Author:G. F. Newman,Toby Jones,Ross Kemp,Joe Armstrong,Full Cast,Denise Gough,Tom Weston-Jones
The first two series of the epic saga plotting the course of one family against the backdrop of a revolution in crime
'Magnificently detailed' The Stage
1951.With the Festival of Britain in full swing, the country is looking forward to a brighter, more prosperous future. But young Brian Oldman cannot forget the past. Traumatised by a murder he witnessed when he was just six, he holds a terrible secret; but there is a more devastating secret he has yet to discover. Falling under the spell of his mother, Cath, he is drawn into London's criminal underworld, where territory battles are raging between the old guard and the new.
Brian idolises his uncle, Jack Braden, who dreams of becoming a boxing champion. But when his ambition is thwarted by the army and the Kray twins, Jack's bitterness and anger turns him towards crime. Meanwhile, the head of the family, Joey Oldman - a Russian Jew with a talent for business and a love of money - is building an empire. Growing rich with the help of venal bankers, he and Cath join Macmillan's Conservative Party, and move in increasingly influential circles.
They try in vain to keep their son Brian away from Jack, who has taken the 'firm' from running illicit clubs to armed robbery. Battling to escape the law, the Krays and their rivals the Richardsons, Joey finds himself so steeped in depravity, even his lawyer struggles to help him survive...
Adapted by award-winning writer G. F. Newman (Law and Order, Judge John Deed) from his own bestselling books, this thrilling series spans six decades, following the fortunes of the Oldmans as they are sucked into a web of corruption reaching to the heart of the Establishment. Weaving fiction with real historical characters, it reveals the nexus of crime, business and politics woven through the fabric of 20th and 21st century greed. Toby Jones stars as Joey, with Denise Gough as Cath, Tom Weston-Jones as Jack, Joe Armstrong as Brian and Ross Kemp as the Narrator.
NB: Contains violence, scenes of a sexual nature, prejudicial dialogue and attitudes prevalent in the time in which the events depicted took place
Created by G. F. Newman
Characters based on G. F. Newman's novels
Produced and directed by Clive Brill
A Pacificus production for BBC Radio 4
Cast
Narrator - Ross Kemp
Joey Oldman - Toby Jones
Cath Oldman - Denise Gough
Young Brian - Rory McMenamin
Brian - Joe Armstrong
Jack Braden - Tom Weston-Jones/Luke Allen Gale
Gracie Braden/Violet Kray - Ruth Gemmell
Billy Hill/Keffo - Robert Glenister
Bobby Brown/Eddie Richardson/Selwyn Carruthers/Lambert/John Bindon - Charles Davies
Watling/Mr Thompson/Tom Driberg - Nigel Cooke
Win Booker - Lotte Rice
Frank Cockain/Tiger Braden/Tinkerbell - Michael Eaves
Spotty/Sammy Cohen/Capt Tyrwhitt - Jonathan Tafler
DI Drury - Tom Weston-Jones
Ronnie Kray/Mr Booker/CSM/Basil Jones/Harold Wilson/Alfie - Lewis MacLeod
Bank Manager/DI Bulmer - Matthew Townshend
Stephen Ward/Shop Owner/Policeman/Fenwick/John Bloom/Paul Raymond - Theo Fraser Steele
Alice/Gladys Brown - Catherine Henderson
Driver/Charlie Richardson/Dealer - Oliver Mawdsley
DI Drury/Fat Cecil/Rikki the Malt - Matthew Marsh
Leah Cohen - Jasmine Hyde
Joshua/Pongo - Chinna Woddu
Ruth Sutton/Martha Baines/Student - Kellie Shirley
Arnold Goodman - Edward Max
Tony Wednesday - Petrice Jones
Judge Stevenson - David Shaw Parker
Other parts played by members of the cast
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 21 October-1 November 2013 (Series 1), 19-30 January 2015 (Series 2)
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Magnificently detailed
—— The StageComplex and compelling
—— Choice MagazineGoddard writes amazing novels of mystery/suspense. His new one is magical and the title is simply the best
—— Stephen KingOne of the finest crime writers of any generation
—— Daily MailOur finest practitioner of double-cross plotting
—— Mick HerronGenuinely entertaining
—— Evening StandardA deftly plotted page-turner from this much-loved author
—— Saga MagazineTop-class action-packed storytelling
—— Choice MagazineAnna Bailey writes like a dream about teenage love and lust, the terror of knowledge and the claustrophobia of families and of small towns.
—— EMMA FLINT, author of Little DeathsBailey writes with perfect poise. She is destined for great things - I feel it in my bones.
—— SAGA magazineCleverly written, Anna Bailey's debut shines a light on the darker and more oppressive side of small-town society.
—— INDEPENDENTTall Bones is as atmospheric as it gets... a stunning debut that delivers on every level. Reminded me of Jane Harper's The Dry.
—— RENEE KNIGHT, author of Disclaimer'A clever, twisting debut about the dark side of small town America. It is packed with secrets like firecrackers ready to ignite.'
Anna Bailey's debut is irresistible, a compelling and nuanced psychological thriller suffused with small town prejudice and dark family secrets.
—— PAULA HAWKINS, author of The Girl on the TrainAn intricate and compelling thriller, beautifully nuanced. Brilliant.
—— SJ WATSON, author of Before I Go to SleepI felt so strongly about some of the characters that I had to check the ending to make sure they were ok! Extremely well written... fantastic.
—— HARRIET TYCE, author of Blood OrangeIts portrait of small-town intrigue is scarily credible. Bailey understands that the dynamics that drive small-town relationships are the same the world over.
—— VAL McDERMIDA terrific debut about guilt, secrets and complex family dynamics - the writing is vivid & assured: Anna Bailey is definitely one to watch.
—— LUCY ATKINS, author of Magpie LaneGripping and so beautifully written Tall Bones is spellbinding; dark and menacing, but also so full of love and hope. I loved it. I cried.
—— CRESSIDA McLAUGHLIN, author of The Cornish Cream Tea ChristmasHaunting... Emma's path to where the truth lies will carry the reader's soul along in both moving and compassionate ways.
—— Maxim Jakubowski, CRIME TIMEBrilliant! Could not put it down. It's utterly gripping and beautifully written.
—— KATIE FFORDESmart and compassionate, full of poetry and rage and shy hopes and shredded dreams and missing girls and family secrets.
—— TAMMY COHEN, author of Stop At NothingThis is a striking first novel, a chilling insight into an oppressive world, where bad thoughts and bad deeds ripple just below the surface, out of sight.
—— Alison Flood, OBSERVERChilling and compulsive... a dazzling debut.
—— KATE HAMER, author of The Girl in the Red CoatSimmering resentments and long-held prejudices boil over in this beautifully realised evocation of small-town America. I I loved it.
—— Kate Riordan, author of The HeatwaveAn elegant, mesmerizing debut-Anna Bailey explores festering secrets with a with a sharp, yet tender gaze. This book reads like a whisper in the dark.
—— DANYA KUKAFKA, author of Girl in SnowCleverly written , Anna Bailey's debut shines a light on the darker and more oppressive side of small-town society.
—— IndependentSet in the smoky jazz bars of 1950s New York, this debut novel by Julie Owen Moylan brings to life an array of powerful, bold and complicated women - all of whom have their own stories and secrets. The mystery at hand is soft and gently unfolds to climax into a satisfying but heartbreaking ending
—— Evening Standard, Best Thrillers Books to read in 2022Julie Owen Moylan's astonishingly accomplished debut is both a deftly constructed thriller and a bittersweet love story - expect to hear a lot about it this summer
—— Waitrose WeekendEvocative, thought-provoking and incredibly moving
—— My WeeklyRead this if you want to be transported to NYC to feel the sizzle of summer and experience the smoky, sultry glow of 1950s jazz clubs
—— InsideKentMoving. A sensitive, endearing story
—— Sunday MailIngenious. Criminal mastermind. Twists and misdirections are embedded in Wrong Place Wrong Time's clever narrative
—— Writing MagazineMcAllister has always been a plot master, but with Wrong Place, Wrong Time she's surpassed herself. So riveting you'll pull a sickie and ignore all family and friends until the breath-taking final page
—— Celia WaldenA tightly crafted plot from a great thriller writer
—— PrimaA genre-defining masterpiece that turns everything you think you know about crime, family and memory on its head. I'm so jealous of everybody who gets to read this for the first time. An instant classic
—— Holly SeddonAn extraordinary novel. Intricately plotted, beautifully written and impossible to put down. This is a Groundhog Day thriller lived and told backwards, which is such an incredibly smart concept - but Wrong Place, Wrong Time is not just clever, it's heart-wrenching and full of emotion too. McAllister is a writer at the absolute top of her game
—— Beth O'LearyUnquestionably her best book yet. Mind bending and extraordinary. What an amazing achievement. All the stars!
—— Jill MansellA genuine premise, compelling characters, and an absolute masterclass in plotting
—— Lucy Clarke, bestselling author of The CastawaysThe latest novel from Gillian McAllister is perfect in every way. Pretty sure she's going to take over the world with that book
—— Imran MahmoodMcAllister is . . . at the top of her game. Revelations come at a satisfying pace in this smart, compelling thriller . . . It's the book we'll all be talking about this summer, so you might as well get ahead of the game and read it now
—— S.J. Watson , Perspective Magazine, 'Thriller of the Month'Mindblowingly brilliant, it's a cracker - everyone should preorder IMMEDIATELY
—— Lisa HallWrong Place Wrong Time is an astonishingly accomplished psychological thriller that pinpoints the ferocious love between mother and son, and the lengths we go to for that love. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I was entertained, but more than that: I was moved
—— Laura Jane WilliamsWrong Place, Wrong Time is an intricately plotted, highly original thriller full of heart, layers and jaw-dropping twists. Gillian McAllister is one of the finest suspense writers in the market today and this outstanding novel deserves every success
—— Phoebe MorganThe most inventive thriller of the year
—— Daily ExpressThe next I Let You Go, the next Gone Girl, the next Girl on the Train . . . Wrong Place, Wrong Time will be a huge hit, deservedly so
—— Sarah Turner, Costa Book Awards JudgeAmbitious, menacing and shocking - a brilliant concept and her best book yet
—— Woman & Home, 'BOOK CLUB AWARDS'McAllister pulls off this adventure with aplomb. Tightly plotted. Couldn't put it down . . . Don't miss it
—— GuardianWrong Place Wrong Time contains layers of intrigue and secrecy . . . You'll turn each page of Jen's story, eager to find out - as she did - what secrets have been hiding in plain sight all along. You'll recommend this book to everyone you know
—— HeraldMasterfully crafted in every way, this novel races along-backward-for a reading experience so intriguing and immersive that you'll only pause to wonder how McAllister has done it. An original and emotional thriller that nails the tender moments of a mother's love as much as the big, impressive twists. A total stand-out and great fun to read-I loved it
—— Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of THE PUSHWRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME is the spellbinding story of a mother going back in time to try to prevent her son from committing a murder. Masterfully plotted and wholly original, McAllister keeps the surprises coming until the very last page, with an ending as satisfying as it is haunting.
—— Stephanie WrobelPage-turning time-loop thriller . . . An intelligent puzzle full of heart and good sense
—— Guardian, '50 hottest new books for a great escape'It's extraordinary, just One of Those Books. She's carved through time, and created something three dimensional. It's like peering into the interior of a beautiful twisty shell. I absolutely loved it.
—— Eve ChaseClever, original, and so addictive it should come with a warning. I loved it!
—— Alice FeeneyGillian McAllister takes detective fiction in a new direction with this novel. Convincingly portrayed, and the criminal plot is cleverly designed
—— Literary ReviewTense . . . an affecting portrayal of a family careening toward crisis. [A] twisty book by a writer with a fine grasp of the subtleties of familial dysfunction. Unexpectedly tender
—— New York TimesThis book is clever, clever, clever. Tightly plotted with a great cast of characters and tension in every line, I lived it and loved it
—— Fiona BartonA super-clever, belter of a book that will stay with you long after you finish it
—— SunWrong Place, Wrong Time is a mind-bending, time-twisting knockout of a book. Genius plotting and pacing easily make this one of my favourite reads this year. Gillian McAllister is a rare talent
—— Samantha DowningOnce I started reading I whizzed through the book in a couple of sittings. Such deft crafting! It would make great TV
—— Clare ChambersThis unique, riveting novel is best described as Groundhog Day meets crime drama
—— Yours MagazineA game-changer. What an amazing book
—— Phil Williams , Times RadioBrilliant. A genre defining book. So clever. It's going to be huge
—— Hannah Beckerman , Times RadioChannels Groundhog Day with an endlessly replayed murder, as a woman's unassuming son kills a stranger - over and over again. The familiar plot motif is given an unguessable reset, and McAllister ensures that characterisation is as central to the novel's success as the plotting
—— Financial TimesIt's terrific. It's ingenious. A GREAT concept
—— David KoeppFull of originality, this is a memorable thriller that will stay with readers long after the last page
—— The Upcoming