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Title: Head of State

Author: Andrew Marr

Narrator: Steven Crossley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-11-14

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

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.

Critic Reviews:

Praise for Andrew Marr:

"Superb, colourful, outspoken, fresh and richly entertaining. Don't miss" (The Times)

"Lively, full of rich anecdotes and sparkling pen portraits. He has the rare gift of being able to explain complex issues in a few crisp sentences." (Sunday Telegraph)

"A clever and compelling book." (Daily Telegraph)

Members Reviews:

Don't waste time listening to this rubbish

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A more believable story with less unnecessary characters.

What will your next listen be?

The Silkworm

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Steven Crossley?

Anyone

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger, sadness and disappointment

Any additional comments?

I wish I had not started this book, but it was so unbelievable that I had to finish it to discover how much worse it could get. I was not disappointed. Andrew Marr should stick to his day job

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 Marrs 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.

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.