Audiobooks narrated by Elizabeth Bower

Hold Back the Night: The most gripping, emotional novel you'll read this year

'ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE' KATE SAWYER 'WILL GET UNDER YOUR SKIN AND LODGE ITSELF IN YOUR HEART' ERIN KELLY 'HEARTBREAKING AND LIFE-AFFIRMING' LOUISE HARE 'POWERFUL, TIMELY, IMPORTANT' BETH UNDERDOWN 'BEAUTIFUL, COMPLEX AND MOVING' PLATINUM MAGAZINE 'POWERFUL AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING' RED 'I URGE EVERYONE TO READ THIS NOVEL' ERICKA WALLER 'THESE CHARACTERS WILL WRAP AROUND YOUR HEART' ARAMINTA HALL From the Observer debut novelist of the year, comes a blistering, heart-wrenching new novel of complicity and atonement, delving into one nurse's experience of the little-known history of conversion therapy and the heart-breaking betrayal of the AIDS crisis. March 2020. Annie is alone in her house as the world shuts down, only the ghosts of her memories for company. But then she receives a phone call which plunges her deeper into the past. 1959. Annie and Rita are student nurses at Fairlie Hall mental hospital. Working long, gruelling hours, they soon learn that the only way to appease their terrifying matron is to follow the rules unthinkingly. But what is happening in the hospital's hidden side wards? And at what point does following the rules turn into complicity - and betrayal? 1983. Annie is reeling from the loss of her husband and struggling to face raising her daughter alone. Following a chance encounter, she offers a sick young man a bed for the night, a good deed that soon leads to another. Before long, she finds herself entering a new life of service - her home a haven for those who are cruelly shunned. But can we ever really atone? The powerful and captivating new novel from the celebrated author of KEEPER and YOUNG WOMEN, HOLD BACK THE NIGHT is Jessica Moor's most powerful and commercial book to date. A darkly compelling character-led novel, drawing on themes of complicity and betrayal, it is bursting with talking points and absolutely perfect for reading groups. Praise for HOLD BACK THE NIGHT and Jessica Moor: 'The literary sensation . . . heart-breaking' My Weekly 'Absolutely incredible. Intricate, heart-breaking, with perfect prose and characterisation. This is an author stepping into her power and it is a privilege to behold' Kate Sawyer, Costa shortlisted author of The Stranding and This Family 'Beautifully written and authentic, this novel shines an unflinching light on the darkest episodes of recent medical history. Hold Back The Night will get under your skin and lodge itself in your heart' Erin Kelly 'Powerful, at times gut-wrenching' Peter Tatchell 'Heart-breaking and life-affirming in equal measure. Dealing with the horrors of conversion therapy in the 1950s and the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, this is a story of redemption and hope as much as it is grief and shame. I absolutely loved it' Louise Hare 'Jessica Moor is a new young writer I believe in' Jeanette Winterson 'Heartbreaking and beautifully written' Heather Darwent 'A shocking, vital story that will never let you go. I urge everyone to read this novel. Jessica does not flinch away from the themes in this book, but writes with purposeful intent. She does not linger on the suffering, but shines a light on hope. An outstanding achievement' Ericka Waller 'Hold back the Night is a book about fear and power, the stories we tell ourselves and the people we hope to be. Beautiful and lyrical, these characters will wrap around your heart. I loved it' Araminta Hall

Jessica Moor (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

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Dead Girls Can't Lie

Best friends tell each other the truth – don't they? When North Stones best friend Kelly Orton is found hanging lifeless in a tree, North knows for certain it wasn't suicide. Kelly had everything to live for – a loving boyfriend, a happy life, and most importantly of all, Kelly would never leave North all by herself. The girls have been friends since childhood, devoted to each other, soul sisters, or at least that's what North has always believed. But did Kelly feel the same way, or was she keeping secrets from her 'best friend' – deadly secrets... When the police refuse to take North's suspicions seriously, she sets out to investigate for herself. But her search soon takes her to a glamorous world with a seedy underbelly, and before long North is out of her depth and getting ever closer to danger. Determined to find the truth, she soon wishes that dead girls could lie, because the truth is too painful to believe... 'In this well written novel the author made me feel North's frustration, and enjoyed the flashbacks of her friendship with Kelly which illustrated their mutual dependence, or was it North's need for Kelly which made their bond so strong?' Anita Davison. - Carys Jones loves nothing more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader's imagination. Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and her adored canine companion Rollo.

Carys Jones (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

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Date with Betrayal

In the seventh novel in Julia Chapman's Dales Detective series, betrayal is rife in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales as Samson O'Brien, owner of the Dales Detective Agency, is targeted by a hitman. Can Bruncliffe save him? Death is coming to Bruncliffe; its target is Samson O’Brien. Oblivious to his impending date with fate, Samson is busy juggling a number of cases at the Dales Detective Agency. Too busy, in fact, to notice his partner behaving oddly. Because Delilah Metcalfe knows what is coming. A hitman. Sent from London with one objective: to finally silence the troublesome O’Brien before his corruption case can make it to court. With Samson’s life in peril, and betrayal around every corner, Delilah has no choice but to call in favours from all of her Bruncliffe connections in order to counteract the menace threatening to engulf the Dales town. The only trouble is, the townsfolk have long memories and deep grievances when it comes to Samson O’Brien. Trust must be earned and they will take some convincing before they put themselves in danger in order to save him. And even then, it might not prove enough . . . A brilliantly engaging and witty mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club and M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series.

Julia Chapman (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

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Sell High, Sell Fast: How to sell your home for the best possible price, in the quickest possible ti

Do you want to sell your house for the best possible price in the quickest possible time? Sell High, Sell Fast sets out the seven-step ADDRESS system that will enable you to realise your house's maximum value up to three times faster than comparable properties on the market. Read this practical step-by-step guide to understand how to: Identify and wow your ideal buyer Declutter so your buyer doesn't have to see past your stuff Decorate with confidence, choosing colours and accessories that will showcase your home Create a fantastic first impression - inside and out - and attract your buyer in days, not months - without dropping your asking price Capture the attention of potential buyers from the moment you launch your property onto the online portals with fabulous photos and video

Elaine Penhaul (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

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Date with Deceit

Julia Chapman’s sixth Dales Detective Agency novel, Date with Deceit, sees Delilah going undercover at a shoot involving dangerous criminals. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club and M.C. Beaton. A woman in tears in the Dales Detective Agency is never the best way to start the week. But when that woman is the wife of Bernard Taylor, town mayor and eminent businessman, there is even more cause for alarm. So when Nancy Taylor asks the detectives to investigate whether her husband is having an affair, Samson O’Brien and Delilah Metcalfe know they will have to tread carefully. The case, however, proves to be more complex than even they had imagined. While Delilah is undercover at a local shoot to better keep tabs on the errant husband, she is on the scene for a fatal incident that sends the town into turmoil. Soon the detective duo are embroiled in a far more serious investigation than mere infidelity as they discover that deceit is rife in Bruncliffe. And it may well prove deadly . . .

Julia Chapman (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

Audiobook

Date with Danger

Julia Chapman's fifth Dales Detectives Agency novel, Date With Danger, sees our intrepid leads Samson and Delilah on the trail of a sheep rustler turned killer. Perfect for fans of M C Beaton and Gervase Phinn. In the heart of Yorkshire, the Dales Detective Agency is about to face its biggest challenge. A fatal accident at Bruncliffe’s livestock auction mart leads auctioneer Harry Furness to call in detective duo Samson O’Brien and Delilah Metcalfe, but what starts as a simple health-and-safety investigation soon takes a sinister turn when they discover evidence that suggests murder. With their inquiries ongoing, Clive Knowles approaches them for help – his sheep are being threatened by the gang of rustlers that is plaguing the Dales. Meanwhile, Poacher Pete Ferris has also decided to play his hand, setting in motion a blackmail plot which will ensure Samson is pulled back into trouble with his nemesis Rick Procter. When all three cases begin to converge, Samson and Delilah will find that their latest investigation is fraught with danger; a danger that could leave them fighting for their lives.

Julia Chapman (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

Audiobook

Keeper: The Most Talked About Debut of 2020

Brought to you by Penguin. He's been looking in the windows again. Messing with cameras. Leaving notes. Supposed to be a refuge. But death got inside. When Katie Straw's body is pulled from the waters of the local suicide spot, the police decide it's an open-and-shut case. A standard-issue female suicide. But the residents of Widringham women's refuge where Katie worked don't agree. They say it's murder. Will you listen to them? An addictive literary page-turner about a crime as shocking as it is commonplace, Keeper will leave you reeling long after the final page is turned. 'Tense, beautiful and lyrical. Everyone should read this book' - Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton 'Wickedly paced and utterly chilling, making space for the interior lives of its victims and their gradually shrinking worlds, all the while exposing the failures of the systems that are supposed to protect them. As compulsive as it is heartbreaking' - Rosie Price, author of What Red Was 'Reading Keeper is a visceral experience ... cleverly reminding us that for some women simply existing in a man's world is more dangerous than anything else' - Araminta Hall, author of Our Kind of Cruelty 'Pacy, absorbing and electric in its detail...Men should read this book, and I'd be shocked to meet a woman who doesn't find some part of herself here' - Beth Underdown, author of The Witchfinder's Sister © Jessica Moor 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Jessica Moor (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

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Date with Poison

Date with Poison is the brilliant fourth novel in Julia Chapman's Dales Detective Agency series, and is perfect of fans of M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin series and Gervase Phinn. Spring is in the air in Bruncliffe but not everyone is filled with the joys of the season. Samson O'Brien of the Dales Detective Agency is being questioned by the police about a murder, with the truth about his policing past about to be brutally exposed. And with Bruncliffe turning on Samson, his business partner Delilah Metcalfe finds herself in the impossible position of defending him to her friends and family. Then Delilah's nephew, accused of being under Samson's influence, runs away from home and a frantic search begins. And with attention turning to Nathan, only a local vet is paying attention to a worrying spate of canine poisonings happening throughout the village. Bruncliffe is turning toxic and with suspicion raining down on him, Samson knows he has to ask Delilah for help. Can she forgive his transgressions and help him so that they can find Nathan and the poisoner, or has the poison already spread too far?

Julia Chapman (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

Audiobook

Playgroups and Prosecco: The (mis)adventures of a single mum

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Playgroups and Prosecco by Jo Middleton, read by Elizabeth Bower. A hilarious and totally relatable debut novel about the adventures of a single mum, for fans of CATASTROPHE, MOTHERLAND and WHY MUMMY DRINKS January 3rd Jaffa Cakes - 7. Times I was forced to watch a small child do a dance involving a dusty piece of ribbon found under the sofa - 4. Inappropriate thoughts about Zac Efron - undisclosed. Single mum Frankie's whole life revolves around her kids. But when your teenage daughter goes on more dates than you and your toddler has a more active social life, something has to change. Forget 'me-time', Frankie would settle for some adult conversation, and watching something other than the Disney channel. The local playgroup may be ruled by Instagram mums with perfect husbands but Frankie accidentally forms a splinter group of single parents. After all, Mummy really needs a playdate of her own. (Now pass the prosecco.) PLAYGROUPS AND PROSECCO is the debut novel from Jo Middleton, the author of the hugely successful parenting blog SLUMMY SINGLE MUMMY.

Jo Middleton (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stable Lass: Tales from a Yorkshire Racing Yard

'Poignant and compelling, an equine Bridget Jones.' Racing Post Being a stable lass is probably one of the hardest jobs in the country, and yet for Gemma Hogg it is the most rewarding. She works in the beautiful Yorkshire market town of Middleham and if her colleagues are occasionally challenging, then the horses are downright astonishing. Now, in Stable Lass, she takes us into the closed world of a top racing yard, from the elation of having several winners in one day to the almost indescribable grief of losing a horse. Like most stable lads and lasses, Gemma arrived in her yard as a teenager fresh out of racing college and had to cope with living away from home for the first time, as well as adapting to the brutal long hours, backbreaking work and often treacherous weather. She describes falling in love with Polo Venture, the first racehorse in her care, the pure exhilaration of riding him on Middleham Gallops for the first time and what happens when a horse takes against you, from the growling gelding Valiant Warrior to the potentially lethal Broadway Boy. She brings to life the characters around the yard, from straight-talking boss Micky Hammond to the jockeys starving themselves to make weight, the wealthy owners and the other stable lads and lasses who come from a range of different places and backgrounds. Stable Lass by Gemma Hogg is a unique look into the world of horse racing filled with heart-warming stories and amazing thoroughbreds - some loveable, some cantankerous, all impressive.

Gemma Hogg (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

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Date with Mystery

Date with Mystery is the third cosy crime novel in Julia Chapman's Dales Detective series. The Dales Detective Agency's latest assignment appears to be an open and shut case. Hired by a local solicitor to find a death certificate for a young woman who died over twenty years ago, Samson O'Brien is about to find out that things in Bruncliffe are rarely that straightforward. Particularly when the solicitor insists that Delilah Metcalfe, with her wealth of local knowledge, works alongside Samson on this sensitive investigation. Delilah is eager to help. At the very least, the case will take her mind off the looming custody battle for her precious dog, Tolpuddle, and the threat of the bank foreclosing on her struggling Dales Dating Agency. As Samson and Delilah begin their inquiries they soon become embroiled in a mystery that has lain at the heart of the town for decades. But in uncovering the truth have they exposed secrets that some would prefer remained buried?

Julia Chapman (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Last Gift

The Last Gift is a twisty short novella to chill you over Christmas - from psychological thriller writer Sarah J Naughton On 24th December, husband and father Peter Biddiscombe is killed in a tragic accident on his way home. The body is not discovered until Boxing Day but when PC Maxine Derbyshire arrives at the house to deliver the devastating news, Peter's wife believes it must be a case of mistaken identity. Peter spent Christmas with his family. Or did he? Bonus material - includes an exclusive three chapters from Sarah J Naughton's new full-length thriller The Other Couple (p) Orion Publishing Group 2017

Sarah J Naughton, Sarah J. Naughton (Author), Elizabeth Bower (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Elizabeth Bower