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The Martin Beck Stories cover art

The Martin Beck Stories

By: Per Wahlöö,Maj Sjöwall
Narrated by: Neil Pearson,full cast,Steven Mackintosh
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Summary

The Martin Beck books are widely acknowledged as some of the most influential detective novels ever written. Written by Swedish husband and wife team Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö between 1965 and 1975, the 10-book series set a gold standard for all subsequent Scandinavian crime fiction. Long before Kurt Wallander or Harry Hole, Beck was the original flawed policeman, working with a motley collection of colleagues to uncover the cruelty and injustice lurking beneath the surface of Sweden's seemingly liberal, democratic society.

This complete collection includes:

  • Roseanna (1965) - translated by Lois Roth and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • The Man Who Went Up in Smoke (1966) - translated by Joan Tate and dramatised by Katie Hims.
  • The Man on the Balcony (1967) - translated by Alan Blair and dramatised by Katie Hims.
  • The Laughing Policeman (1968) - translated by Alan Blair and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • The Fire Engine That Disappeared (1969) - translated by Joan Tate and dramatised by Katie Hims.
  • Murder at the Savoy (1970) - translated by Amy and Ken Knoespel and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • The Abominable Man (1971) - translated by Thomas Teal and dramatised by Katie Hims.
  • The Locked Room (1972) - translated by Alan Blair and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • Cop Killer (1974) - translated by Thomas Teal and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • The Terrorists (1975) - translated by Joan Tate and dramatised by Katie Hims.

©2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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What listeners say about The Martin Beck Stories

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping Swedish crime stories 5-stars* - Superb!


I seldom re-listen to books in my library, but the Martin Beck stories are superb. Actually I have already got them individually, but by buying them (again) all together has made it easier to download/ listen in order.

So good is this collection I would say they are near faultless - great performances by the actors and spot-on pacing. Gripping Swedish crime stories. Just wish there were more.

Fantastic, highly recommended 5*

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic adaption of a great series of books.

This is a fantastic adaption of the Sjöwall/Wahlöö books that gives them a new and fresh coat of paint. For me as a Swede who have heard about the books all my life and seen two tv-adaptations and more or less knows the story this felt fresh and at the same time familiar.
The cast do a great jobb portraying the characters and the production is well made.
Two thumbs up!

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19 people found this helpful

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

loved it

Really enjoyed listening to the short stories. Even got my husband and my adult son asking me to play it when we had to do long drives.. Sad it came to a end. I recommend this to everyone who enjoys drama and crime.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

One of a very few audio books that are even better than reading the actual books. V good dramatisation.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this!

It was good in every way. Particularly liked Neil Pearson in lead role. The story was dramatic but human, with plenty of subtle humour. Interesting to see the early form of this genre.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb

Loved the stories and dramatisation. The combination of narration and dialogue is great. I caught some of these on the radio but listening to them all in sequence is better - there’s humour and pathos in here that you pick up better when you listen to all the episodes in sequence. Highly recommended.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Perfect

Glorious narrative, wonderful contemporary stories, delicious evolution of characters. Almost better than my usual bbc4 Saturday 9pm Scandinavian Noir. Usually audible is my background to cooking and laundry but there were moments this demanded my full attention.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

First class radio drama

I first heard these plays on radio 4 a few years ago
I recorded 2 of them but have been unable to hear the rest until I joined audible and chose the 11 recorded plays as my first choice.
The stories are excellent and I have heard recordings of all the books which are also very well done.
These plays are extremely well acted and directed and can be listened to again and again ( by me anyway).
I just think they are a fabulous set of radio plays.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best audio book ever

Superb cast and narration capturing the original book brilliantly I haven't heard a better production.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable

Excellent stories, wonderful performances, detailed plot lines that stand up well to repeated listening. The characters grow and develop through each individual story.
Highly recommended!

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1 person found this helpful