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  • Paper Girls

  • DCI Kett Crime Thrillers, Book 1
  • By: Alex Smith
  • Narrated by: Tim Bruce
  • Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (82 ratings)

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Paper Girls cover art

Paper Girls

By: Alex Smith
Narrated by: Tim Bruce
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Publisher's Summary

The one case he couldn't crack was the one that finally broke him.

Haunted by his inability to track down and save his missing wife, DCI Robert Kett leaves the Metropolitan Police behind and moves to Norwich with his three young children, hoping to heal their broken family.

But his newfound peace doesn’t last.

Two newspaper delivery girls have gone missing in the city, and the clues point to a serial kidnapper. Kett is dragged into the centre of one of the darkest cases of his career - a case that pits him head-to-head against a horrifying evil. And a case that might uncover the terrible truth of what happened to his wife.

Praise for the book:

"Terrifying and unputdownable, the first crime novel from million-selling author Alex Smith is officially 'a gripping debut'." (J.D. Kirk, author of DCI Logan crime thrillers)

About the author: Alex Smith wrote his first book when he was six. It wasn’t particularly good, but it did have some supernatural monsters in it. His latest book Paper Girls, the first DCI Robert Kett thriller, has monsters in it, too, although these monsters are very human, and all the more terrifying for it.

In between these two books, he has published 12 other novels for children and teenagers under his full name Alexander Gordon Smith, including the number one best-selling Escape from Furnace series, which is loved by millions of fans worldwide and which is soon to become a motion picture. He lives in Norwich with his wife and three young daughters.

©2019 Alex Smith (P)2020 Alex Smith

What listeners say about Paper Girls

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Quite enjoyed

Found this a pleasant story to listen to ,although the child was annoying. The story was easy enough to keep you listening . Characters find the narrator has an easy listening vioce. would be happy to listen to more by this author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly different, in the best way...

The beginning of a promising series, with deftly-drawn characters (yes the children can be annoying, but they’re like that!) Great plot, good narrator, I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

DCI Jack Logan has an English counterpart

I was pointed to Alex Smith’s work by a JD Kirk blog post. After finishing all of his novels I was struggling to find something with that same level of grittiness and humour. Well, DCI Kett delivers - and the narration by Tim Bruce is top notch. Will listen to the next in the series as well

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great crime story as satisfying as a good strong cuppa…

After a hiatus from British crime this was a beaut book to return with. Lovely characters, dark themes with room for potential romance and closure.
First rate narration by Tim Bruce made it the perfect Christmas holiday read/listen and I’m seconds away from downloading the next in the series.
Well done Alex Smith!
If this doesn’t find its way to the BBC drama studios I’ll be amazed.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

What happened to the cat?

Good story, excellent narration, but what happened to the cat man? I feel like if the cat was taken care of and given a home by the main character it would’ve been a 5/5 for me.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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More Please

A thoroughly entertaining listen! Very different from the usual but a great premise and I can’t wait for more stories with these characters. If you don’t like this book, you’re a “fart head” 😉

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

could have been better without the annoying kids

not bad could have done without the annoying rug rats ruined the story for me im afraid

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Unputdownable!

Why did I take so long to start this series?!
Alex Smith came highly recommended by one of my (other) favourite authors, Scottish crime writer, JD Kirk. Mr Smith is now on that list.

On compassionate leave and newly arrived in Norwich with his three young daughters, Kett is asked by his former boss at ‘the Met’ to call in to see if he can help out in a case of two missing girls (no spoiler) from then on the reader is introduced to a great character and more.

Tim Bruce is an excellent narrator, with nuances in all the right places.

Twelve more to go in this series, about to start the second. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Solid first novel in the series

First up having a DCI who is a single father with three young kids is certainly different to any other crime novels I’ve written. Knowing that there isn’t even going to be any new “romance” is this single Dads life (because his wife is missing ) is also a new twist.
Also his kids were annoying - but that might be the idea lol.
The story held my attention for most (but not quite all) of the time and the reveal was satisfactory.
The narration was well done.
I’m hoping for some development of some of the other characters in the next book because for me, the officers the MC works with are just as important.

Well worth a listen (read) and I feel that this author will continue to improve his craft as he goes.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great yarn !!!

Yes I did enjoy that a very good story. Alex Smith is a terrific writer and Tim Bruce a perfect narrator. Unfortunately this is the only story audible till 2022.
So I won’t know what happened to billy for many a long time. I might be dead.

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