Showing results by narrator "Gabrielle Glaister" in All Categories

Leaves rustle underfoot in a dark wood: two middle-aged women walk into a forest, as they did when they were girls, confronting their fears and memories and the strange thing they saw in their childhood - or thought they saw - so long ago. A distinguished obstetrician and young woman artist find they have sharply contrasting ideas about body parts, birth and death; an innocent member of an evening class harbours unexpected view on 'raw material'. The stories in this marvellous collection are by turns funny, spooky, sparkling and haunting.

To the outside world, Kathy is the very picture of a happy and fulfilled modern woman. She has a beautiful baby boy, a clever, handsome husband and a glamorous, high-powered job. But not everybody is fooled. Her employee, Heja, knows the truth: The cracks in Kathy's marriage, her self-doubt, her fear of failure at work. In fact, Heja is perfectly placed to destroy Kathy's life...

Sixteen years ago, at an elite boarding school secluded in the English countryside, best friends Nancy, Georgia and Lila did something unspeakable. Their secret forged an unbreakable bond between them, a bond of silence. But now, in their 30s, one of them wants to talk. One word and everything could be ruined: their lives, their careers, their relationships. It's up to Georgia to call a crisis dinner. She knows there's nothing that can't be resolved by three courses in her immaculate kitchen. But the evening does not go as planned. Three women walk in to the dinner, but only two will leave.

In this adventure, Rosie is sick of being treated like a kid. She wishes that she could grow up, so that adults would take her more seriously! But when Rosie and Kat venture into the forest to find a poorly time-turning Phoenix, she learns to be careful what you wish for. Time is being reversed and all the enchanted creatures of Starfall Forest are turning into babies. Rosie and Kate find themselves responsible for a hospital full of animals in need...and a whole crowd of cheeky, lovable baby vets!

When Freddy was 21 years old, his dad, a larger-than-life, successful TV producer, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive type of brain cancer. In vivid snapshots, Freddy recalls how his world is turned upside down—from the entertaining antics of a wine-gum tossing competition in a hospital ward, to the comi-tragedy of trying to decipher his father's muddled riddles as his speech disintegrates, to painful moments of regret and self-loathing as he squanders precious time.

Kate Kingsley remembers little of her early childhood before being sent to live as the adopted daughter of Jack and Thea in Kenya. Now 20, she leaves Kenya for a new life in London. But this is 1936 - a time of decadence but also turmoil. Kate confronts personal danger, faces conflicting loyalties, and must make a heart-breaking choice before she can find a kind of freedom.

Thea Tennant, eldest daughter of a wealthy family, yearns to do more with her life. When her beautiful but flighty sister, Dulcie, brings trouble to the family, both Thea and Dulcie are sent to relatives in Austria. But with the onset of war, their lives change beyond recognition. It isn't just the Tennants whose lives have changed: for their parlour maid, Primmy, the war brings opportunities she is determined to take.

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Stranger by Kate Riordan. When you're the outsider, who do you trust? Cornwall, 1940. For decades, Penhallow Hall has stood frozen in time, protecting the secrets of its isolated inhabitants. But the far corners of England are no shelter from the war, and Penhallow must finally open its doors to strangers. Three newcomers arrive, each looking to escape their past. They adjust easily to the routine - nightly blackouts, the threat of invasion - but tensions mount, and secrets are forced into the open.

Kate Kingsley remembers little of her early childhood before being sent to live as the adopted daughter of Jack and Thea in Kenya. Now 20, she leaves Kenya for a new life in London. But this is 1936 - a time of decadence but also turmoil. Kate confronts personal danger, faces conflicting loyalties, and must make a heart-breaking choice before she can find a kind of freedom.

In the first thaw of spring the body of a young woman surfaces in the River Torne in the far north of Sweden. Rebecka Martinsson is working as a prosecutor in nearby Kiruna, her sleep troubled by visions of a shadowy, accusing figure. Could the body belong to the girl in her dream? Joining forces with Police Inspector Anna-Maria Mella, Martinsson will need all her courage to face a killer who will kill again to keep the past buried under half a century of silent ice and snow.

Jaq Silver returns in her next thrilling adventure. Jaq Silver is back in Brazil and this time she has a single mission—vengeance. But after several near misses, Jaq isn't sure who to trust. Determined to discover what exactly is in the mysterious box that everyone is after, Jaq becomes increasingly embroiled in a web of far-reaching corruption. It seems like everyone has a hidden agenda but is she chasing the right target? And who is chasing Jaq?

Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time and in any language. Now Collins has adapted her famous detective novels for English language learners. These carefully abridged versions are shorter with the language targeted at learners of English. When a rich lady is murdered, there is one obvious suspect. Even his wife says he is guilty - but then his lawyer discovers evidence that brings everything into question.

It’s 1953 and the nation’s favourite street is preparing to celebrate Elizabeth II’s coronation. As the street swoons over the beautiful young queen and her handsome Prince, tensions simmer beneath the surface. Can the street put their troubles behind them and make Coronation Day a celebration to remember?

Kitty is loved by two best friends: Ed, a handsome hero, and Larry, not-so-handsome, not-so-heroic, but a good, kind man. Larry adores Kitty from the start, but Kitty finds Ed difficult to resist. When both men go off to war, Ed wins the highest military honour for his bravery. But sometimes heroes don’t make the best husbands.

In this fascinating book, Paul Roland delves into the fascinating mysteries of reincarnation. The idea of rebirth is at the heart of many religions and philosophies and discovering the truths about our past lives can help us understand who we are today.

Novelist Mandy Freeman thinks her dreams have come true when she becomes owner of Summer Cottage, former home of her idol, author Ellen Grace. With her new life starting and love on the horizon, Mandy's future looks bright. But Mandy begins to learn all is not as it seems. A series of disturbing, sinister events force her to delve into the past of its former owner. Mandy finds herself caught in a nightmare that threatens to destroy her....

1945: WWII has gone on too long. A little girl, Pamela, is growing up fast. A young Englishman, Rupert Blundell, vows there’ll be no more wars. 1962: Rupert is now strategic advisor to Lord Mountbatten. Pamela is 18 and has moved to London, eager for love and experiences of every kind. But beneath the glamour, the Cuban missile crisis unfolds and the world spins ever closer to nuclear war.

Collins brings the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, to English language learners. Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time and in any language. Now Collins has adapted her famous detective novels for English language learners. These carefully abridged versions are shorter with the language targeted at learners of English.

One guilty secret will tear her life apart... After a series of heart-breaking miscarriages, Kate's marriage is hanging by a thread. When her husband Michael tells her he has shocking news, at first, she thinks the worst - he's been having an affair. It would explain why he's been so distant. Instead, he reveals that the daughter he abandoned twenty years ago is coming to stay. Kate is blindsided by the sudden arrival of Imogen mere hours later. Her new stepdaughter is beautiful but troubled and seems wary of her own father.

Azalea the perfectionistic pixie explores a mysterious island ... and learns an important lesson about being kind to yourself. It's time for the annual Oakleaf Academy school trip ... but when the girls are swept out to sea by a storm, they get much more of an adventure than they bargained for. Will they make it home safely? Who are the strange inhabitants of the island where they've landed? And most of all, can they solve the mystery of their disappearing magic?