The Scarlet Papers
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The Scarlet Papers
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Narrated by:
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Leighton Pugh
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Lucy Scott
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
Only she knows the truth. Only he can tell the world.
Vienna, 1946
A brilliant German scientist spirited out of the ruins Nazi Europe in search of a new life.
Moscow, 1964
A rising star of the British diplomatic service whose job is not what it seems.
London, the present day.
A once promising academic offered an opportunity to seal his place in history.
Their stories, their lives, and the fate of the world, are bound by a single document:
The Scarlet Papers
The devastating secrets contained within teased by a brief invitation:
Tomorrow 11AM. Take a cab and pay in cash. Tell no one.
©2023 Matthew Richardson (P)2023 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Smart, slick and totally gripping... The Scarlet Papers is always credible, always startling and almost painfully human. A total triumph." (Tony Parsons)
"Look out for The Scarlet Papers... An engrossing adventure." (Steve Cavanagh)
"Grand in scope, and packed with fascinating insights." (Mick Herron)
What listeners say about The Scarlet Papers
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The Curator
- 18-01-24
Not just MI5 getting tricked
I did very much enjoy this book and there’s some nice moments reflecting on a writer whose characters mock thrillers but the main character is a frustrated man and sometimes comes across as whiny and entitled while by the end there are so many red herrings that the final reveal left me a bit flat. Still , good fun.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Tess
- 14-08-24
Reasonably engaging plot
I chose this on the basis of the many positive reviews here but was disappointed. I found the plot reasonably engaging - I stuck with it to the end - but it was let down by the characterisation and the dialogue.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Haradan sometimes
- 10-09-24
No one to like
Reading this I discovered that I need to have at least one character I like or at least with whom I can empathise . I didn’t like any of the main protagonists. Therefore I couldn’t get into the book. I stopped reading after the first few chapters and skipped to the final part to discover what had gone on. Obviously this disappointment is simply because of my personal requirement and would not prevent other readers reading & enjoying the entire book .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rev David Linaker
- 01-05-24
Superb! Please write more!!!!
A plot worthy of Le Carre. Simply the best thing I’ve listed to in a very long time. Cant wait for this author’s next creation.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tim
- 18-05-24
Mesmerising
Multiple stories, woven together at the end. Great characters, superb narration by both narrators, fascinating story. Fantastic!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 14-09-24
Loved it - more than the typical spy thriller.
Narration is great. This is a spy thriller with a little more than the usual twists, really enjoyed it and it’s nice & long so you don’t feel cheated, but still keeps your attention.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Lawson
- 11-11-23
A thoroughly engrossing listen
Novel of the year so far for me.Great plot,believable characters and detailed knowledge of the secret world of espionage add up to a first class thriller.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 02-01-24
Excellent read
The book reads like a true spy thriller. Sedimentary layers of truth are slowly revealed over 80 years of Cold War history from 1946 to the present day. A real page turner.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ms Anne Reyersbach
- 11-01-24
Intriguing spy story
Enjoyed the web woven by the author, though it became difficult to follow. There’s one mistake at the end where a post code is added to an address. Post codes were not used when this letter was (allegedly) written!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- NicJ
- 25-04-24
Superb Spy Thriller
Everything that I would want in a spy thriller is here. Layers of secrets that keep being revealed, a complex plot but one that can be followed on audio, never quite knowing where your allegiance should lie. A hugely enjoyable listen and exceptionally well narrated.
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