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Witchfinder
- Narrated by: Richard Mitchley
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
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Witchfinder
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Summary
A brilliant novel of espionage and betrayal from 'one of Britain's most accomplished thriller writers'. (Daily Mail)
London, 1963. The Beatles, Carnaby Street, mini skirts. But the new mood hasn't reached the drab and fearful corridors of MI5 and MI6. Many agents joined the secret service to fight the Nazis. Now they are locked in a Cold War against the Russians.
And some of them are traitors.
The service has been shaken to its core by the high-profile defections of Cambridge-educated spies Burgess, MacLean and now Philby. Appalled at such flagrant breaches of British security, the Americans are demanding a rigorous review.
Harry Vaughan is brought back from Vienna to be part of it. The Chief asks him to join two investigators - Arthur Martin and Peter Wright - who are determined to clean out the stables, and the first target of their suspicions is the Deputy Director General of MI5, Graham Mitchell.
Harry slips back into a relationship with an old flame, Elsa, and joins the hunt - somewhat reluctantly. He is sceptical of the case against Mitchell and wary of the messianic fervour of the two spycatchers. But the further the investigation goes - and the deeper his commitment to Elsa becomes - the greater the sense of paranoia and distrust that spreads through the 'wilderness of mirrors' that is the secret service.
The only certainty is that no-one is above suspicion.
Including Harry Vaughan.
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What listeners say about Witchfinder
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dorset Bob
- 26-01-20
Starts slow, but really gripping.
A weird premise for a book in many ways, but once you tune in it’s a great take on the Cambridge 5 scandal. You really get a sense of nasty little paranoid world that draws people in and then destroys them.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 13-10-19
A great thriller
After reading (and listening on Audible) to all of Len Deighton’s Bernard Samson’s books I was at a loss of where to go next. Luckily I happened upon Andrew Williams’ Witchfinder which when I first read its review I did think I’d take too as it didn’t come across as a story novel but more of a historical tale. But I was mistaken. Andrew Williams has in this book crafted a great and thrilling read which is so linked to actual historical evens that it draws you in even closer to to the story. Trulely Andrew Williams has in this book I feel picked up where Len Deighton left off and created a great story telling the history of the UK’s search for the ‘Fifth Man’ in a compelling and narrative style that makes you feel that you can’t put the book down. Unfortunately this is only one book but at the end of it Andrew Williams hints that a sequel is to come and personally I can’t wait.
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11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ranulf
- 16-10-20
Intricate and fascinating
Extraordinary story that draws on several strands of history to weave a masterpiece. A battle for the soul of the security services told brilliantly.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-04-20
Gripping
Witchfinder kept me gripped for the whole 13 hours.Great insight into the Cold War of the 60s.As easy to follow as a Le Carre
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ILC
- 25-10-19
great writing, terrific story, superb performance
Great writing, terrific story with a superb performance. Over all and excellent audio book.
thank you
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- joe Finland
- 07-01-23
Fantastic
I was captivated from start to finish. Brilliantly explores a fascinating era and subject. I don't normally go for this genre but loved every minute. Great character arcs across the board mixed in with a criss-crossing web of deception and lies. It feels like a true glance into this less observed era of British history.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SjC
- 24-03-20
Brilliant, but not Bond.
I love espionage and spy thrillers and this has become one of my favorites.
The fact it's based on real events, features real people and is so well researched gives it a real world lived in feel that I really like.
Be warned though it's not Bond and if you want high octane action this is not for you. But if your in the mood for crippling paranoia and the bleak, nicotine stained, relentlessly dull aesthetic that was cold war England you'll love it.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Gillian Stephen
- 08-01-20
Excellent Narration
A good story and good narration. Especially pleasing to find a narrator who actually knows how to pronounce the Welsh language correctly. So many books are spoiled for Welsh listeners by woeful mispronunciation!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stephen Timms
- 24-11-20
Towser T
This is a fascinating novel where fact, fiction & speculation are comfortable bedfellows. It depicts a special place in British history where spies and spying were much in the news. The narration by Richard Mitchley is very good and his voice fits in well with the period: classless in tone.
I feel impelled to discover more by the author, Andrew Williams, on the basis of this book. A worthy ‘4 star plus’ read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- C. Mckee
- 20-11-19
A cracking 'page turner'
Its a very good story, written well, very atmospheric, it puts you in the time, makes you Le Carre in your own mind. A huge part of it for me is the narrator, really does a great job setting the scene, the accents, and gruffness of his voice makes you think of Richard Burton.
Heartily recommend this one, as the other reviewers have said, this is a good one.
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5 people found this helpful