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A Smaller Hell

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A Smaller Hell

By: A. J. Reid
Narrated by: Matthew Wudotun
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About this listen

In the snow-choked alleys of a fading Northern England shipbuilding town, Tanner’s Department Store stands as a gilded cage of decadence and deceit. When aimless thirty-something Black, desperate for work, steps into its opulent halls, he’s ensnared by the store’s enigmatic owner, Dianne Doyle. A puppeteer of dark desires, Dianne twists Black into her sadistic games, promising a shattering revelation at the infamous Tanner’s Christmas Staff Party.

As Black navigates a surreal underworld of greasy spoon cafes, smoky pubs, and corporate cruelty, he uncovers secrets that blur the line between reality and nightmare. Dianne’s plans, like the town itself, are never what they seem. In this darkly comic, Kafkaesque thriller, A. J. Reid delivers a gritty tale of power, betrayal, and redemption that will leave you reeling until its shocking, town-altering climax.

©2021 Antony John Reid (P)2025 Antony John Reid Literature & Fiction Psychological Thriller & Suspense Christmas

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Listener received this title free

A good listen. An intersting story line with a few twists along the way. A bit like Big Brother meets Harrods. Some great character accents from the narrator.

Very enjoyable

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Listener received this title free

Instant personality and visual impression portrayed by the narrator. We really liked the clear diction in combination with very natural accents and different paces of speech, not exaggerated as is common in audio books. We knew who was talking all the time. Surprised this was one person speaking. This helped the well-paced and engaging story become one we didn't want to switch off.
We listened to this in one long car journey and had to sit in the car until it finished.
Great combination of story and the telling.

Immersive narration

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Listener received this title free

Plenty of twists and turns IN this nightmare poverty jobs double dealing chase story wanted by police and villains Very atmospheric portrait of conditions through out

Nightmare world poverty double dealing

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The triumph of love, integrity and family over narcissism is a Christmas tale worth telling. The listener is drawn into the complex world of Tony Black perhaps even more deeply than comes across on the page. Definitely worth a listen!

Outstanding narration of a great tale

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Listener received this title free

This was my first time listening to both A. J. Reid and narrator Matthew Wudotun, and I was very impressed. A Smaller Hell is full of strange but interesting characters that kept me engaged throughout. The story has a dark, quirky edge that makes it stand out, and the narration really brought it to life. Matthew Wudotun's performance was a spot on fit for the tone of the book. A very good listen, glad I gave it a chance and I hope to listen to more of Tony's work in the future!
I was kindly given a copy of the book by the author and leave this honest review.

A Smaller Hell.

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