Audiobooks narrated by Isla Blair

The House: A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Political Drama

All six series of Christopher Lee's enthralling parliamentary drama - plus Christmas Special Suave, unflappable and ambitious, veteran politician Charles Bannister knows his way around the corridors of power. As Chief Whip, he's adept at keeping MPs in line and squashing potential scandals - aided by his brother-in-law, MI6 agent Henry Colvil, who whispers useful titbits of information in his ear. His position seems invincible - but nothing is forever, and when the tides of politics turn, Charles finds himself under threat... In these six series, we follow his fortunes and those of his close friend, Home Secretary Dougal Baxter. Together, the duo rise, fall and rise again, as they fight off plots, counter-plots and conspiracies while struggling to secure their political futures. Promoted to Party Chairman, Charles finds himself beset by domestic dramas, dogged by rumours of an affair with glamorous Opposition MP Juliet Cameron, and under increasing pressure at Westminster. Will he stick it out and run for the top job - or decide to spend more time with his family? Meanwhile, Dougal makes no secret of his desire to become PM - but will his potentially explosive relationship with his mistress, Kay, put an end to his dreams of advancement? Written by award-winning author and historian Christopher Lee, this captivating tale of ministerial manoeuvring and machinations was adapted as a bestselling novel and spawned the spin-off mystery series Colvil & Soames. Julian Glover stars as Charles Bannister, with Timothy West as Dougal Baxter and Christopher Benjamin as Henry Colvil. Production credits Written by Christopher Lee Produced by Pete Atkin and Neil Cargill Cast Charles Bannister - Julian Glover Dougal Baxter - Timothy West/Peter Kelly Mary Bannister - Sarah Badel/Isla Blair Henry Colvil - Christopher Benjamin Denis Wigton - David Ryall/Trevor Peacock Juliet Cameron - Siobhan Redmond Rose - Sheila Reid Arthur - James Garbutt Polly Bannister - Ruth Gemmell Gerald Mossman - David Neville Merffyn Edwards - Ray Smith/Douglas Blackwell Kay Bennett - Jane Booker Nick - Julian Dutton Eamon - Shaun Prendergast Alex - Caroline Bliss Sharp - Norman Bird With Brian Redhead, Laurie Macmillan, Stuart Organ, Graham Blockey, Rupert Baker, Joan Matheson, Ken Cumberlidge, Danny Schiller, John Fortune, Iain Cuthbertson, Dennis Ramsden, Charles Simpson, Christopher Scott, Michael Kilgarriff, Ian Targett, David Goudge, John Bull, David King, Brian Miller, David McAlister, Terence Edmonds, Brett Usher, John Grieve, Richard Caldicot, Bill Wallis, Stephen Greif First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 August-7 October 1989 (Series 1), 25 December 1989 (Christmas Special), 17 September-5 November 1991 (Series 2), 16 March-20 April 1992 (Series 3), 28 October-2 December 1992 (Series 4), 17 June-22 July 1993 (Series 5), 9 June-14 July 1994 (Series 6) © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Christopher Lee (Author), Christopher Benjamin, David Ryall, Isla Blair, Julian Glover, Peter Kelly, Sarah Badel, Sheila Reid, Timothy West, Trevor Peacock (Narrator)

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Greenshaw’s Folly: A Miss Marple Short Story

A classic Agatha Christie short story, available individually for the first time on audio. Raymond West's niece is invited by an elderly recluse to help compile her late grandfather's diaries for publication. After only two days at their sprawling home of Greenshaw's Folly, she witnesses a murder, which only Miss Marple can solve…

Agatha Christie (Author), Isla Blair (Narrator)

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Lady of Hay

A story spanning centuries. A long awaited revenge.In London, journalist Jo Clifford plans to debunk the belief in past-lives in a hard-hitting magazine piece. But her scepticism is shaken when a hypnotist forces her to relive the experiences of Matilda, Lady of Hay, a noblewoman during the reign of King John.She learns of Matilda's unhappy marriage, her love for the handsome Richard de Clare, and the brutal death threats handed out by King John, before it becomes clear that Jo's past and present are inevitably entwined. She realises that eight hundred years on, Matilda's story of secret passion and unspeakable treachery is about to repeat itself...Barbara Erskine's iconic debut novel still delights generations of readers thirty years after its first publication.

Barbara Erskine (Author), Isla Blair (Narrator)

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House of Echoes

When Joss, an adopted child, discovers that her real mother has left the beautiful family home, Belheddon Hall, to her, she is thrilled, until she discovers that the Hall is haunted by a presence which will not tolerate husbands or sons living in the house.Joss Grant is eager to begin a new life when she inherits Belheddon Hall. She brings her husband, Luke, and their small son, Tom, to the dilapidated house, and sets about discovering her family roots.But not long after they move in, Tom wakes screaming at night. Joss hears echoing voices and senses an invisible presence watching her from the shadows. Are they spirits from the past? As she learns, with mounting horror, of Belheddon's tragic history, she realises that both her family and her own sanity are at the mercy of a violent and powerful energy that seems beyond anyone's control.

Barbara Erskine (Author), Isla Blair (Narrator)

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Midnight is a Lonely Place

A stunning novel of contemporary and historical betrayal and revenge, from the author of LADY OF HAY.After a broken love affair, biographer Kate Kennedy retires to a remote cottage on the wild Essex coast to work on her new book, until her landlord's daughter uncovers a Roman site nearby and long-buried passions are unleashed...In her lonely cottage, Kate is terrorized by mysterious forces. What do these ghosts want? Should the truth about the violent events of long ago be exposed or remain concealed? Kate must struggle for her life against earthbound spirits and ancient curses as hate, jealousy, revenge and passion do battle across the centuries...

Barbara Erskine (Author), Isla Blair (Narrator)

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The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories: Featuring Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Mr. Parker Pyne

There's a body in a trunk; a dead girl's reflection is caught in a mirror; and one corpse is back from the grave, while another is envisioned in the recurring nightmare of a terrified eccentric. What's behind such ghastly misdeeds? Try money, revenge, passion, and pleasure. With multiple motives, multiple victims, and multiple suspects, it's going to take a multitude of talent to solve these clever crimes. In this inviting collection, Agatha Christie enlists the services of her finest-Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne-and puts them each to the test in the most challenging cases of their careers.

Agatha Christie (Author), David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Isla Blair, Joan Hickson, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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Double Sin and Other Stories

In one of London's most elegant shops, a decorative doll in green velvet adopts some rather human, and sinister, traits. . . . A country gentleman is questioned about a murder that has yet to be committed. . . . While summoning spirits, a medium is drawn closer to the world of the dead than she ever imagined possible. . . . In a small country church, a dying man's last word, sanctuary, becomes both an elegy and a clue to a crime. Only the Queen of Mystery could have conceived such delicious treats for suspense lovers. Only the inimitable Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple could solve them with such chilling perfection.

Agatha Christie (Author), Anna Massey, Christopher Lee, David Suchet, Isla Blair, Joan Hickson, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories

Agrand treasure for fans of the grande dame of mystery, The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories brings together nine rare and brilliant Christie tales of murder and detection that span nearly half a century of her storytelling genius. In "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest," Hercule Poirot unravels the psychological conundrums that motivate a killer. . . . In "The Actress," a great star's shady past becomes the plaything of a blackmailer. . . . In "The Harlequin Tea Set," Mr. Harley Quin helps a man save his loved ones from the greedy hand of murder. These and six other stories of danger and detection complete this truly stellar collection.

Agatha Christie (Author), Hugh Fraser, Isla Blair, Simon Vance (Narrator)

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A Tiger's Wedding - my childhood in exile

The actress Isla Blair's extraordinary, moving and uplifting story of her childhood in India and her separation from her parents. Born in Bangalore India, during the fading days of the Raj, Isla grew up on a tea plantation managed by her father. She spent her early years in the lush, verdant hills of Kerala with her much loved older sister Fiona, secure in the love and affection of her parents and her adored "Ayah". This warm, spice-scented idyll was abruptly ended when, obliged by tradition and entirely believing they were doing the best for their daughters, her parents sent Isla and her sister "home" to boarding school. She was not quite six years old. But "home" was cold, gloomy, post-war austerity Scotland - a land of liberty bodices, chilblains, icy mornings and dank, drizzly days; an alien land where for several years she nursed an astonishing secret - of which only Fiona was aware. Isla Blair writes lyrically of her beloved India, stoically of term times in spartan English boarding schools and holidays with grandparents and with great humour and vivacity of the time after school when she became one of the youngest students at RADA, training alongside Anthony Hopkins and others and throwing herself fully into life in London in the swinging '60s.

Isla Blair (Author), Isla Blair (Narrator)

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Born to Run

Joy and heartbreak combine in this bittersweet tale of a champion greyhound's journey through life - and from owner to owner..."The sack wasn't just drifting gently along like everything else, it was turning of its own accord. There was definitely something inside it, struggling against the side of the plastic bag, kicking at it, squeaking and squealing in terror. He had no idea what it might be, only that it was alive and in danger of drowning."When Patrick saves a litter of greyhound puppies from the canal, he can't bear to hand them all over to the RSPCA. He pleads with his parents: couldn't he just keep one of them? But nothing will convince them and Patrick cries himself to sleep - only to be woken by a greyhound puppy licking his face!Patrick christens his puppy Best Mate, and that's what he becomes. Patrick's favourite thing is to watch Best Mate running at full stretch on the heath, a speeding bullet, a cheetah-dog. Until one day Best Mate is kidnapped by a greyhound trainer, and begins a new life as a champion race dog. Suzie, the greyhound trainer's step-daughter, loves Best Mate on first sight and gives him a new name, Bright Eyes. But what will happen when he can't run any more?

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Isla Blair (Narrator)

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A Dark Blue Perfume and Other Stories

A collection of sleek and sinister stories from the creator of Chief Inspector Wexford. "Her range is extraordinary ... a shocking fusillade of finales" Sunday Times. Read by Isla Blair and George Baker, TV's Inspector Wexford.A Dark Blue PerfumeA man with a gun and nothing left to live for brings this chilling tale to afatal, but unexpected, climax.Hare's HouseCould simply knowing about the first murder in Hare's house really have led Norman to a copy-cat crime?

Ruth Rendell (Author), George Baker, Isla Blair (Narrator)

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A Needle for the Devil and Other Stories

A collection of compelling short stories by the author of the Wexford novels - A Needle for the Devil, The Dreadful Day of Judgement, A Glowing Future, A Case of Coincidence, The Wrong Category and Paint Box PlaceWhen Alice Gibson married Lieutenant Colonel Clarigate (Retd.) she discovered that her mother had been right. The devil does indeed find work for idle hands to do.

Ruth Rendell (Author), George Baker, Isla Blair (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Isla Blair