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Runaway
- Narrated by: Peter Forbes
- Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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Fantastic Listen
- By Joanne on 07-08-15
Summary
In 1965, five teenage friends fled Glasgow for London to pursue their dream of musical stardom. Yet before year's end three returned, and returned damaged. In 2015, a brutal murder forces those three men, now in their 60s, to journey back to London and finally confront the dark truth they have run from for five decades.
Runaway is a crime novel covering 50 years of friendships solidified and severed, dreams shared and shattered and passions lit and extinguished, set against the backdrop of two unique and contrasting cities at two unique and contrasting periods of recent history.
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What listeners say about Runaway
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Colin M
- 08-01-15
Another Peter May Classic
What made the experience of listening to Runaway the most enjoyable?
Peter Forbes is a most engaging narrator and listening to him detail the characters I was totally sucked in.
What did you like best about this story?
Classic Peter May, I have all his books and listening to them causes me to take the dog on the longer walk and I drive the long road home. This story had me laughing out loud standing on a train platform, it also had me welling up in places.
A simple everyday story that can be related to by most, beautifully written. A masterpiece as we have come to expect from Peter. The narrator Peter Forbes brings all to life with the warmth of a bed time story.
Superb literature that I highly recommend.
Have you listened to any of Peter Forbes’s other performances? How does this one compare?
I have listened to all Peters audio books. This ranks very highly.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Glesga boys on tour
Any additional comments?
Keep them coming Peter, thank you.
30 people found this helpful
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- jane
- 02-01-15
A great listen!
I have listened to most of Peter May's books but this is by far the best. The plot, the characters and the narrator make for a great listen.
25 people found this helpful
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- Salter
- 22-08-19
Typically brilliant from Peter May..
I'm a big fan of Peter Mays work. His books are so immersive, and you really get the sense of every feeling and emotion that the characters portray.
This is a story of youthful exuberance; leading to elation, and quickly followed by tradegy, regrets, unintended consequences and everything in-between.
A superb read, and highly recommended.
Superb narration from Peter Forbes.
10 people found this helpful
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- Iain Crockett
- 14-02-15
powerfully nostalgic if you are of a certain age!
This is a wonderful book about a group of friends looking back at their youth. Peter May used this device in Entry Island but this is a better written book. This is a srory of adventure and loss, of lost time and paths not raken, of promises kept and secrets revealed.The narration and characterisation of the protagonists is absolutely brilliant. first time I have been tempted to start from the beginning straight away.
10 people found this helpful
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- ANNIE60
- 23-01-15
Unpredictable
What did you like most about Runaway?
I did not know what to expect as the story went along
What did you like best about this story?
How it evolved and dragged you into the lives of these meb
Which character – as performed by Peter Forbes – was your favourite?
Cant say. They were all so well "acted "
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I think all the characters were so touching so cannot pick one out
Any additional comments?
I really enjoyed reading this book as always so well written and the people so real. It was brilliantly told by Peter Forbes. He really brings any book he reads to life
9 people found this helpful
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- JPH
- 21-05-17
Peter May has done it again!
Peter May has a knack of drawing you in. The story switches between 1965 & 2015. It begins in 1965, & tells the story of the friendship between 5 teenage boys from Glasgow who due to each's own personal circumstances decide to runaway to London to try & find fame & fortune as a band. They soon find out that 2 of the boys parents are following them to try to bring them home, so in order to loose them they stop at motorway services were they meet a shady stranger. There then follows a series of unfortunate events which results in a detour to Leeds to meet up with one of the boys female cousins who joins them & they eventually make it down to London.
This is London of the swinging 60's, drugs sex & rock & roll! But they soon find out that the streets of London are not paved with gold & after a few turbulent & disappointing months 3 of the 5 boys return to Glasgow...
The story then switches to 2015, the boys are all now in there late 60's. After a newspaper report that the brutally murdered body of an actor missing since 1965 is found, one of the men, terminally ill with cancer & dying decides that they need to return to London & confront the dark truth & events of 1965.
Peter May is a brilliant story teller, & now my favourite author. He switches seamlessly & effortlessly between 1965 & 2015, & always creates compelling & absorbing characters.
Peter Forbes is the consumate narrator, his voice characterisations are superb, he breathes life into all the characters even the women. He is my favourite narrator & I now look for books narrated by him. I thoroughly recommend this book.
8 people found this helpful
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- Hes
- 06-01-15
Fantastic
I've read a lot of Peter May novels & this was as expected fantastic highly recommend it.
Can't wait for the next one.
7 people found this helpful
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- AnnaJ
- 07-01-15
Once again brilliant.
It is not of the Lewis trilogy level but it is an engaging tale, well told that makes you feel part of the journey. Perceptions are challenge, the story is told without drama. Great ending. Sadly now back to waiting for another Peter May book to be written.
10 people found this helpful
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- GJ Scott
- 24-01-15
Great story.
I love peter Mays work and the story is a good yarn with the usual twists and turns and great characters.
I think this one tries a little too hard to squeeze in 60's historical events and clichés.
The narration is brilliant as always.
4 people found this helpful
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- Linda
- 01-02-15
For those who dreamed of running away to London
I very much like Peter May and I thoroughly enjoyed this book and listened/read (whisper sync) in just a few days. For all of us who dreamed of running away to London back in the 60's this is the book for you. Written in the past (1960's) and present, our cast of characters back when they were young are wholly believable and London life in what seemed a daring time not far off the mark. I was not quite as convinced by the current thread of the storyline nor of the overall plot - but, this really is well worth a listen for old times sake. Overlook the slightly shakey bits and just enjoy.
8 people found this helpful
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- Peter Malysewich
- 23-05-17
Different, familiar and enjoyable.
Intriguing and spellbinding after slowly setting its hooks into you.
We have enjoyed the Enzo books, the Lewis books, Entry Island, Coffin Road and still found a new dimension to explore, even as we felt very comfortable in Peter's techniques.
Highly recommended.