The first audio thriller

Former war crimes investigator Harold Middleton possesses a priceless, previously-unknown manuscript by Frederic Chopin. Within the notes of this work, which was originally found and hidden by the Nazis during World War II, lies a secret that has left death in its wake – and could kill tens of thousands more.

The Chopin Manuscript is a unique collaboration among 15 distinguished international thriller writers who came together to create a single audiobook with each author contributing a chapter to the ongoing story. The book is serialised and is hailed as the first-ever audio serial book.

Jeffery Deaver conceived the characters and the setting and put the plot in motion with the first chapter. David Hewson takes threads from this opening section to produce a second chapter which spins the story out of its opening in Warsaw to Rome, and sets it on the way to a climax in the US. From there the story was turned over to thirteen authors – including Lee Child, Lisa Scottoline, Joseph Finder, S. J. Rozan, and P. J. Parrish – who each wrote a chapter that propelled the story along. Along the way the plot took twists and turns as each author lent his or her own imprint on the tale. Characters were added as the action moved around the world — and the stakes got higher and higher. The book wrapped with Deaver writing the final two chapters bringing The Chopin Manuscript to its explosive conclusion.

The plot unfolds like this: Former war crimes investigator Harold Middleton possesses a priceless, previously-unknown manuscript by Frederic Chopin. Within the notes of this work, which was originally found and hidden by the Nazis during World War II, lies a secret that has left death in its wake – and could kill tens of thousands more. As Middleton races to unlock the mystery of the manuscript, he is accused of murder, pursued by federal agents and targeted by assassins. But the greatest threat comes from a man known only as Faust - a shadowy figure from Middleton’s past.

The Chopin Manuscript was the world’s first audio thriller, delivered serially. Readers received a new installment of 2-3 chapters every Tuesday, beginning September 25th. with the final instalment delivered on November 13th. It proved one of the fastest-selling audio titles of 2007, and a sequel is now under discussion.

Chopin up for a prize

The Chopin Manuscript, the audio serial thriller for which I wrote the second chapter, has been nominated for an Audie award by the Audio Publishers Association. Other writers in the project include Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, Lisa Scottoline and a selection of other authors from International Thrillerwriters Inc.
The work, which is only available by download [...]

Chopin picks up audio book awards

The Chopin Manuscript, the audio serial thriller of which I was lucky enough to be one of fifteen creators, has been listed among the year’s top forty five audio books, and number two in the mystery and suspense category. Since Lee Child, Chopin’s only other British collaborator, picked up the top spot in the latter, [...]

Sunday Times makes Chopin audio book of the week

The UK’s Sunday Times is one of the first newspapers to review The Chopin Manuscript, declaring it ‘fabulous fun’.
Nice to see a British newspaper get in first! Here’s the review in which the work occupies the audio book of the week slot…..
This unusual thriller is composed by a series of bestselling authors who each [...]