House of Cards (House of Cards Trilogy, Book 1) cover art

House of Cards (House of Cards Trilogy, Book 1)

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

The acclaimed political thriller that first introduced the unforgettable Francis Urquhart MP and launched Michael Dobbs’ No 1 bestselling career.

Michael Dobbs’ entertaining tale of skulduggery and intrigue within the Palace of Westminster has been a huge hit with the public. Its scheming hero, Chief Whip Francis Urquhart, who uses fair means and foul to become Prime Minister, is one of the best-known characters of the last decade – the politician we all love to hate.

Acclaimed for its authenticity and insights into a secret world – the result of many years working behind the scenes for the Conservative Party – it became a highly popular, award-winning BBC TV series, with Francis Urquhart memorably portrayed by Ian Richardson, and was followed by two further sequels, ‘To Play the King’ and ‘The Final Cut’, which also became top-rating TV series.

 Action & Adventure Genre Fiction Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Political Thriller & Suspense Urban Fiction Thriller Crime Suspense Law

Critic reviews

‘This blood-and-thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity… a great triumph.’
Independent

‘The exciting thriller that has Westminster buzzing. Here is a political thriller writer with a marvellous inside track knowledge of government. House of Cards is fast-moving, revelatory and brilliant.’
Daily Express
All stars
Most relevant
Gripping from start to finish. Best narrator on your books. Can't wait for book 2

excellent - a wicked insight into British Estab.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved the BBC TV series and thought this reading of the book was excellent. The story is still very relevant today.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very well read and every bit as good as I remembered from first reading it.

A classic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I remember the tv dramatisation of this from decades ago, but listening to Samual West narrate the book was a real treat.

Brilliant! Just as fresh as when it was written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This production of House Of Cards is excellently done. Samuel West does a brilliant job portraying all the various figures and showing the infighting explode from a version of late 80s and early 90s Conservative Party government. The book is definitely well written as being authored by a figure who was previously heavily involved in the aforementioned political party allows the scheming and backstabbing to come across as very realistic given the personalities of the characters.

This first book in the series also allows its main newspaper figure and all of her glory moments and mistakes or...almost all of them to be at least understandable even if the reader believes they wouldn't make the same mistakes themselves. I loved listening to this version of the first book much like I loved the original late 80s BBC TV adaptation and plan to listen to the other books in the series very soon. They are already ordered. Consider this review a hearty endorsement of this book and the series if you enjoy political scheming and sabotage.

Time to lay the cards on the table

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews