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You Don't Know Me

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You Don't Know Me

By: Imran Mahmood
Narrated by: Adam Deacon
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About this listen

Penguin presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of You Don't Know Me by Imran Mahmood, read by Adam Deacon.

An unnamed defendant stands accused of murder. Just before the closing speeches, the young man sacks his lawyer and decides to give his own defence speech. He tells us that his barrister told him to leave some things out. Sometimes the truth can be too difficult to explain or believe. But he thinks that if he's going to go down for life, he might as well go down telling the truth.

There are eight pieces of evidence against him. As he talks us through them one by one, his life is in our hands. We, the listener - a member of the jury - must keep an open mind till we hear the end of his story. His defence raises many questions...but at the end of the speeches, only one matters: did he do it?

©2017 Imran Mahmood (P)2017 Penguin Audio Crime Crime Thrillers Fiction Genre Fiction Mystery Political Psychological Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Espionage Law Exciting

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Critic reviews

"I opened this book to a random page, read five lines - and finished it at three that morning. It's the voice that does it: edgy, conflicted, desperately urgent, the voice of a young man who's both too smart and (if you believe him) not quite smart enough for the inexorable spiral of events into which he's dragged. This is a startlingly confident and deft debut." (Tana French, internationally best-selling author)
All stars
Most relevant  
I have never read or listened to anything quite like this book, in which insights into the underworld of London estates and drug rings are presented with immense impact but also warmth and humour.

The device of the first-person narrator is crucial - a young black Londoner on trial for murder, asserting that he has been caught up in a world of violence solely to protect the girlfriend he loves. We see the naivety and, sometimes, the stupidity of the accused but that is more than counterbalanced by his emotion and the passion of his speech to the jury. (Only 4 stars for the story as personally, I thought there was one detour too many - but it's tremendously compelling and had me listening at every available moment.)

Above all, this is a book to enjoy in its audio format. The voice of Adam Deacon is perfect for it, and he delivers a superb performance which adds hugely to the book's impact.

I have largely given up writing customer reviews for lack of time, but this one should be an exception. Excellent.

Individual, gripping new perspective

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A good listen, but what was the verdict ..........
Kept me listening right to the end but disappointed at the ending

Verdict

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The performance was good, a real feel for the life on Londons mean Streets. The whole story was ruined for me by the very last word.....
Just two syllables made me think I've just wasted the last few hours.....
Terrible ending......

Disappointing

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What made the experience of listening to You Don't Know Me the most enjoyable?

I really enjoyed this audiobook, its an interesting concept ie 'walk a mile in my shoes' sort of idea. It certainly gave me an idea of how it must be for young black men living in tough urban areas. I thought at first the street talk narration would grate a bit but it grew on me... 'Innit!!, It was perfectly read by Adam Deacon.Its a very clever book and certainly made me rethink my premisconceptions about young men who get involved with drugs and gangs! What would this young man have done with his life had he been brought up in a different environment. I really liked the character, he seemed a genuine and caring sort of boy but maybe I was just taken in by his story?Without giving anything away I was surprised by the ending and this was my least enjoyable part of the story!

Which character – as performed by Adam Deacon – was your favourite?

I rather took to his Mum and sister Bless.

Any additional comments?

The ending......hmmmmm!!!!

Food for thought

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What did you like most about You Don't Know Me?

The innocents of the defendant in the book and the narrator. Despite not being fully familiar with young people's way of expressing themselves, I quickly got used to the narration and felt that it added masses to my enjoyment and the realism. It was good too to be left to decide the verdict for yourself.

Which character – as performed by Adam Deacon – was your favourite?

Definitely the defendant

keep an open mind & enjoy

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What a great story, giving you the chance to see thing's from the other side,very well narrated, putting lots of suspence and feeling into the characters, bit wicked of the author to leave us hanging at the end

Very Good 👍

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Good tale with perfect narration, that really took you inside what it must be like to grow up on the edge of drug gang culture. However, the setting was too far fetched for me...no judge would have allowed what went on in his court....and the ending 😳 🙄 🤔

Good story telling

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A young Nigerian boy is on trial for murder. Wanting to tell the jury the whole story from his point of view, he sacks his Q.C. and makes his own closing speech. Over the course of ten days, we hear of his life trying to avoid being drawn into the fringes of the drug gangs, his love for his girlfriend (?Kaira) and his increasing desperation as he becomes enmeshed in a life he never wanted.
This is one of the best narrations I have ever listened to.
Highly recommended.

Stunning

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This story had me gripped from the start. The narrator draws you in to his world and you can't leave even after the book is finished.

great story

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After you've suspended your disbelief that a court would allow a defendant to speak like this, for as long as he does, as a closing statement, you can enjoy a great story, told in the credible vernacular of the accused, the mystery unfolding cleverly. And all the while, a perfect illustration emerges of the barriers and glass ceilings that continue to exist for large swathes of people in Britain.

Clever storytelling, brilliantly read

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