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By: C. S. Forester

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

C. S. Forester’s gritty psychological thriller, first published in 1926, took crime writing in a new direction, portraying ordinary, desperate people committing monstrous acts, as events spiral out of control.

William Marble is in serious debt, struggling to keep his family afloat, and close to facing bankruptcy when an opportunity presents itself. His rich nephew visits one night, giving Marble the chance to slip poison into his drink.

When Marble has all the money he has ever dreamed of, he thinks life will surely be easier for him. Instead, his troubles are just beginning, as things are about to get a whole lot worse. Slowly William’s family becomes caught in a dangerous web of fear, secrets, and blackmail.

With a surprising twist at the end, this sordid tale of greed and guilt will keep you gripped until the end.

Public Domain (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Crime and Punishment in a Minor Key

No, I’m not saying Forester is Dostoyevsky. But this tale is told in much the same way. We know whodunnit. We know why they dunnit. We know how they dunnit. And the rest of the story revolves around the mounting unease of a man trying to avoid the end of a rope – minus Dostoyevsky’s profound spiritual insights.

That said, it’s a shame this recording is plagued by a slight distortion that’s not easy to describe. Nevertheless, I soldiered on because the story is so good, and Steven Crossley does such a magnificent job at the mic.

Just OK

This is just OK. The biggest mystery is not the story, but the cover art. It shows dozens of USD $100 bills fanned out. This story is set in England, so shouldn't it be GBP on the cover?