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Killer by Nature  By  cover art

Killer by Nature

By: Jan Smith
Narrated by: Angela Griffin, Robert James-Collier, Katherine Kelly, Will Mellor, Thomas Turgoose
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Publisher's summary

What’s in a label? Are we the product of our upbringing or do we have a natural propensity towards good or evil? The eternal question of nature vs nurture is at the centre of Dr Diane Buckley’s world. A talented freelance forensic psychologist who has never quite found the key to engaging with people on a casual level, she is drafted in to examine a grisly murder – a body found in a children’s playground.

The murder carries all hallmarks of one of her most famous incarcerated clients, ‘The Playground Killer’ (aka Alfred Dinklage) – namely the location of the body and the tongue being ‘forked’ like a snake with scissors. Buckley has a race against time to unpick the facts and delve into Dinklage’s often manipulative, complicated mind to understand his past to understand the present events – whilst striving to prevent further murders...as someone out there will stop at nothing to complete what they see as Dinklage’s work.

Featuring: Kathryn Anderson, Shaun Aylward, Rob James, Collier, Angela Griffin, Lara Hutchinson, Christopher John-Slater, Katherine Kelly, Simon Kent, Damian Lynch, Will Mellor, Gray O'Brien, Bhasker Patel, Jeremy Swift and Tom Turgoose.

Please note this contains violence and adult content and language.

©2017 Audible, Ltd (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Our favorite moments from Killer by Nature

There was an old woman who swallowed a fly....
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Police? There's someone in my house.
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Now he knows we're here.
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The human mind is very much like deep space.
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  • Killer by Nature
  • There was an old woman who swallowed a fly....
  • Killer by Nature
  • Police? There's someone in my house.
  • Killer by Nature
  • Now he knows we're here.
  • Killer by Nature
  • The human mind is very much like deep space.

Publisher's summary

What’s in a label? Are we the product of our upbringing or do we have a natural propensity towards good or evil? The eternal question of nature vs nurture is at the centre of Dr Diane Buckley’s world. A talented freelance forensic psychologist who has never quite found the key to engaging with people on a casual level, she is drafted in to examine a grisly murder – a body found in a children’s playground.

The murder carries all hallmarks of one of her most famous incarcerated clients, ‘The Playground Killer’ (aka Alfred Dinklage) – namely the location of the body and the tongue being ‘forked’ like a snake with scissors. Buckley has a race against time to unpick the facts and delve into Dinklage’s often manipulative, complicated mind to understand his past to understand the present events – whilst striving to prevent further murders...as someone out there will stop at nothing to complete what they see as Dinklage’s work.

Featuring: Kathryn Anderson, Shaun Aylward, Rob James, Collier, Angela Griffin, Lara Hutchinson, Christopher John-Slater, Katherine Kelly, Simon Kent, Damian Lynch, Will Mellor, Gray O'Brien, Bhasker Patel, Jeremy Swift and Tom Turgoose.

Please note this contains violence and adult content and language.

©2017 Audible, Ltd (P)2017 Audible, Ltd
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Jan Smith

About the Author

Born in County Durham, England, Jan Smith is an Edinburgh-based novelist and screenwriter. Originally an advertising copywriter, she has written novels published by Random House and HarperCollins under the pen name, J. J. Durham. She became a full-time screenwriter in 2013. Among her credits are episodes of BBC’s Doctors and the Irish crime drama, Red Rock. Her first movie script, Mata Hari—A Magnificent Lie, was a quarterfinalist in the 2015 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. A year later, she won the Creative Scotland/Bridge Script Development Award for her screenplay, Atchin Tan. She is developing a five-part adaptation of a Michel Faber novel for BBC Radio Scotland.

About the Performer

Rob James-Collier is best known for his portrayals of Thomas Barrow on Downton Abbey and Liam Connor on Coronation Street. The first garnered him three Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2013, 2015, 2016), along with a TV Guide Award for Favorite Feud (2013) and a role in the upcoming Downton Abbey movie. For his work on Coronation Street, he won three British Soap Awards—two for Sexiest Male (2007, 2008) and one for Best Exit (2009).

About the Performer

Katherine Kelly is a British actress who grew up in West Yorkshire and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). But it was her role as Becky McDonald on Coronation Street that made her a household name in the UK and garnered her a National Television Award for Best Serial Drama Performance (2012), and two British Soap Awards for Best Actress (2009) and Best Exit (2012). Other notable roles include Lady Mae in Mr Selfridge and Miss Quill on the Doctor Who spin-off, Class.

What listeners say about Killer by Nature

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

A Surprisingly Thrilling Mystery!

I didn't think this short story would be all that interesting at first. I mean, I typically believe that murder mysteries and psychological thriller books should go with more rather than less. So it was a great delight to find that this Audible Original Drama was actually rather entertaining. The cast is talented and the story has good twist in it that I did not see coming. It certainly leaves me wanting more of the characters lives depicted. Well done Jan Smith and everyone involved in the production!!!

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4 people found this helpful

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

Absolutely amazing! Stunning storyline.

Great story. Acting is fantastic. A great story with amazing production. Hoping audible gets more thrillers added to their lineup.

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3 people found this helpful

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

ok

overall the story wasn't the best. I wasn't that impressed. The voice acting was fairly good. it's like listening to Shakespeare it takes a little bit to get used to it but once you get it understanding the accents are fine.

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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

i was creeped out a bit and i love it!

i enjoyed the mystery and creepiness of the story. the twist at the end though! worth a hear. not a long story either

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

it was ok

I wasn't super enthralled with this, it wasnt bad, it just wasnt all that suspenseful either. I liked the interlude music tho.

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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

Really good suspense drama

Good story and characters draw you in. Nice twist at the end. Need more please.

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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

This book provides a huge adrenaline!

Good triller, envolving a mistery and a astounish final. I really recommed this audiobook for the winter weekends during the night.

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

reading sounds like an episode of crime tv

I would have given 5 stars all around if it the reading was more immersive, like a book, which is what i expected. this was like listening to a crime tv show, not a book. I felt I needed more to enjoy this. picturing the scenes and characters was very difficult without either getting the descriptive detail in either a written book, OR, the video visual effect of an actual tv show, I found myself loosing interest very soon because of this. its an issue, and i highly doubt I will manage to finish this to the end.

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

Interesting But Needs Sound Work

I enjoyed this story. It was nice to have playing in the background while I work. I felt the main character did an excellent job.
However, I really recommend a different approach when it comes to sound mixing. There were lots of overly loud effects. Additionally, it jumped back and forth bw scenes and characters, and it was quite difficult to tell what was going on at times (since there’s obviously no visual accompaniment). It would be helpful if the writers kept this in mind. I feel that adjustments to writing and sound effects would have made for a much smoother and cohesive listening experience.

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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

Awesome!!!

I loved this drama! I need more... I also love that some familiar voices are used in this capacity. Great casting! Awesome music...

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