When I Was Ten cover art

When I Was Ten

A Gripping, Heart-in-mouth Thriller from the Author of Into the Dark

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When I Was Ten

By: Fiona Cummins
Narrated by: Olivia Dowd
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About this listen

‘GRIPS LIKE A VICE’ – Val McDermid

'Absorbing, tense and beautifully paced' - Daily Mail

Twenty-one years ago, Dr Richard Carter and his wife Pamela were killed in what has become the most infamous double murder of the modern age.

Their ten year-old daughter – nicknamed the Angel of Death – spent eight years in a children’s secure unit and is living quietly under an assumed name with a family of her own.

Now, on the anniversary of the trial, a documentary team has tracked down her older sister, compelling her to break two decades of silence.

Her explosive interview sparks national headlines and journalist Brinley Booth, a childhood friend of the Carter sisters, is tasked with covering the news story.

For the first time, the three women are forced to confront what really happened that night – with devastating consequences for them all.

When I Was Ten is the highly anticipated, stay-up-all-night next book by acclaimed crime author Fiona Cummins.

‘I finished it with my heart in my mouth. Highly recommended’ – Louise Candlish

‘Dark, creepy and ultimately compassionate… a chilling look at the consequences of a childhood gone wrong’ – JP Delaney

‘Utterly compelling; a true just-one-more-chapter thriller’ – Clare Mackintosh

‘Pacy, dark and surprises to the bitter end. Loved it’ – Fiona Barton

Crime Crime Thrillers Domestic Thrillers Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Exciting Scary

Critic reviews

Fiona Cummins evokes the dark arts of journalism and politics with an insider’s relish in this rich, intricately woven novel of childhood crime and adult redemption. I finished it with my heart in my mouth. Highly recommended (Louise Candlish on When I Was Ten)
This thriller explores typically dark territory for this author, who has a gift for tapping a rich seam of evil that underpins the surface of the every day. Superbly sinister (Sunday Mirror on The Neighbour)
'Absorbing, tense and beautifully paced'
She is the master of depicting the way the most terrifyingly grotesque and evil psychopaths inveigle their way into the lives of ordinary people . . . When writing from the perspective of ordinary people caught up in horrific events, Fiona Cummins is unbeatable (Jake Kerridge on The Neighbour)
The Neighbour is masterfully written and intricately plotted to keep the reader captivated until a hugely enjoyable finale (Jon Coates)
A crime novel of the very first order (David Baldacci on The Collector)
Creepy as hell and kept me guessing to the very end (Ian Rankin on The Neighbour)
Trust me – Cummins is a keeper (Lee Child on The Collector)
It’s rare that a debut has this much polish. Harrowing and horrifying, head and shoulders above most of the competition (Val McDermid on Rattle)
Pretty much held my breath for the last twenty pages. It’s sensational (Clare Empson, author of Him and Mine)
All stars
Most relevant
great storyline and keeps you interested. I think for audible they should add saying the name before each person's storyline because on audible they all mesh together and you realize they've changed characters and you didn't know. I'm guessing in the book this was done with separate paragraphs. it would have been nice for the narrator to change voices between the 3 different women characters or had another woman narrate as well.

Gripping Read

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Each chapter read in exactly the same voice and you have to listen for a few minutes sometimes to work out who is speaking. Nothing changes with this voice whether it’s the violent scenes or the happier ones. Great storyline though

Poor narration spoils story

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This is quite interesting. What drives a child to kill? I thought it would be more shocking but it wasn’t. However, it was really compelling!

Absorbing but a little bit loose at the end

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It’s a long time since I have been almost unable to stop listening . The story hooked me in and although some was a little predictable towards the end I certainly didn’t see the final twist . Very well performed too .

Hold all your plans!

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At first I thought this story a bit slow but then it started to gear up until I couldn't wait to listen to what was going to happen next. Really enjoyed it. The narrater was excellent too.

Gripping story

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