Songbird cover art

Songbird

Kings Lake Investigation Series, Book 1

Preview

Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends April 30, 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for £7.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Thousands of incredible audiobooks and podcasts to take wherever you go.
Immerse yourself in a world of storytelling with the Plus Catalogue - unlimited listening to thousands of select audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Songbird

By: Peter Grainger
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£7.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends April 30, 2025 23:59 GMT. Cancel monthly.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

"He saw a bare arm first, the hand palm up with fingers curled inwards. Then he stopped and took a few breaths. He could hear the two constables making arrangements before they separated, one saying he'd bring the other some tape from the car, and then it was just the summer morning quiet again."

Detective Sergeant Chris Waters got the call at 05.29 that July morning. This is it, said DCI Reeve, you'll be first there, it's all yours, you're the crime scene manager. Suddenly, after months of waiting and wondering, Waters finds himself in at the deep end, and alone at the scene of a puzzling murder.

As the investigation proceeds, the detectives at Kings Lake Central find themselves visiting familiar places and talking to some familiar faces, while old enmities reappear in the incident room. Before this is over, Chris Waters will need to make a career-changing decision, and another member of the CID team will find herself facing an unexpected challenge. And Smith? Gone but not forgotten? Surely, he would say, you cannot write me off with a worn-out cliche like that....

©2019 Peter Grainger (P)2019 Tantor
Crime Fiction Fiction Mystery Police Procedural British Mysteries

Listeners also enjoyed...

Lane cover art

What listeners say about Songbird

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    659
  • 4 Stars
    148
  • 3 Stars
    56
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    18
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    648
  • 4 Stars
    122
  • 3 Stars
    46
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    24
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    619
  • 4 Stars
    145
  • 3 Stars
    53
  • 2 Stars
    24
  • 1 Stars
    18

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Sensitive Inclusion of Downs Syndrome

I loved this book. The characters are so well defined and I found myself in Water's shoes from the very beginning. For a long time I was worried that DC was only going to be referred to as a character from the past, so it was wonderful when he made an appearance. Including such a well-researched story line involving a boy with Downs Syndrome was excellent, and I learned so much.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb

Another wonderfully satisfying listen. The story is excellent and narration spot on. It’s told sensitively and with humour. A book I didn’t want to end.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable page turner

Good story with lots of information about how a criminal case is built and the procedures that need to be followed.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An absolute gem

Found this in the Plus Catalogue and what a find! Ok, there are a couple of elements that are a bit, shall we say, obvious? But it really doesn't matter because this is a novel mainly about police procedure and it is that journey that makes this book so satisfying - it works so well. The narration might not be to everyone's taste but I found he portrayed the characters really well. One thing - although this is the first in this particular series, there is a whole other series of books that precedes this. Will definitely read more

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love Peter Grainger Books

I have listened to all the DC Smith series of books and am now listening to the Kings Lake series. I love Gildart Jackson’s narration; his voice changes to suit the characters. There aren’t the bodies piling up, as with some crime novels, but the books keep me interested with twists and turns. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story, beautifully read.

The reader is perfect for these novels and portrays the characters convincingly and thoughtfully. This is an excellently crafted plot, causing the reader to become angry and on side regardless of knowing it will all work out in the end. These books are fantastic entertainment and great company.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent characters and narration

Gripping well written and great characterisation this novel was well narrated and an excellent listen

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book

I enjoyed the story, characterisation and the narrator. I will be continuing with this series and the previous series.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great discovery

I binge listened to the related series and by chance found this one when I had finished. This was really good and comes from the different perspective - we see him all grown up now. it was good to see the old gang together and how this series fits in with the other one. Yes the listen is very long and perhaps it could have been shortened but I learnt some interesting facts which I assumed I knew but didn't - for example the origin of the warning that you can remain silent but the impact that it has.
For me the narration really suits the story and characters.
When they went down one route it was handled very sensitively by one side and it was interesting when it wasn't. (Don't want to give spoilers)

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

insight into thought processes and use of language.

The sense of humour of the narrator enhanced the delivery of the story for me.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!