Author:Paul Sellar,Full Cast,Robert Glenister,Catherine Cusack,Katherine Press,Sean Baker
Robert Glenister stars in this compelling corporate thriller about a self-made property tycoon who sets out to build a brand new London skyscraper
Property magnate Max Silver is in trouble. His West End properties are starting to crumble, his assets are turning into liabilities and his business empire's on the rocks. With the company in danger of going under, he shakes up his property portfolio, ditches his shiftless partner, Larry, and brings his brother Teddy and daughter Zara on board.
Then the Lord Mayor of London asks him to build an iconic skyscraper in the heart of the capital - a 1000ft, state-of-the-art tower that will show off London to the world, and be a defiant new national symbol. With an eye to his family's future - and his personal legacy - Max agrees, and with the help of high-profile architect Katalina, the Hourglass is born.
But it soon begins to look as if this prestigious project will never get off the ground. From planning permission to political opposition, the obstacles pile up - and when his legitimate funding is suddenly withdrawn, Max is left at the mercy of shadowy forces. As old scores are settled, and new enemies emerge, he will need all his charm, ruthlessness and deal-making skills to avoid the many traps put in his path by big business - and by sheer human folly...
Written by acclaimed dramatist Paul Sellar, this gripping full-cast drama takes you on a roller-coaster ride through the cut-throat world of international commerce, via corruption, intrigue, dodgy finance, kidnapping and intimidation. It stars Robert Glenister as Max, with Catherine Cusack, Katherine Press and Sean Baker.
Written by Paul Sellar
Directed by Jessica Dromgoole, Jonquil Panting and Sasha Yevtushenko
Cast
Max Silver - Robert Glenister
Carol - Catherine Cusack
Teddy - Sean Baker
Zara - Katherine Press
Katalina - Daphne Alexander
Kolo - Buom Tihngang
Larry/Kevin - Paul Hickey
John/Gavin - Shaun Mason
Maryam - Susan Jameson
Sasha - Andrew Byron
Clem - Vineeta Rishi
Angus - Nicholas Murchie
Asha - Nokukhanya Masango
Fadi - Alexander Devrient
Rory - Jonny Holden
Jack - Ben Crowe
Zoe - Tife Kusoro
Sunil - Bhasker Patel
DK - Sagar Radia
Karakas - Chris Pavlo
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2-5 September 2019
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
I love all Lisa's books, but The Night She Disappeared is by far her best thriller yet.
—— Harlan CobenLisa has certainly done it again with another first class mystery. It's got it all - captivating characters, a mysterious mansion in the woods and a burning question set up from the start to draw the reader in. I just had to know what happened next. Totally enthralling.
—— Harriet TyceLisa Jewell has made a thriller out of my favourite literary ingredients. Abandoned mansion [tick]. Sex [tick]. Boarding school [tick]. SECRET TUNNELS [tick]. Kick-ass matriarch [tick]. Clues in paintings [tick]. I predict another number one.
—— Erin KellyAbsolutely loved this one by Lisa Jewell - compelling, deep, surprising, tense, modern. Most thrillers are in black and white to me in terms of character and Lisa is blazing saturated technicolour.
—— Gillian McAllisterThe only thing predictable about this ending is how unpredictable it is.
—— Eastern Daily PressPatterson is in a class by himself.
—— VANITY FAIRIf you thrill to the chills of Scandinavian noir, chances are you've read something by Anders Roslund. Roslund has two strong prose styles - dark and darker - and both are on show in Knock Knock.
—— New York Times Book ReviewAnders Roslund is a household name throughout most of the world as a master of crime fiction, and this book is a sterling example of why.
—— The BookreporterFrom the first Knock Knock on the door of a murder scene to discovering the killers behind it, this novel is a breathless, suspenseful read...A heart-pounding thriller... Roslund's serpentine plot and visceral character development brings each cliffhanging chapter to a staggering revelation on how tasty a dish of cold, karmic revenge can be.
—— Shelf AwarenessBreathtaking and terrific...Knock Knock is one of the best crime novels this reviewer has read in a very long time.
—— Jyllands-PostenHeart-pounding...This terrific mash-up of police procedural and crime thriller has strongly imagined characters, explosive action, and a twisty plot with an unexpected conclusion. It's a must for Scandinavian noir fans.
—— Publisher's WeeklyGrens is an immensely compelling character whose sharp intuition and dedication to justice are reminiscent of Harry Bosch... a tense, sophisticated procedural
—— BooklistOne of this year’s very best crime novels, that will keep even the most well-read and quality-conscious crime readers in a breathtaking iron grip from beginning to end.
—— DBC, DenmarkAn edge of your seat thriller about revenge and treachery during three fateful days.
—— Vi Läser, SwedenHas punchy prose and plot twists that readers expecting another brooding Scandinavian noir won't see coming
—— KirkusWith a novel like this in your hands the desire to read becomes extraordinary; everything else turns into distractions that keep you from lustfully devouring the next page.
—— Mariestads-Tidningen, SwedenKnock Knock is […] a breathtakingly thrilling, heartbreaking story of unscrupulous arms trading, shootings, and all their underlying causes.
—— Skånska Dagbladet, SwedenRoslund’s crime novel is of the sweaty, action-packed kind, and you read it with a pounding pulse and constant sense of unease. At the same time, it is a gripping and smart plot to consume and ponder.
—— Göteborgs-Posten, SwedenA perfect example of Scandi Noir.
—— The TimesDowning's spare prose packs a wallop as she deftly ratchets up the suspense with every hairpin turn of this lean, mean, surprising, and utterly propulsive thriller
—— Lisa UngerSo dark and twisted, so deliciously evil, it'll not only make you frantically turn those pages to find out who's targeting whom, but the wry sense of humor will have you laughing out loud, too. Another phenomenal wild-ride of a read from one of the crime-writing community's most talent authors. Bet you'll never look at high school the same way again
—— Hannah Mary McKinnonFor Your Own Good is a fresh take on the elite school thriller and the perfect page turner
—— Laure Van RensburgWitty and macabre with a psycho teacher who is so real to me
—— Caroline KepnesWell-orchestrated
—— Sunday TimesPraise for Samantha Downing
—— -We're calling it: My Lovely Wife is the most gripping psychological thriller of 2019... this book will keep you reading late into the night
—— StylistOne of my favourite thrillers of the year - I couldn't stop reading but didn't want it to end. Dark, chilling and compelling
—— TM Logan, bestselling author of The HolidayWow! My Lovely Wife is a stunner - full of twists, well-drawn characters, and riveting suspense
—— Harlan CobenOne of the best thrillers I've ever read
—— Judy FinniganSo beautifully and elegantly written . . . A great twist - I loved it
—— Sophie HannahA tense and unsettling thriller that's immersive, chilling, and provocative. A book that's best read in one sitting
—— Iain Reid, author of I'm Thinking of Ending ThingsAshley Audrain's The Push is not only a propulsively entertaining, read-in-one-sitting novel, it is also a deeply provocative and fearless look at motherhood written in some of the prettiest prose you'll read all year
—— Aimee Molloy, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect MotherWritten with a courage that borders on audacity, and with uncanny emotional and psychological precision, Ashley Audrain's The Push is a taut, tour-de-force literary thriller that draws you in from the very first pages and plunges you into the most harrowing of journeys: parenthood
—— Bill Clegg, New York Times bestselling author of Did You Ever Have A Family?A meteoric debut. Ashley Audrain's The Push is a force of nature, an unforgettable arrival that will linger in your heart--shimmer, darken and then haunt you. Every sentence is just so achingly alive. Audrain descends with near pointillistic precision into the gore of motherhood and love. Perhaps if Stephen King had experienced motherhood--the singular exaltation and morbid terror of that state--he might have been able to dream up this book. Wise, monstrous, and tender, The Push operates at a different frequency. It seemed to pulse in my hands. I could not put it down. I could not look away
—— Claudia Dey, author of Heartbreaker and StuntOne to watch ... The Push is told from the point of view of Blythe Connor, whose experience of motherhood is not what she hoped for
—— The BooksellerStaggering - it is an intoxicating rush of a book that grips you tight from the first few pages and will not let you go
—— Cambridge EditionMost anticipated books of 2021 'Pre-order now and thank yourself later'
—— Marie ClaireA thrilling debut
—— Harper's Bazaar, This Winter's Best New Releases from Rising NovelistsThe Push is a vivid and complex spiral of questioning your grasp on reality, of uttering unspeakable thoughts, when the world tells you it's all in your head. Book blurbs often say they'll be devoured in one sitting - it's rare it proves so true
—— The SkinnySuspenseful, dark and intriguing . . . It's going to be a big discussion point in 2021
—— Stylist, Book to Watch 2021A haunting tale about the expectations and reality of motherhood. Stunning . . . You end up staying up all night to finish The Push
—— E! OnlineVisceral, compulsive and astonishing. I could not put this down
—— Raynor Winn, bestselling author of The Salt Path'Best books to look forward to in 2021'
—— CosmopolitanThe chilling novel that caused a bidding frenzy more than lives up to the hype
—— Red OnlineA terrifying, psychological suspense tale of motherhood and nature versus nurture
—— Sunday MirrorThis chilling tale barrels along towards a dark, thought-provoking ending
—— Good HousekeepingThe tense, gripping novel - which, after a nine-way bidding war, has already been optioned for film by the producer of ugly-cry-inducing Marriage Story - will stay with you long after you finish the last page
—— Refinery29This psychological family drama will be your next one-sit read . . . you won't want to miss it
—— SilversurfersA creepy, nuanced story that, with a growing sense of dread, subverts the ideals of motherhood so often presented as inviolable
—— Publishers AssociationBuckle up for a riveting read . . . will have you alternately whizzing through the pages to see what happens next, and reading slowly with widened eyes
—— Prima, 'My Book of the Month'[An] exploration of love, obsession and the dark truths of motherhood
—— Cosmopolitan, Best Books 2021Reminiscent of We Need to Talk About Kevin, Ashley Audrain has delivered a provocative, compulsive novel about modern motherhood
—— Vogue UKCompelling . . . A disturbing and complex tale about dysfunctional mother-daughter relationships. It's not always an easy read but it's absolutely one you won't be able to put down
—— CultureflyIncluded in 'Books for 2021'
—— SunThe mother of all thrillers! Like The Girl on the Train - but better!
—— Daily MailUtterly mesmerising. Ashley Audrain's powerful debut novel explores the challenges of motherhood and the terrifying isolation of being trapped within a sinister truth that no-one else believes.
—— Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Beekeeper's PromiseOne of the most anticipated novels of this year . . . fast-paced, it has the ability to distract you from anything. Exactly what we need right now
—— GraziaWritten with an unflinching eye and a stylistically sharp, tight economy The Push is a single-sitting read, as suspenseful as any thriller, as thoughtful as any literary novel, with an almost physical force behind each of its turns and revelations. By the end, the reader will feel wrung out in the way only the best of books leaves you. Audrain's debut is a stunning, devastating novel and, frankly, one hell of a way to start a year of reading
—— Toronto StarIncluded in 'Books to Watch 2021'
—— Evening StandardHooks you from the very first page and will have you racing to get to the end
—— Book Club Selection , Good Morning AmericaIncluded in 'Best New Books'
—— New York PostThis is a sterling addition to the burgeoning canon of bad seed suspense, from an arrestingly original new voice
—— Publishers WeeklyThis taut and tense hurricane of a debut is best devoured in one sitting
—— NewsweekThis dazzling debut mixes page-turning suspense with a psychological drama
—— Working MotheerOnce you start in on this story, it becomes difficult to control yourself. A twisted, tight, and exhilarating drama
—— GoopThis psychological thriller about a mother's bond with her daughter will keep you turning pages
—— Woman's DayThis nuanced book challenges the notion of nature versus nurture, and whether a mother's love is enough. It's disturbing, painful and brilliant, holding a mirror up to society
—— Woman's WeeklyThe Push is a thriller that is also a compelling examination of motherhood and of how trauma is passed down through generations
—— HeraldA tense, chilling dip into the dark side of motherhood . . . The Push is uncomfortable and provocative, like a train wreck that demands your gaze
—— Washington PostThe most tense, thrilling read that will chill and enthral in equal measure
—— SunDisturbingly brilliant . . . will render you speechless
—— Woman & Home 'Book of the Month'A page-turning debut crafted with shrewd expertise - read it before the inevitable screen adaptation
—— MetroUnflinching, moving and very, very powerful
—— GraziaThe clever and powerful psychological thriller everyone has been talking about . . . an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page
—— My WeeklyAudrain has the ability to mesmerise . . . heart-wrenching. A dark, pacy read
—— My WeeklyA compelling, visceral and bruising portrayal of motherhood that once read cannot ever be forgotten
—— Woman & HomeA chilling and beautifully written novel that will strike dread into the heart of any new parent. The ending gave me goosebumps
—— Mark Edwards, bestselling author of Here To StayA powerful debut about obsession and our deepest fears . . . will have you hooked
—— Living NorthExploring the dysfunctional lives of three generations of women, The Push deals with the way damage is handed down
—— Literary ReviewA thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the emotional crevices of motherhood
—— CourierTaut and gripping, this is a provocative look at motherhood
—— PsychologiesThe Push is an unsettling and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page
—— Eastern Daily PressA gripping and vivid thriller . . . It's easy to understand why The Push has caught the attention of Hollywood film producers
—— Business PostCompelling
—— The HeraldRemarkably told story which I couldn't put down. Deftly drawn characters...What a book! And the last line is creepy, haunting perfection
—— Christina Sweeney Baird, author of The End of MenThe danger that simmers throughout is so unbearably tense! A wonderful incisive look at maternal guilt ... the effect is staggering
—— Imran MahmoodFasten your seatbelt because this book is a face paced, page turning, psychological drama that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last line
—— The AvondhuChallenges the idyllic picture of motherhood, and will change what you know about being a mother. It is tenacious and really makes you think about what it's like when women aren't taken seriously
—— Female FirstFor fans of mum noir, The Push is an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page
—— Eastern Daily PressThis dark, psychological thriller offers such twists and turns that we start to doubt what we believe . . . And that sharp-intake-of-breath ending!
—— Manx IndependentI didn't sleep for a week after I finished it, but that's a small price to pay for a great book
—— Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears PradaAn unflinching examination of motherhood. Audrain lets no one in the Connor family off the hook, yet every character managed to elicit my sympathy. Brilliant, insightful, compassionate, and horrifying. I wish I could read it for the first time over and over. One of the best books I've read all year
—— Stephanie WrobelOne of the most talked-about books of the year. This nuanced psychological book will make you question the notion of nature vs nurture. Disturbing, painful and brilliant
—— Woman & HomeThis unsettling debut was so riveting it had me devouring pages and then reading slowly with widened eyes
—— PrimaAddictively readable . . . shines a disturbing light into the darkest recesses of motherhood
—— Daily Mail, Must Read PaperbacksCompulsively readable
—— Daily ExpressAn unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
—— Eastern Daily PressA raw and visceral exploration of a mother-daughter relationship; a haunting and heartbreaking novel that will leave you thinking about it for days after you finish the last page
—— Female First