Audiobooks narrated by Lara Sawalha

Girls of Riyadh: A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

"Can you be a 21st century woman and a Saudi woman? Four friends come of age and look for love in a changing world. Follow the social, romantic, and sexual tribulations of four young women in elite Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Based on Rajaa Alsanea’s explosive novel that shook the Middle East, this full-cast dramatisation is a powerful, moving and, at times, funny story of being a young woman experiencing life between two very different worlds. In between dating, shopping, drinking, dancing and having fun, the girls of Riyadh live by Saudi Arabia’s strict cultural traditions. Well, not quite... They’re still trying to be good Muslims and please their families. Their lives become a social experiment that brings into question what it means to be a good Muslim, a good daughter and a good friend - even when you are worlds apart. Gamrah, Sadeem, Lamees and Michelle are the best of friends and have all dreamt of romance since they were young. Wanting a change from the strict rules of Saudi life, Gamrah embarks on married life a long way from home, but will Chicago make her happy? Sadeem, suffering the shame and injustice of a rejected proposal, flees to London to recover and meets the mysterious Firas. Is he the one she is looking for? Michelle is torn: she loves Faisal, but his conservative mother is proving an impediment to their marriage. Lamees, however, has a plan – and she is not going to share the same fate as her friends. The girls of Riyadh are hopeful, but will their hopes be dashed? Originally released in Arabic in 2005, Rajaa Alsanea’s novel was immediately banned in Saudi Arabia due to the controversial and inflammatory content. Black-market copies were secretly exchanged, and the daring originality of Girls of Riyadh created a firestorm all over the Muslim world, spreading far beyond the Middle East. This powerful dramatisation of a seminal work by a Saudi woman tells the story of globe-trotting women trying to reconcile their traditional Arabic customs with life in a Western society. An engaging listen that resonates today just as much as when it was first released. Cast and credits Written by Rajaa Alsanea Dramatised by Claudine Toutoungi Directed by Emma Harding Gamrah - Lara Sawalha Sadeem - Laila Alj Michelle - Jasmine Jones Lamees - Nyla Levy Faisal - Ikky Elyas Rashid - Elham Ehsas Firas - Moe Bar-El Pilot/ Bookseller - Ian Conningham Tara - Sinead MacInnes First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17th - 21st February 2000 ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Rajaa Alsanea (Author), Full Cast, Jasmine Jones, Laila Alj, Lara Sawalha, Nyla Levy (Narrator)

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We Hunt the Flame: The YA TikTok Sensation! A Magical Fantasy Inspired by Ancient Arabia

"Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a breathtaking story of magic, conquering fear and taking identity into your own hands. From Hafsah Faizal, the number one bestselling author of A Tempest of Tea. There was nothing more respectable and dangerous than a woman of confidence. Zafira is the Hunter. Forced to disguise herself as a man, she risks everything to provide for her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death. A feared assassin who is forever bound to the command of his father, the sultan. Both are legends in their kingdom - but neither wants to be. And when Zafira embarks on a dangerous quest to return magic to their suffering land, Nasir is sent on a similar mission. But as their journey unfolds, an ancient evil begins to stir . . . Don't miss the epic sequel and conclusion to the Sands of Arawiya duology, We Free The Stars. The bestselling TikTok sensation! Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series."

Hafsah Faizal (Author), Lara Sawalha, Ojan Genc (Narrator)

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We Free the Stars: The Thrilling Conclusion to We Hunt the Flame! A Magical Fantasy Inspired by Anci

"The epic sequel to the bestselling TikTok sensation We Hunt the Flame , by the #1 bestselling author of A Tempest of Tea This is YA fantasy at it's best. Lush, hopeful and devestating, We Free the Stars is Hafsah Faizal's spellbinding conclusion to the Sands of Arawiya duology, set in a world inspired by ancient Arabia. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series. Darkness surged in his veins. Power bled from her bones. The battle is over, but the war is just beginning. Low on resources and allies alike, Zafira and Nasir are determined to finish their mission; to restore magic to their kingdom. But the land teems with the return of an ancient evil, and as Nasir fights to command the magic in his blood, Zafira battles a very different darkness. And yet, in spite of everything, they find themselves falling into a love they can't stand to lose. Time is running out and if order is to be restored, sacrifices will have to be made . . ."

Hafsah Faizal (Author), Lara Sawalha, Ojan Genc (Narrator)

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A Merchant Called Lydia

"Lydia was a successful merchant who sold her goods to the wealthy and elite of her day. What need did she have of a Savior? She was a Gentile who had grown up in the midst of a pantheon of gods. Why would she care to hear about the God of the Jews? Why should a Roman citizen from Thyatira living in Philippi be drawn to a Jewish carpenter crucified on a cross in Jerusalem? The Book of Acts recounts the stories of numerous men and a few women God chose to use to plant His church in the first century. This is the story of one of those - a merchant called Lydia. Explore her story and the story of the times in which she lived - the portion you may already know … and the rest of the story that could have been."

Kenneth Winter (Author), Lara Sawalha (Narrator)

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A Witness Called Mary

"This is the story of Mary Magdalene. The Gospels tell us she was a successful woman. But they also tell us she found herself under the control of seven demons until the day Jesus set her free. From that day forward she was one of the women who traveled with Jesus. She was a firsthand witness to much of His ministry. She was one of the few who stood at the foot of the cross. She was one of a handful who journeyed to the garden tomb. She was the first to actually see Jesus after He had risen. She stood on the hill and watched Him ascend. She was in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came upon them. She witnessed a lot! So there is much she can tell us. Consider her story - the portion you may already know … and the rest of the story that could have been."

Kenneth Winter (Author), Lara Sawalha (Narrator)

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Queens and Prophets: How Arabian Noblewomen and Holy Men Shaped Paganism, Christianity and Islam

"Contrary to popular assumption, Arab women were instrumental in shaping world history. Between Rome’s intervention in the Arabian Peninsula and the Arab conquests, noblewomen ruled independently, conducting trade and making war. Their power was often celebrated as queen, priestess and goddess. With time they delegated power to the most important holy men of their age, influencing Arabian paganism, Christianity and Islam forever. Empress Zenobia and queen Mavia supported bishops Paul of Samosata and Moses of Sinai. Paul was declared a heretic by the Roman church. Moses began the process of mass Arab conversion. The teachings of these men survived under their queens, setting in motion seismic debates that would fracture the early churches and lay the groundwork for the rise of Islam. In Mecca, lady Khadijah used her wealth and political influence to employ a younger man then marry him against the wishes of dissenting noblemen. Her husband, whose religious and political career was influenced by her, was the prophet Muhammad. Long overdue, Queens and Prophets is a landmark exploration of the legacy of female power in late antique Arabia."

Emran Iqbal El-Badawi (Author), Lara Sawalha (Narrator)

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The Bones of Barry Knight

"A tale of grief and resilience against the greatest odds, The Bones of Barry Knight asks how we can better care for one another on a global scale. In a remote refugee camp many diverse lives collide. A child with a love of wizards and an ageing rock star share their fate with a collection of disparate visitors when the camp is attacked. Years later, they find a way to tell their stories."

Emma Musty (Author), Colin Mace, Lara Sawalha (Narrator)

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A Tale of Two Cities: A BBC Radio full-cast drama

"Ayeesha Menon's reworking of Charles Dickens' iconic story of love, revolution and redemption, updated to modern-day London and war-torn Syria 2011, Syria. The Arab Spring is underway, and after a wave of peaceful protests, President Assad agrees to a release of political prisoners. Freed after 30 years, Dr Mahmoud is taken in by Taghreed and Emad Daffar, and brought to England by his old friend Jarvis Lorry and the daughter he has never met, foreign correspondent Lina. But his years of suffering have left him a broken man. Back in London, Jarvis convinces his nephew Sid Carton, a feckless but brilliant barrister, to defend a young Syrian émigré doctor, Shwan Dahkurdi, against charges of supporting terrorism. Lina and Shwan fall in love, only for his dark family secret to tear them apart... Meanwhile, convinced that only Lina gives his life meaning, Sid confesses his unrequited love, promising to do anything for her and those she loves. As the city of Aleppo turns into a battleground, Taghreed becomes increasingly involved with the rebels of the Free Syrian Army. Her desire for justice - and her obsessive thirst for vengeance - will have devastating repercussions... A powerful portrayal of personal sacrifice set against the turbulent backdrop of political change, Dickens' classic novel is as resonant today as when it was written. The redemption of flawed humanity is at the heart of award-winning writer Ayeesha Menon's riveting reimagining, spanning five years and with a seamlessly shifting perspective between Aleppo and London. Provocative, powerful and moving, this drama won a BBC Drama Audio Award for Best Adaptation, and stars Fatima Adoum, Lara Sawalha, Phil Davis, Khalid Abdalla, Shaun Parkes and Nadim Sawalha. Production credits A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, adapted for radio by Ayeesha Menon Development concept written by Silas Parry Produced by Gill Parry Directed by Polly Thomas Producer for Goldhawk Productions: Emma Hearn Executive Producer: John Dryden Broadcast Assistant: Jan Shepherd Sound design by Eloise Whitmore A Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4 Cast Taghreed - Fatima Adoum Lina - Lara Sawalha Jarvis - Phil Davis Shwan Dahkurdi - Khalid Abdalla Sid - Shaun Parkes Dr Mahmoud - Nadim Sawalha Cameraman/Jerry/Driver - Shiv Grewal Emad - Raad Rawi Yakub/General- George Georgiou Samia - Nathalie Armin Syrian Protestor - Ahmed Aziz Fadi/Guard/Local Doctor - Ammar Haj Ahmad Secretary - Jan Shepard First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 May-3 June 2018 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Charles Dickens (Author), Fatima Adoum, Full Cast, Khalid Abdalla, Lara Sawalha, Phil Davis (Narrator)

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The Silence of Scheherazade

"Set in the ancient city of Smyrna, this powerful novel follows the intertwining fates of four families as their peaceful city is ripped apart by the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. On an orange-tinted evening in September 1905, Scheherazade is born to an opium-dazed mother in the ancient city of Smyrna. At the very same moment, a dashing Indian spy arrives in the harbour with a secret mission from the British Empire. He sails in to golden-hued spires and minarets, scents of fig and sycamore, and the cries of street hawkers selling their wares. When he leaves, seventeen years later, it will be to the heavy smell of kerosene and smoke as the city, and its people, are engulfed in flames. But let us not rush, for much will happen between then and now. Birth, death, romance and grief are all to come as these peaceful, cosmopolitan streets are used as bargaining chips in the wake of the First World War. Told through the intertwining fates of a Levantine, a Greek, a Turkish and an Armenian family, this unforgettable novel reveals a city, and a culture, now lost to time. 2021 Head of Zeus"

Defne Suman (Author), Lara Sawalha (Narrator)

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Pressure Chamber

"Four babies have been kidnapped from four different maternity wards in Tel Aviv. With not a single lead to follow, all investigators can do is wait patiently for the suspect they call ‘The Babysitter’ to make their next move. Four weeks earlier, on a quiet street, a medical student went out for a run and was killed by a hit and run driver. Then a second student went out and never returned. Daphne Dagan, a young, talented police officer, is first to realize that the hit and run and the kidnappings are related. But she's also in the middle of her own battle - a recurring nightmare that's been haunting her for years. The strain of dealing with a real-life killer and kidnapper during the day, and the man who murders her in her sleep each night drive her into a place of darkness and despair from which she must escape if she is to catch ‘The Babysitter’. Praise for the author: “This book has a clever plot and plays upon the fear that there are hidden persons out there prepared to do us harm for obscure reasons... There are passages that make you gasp in horror.” CRIME REVIEW “Hezroni’s superior thriller debut will send chills up the spines of even jaded genre fans.” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY “Thriller fans will be enthralled as well as disturbed.” WASHINGTON POST"

Nir Hezroni (Author), Lara Sawalha (Narrator)

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David and Ameena

"Modern-day New York, a subway train. David, an American-Jewish jazz musician, torn between his dreams and his parents' expectations, sees a woman across the carriage. Ameena, a British-Pakistani artist who left Manchester to escape the pressure from her conservative family, sees David. When a moment of sublime beauty occurs unexpectedly, the two connect, moved by their shared experience. From this flows a love that it appears will triumph above all. But as David and Ameena navigate their relationship, their ambitions and the city they love, they discover the external world is not so easy to keep at bay. Ami Rao's masterful debut novel picks apart the lives of two people, stripping them of their collective identities and, in doing so, facing up to the challenge of today: can love give us the freedom to accept our differences? “An accurate and telling evocation of the additional complications of personal creative expression.” TIM HAYWARD, writer, broadcaster and columnist “A touching story of multicultural love, desire and achievement with 'soul' at its heart.” GEOFFREY HORTON, musician and vocalist “Exquisite. Beautiful. Provocative. I love her writing.” JIM LAWLESS, author of 'Taming Tigers'"

Ami Rao (Author), Lara Sawalha (Narrator)

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Ayesha At Last

"Winner of the 2019 Hearst Big Books Award - Cosmopolitan's Book of the Year A Mirror 'Best Books to Read This Summer' pick A big-hearted, captivating, modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice, with hijabs instead of top hats and kurtas instead of corsets. Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been overtaken by a demanding teaching job. Her boisterous Muslim family, and numerous (interfering) aunties, are professional naggers. And her flighty young cousin, about to reject her one hundredth marriage proposal, is a constant reminder that Ayesha is still single. Ayesha might be a little lonely, but the one thing she doesn't want is an arranged marriage. And then she meets Khalid... How could a man so conservative and judgmental (and, yes, smart and annoyingly handsome) have wormed his way into her thoughts so quickly? As for Khalid, he's happy the way he is; his mother will find him a suitable bride. But why can't he get the captivating, outspoken Ayesha out of his mind? They're far too different to be a good match, surely... “A clever homage to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice that you'll love, even if you never got round to reading the original.” COSMOPOLITAN"

Uzma Jalaluddin (Author), Lara Sawalha (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Lara Sawalha