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The Martin Beck Stories

By: Per Wahlöö, Maj Sjöwall
Narrated by: Neil Pearson, full cast, Steven Mackintosh
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Summary

The Martin Beck books are widely acknowledged as some of the most influential detective novels ever written. Written by Swedish husband and wife team Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö between 1965 and 1975, the 10-book series set a gold standard for all subsequent Scandinavian crime fiction. Long before Kurt Wallander or Harry Hole, Beck was the original flawed policeman, working with a motley collection of colleagues to uncover the cruelty and injustice lurking beneath the surface of Sweden's seemingly liberal, democratic society.

This complete collection includes:

  • Roseanna (1965) - translated by Lois Roth and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • The Man Who Went Up in Smoke (1966) - translated by Joan Tate and dramatised by Katie Hims.
  • The Man on the Balcony (1967) - translated by Alan Blair and dramatised by Katie Hims.
  • The Laughing Policeman (1968) - translated by Alan Blair and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • The Fire Engine That Disappeared (1969) - translated by Joan Tate and dramatised by Katie Hims.
  • Murder at the Savoy (1970) - translated by Amy and Ken Knoespel and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • The Abominable Man (1971) - translated by Thomas Teal and dramatised by Katie Hims.
  • The Locked Room (1972) - translated by Alan Blair and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • Cop Killer (1974) - translated by Thomas Teal and dramatised by Jennifer Howarth.
  • The Terrorists (1975) - translated by Joan Tate and dramatised by Katie Hims.

©2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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What listeners say about The Martin Beck Stories

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Perfect

Glorious narrative, wonderful contemporary stories, delicious evolution of characters. Almost better than my usual bbc4 Saturday 9pm Scandinavian Noir. Usually audible is my background to cooking and laundry but there were moments this demanded my full attention.

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Bad endings

Overall I really enjoyed this but a nunber of the stories have very abrupt and unsatisfactory endings. The performance is great and the characters. The final story is by far the best

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Love this series. A great collection of plays. Great characters. One story is never enough!

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Brilliant

Grace series lovely acting...as ever Beck just captivates the mind. Really thoroughly enjoyed this series and listend in just a few sitting!

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Loved it

Fantastic dramatisations. Excellent actors and narrators and interesting storylines. I was so pleased to find this 10 in 1 compilation.

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Excellent

I really enjoyed this BBC production.The individual stories were gripping and the narration perfect. The Swedish setting was brought to life

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The Martin Beck Stories

Excellent BBC production of these stories. Well worth diving in and swimming in another world for a while.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding Swedish police drama

Absolutely loved Katie Him's masterful adaptations brilliantly acted by the cast. Sorry when it finished.

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amazing

I enjoyed the ten stories so much. great writing, great storytelling, great characters and a brilliant BBC radio adaptation. strongly recommended

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Wish there were more!

I loved each story so much but especially the last one- The Terrorists, where my heart was in my mouth...( but thinking about it, that was also the case for the Man on the Balcony where my heart was in my mouth). I've actually listened to them a second time and I still find details in the plays that keep me interested.
The casting is brilliant and the voices of the main detectives are very recognisable. The acting is spot on and the way the plays are presented with 2 narrators and the atmospheric music - it's a real treat.
I cannot praise these plays enough. There is suspense, a dry humour and a humanity. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and the way they were told. Just wish there had been more books written.

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