Audiobooks narrated by Emily Pennant-Rea

Nature’s Ghosts: A history – and future – of the natural world

What human history can teach us about how to avoid ecological catastrophe Once, the world was wild. By mapping the footprints left behind, however faint, we can start to walk towards a brighter and more ancient future. For thousands of years, humans have been the architects of the environment. Our activities leave an indelible mark on the places we inhabit – for good and for bad. Nature’s Ghosts examines how the earth would have looked before humans scrubbed away its diversity, from the primeval forests that emerged following the last ice age, to the eagle-filled skies of the Dark Ages, to the flower-decked farms of more recent centuries. It uncovers the stories of the people who have helped to shape our landscapes through time, seeking out their footprints – even where it seems there are none to be found – and looking at how timeworn knowledge of the natural world can help us to mend our own relationship with the earth. And it recounts the environmental detective work – archaeological, cultural and ecological – that has allowed us to reconstruct the details of our lost wild world. Today, the footprints of humanity are heavier than ever; the natural world more vulnerable as we encroach upon it ever further and faster. There is no such thing as pristine wilderness anymore – nor will there ever be again. But, this urgent book argues, from the ashes of the past, we can start to rebuild an ancient and enchanting future.

Sophie Yeo (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea, To Be Announced (Narrator)

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Going Mainstream: How extremists are taking over

'Piercingly revelatory ... a tour de force' - Carl Miller, author of The Death of the Gods '...a must-read ' - Eliot Higgins, author of We Are Bellingcat 'A timely and frighteningly revealing book' - Richard Kerbaj, author of The Secret History of the Five Eyes The internationally bestselling author of Going Dark: the secret social lives of extremists (A Telegraph Book of the Year) returns to explore why radical ideas are increasingly infiltrating politics, popular culture and our everyday lives. Incels. Anti Vaxxers. Conspiracy theorists. Neo-Nazis. Once, these groups all belonged on the fringes of the political spectrum. Today, accelerated by a pandemic, global conflict and rapid technological change, their ideas are becoming more widespread: QAnon proponents run for U.S. Congress, neo-fascists win elections in Europe, and celebrity influencers spread dangerous myths to millions. Going Mainstream asks the question: What is happening here? Going undercover online and in person, UK counter-extremism expert Julia Ebner reveals how, united by a shared sense of grievance and scepticism about institutions, radicalised individuals are influencing the mainstream as never before. Hidden from public scrutiny, they leverage social media to create alternative information ecosystems and build sophisticated networks funded by dark money. Ebner's candid conversations with extremists offer a nuanced and gripping insight into why people have turned to the fringes. She explores why outlandish ideas have taken hold and disinformation is spreading faster than ever. And she speaks to the activists and educators who are fighting to turn the tide. Going Mainstream is a dispatch from the darkest front of the culture wars, and a vital wake-up call.

Julia Ebner (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea (Narrator)

Audiobook

Smash All the Windows

It has taken conviction to right the wrongs. It will take courage to learn how to live again. A coroner has ruled that the victims of the St Botolph and Old Billingsgate disaster are not to blame for their own deaths. For their families, the undoing of a miscarriage of justice should be a cause for rejoicing. For more than thirteen years, the search for truth has eaten up everything: marriages, families, health, careers and finances. Finally, now that lies have been unravelled and hypocrisies exposed, they can all get back to their lives. Well, if only it were that simple. Davis delivers a highly charged, topical piece of fiction that is a testament to the human condition and the healing power of art �An all-round triumph.� John Hudspith - Hailed by The Bookseller as 'One to Watch', Jane Davis writes thought-provoking literary page turners with a strong commercial edge. Her first novel 'Half-Truths and White Lies', won a national award established with the aim of finding 'the next Joanne Harris'. She lives in Carshalton, Surrey.

Jane Davis (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea (Narrator)

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Out of the Blue: The inside story of the unexpected rise and rapid fall of Liz Truss

Liz Truss’s journey from schoolgirl revolutionary to Britain’s shortest-serving Prime Minister The Sunday Times Politics Book of the Year ‘An insightful and at times riotously entertaining account of the lengthy rise and abrupt fall of Britain’s 56th Prime Minister. What was intended as a prologue to her premiership is now a riveting political obituary in which every page drips with the seeds of both triumph and disaster. Cole and Heale have produced a meticulously reported account of Truss’s drive, impulsiveness, eccentricity and ideological certainty which reads like a warning from history. It has elements of tragedy but is frequently very, very funny.’ Tim Shipman 'Make sure you put your seat belt on. Heale and Cole put you in the passenger seat of the fastest car crash in recent political history. It's an unmissable romp through Liz Truss's long journey to the top, fuelled by ambition and espresso. The clues that foretold the extraordinary catastrophe are all there, as the authors reveal in gory detail how Liz Truss nearly had the last laugh, before finally, as her government imploded, the joke was on her.' Laura Kuenssberg Despite being written off and mocked by even her closest colleagues, Liz Truss slowly but determinedly achieved her goal of taking over 10 Downing Street – only to instantly plunge her administration into chaos and announce her resignation after a record-breaking 44 days. How did she do it? And what exactly went so wrong? With unrivalled access and insight, award-winning political journalists Harry Cole and James Heale provide the answers, drawing on interviews with Truss’s friends and supporters, as well as her worst critics and rivals, from Kwasi Kwarteng to Michael Gove. Tracking Truss’s transformation from geeky teenage Lib Dem to Tory PM, with the inside scoop on her first – and only – month in office, Out of the Blue is the unmissable behind-the-scenes account of Britain’s shortest-serving Prime Minister.

Harry Cole, James Heale (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea (Narrator)

Audiobook

Diana - Remembering the Princess: Reflections on her life, twenty-five years on from her death

'Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty. All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity. All over the world, a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a very British girl who transcended nationality. Someone with a natural nobility who was classless and who proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic...' From Charles Spencer's address at his sister Diana's funeral, Westminster Abbey, 6 September 1997 Today, twenty-five years since Diana's death, seems the right moment for a reassessment of this remarkable woman. Did the Royal Family learn lessons from her life, about protection and privacy, about how to incorporate 'outsiders' into their ranks, about how to manage scandal? Did it take any lessons from her death, and the public's reaction not only to that, but to the behaviour of, in particular, the Queen and Prince Charles, in the aftermath? Or have the family and the Palace - 'the men in grey suits', as Diana called them - continued on the same track, unchanged, repeating many of the mistakes made with her, from her first nervous ventures in royal circles to her later defiance of traditional protocols? These and many other questions are explored in this authoritative book, written by two people closely associated with Diana: Inspector Ken Wharfe was the Princess's police protection officer for six years during the most turbulent period of her marriage to Prince Charles. Ros Coward was chosen as author of the official book by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Trust. Their book is both an examination of the people and events of the time, and an elegiac tribute to one of the most iconic figures of the late twentieth century.

Ken Wharfe, Ros Coward (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea, Ken Wharfe (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Victim

Someone is lying… and someone is dead. When a young woman is found dead in her own bedroom, the Canterbury police are baffled. There’s no sign of a break-in and no evidence. It’s as though the killer has vanished overnight. DI Edina Ogborne is determined to uncover the truth and, when another young woman survives a similar attack, she’s convinced the two incidents are connected. But the new victim, Gina, has her own ideas about how to bring her attacker to justice. As Ed investigates, she soon realises not everything is quite what it seems – and that someone close to the case is lying. But will she find out who before it’s too late? The second instalment in the DI Ogborne Mystery series is a heart-pounding crime thriller perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and S. E. Lynes. What others are saying about THE VICTIM: ‘Fast-paced, twisty, original and hugely entertaining.’ J. P. Carter, author of In Safe Hands. ‘Another gripping read from a strong new voice in police procedurals.’ Claire Allan, author of Her Name Was Rose. ‘This is definitely my favorite mystery thriller for 2019! Wow!’ Reader review ‘Could easily be read as a stand-alone… the twists and turns were excellent.’ Reader review ‘Absolutely loved this book…full of twists.’ Reader review ‘Bloody Brilliant!… a simply superb addition to the series. It's tense, dark and highly twisty! Its everything I look for in a good thriller… a complex, twisted yet intriguing plot.’ Reader review ‘Kept me racing through the pages… the surprises kept coming as the investigation intensifies… looking forward to another in this series and want to go back and read THE TAKEN GIRLS as well.’ Reader review ‘I read this in one sitting, could not put it down! ‘ Reader review ‘I loved it! Well written, good pace, strong characters, I felt tense and scared like I was in the story!’ Reader review ‘Perfect psychological thriller! It moved at a fast pace with twists and turns throughout! I couldn’t put it down! ‘ Reader review

G.D. Sanders (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea (Narrator)

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The Taken Girls

‘A cracking debut from a talented author.’ J.P. Carter, author of In Safe Hands ‘A chilling concept, excellently done. And a brand-new procedural character to lead the fight against crime.’ Paul Finch Someone is watching them… When a missing teenage girl reappears unharmed but pregnant, the case falls to DI Edina Ogborne, the newest recruit of Canterbury Police. But Ed’s already got her hands full with a team who don’t want her, an ex who won’t quit, and terrible guilt over a secret from her past. As Ed investigates the case, she discovers Canterbury has seen this crime not once, but several times before. And when Ed and her detectives encounter missing historic police files, falsified school records, and Ed’s new lover as a prime suspect, it becomes clear that the system has been corrupted. Can Ed find the kidnapper behind these depraved crimes before he strikes again? Or has time already run out? The first instalment in the DI Ogborne Mystery series is a nerve-shredding crime thriller perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and S. E. Lynes. What others are saying about THE TAKEN GIRLS: “So captivating, addictive and full of suspense” Reader review “Had me hooked from the start. I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.” Reader review “Omg this book had me gripped from start to finish! A proper page turner full of suspense and twists. Haven't read a book like this for ages” Reader review “A gripping thriller with a twist. I didn’t want the book to end!” Reader review “An absolutely cracking debut thriller from G.D.Sanders” Reader review “A gritty book with lots of twists and turns. I loved it!” Reader review “A fast-paced police procedural, with an ambitious female detective” Reader review “Fantastic. A real head-spinning thriller “ Reader review

G.D. Sanders (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea (Narrator)

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The Covent Garden Ladies: The inspiration behind ITV show HARLOTS

The book that inspired ITV's hit drama HARLOTS . . . 1757 - Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies, a salacious publication detaling the names and 'specialities' of the capital's prostitutes, eventually became one of the eighteenth century's most successful literary works as well as an essential accessory for any serious gentleman of pleasure. Beyond its titillating passages lay a glimpse into the sex lives of those who lived and died by the List's profits during the Georgian era. The Covent Garden Ladies tells the story of three unusual characters whose colourful lives were brought together by this publication. Its story plunges the reader down the dark alleys of eighteenth-century London's underworld, a realm populated by tavern owners, pimps, punters, card sharks and of course, a colourful range of prostitutes and brothel-keepers. 'Rubenhold proves herself both a keen researcher and a writer who understands narrative tension...a compelling and ingenious book.' The Independent 'Scrupulously researched and cleverly structured...Among the scurrilous tales of 18th-century low life...this one is the most intriguing.' The Daily Telegraph

Hallie Rubenhold (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea, Hallie Rubenhold (Narrator)

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The Scandalous Lady W

It was the divorce that scandalised Georgian England... She was a spirited young heiress. He was a handsome baronet with a promising career in government. Their marriage had the makings of a fairy tale but ended as one of the most salacious and highly publicised divorces in history. For over two hundred years the story of Lady Worsley, her vengeful husband, and her lover, George Maurice Bisset, lay forgotten. Now Hallie Rubenhold throws open a window to a rarely seen view of Georgian England, one coloured by passion, adventure and the defiance of social convention. The book behind the major new BBC drama starring Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay). 'A fabulous story and Rubenhold tells it beautifully' (Daily Telegraph) 'Hallie Rubenhold is in a league of her own. She keeps you glued to the very last page when, exhausted, exasperated and elated, you can at last put the book down and get yourself some sleep.... Nothing else in the genre is close to being this good' (Literary Review) 'Hallie Rubenhold's account of the elopement is gripping but this is far more than an 18th-century bodice-ripper. Rubenhold combines narrative skill with historical expertise, and she traces the knife-edge that women walked between social success and public disgrace with subtlety and assurance' (Spectator) Hallie Rubenhold is a social historian and an authority on women's lives of the past. She has worked as a curator for the National Portrait Gallery and as a university lecturer. Her books include Lady Worsley's Whim, dramatized by the BBC as The Scandalous Lady W, and Covent Garden Ladies: The Extraordinary Story of Harris's List, which inspired the ITV series Harlots. She lives in London with her husband.

Hallie Rubenhold (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea (Narrator)

Audiobook

If You Knew My Sister

If You Knew My Sister is a highly anticipated psychological suspense audiobook from debut author Michelle Adams. If you knew my sister, you'd run too... First there was the Robert Kneel incident. Then what happened to Margot Wolfe. And now she's found me again. Dr. Irini Harringford was given away by her parents just before her fourth birthday. Although she has spent her whole life trying to convince herself she doesn't need them, deep down Irini longs to understand why she was abandoned, while her parents kept her older sister, Elle. So when Elle gets in touch with news that their mother has died, Irini reluctantly agrees to return to the family home. But she is ill at ease. She and Elle are not close. Irini knows only too well what Elle is capable of. Inexplicably drawn to her enigmatic sister, yet terrified of the sway she holds, Irini tries to protect herself even as she is sucked back into her family's toxic web of secrets...and soon realizes that the past is more complicated than she imagined, and that her very future rests upon discovering the truth about why she was really given away.

Michelle Adams (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea (Narrator)

Audiobook

Gone Without a Trace

A jaw-dropping novel of psychological suspense that asks, If the love of your life disappeared without a trace, how far would you go to find out why? Hannah Monroe's boyfriend, Matt, is gone. His belongings have disappeared from their house. Every call she ever made to him, every text she ever sent, every photo of him and any sign of him on social media have vanished. It's as though their last four years together never happened. As Hannah struggles to get through the next few days, with humiliation and recriminations whirring through her head, she knows that she'll do whatever it takes to find him again and get answers. But as soon as her search starts, she realizes she is being led into a maze of madness and obsession. Step by suspenseful step, Hannah discovers her only way out is to come face to face with the shocking truth... READERS GUIDE INSIDE

Mary Torjussen (Author), Emily Pennant-Rea (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Emily Pennant-Rea