about who has made it or detonated it. In England, two police officers are shot dead when they apprehend a cargo vessel in Portsmouth dock. Vast quantities of heroin are later found on board. And in Hong Kong, an explosion rips through one of the colony¡¯s famous floating restaurants, killing the entire Board of Directors of EurAsia Enterprises Ltd, a multi-billion dollar shipping corporation. The People¡¯s Republic of China is about to resume control after a century and a half of British rule¡ªand the colony is a powder keg waiting to explode. The tension reaches breaking point when a solicitor from one of Britain¡¯s most prestigious law firms is killed in a car bomb at Government House. These apparently random events are connected¡ªand Bond must find out how and why. From the heady casinos of Macau to the seedy strip clubs of Kowloon, 007¡äs investigations bring him into conflict with ruthless Triad gangs, a power-hungry Chinese general¡ªand a beautiful night club hostess called Sunni Pei. All inquiries seem to lead to EurAsia Enterprises Ltd¡ªand its assassinated owner. James Bond is about to come up against one of the most formidable adversaries of his career.

Raymond Benson (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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Woman with Birthmark: An Inspector Van Veeteren Mystery

After hearing her mother's deathbed confession and following the dreary funeral, Maria Adler realizes she has no other option but to seize upon her mother's imperative to do something. Dissolving the life she loathes, Maria changes her appearance and disappears. When she emerges, revenge is her sole occupation. Inspector Van Veeteren and his associates are left bewildered by the curious murder of a man shot twice in the heart and twice below the belt. He was a quiet, utterly dull man, and the only suspicious activity his surviving wife can recall is a series of peculiar phone calls. Repeatedly the telephone would ring, offering nothing but the words of an obscure pop song from the 1960s. This siren song is linked to an identical murder, but the true link between these heinous crimes remains unknown, while a daughter's pride grows with the satisfaction of vengeance and another detective's lover offers telling insights that only an outsider could deduce. With the critical eye and cool observation necessary for a successful chess match, Van Veeteren pursues his subject across the country, wading through outrageous leads and fruitless tips to a chilling conclusion.

Håkan Nesser (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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Winter King: The Dawn of Tudor England

A fresh look at the endlessly fascinating Tudors'the dramatic and overlooked story of Henry VII and his founding of the Tudor Dynasty'filled with spies, plots, counter-plots, and an uneasy royal succession to Henry VIII. Near the turn of the sixteenth century, England had been ravaged for decades by conspiracy and civil war. Henry Tudor clambered to the top of the heap, a fugitive with a flimsy claim to England's crown who managed to win the throne and stay on it for twenty-four years. Although he built palaces, hosted magnificent jousts, and sent ambassadors across Europe, for many Henry VII remained a false king. But he had a crucial asset: his family'the queen and their children, the living embodiment of his hoped-for dynasty. Now, in what would be the crowning glory of his reign, his elder son would marry a great Spanish princess. Thomas Penn re-creates an England that is both familiar and very strange'a country medieval yet modern, in which honor and chivalry mingle with espionage, realpolitik, high finance, and corruption. It is the story of the transformation of a young, vulnerable boy, Prince Henry, into the aggressive teenager who would become Henry VIII, and of Catherine of Aragon, his future queen, as well as of Henry VII'controlling, avaricious, paranoid, with Machiavellian charm and will to power. Rich with incident and drama, filled with wonderfully drawn characters,'Winter King'is an unforgettable account of pageantry, intrigue, the thirst for glory, and the fraught, unstable birth of Tudor England. 'I feel I've been waiting to read this book a long time. It's a fluent and compelling account of the cost of founding the Tudor dynasty.''Hilary Mantel, Man Booker Prize'winning author of'Wolf Hall

Thomas Penn (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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Winston Churchill Reporting: Adventures of a Young War Correspondant

Before Winston Churchill's finest hour as Britain's wartime leader, he was a young man determined to make a name for himself. When his regiment was stationed in India, far from any action, Churchill sought other avenues, and his writing abilities opened the way. He became a war correspondent reporting from the front lines in Cuba, India, the Sudan, and South Africa. Churchill mastered his celebrated command of the English language while reporting from far-flung corners of the world between 1895 and 1900. He also developed strong opinions about war. Aided by a tremendous amount of courage and an unshakeable belief in his own destiney, he thought little of his own safety and jumped at any chance to be where bullets flew and canons roared: "I have faith in my star - that I am intended to do something in the world," he wrote to his mother before heading into battle at the age of twenty-three. Based on Winston's private letters and war reportage, Winston Churchill Reporting intertwines his daring exploits in combat, adventures in distant corners of the globe, and rise as a major literary talent - experiences that shaped the world leader he woulda become.

Simon Read (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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Win, Lose or Die

A deadly terrorist group is planning to attack a British aircraft carrier. On board will be the leaders of the UK, USA, and USSR, gathered together for a summit meeting. M promotes Bond to Captain and returns him to the Navy in order to prevent the most audacious ransom plot ever attempted. But Bond's involvement has not gone unnoticed. A stunning and lethal assassin has already been given orders to kill him. 007 finds himself caught in the middle of a massive war game. If he's to thwart the terrorists' death-dealing plot, he can't afford to trust anyone. Win, Lose or Die is the eighth of Gardner's series of Bond novels and features Thatcher, Bush, and Gorbachev in a tense roller-coaster of a plot.

John Gardner (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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William Wilberforce

Dramatized in the major motion picture Amazing Grace, the story of William Wilberforce is the remarkable account of how one man's vision, courage, and relentless pursuit of justice brought freedom to thousands and changed the course of history. 'That the greatest and most successful reformer in all history is almost unknown today is a crying shame. Kevin Belmonte puts this right with his inspiring study of an inspiring life.' ---Dr. Os Guinness, author of Unspeakable: Facing Up to the Challenge of Evil 'An excellently researched and insightfully written biography ... I applaud its sound scholarship and commend its perceptive insights into a great life.' ---Brian Sibley, author of C. S. Lewis: Through the Shadowlands William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity is the definitive biography of the English statesman who overcame incredible odds to bring about the end of slavery and slave trade. Called 'the wittiest man in England' by philosopher and novelist Madame de Stael, praised by Abraham Lincoln, and renowned for his oratorical genius, Wilberforce worked tirelessly to accomplish his goal. Whether you are an avid student of history, a pupil of prominent leaders of the past, or simply someone who reads for pleasure, you will love award-winning biographer Kevin Belmonte's vivid account of the life of William Wilberforce.

Kevin Belmonte, Simon Vance (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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Wild Life in a Southern County

Richard Jefferies remains one of the most thoughtful and most lyrical writers on the English countryside. Best known for his articles and stories published in the Live Stock Journal, he draws from a wealth of knowledge of the rural community into which he had been born. Here he examines the habitats of the Downs and the birds and animals that live there. Written in Jefferies’ highly descriptive style, the essay conveys a sense of wonder evoked by the natural world. Proceeds from sale of this title go to Reach Out and Read, an innovative literacy advocacy organization.

Richard Jeffries (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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Why I Am A Christian

What is a life of radical discipleship? At root, it means we let Jesus set the agenda of our lives. We aren't selective. We don't pick and choose what is congenial and stay away from what is costly. No. He is Lord of all of life. In the last book by the leading evangelical churchman of the twentieth century, John Stott opens up what it means at root to be a follower of Jesus. He explores eight aspects of Christian discipleship which are too often neglected and yet deserve to be taken seriously. Here, including the last public sermon he ever preached, Stott offers wisdom gained from a lifetime of consistent Christian commitment. In addition, he poignantly reflects on his last years of life and ministry. The message is simple, classic and personal: Jesus is Lord. He calls. We follow.

John Stott (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin rose to become one of the biggest-selling rock bands of all time. Mick Wall, respected rock writer and former confidant of band members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, unflinchingly tells the story of the band that wrote the rulebook for on-the-road excess and eventually paid the price for it with disaster, drug addiction, and death. Wall also recounts, in a series of flashbacks, the life stories of the five individuals that made the dream a reality: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, and their infamous manager, Peter Grant. Finally, the full, shocking story is told from the inside. "So this is the big one: a fat, juicy biography of the biggest band ever....Mick Wall, the veteran rock journalist, lays it all bare in a book that can only be described as definitive."-Daily Telegraph

Mick Wall (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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Weakness is the Way: Life with Christ Our Strength

Most people think of weakness as purely negative, but true Christianity embraces weakness as a way of life. In this collection of meditations on 2 Corinthians, renowned Bible scholar and theologian J. I. Packer reflects on the central importance of weakness for the Christian life. He exhorts readers to look to Christ for strength, affirmation, and contentment in the midst of their own sin and frailty. Now in his mid-eighties, Packer mediates on the truths of Scripture with pastoral warmth and exegetical care, drawing on lessons learned from the experience of growing older and coming face-to-face with his own mortality. Overflowing with wisdom gleaned from a life of obedience to Christ and dependence on his Word, this encouraging book ultimately directs readers to the God who promises to be ever-present and all-sufficient.

J. I. Packer, J.I. Packer (Author), Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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We Shall See God: Charles Spurgeon's Classic Devotional Thoughts on Heaven

Prepare to experience paradise... No author in history has more material in print than Charles Spurgeon. Today, more than a century after his death, countless people continue to have a passion for this London preacher, and more and more discover him every day. Some of Spurgeon’s most powerful sermons were those he preached on Heaven. Up until now, however, very few of these sermons have been available to a modern audience. In what is sure to become an instant classic, best-selling author Randy Alcorn has compiled fifty of the most profound spiritual insights on eternity from these sermons and arranged them into an easily accessible, highly inspirational format complete with his own comments and devotional thoughts. Whether you are familiar with the works of Charles Spurgeon or not, you are in for a treat as Alcorn invites you to sit at the feet of the “prince of preachers” and discover timeless pearls of wisdom about Heaven from one of the greatest theologians of all time.

Randy Alcorn (Author), Randy Alcorn, Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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We Are All Stardust: Scientists Who Shaped Our World Talk about Their Work, Their Lives, and What Th

A sterling roster of natural and social scientists in conversation with top-flight journalist Stefan Klein—shedding new light on their work, their lives, and what they still hope to discover When acclaimed science writer Stefan Klein asks Nobel Prize–winning chemist Roald Hoffmann what sets scientists apart, Hoffmann says, “First and foremost, curiosity.” In this collection of intimate conversations with nineteen of the world’s best-known scientists (including three Nobel Laureates), Klein lets us listen in as today’s leading minds reveal what they still hope to discover—and how their paradigm-changing work entwines with their lives outside the lab. From the sports car that physicist Steven Weinberg says helped him on his quest for “the theory of everything” to the jazz musicians who gave psychologist Alison Gopnik new insight into raising children, these scientists explain how they find inspiration everywhere. Hear from renowned scientists including: Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins on selfishness Anthropologist Sarah Hrdy on motherhood, Primatologist Jane Goodall on animal behavior Neuroscientist V. S. Ramachandran on consciousness Geographer Jared Diamond on chance in history and many other luminaries.

Stefan Klein (Author), Gildart Jackson, Kate Reading, Sean Runnette, Simon Vance, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Simon Vance