Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Ordinary Thunderstorms

  • By: William Boyd
  • Narrated by: John Heffernan
  • Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (65 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Ordinary Thunderstorms

By: William Boyd
Narrated by: John Heffernan
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

One May evening in London, as a result of a chance encounter and a split-second decision, the young climatologist Adam Kindred loses everything - home, job, reputation, passport, credit cards, money - never to get them back.

With the police and a hit man in merciless pursuit, Adam has no choice but to go underground, joining the ranks of the disappeared, struggling to understand how his life has unravelled so spectacularly. His journey of discovery will take him along the Thames from Chelsea to the sink estates of the East End.

On the way he encounters aristocrats, priests, prostitutes and a policewoman - but will he ever find himself again?

©2009 William Boyd (P)2020 Penguin Audio
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

William Boyd: A BBC Radio Drama Collection cover art
Company Man cover art
Midnight Caller cover art
Artemis cover art
The Keys to the Street cover art
Gone to Ground ) cover art
Reflex cover art
Gameboard of the Gods cover art
A Dying Breed cover art
The Unnoticeables cover art
A Clean Kill in Tokyo cover art
Daemon cover art
Surrogate cover art
Gideon's Sword cover art

What listeners say about Ordinary Thunderstorms

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    44
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    42
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    39
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a great read but too many anomalies

I liked Adam Kindred but felt it out of character that he placed one friend in a refrigerator box and threw him into the sea and then tippped another guy he knew into the sea without remorse. I also do not think that he would have had unprotected sex with a prostitute Mhouse.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well written good characters believable

( audible version )Enjoyed this very much ...good story and in particular the beginning part with main character getting to grips with his situation.
Well drawn characters ....would make a fine and thrilling series !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not as good as the original version

like this Narrator , but not as good here, as the narrator of original version, which I bought a very long time ago!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Thriller set in the uk

William Boyd is a first class writer and I have read most of his books. This one is a particular favourite of mine mainly because the plot is so well crafted, It is crying out to be made a movie and perfectly poised for a sequel. I await both with eager anticipation!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

enjoyable lusten

a believable start would have been better, a proper ending required but a good plod anyway

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well balanced version

Excellent version of one of Boyd’s best novels - captures the characters very well and evokes and excellent mental picture of London

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Boyd at his best.

This is a gripping listen. throughout. Characters and incidents are described in minute, well-observed detail. The plot only becomes clear at the 3/4 point. Prior to this, the "whydunnit" remains obscure but temptingly complex. John Heffernan narrates with care and great empathy, adding to the subterfuge. I could relate to every character, seethe with anti-corporate indignation and yet still be moved by unexpectedemotions (viz John-Jo and the basset)
Not since WB's "Armadillo" have I enjoyed a novel so much. Recommended without qualification.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The transition from ordinary guy to a penniless down & out tramp.

I liked the way when at the beginning the speaker said “ that Adam’s life would change forever after having met Mr Wang’
To me that opening works every time. But I did not like the swearing, it is not necessary ,so I only gave the performance 4 stars.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Ending

What about actually finishing the book and tying up the loose ends William?! Lazy ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another brilliant work from WB

I was totally absorbed. His use of language, the plot and the narration made it a compelling listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!