The Same River Twice & Other Stories
Six Classic BBC Full-Cast Thrillers
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The Same River Twice & Other Stories
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By:
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Edward Boyd
About this listen
A collection of suspenseful standalone radio thrillers by Edward Boyd
Scottish writer Edward Boyd was well known for his TV and radio plays, including The Corridor People and The View from Daniel Pike, and he also penned several episodes of Z-Cars. He specialised in the thriller genre, and this collection showcases six of his best radio crime dramas.
The Wolf Far Hence – Steve Gardiner heads to the Highlands to try and locate his ex and her new fortune-hunting lover – only to find himself investigating a series of murders in a hotel beside a lonely Scottish loch. Teddy Johnson stars in this gripping serial, which won Edward Boyd a Writers’ Guild Award.
The Candle of Darkness – Hardnosed investigator Steve Gardiner returns for another adventure, in which he goes looking for an old friend in a small Scottish seaside resort, but finds the town under threat from a serial killer dubbed ‘The Kind Man’. Starring Teddy Johnson as Steve, with Moultrie Kelsall as DI Gordon.
The Same River Twice – Johnny Maxen reluctantly walks through the Gare du Nord on his way back to a life he thought he’d left behind. He’s looking for his missing wife – but is soon under suspicion for her murder… Gordon Jackson stars as Johnny Maxen, with Roddy McMillan as Inspector Wardlaw.
Badger by Owl-Light – When a bomb explodes in the middle of London, Peter Talion is hired to uncover the secret cult responsible – and eliminate its leader. Starring Edward Judd as Peter Talion, with Tony Robinson as Simon.
Curlew in Autumn – A small town in Galloway, Scotland. A cottage unchanged since 1941. A dead nurse. And a lawyer with one million pounds in his bank account, and no idea how it got there… These puzzling facts and events are explored in this atmospheric mystery, starring McLevy creator David Ashton.
Castles in Spain – Grahame Mayer is a bookseller, not a private eye. Nonetheless, he's being asked to investigate a military mystery connected to the Spanish Civil War – a mystery that almost every major intelligence agency in Great Britain and America wants solved. Starring Ray Brooks and Garard Green.
NB: These vintage recordings contain language and attitudes from the time in which they were first broadcast. Due to the age of the recordings, the sound quality may vary.
Production credits
Written by Edward Boyd
Produced by Eddie Fraser (The Wolf Far Hence, The Candle of Darkness, The Same River Twice), Stewart Conn (Badger by Owl-Light) and Patrick Rayner (Curlew in Autumn, Castles in Spain)
The Wolf Far Hence
First broadcast BBC Home Service, 20 November-25 December 1953
The Candle of Darkness
First broadcast BBC Home Service, 29 March-3 May 1954
The Same River Twice
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 2 October-20 November 1966
Badger by Owl-Light
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24 October 1975
Curlew in Autumn
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 April-13 May 1984
Castles in Spain
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 October-20 November 1987
©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution LtdListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Same River Twice & Other Stories
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Andy Boddington
- 17-07-24
Classic radio thrillers that you can't turn off
All set in Scotland, there are few characters in Boyd’s work dramas are not flawed, angry, even violent. Happy endings and a warm feeling are not his style. These are some of the most gripping plays I have come across and I had to force myself to pause and get on with work. These are not chillers but gritty thrillers. They are safe to listen to at bedtime and to allow your mind to roam on what the next instalment will bring as you drop off to sleep.
I’ve added chapter numbers as they are a useful guide to finding each drama. Unfortunately, Amazon does not use chapter numbers in this audio book. It would be helpful if Amazon did that as standard practice.
The Wolf Far Hence (****)
Chapters 1-6.
A thriller where the body count rises in the time honoured fashion. Well-acted with a good pace.
The Candle of Darkness (*****)
Chapters 7-12.
Thrillers these that had people clustered around their radio sets in the early 1950s and waiting eagerly for the next instalment. An excellent plot with twists until the end. Sinister, melodic music for opening and closing credits adds to the drama.
The Same River Twice (****)
Chapters 13-21.
Influences of Chandler. Some parts of the plot are very sixties and haven’t dated well. But these are not modern dramas. They are some of the best examples of radio drama of the 50s and 60s. Complex tortured characters in this drama and, as per the genre, not all survive.
Badger by Owl-Light (***)
Chapter 22
Slightly variable sound quality but it does not detract from the drama. Very different in plot from the previous plays, this is almost post-apocalyptic in parts. Not Boyd’s best work.
Curlew in Autumn (*****)
Chapter 23-29.
Brilliant dialogue. Superb plot. Classic Boyd and one of his best works. The ending, which in traditional style wraps up all the lose ends and explains why events have happened, is hard to guess beforehand.
Castles in Spain (*****)
Chapters 30-35. A satisfying spy drama in which most characters appear confused and those quietest turn out to be the most important.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sonja
- 10-09-24
Film noir for the ears!
I’d have been glued to the wireless seventy years ago, and am now glued to my AirPods while doing DIY. These stories are dark, moody, cool the writing is very good, the characters properly human, cynical antiheroes, complicated in love and life. Performances are excellent. The music is great, too. Yes, there’s some variation in sound quality, but that just makes it more interesting. Seventy to fifty years later, and still relatable and relevant, still modern.
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