Gentlemen & Players cover art

Gentlemen & Players

the first in a trilogy of gripping and twisted psychological thrillers from bestselling author Joanne Harris

Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Gentlemen & Players

By: Joanne Harris
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Susan Hill, Nicci French and Val McDermid, this is an astute and intelligent psychological thriller centring around obsession and rage from international multi-million copy seller Joanne Harris. Fast paced with unexpected twists and turns, it will get right under the skin...

'[A] gripping psychological thriller... Harris is one of our most accomplished novelists and Gentlemen & Players, with its pace, wit and acute observation, shows her at the top of her form' -- DAILY EXPRESS
'[A] delicious black comedy ... the plot is so cleverly constructed, the tension so unflagging, you'd think she'd been writing thrillers all her life' -- DAILY MAIL
'It kept me on the edge of my seat and I was thinking about it long after I turned the last page' -- ***** Reader review
'An intricate, engrossing novel' -- ***** Reader review
'Wonderfully, horribly plausible' -- ***** Reader review
'I read it in three days which is as close as I get to "couldn't put it down"' -- ***** Reader review
'Well written and enthralling' -- ***** Reader review
'A must read....' -- ***** Reader review
'Absolutely loved this book!' -- ***** Reader review

*******************************************************************************************
At St Oswald's, a long-established boys' grammar school in the north of England, a new year has just begun. For the staff and boys of the school, a wind of unwelcome change is blowing. Suits, paperwork and Information Technology rule the world; and Roy Straitley, the eccentric veteran Latin master, is finally - reluctantly - contemplating retirement.

But beneath the little rivalries, petty disputes and everyday crises of the school, a darker undercurrent stirs.

And a bitter grudge, hidden and carefully nurtured for thirteen years, is about to erupt.

The trilogy continues with blueeyedboy and Different Class.

Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense

Critic Reviews

[A] gripping psychological thriller... Harris is one of our most accomplished novelists and Gentlemen & Players, with its pace, wit and acute observation, shows her at the top of her form
[A] delicious black comedy ... the plot is so cleverly constructed, the tension so unflagging, you'd think she'd been writing thrillers all her life
With a lightness of touch, Harris illuminates just how resentment of privilege and exclusion can lead to violent resolutions... Marvellously mischievous
[A] clever story of obsession and revenge... Ms Harris has scored another success
A classic whodunnit with the characters carefully crafted and the tension at a knife edge
A terrific and absorbing suspense novel, with a cast of characters you come to really care about and enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes
Book groups of the world, watch out
A wonderfully clever book, rich in atmosphere, crawling with fascinating characters, and packing a terrific surprise as well (Elizabeth George)
[A] literary gobstopper with an aniseed heart ... wildly entertaining
A diverting and absorbing story which will delight her legions of fans
All stars
Most relevant
I found the story silly, improbable, boring and a little confusing, although the performance was as good as it could get.

A bit second rate

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This story is based around an elite school with many characters among the teachers and pupils. Unfortunately the reader did not provide a difference in style between the two main characters and this made it difficult to know who was telling the story at the time. It may have been better told with two or even three voices.

Great Sense of School

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.