Programme Index

Discover 11,128,835 listings and 281,607 playable programmes from the BBC

Book at Bedtime

The Lie of the Land

Episode 9

Duration: 15 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 FMLatest broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 LW

Amanda Craig's state-of-the-nation novel, read by Amanda Lawrence.

Quentin and Lottie Bredin's marriage is over. They've also lost their jobs in the recession. As a result, they have been forced to rent out their London home (for an extortionate sum) and moved their family to Devon to live for a year in the hope that their house's value will rise enough to allow them to divorce and buy a flat each.

Lottie's job working for a local architect has brought her new confidence (financially, as well as personally). Quentin, though, is floundering. He's been badly affected by the death of his father, with whom he had a vexatious relationship.

Lottie's son Xan is preparing to leave for university, his Devonian 'year out' has helped him come to terms with his initial rejection from Cambridge. He's struck up an unlikely friendship with Dawn, the troubled daughter of the family's cleaner, but when he tries to help her he puts his life in danger by unwittingly revealing the identity of Oliver Randall's murderer.

Reader: Amanda Lawrence
Writer: Amanda Craig
Abridger: Robin Brooks
Producer: Kirsteen Cameron. Show less

About this data

This data is drawn from the data stream that informs BBC's iPlayer and Sounds. The information shows what was scheduled to be broadcast, meaning it was/is subject to change and may not be accurate. More