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Skin Deep

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Skin Deep

By: Liz Nugent
Narrated by: Sophie Ward, Declan Rodgers, Anna Maria Everett, Daniel Betts, Trev Fleming, Michael Gould, Annette Flynn
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Skin Deep by Liz Nugent, read by Annette Flynn, Sophie Ward, Declan Rodgers , Anna Maria Everett, Daniel Betts, Trev Fleming and Michael Gould.

'Perfect summer read for those who like their escapism on the darker side' Ian Rankin

The deliciously sinister new novel from the No 1 bestselling author of Richard and Judy Book Club pick, Lying in Wait

'I could probably have been an actress.
It is not difficult to pretend to be somebody else.
Isn't that what I've been doing for most of my life?'


Cordelia Russell has been living on the French Riviera for twenty-five years, passing herself off as an English socialite. But her luck, and the kindness of strangers, have run out.

The arrival of a visitor from her distant past shocks Cordelia. She reacts violently to the intrusion and flees her flat to spend a drunken night at a glittering party. As dawn breaks she stumbles home through the back streets. Even before she opens her door she can hear the flies buzzing. She did not expect the corpse inside to start decomposing quite so quickly . . .

'Bloody brilliant!' Denise Mina

'An extraordinary writer - Liz Nugent maps the human mind as a cartographer charts new worlds: She's boundlessly curious and totally unflinching' A.J. Finn

'A tour de force ... a genuinely memorable, at times terrifying central character ... will appeal to readers who enjoy an exciting, fast-paced journey of psychological extremes, which delivers a shocking final twist' Crime Club, Killer Women Book of the Month

'The finest psychological thriller writer currently at work - no one gets under the skin of monstrous characters like she does' Tammy Cohen

'A wonderful feat of imagination, totally gripping, with a fascinating character at its heart' Sabine Durrant

'Dark, brutal and brilliant' Colette McBeth

'A triumph, from first page to last!' Sarah Hilary

'Monumentally good. Liz Nugent is a beautiful writer and among the very best storytellers in the world' Donal Ryan

'I loved, loved, loved Skin Deep - the compassion of it, the beauty of the language, how glamour and horror intersect, how the tension twists tighter and tighter and is brilliantly done' Marian Keyes

'Dazzling ... chilling, mesmerising and, ultimately, devastating. Pure storytelling genius' Mark Edwards
'Her darkest book yet - a compelling one-sitting read' Sinéad Crowley

'Utterly gripping, fast paced, and featuring my favourite sociopathic female character since Lady Macbeth' Louise O'Neill

'Incredibly dark, twisting and utterly mesmerising - you will not be able to put this down' Sinéad Moriarty

'Pitch dark and thrillingly original' Jane Casey

Crime Thrillers Domestic Thrillers Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense World Literature

Critic Reviews

What takes a woman from an island childhood in Ireland to murder and ruin in a grotty flat in Nice? - another dark twisted story from No 1 bestseller Liz Nugent.
Gone Girl fans will love Liz Nugent's Lying in Wait ... it twists, it turns, its characters are utterly despicable and it is a compulsive triumph
A stunningly talented writer (Sophie Hannah)
An unputdownable psychological thriller with an ending that lingers long after turning the final page
The intricate plotting and jolting suspense hold you in a vice till the last page
Clear your diary if you pick up this seductively sinister story. The twists come together in a superbly scary denouncement which delivers a final sting in the tail. Brilliantly macabre
All stars
Most relevant
A deal of the day buy to try and get over the last book hangover I had just finished, but this book has given me an even bigger hangover!

This story in incredible and among the best I have ever read (listened). The main narrator brings the character of Delia alive, so much so I actually believed I knew her. I couldn't help but have respect for Delia and not a grudging one at that. I have read many reviews about this book an I cant agree with the overriding hostile opinion of Delia. For me she is someone to pity, because despite what she is, she just is. The ending was pure poetry

I will immediately buy another book by this author.

Incredible!

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A disturbing but intrigueing tale of what happens when one is damaged as a child, and its rippling-out affect impacting so many others over the years. The consequences of psych damage when seen as mere "evil". Very listenable ... and angsty. Disturbing ending!

What psychological damage can do.

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I thought this was a thriller. Its not. It is a compelling story that is hard to stop listening to. However it is also a deeply disturbing, depressing story. The writing style is so good I did finish the book however it was a struggle due to the content. A heartless, hideous main character... lots of sad characters actually. The main narrator did an amazing job.

Not what I was expecting

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It is different to hear a story where the main protagonist is totally unlikable. I really enjoyed that difference. It was an easy listen. All round a good story.

Some twists and turns

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If you like your escapism on the darker side. This is an amazing tale of a woman, damaged as, who taints all she touches still being charismatic and enigmatic.

Skin Deep is a magnificent dark monster of a book.

Be prepared to wallow in the deliciously sinister, I nearly stopped halfway but am so glad I didn't. This book is a very well-written psychological thriller with unexpected twists. There is killing at the start which is not revealed until the end and you'll never pick it.

Delia is a beautiful woman, beauty and ugliness are central to this story. She is from a small island off the west of Ireland, her lack of empathy for others helps her to survive tragedy and simultaneously contributes to her downfall.

I hear you ... I'm just a masochist - sounds like an Irish House of Mirth? I could not stop, the narration is great with no less than 6 other short-bit-part narrators.
A brilliant listen that will make your skin crawl.

Fantastic dark monster of a book

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