An intriguing India-based tale from Rudyard Kipling that concerns money, stealth and deception. Reggie Burke is seemingly the perfect bank manager, but "As he said himself, and as many men found out rather to their surprise, there were two Burkes, both very much at your service." This becomes very clear as the story progresses and a listener is dra...

As a listener learns at the beginning of this fable-like old-fashioned story: "This is the story of a man who wilfully stepped beyond the safe limits of decent everyday society, and paid for it heavily. He knew too much in the first instance; and he saw too much in the second. He took too deep an interest in native life; but he will never do so aga...

This thrilling and mysterious story was first published in the Civil and Military Gazette on March 4th 1887 and collected in Plain Tales from the Hills in 1888, and in subsequent editions of this collection. The Bisara of Pooree is a tiny eyeless fish, carved from a nut, inside a little jewelled silver box. If stolen, it is a powerful love charm. I...

A refreshingly unusual story which examines the human condition and the idea of words from the past haunting the present. A jockey in a big race is set to win and is a 'sure bet' but with haunting voices from the past ringing in his ears, can he overcome his psychological torture to succeed on the track? A well-crafted story which lends itself to a...

A story of marital discomfort, bribery and 'just desserts', this story follows an unpleasant man's efforts to divorce his wife. Described by some critics as 'overdoing' the retribution dished out to the story's villain, this tale is a gritty and satisfying listen which outlines the perils of dishonesty and is a fable of sorts.

Both a cautionary tale outlining the dangers of over-indulgence and a farcical account of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Brugglesmith is funny and at times, unbelievable. Our sorry narrator finds himself in a situation with a stranger who is less than logical, and has to resort to rather drastic means to keep him at bay.and to keep his...

One of Kipling's famed 'Just So' stories, this lyrical tale makes a perfect suit for audio and explains why cats are.well, like cats are! This story goes back to the beginning and imagines the first time a cat deigned to put a foot inside a human dwelling. The cat and the humans have a bumpy ride agreeing the terms of a future arrangement as the ca...

Matilda Cuvering decides to release a boar pig ('Tarquin') into the paddock where Mrs Stossen and her daughter are walking, in order to teach them a lesson. A funny and intelligent tale from the supreme wit of Saki, who incorporates the French language, a ridicule of manners / best behaviour and blackmail into this short but sublimely bitter-sweet...

One of Saki's famed 'animal stories', The Brogue is the witty, and biting tale of an erratic horse and the hapless and even hopeful human beings that the beast comes into contact with. Writing as H. H. Munro here, Saki is a genius of satirical prose and always a rewarding and amusing listen.

This excellent animal story, written by Saki under his penname H.H. Munro, concerns two half-brothers, their respective artistic prowess, sibling rivalry, jealousy and a rather non-plussed white bull. As always, Saki lives up to his (real) name and delivers a witty and caustic short story which is an amusing delight to hear.

Taken from a fascinating collection of tales, including stories related by members of a select club consisting of an actor, a barrister, a doctor, a soldier, a writer and an 'ordinary man'. Each member of this club is obliged to entertain his fellows to dinner from time to time, after which he relates a story connected with his profession or trade...

Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris with Martine McCutcheon as Jodie Ricks in this BBC Radio 4 comedy detective drama. Charles finds himself uncharacteristically employed in a film, having landed the part of Szabec, a middle management vampire in The Wreathing. His co-star is swimwear model turned actress Jodie Ricks and before long, Jodie is using C...

An early morning awakening leads to a discovery much more shocking than a few rifled drawers at a grand house. A suspected bungled robbery that it seems has gone horribly wrong calls our heroes Holmes and Watson to The Abbey Grange, where their super-sleuthing may be able to shed some light on the mystery.

Arthur Cadogan West, a young government clerk, is found dead by the railway tracks near Aldgate. On his body Holmes' brother Mycroft finds some secret submarine plans - 3 pages of which seem to be missing. These pages alone, in the wrong hands, could be used to build a Bruce-Partington submarine that would pose a threat to Britain. Cadogan West's h...

When a gruesome package is delivered to a Croydon spinster, our heroes suspect that what was initially thought a dark 'prank' could in fact be a clue in an altogether more serious, and perhaps deadly, game.

Mr. Trevor Bennett comes to Holmes with a most unusual problem. He is Professor Presbury's personal secretary, and until recently he has enjoyed the old Camford physiologist's implicit trust as though he were a close member of the family. The professor, however, has begun to act strangely after returning from a mysterious fortnight's absence. He is...

A Cornish holiday goes dreadfully wrong when a young woman is found dead next to her singing, laughing, insane brothers. What is the significance of the roaring fire, and what dark forces are at work? The only men for the job are of course Holmes and Watson, who a listener can rely upon to unravel this perplexing conundrum.

Watson gets the surprise of his life upon seeing a familiar face, coinciding with the seemingly motiveless murder of one Ronald Adair. What secrets does the empty house hold and who is the returning stranger who gives Watson such a shock? Expect exemplary detective work as always in this gripping story.

Written in the first person in the form of a letter, a man who has been in jail for three years professes his innocence of murder. In so doing he reveals a fascinating story of burglary and murder and a possible travesty of justice.

A BBC Radio 4 drama by Stephanie Dale, originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 10 January 2011. When art teacher Rachel, walking home festooned with end-of-term gifts from her pupils, bumps into Tyrone on his first day in London it is the beginning of a passionate love affair. Soon it makes sense for Tyrone, now working as a chef in a loca...

The Hon. James Inglis relates his experiences of life in India, and in particular, the experience of tracking a wild tiger through the undergrowth on all fours, so close to the magnificent beast that danger was always close at hand. An absorbing big game story, which is astounding and well-told.