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The Martin Beck Stories

10 BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations

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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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About this listen

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
Mystery Traditional Detectives
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The original books are wonderful - this is a ruthlessly slashed version. Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö’s books deserve more time. It was disappointing overall but the cast performance was very good.

The abridging is so harsh it’s almost unbearable - not for lovers if the original books.

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Different audio format but brought everyone in the stories to life. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Old School Nordic Noir and Policing

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Truly awesome adaptation. No need to have read the books. Steven Macintosh is marvelous.

Absolutely fantastic crime stories

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I have admired the Martin Beck series for decades, I disliked these abridged versions.

The real books are so much better!

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