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The Fathers

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The Fathers

By: John Niven
Narrated by: Angus King
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About this listen

In a busy maternity ward, first-time father Dan meets Jada, a dad welcoming his fifth - no, sixth? - child into the world. Dan and Jada come from very different places: both called Glasgow. Dan is a successful TV writer with a townhouse in the West End and a shiny Tesla ready to drive his wife and baby home. Jada is a hustling, small-time criminal who is already planning how to separate Dan from some of the luxuries Jada has never been able to enjoy in his tiny flat in a Brutalist sixties council block.

Both men find that the birth of their sons has fired their ambitions. Dan plans to walk away from his saccharine TV success and finally knuckle down to writing that novel he always felt he had in him. While, for Jada, it's the opportunity for one last get-rich-quick scheme - ripping off a local airport. When a tragedy occurs, their worlds are brought closer than either could ever have imagined - close enough that it could mean destruction for both of them . . .

©2025 John Niven (P)2025 Canongate Books Ltd City Life Genre Fiction Urban Funny Heartfelt Witty Thought-Provoking
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Great story, great characters all of them likeable in their own way. Sad and funny. The narrator was absolutely brilliant. Niven at his best,

I loved it

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excellent narration. and of course john niven is the master story teller. highly recommended. all john niven is recommended

brilliant

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Gripping!! Hugely satisfying conclusion, and excellently read - loved it. Read of the year for me, terrific

Terrific!!!!!

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2 fifths in, and it was the first Niven I might have given up on / felt like an excess of character development.. oh but the ending (won’t spoil it) - beautifully wrung out of the misery. Chapeaux,

Stick with it

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Just finished listening to the fathers and absolutely loved it. What an amazing book that makes you think about what it is to be Human and how we have much more in common with each other than we actually actually think we do. Amazing narration by angus King who gets the voices and the characters absolutely on the nail. Also amazing moments of hilarity and genius comedic writing and timing. Feel sad to finish it and can’t recommend it enough.

Loved it!!

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