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Head of State
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
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Head of State
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Summary
Two corpses. A country on the edge of a political precipice. A conspiracy so bold it would make Machiavelli wince. Andrew Marr’s debut novel imagines what really might be going on behind the door of 10 Downing Street.
When a young investigative reporter is found dead on the streets of London few people notice. But when another body – minus its head and hands – is washed up on the banks of the Thames, its grisly condition arouses a little more interest.
There appears to be no connection between the two dead men. But, unsuspected by the electorate, there is a shocking and dangerous secret at the very heart of government. While the United Kingdom approaches a crucial and delicately-balanced referendum on Europe, a group of ruthlessly determined individuals will stop at nothing – including murder – to prevent the truth from getting out.
Andrew Marr’s first novel is a gleefully twisted spin through the corridors of power. Making full use of his unrivalled inside knowledge of the British political scene, Marr has threaded his wickedly clever thriller with a distinctive strand of pitch-black humour, to offer an irreverent glimpse behind the parliamentary curtain.
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Critic reviews
"Superb, colourful, outspoken, fresh and richly entertaining. Don't miss" ( The Times)
What listeners say about Head of State
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- cho
- 03-02-15
Very good indeed, certainly worth the time.
Great story made better by the immaculate coupling of Marr and Crossley. A must hear.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Richard Millar
- 27-04-16
Good fun but cheesy
The basis for the story is a strong idea and the pacing is consistent throughout.
The gags are bawdy and the delivery a bit cheesy.
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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
- jack beddoe
- 06-12-16
Strange but fun
Might not be what you expect but it is a good slightly silly ride and performed well. Would recommend but be warned, this is quite a change of pace from Mr Marr
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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
- Mr A J F Cameron
- 16-08-16
An excellent story
A recognisable reality twisted to make an excellent story. Told with great humour and pace
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- KEITH
- 15-10-14
Please Mr Marr, no more fiction!
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
The narration wasnt very good, Steven Crossley has a good natural voice for narration but he uses a different voice for each character which becomes extremely grating and doesnt help in the light of Mr Marr's 'many' characters.
What was most disappointing about Andrew Marr’s story?
As well as a story that defies belief, there are just too many characters and I found it difficult to follow the plot through characterisation. It was hard to remember what a character had previously done in the earlier pages - unless you made notes of course!
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Steven Crossley?
The King of course - Sean Barrett, although I think even he would have struggled to breath life into such a poor story.
What character would you cut from Head of State?
Im not sure I remember any of them too well to make such a decision
Any additional comments?
I do wonder if this book would have been published without Andrew Marr's name on it. I do admire the mans political intellect and insight, but fiction is a different beast and this is not a good attempt in my opinion.
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4 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
- Lawrie Jenkins
- 23-07-15
Enjoyable and well written
I enjoy Andrew Marr's political comment so his novel "Head of State" had me both gripped and entertained. There is one passage where he asks the rhetorical question "How could all this possibly happen?" And his answer comes close to biting satire.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Cassie
- 13-09-19
Oh dear
Such a disappointment. The prose was unnecessarily rambling and tedious. I couldnt finish it, i just lost interest.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- philip
- 19-09-15
Infantile nonsense
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
This book is almost too awful for words.
What will your next listen be?
I think Andrew Marr has put me off books for ever. I can't put myself through the ordeal of ploughing through turgid rubbish like this ever again. I am giving up on books and am taking up jam making,
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Steven Crossley?
Anyone! Jimmy Krankie would have been marginally less irritating and considerably more convincing.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Head of State?
All of them.
Any additional comments?
The plot is utterly ludicrous. The narrator is the man of a thousand voices but each of them is as annoying as the last. Apart from the terrible plot and the annoying narration I enjoyed it enormously.
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2 people found this helpful