People Who Knew Me

Product Information

The first audio drama from the makers of Bad Sisters, People Who Knew Me is a 10-part series, written and directed by Daniella Isaacs, adapted from the book by Kim Hooper, starring Rosamund Pike (I Care A Lot, Gone Girl), Hugh Laurie (House, The Night Manager), Isabella Sermon (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Kyle Soller (Andor, Poldark), Alfred Enoch (Harry Potter), Daniella Isaacs (Fleabag, Ladhood), and Jessica Darrow (Encanto).

Do you see Emily’s decision to flee New York after 9/11 as impulsive? Or does it just become the unexpected final part of an escape she’s been contemplating for some time? But this novel’s obviously about more than that. We’re forced to ponder whether running is always the best option. Is it better to stay and confront our problems? Meanwhile in present day California Connie’s built her life around her daughter Claire who’s approaching her 14th birthday. Claire believes her father died and the pair are close and happy until a cancer diagnosis blows their world apart. My favourite character was the largely mature thirteen year old Claire. I did think the ending was abrupt and wondered if that was a sign of another book to come with these characters. A thought provoking read about choices and consequences as well things in life we sometimes have no control over. Emily Morris uses 9/11 to fake her own death and run away to start a new life in California as Connie Prynne. Fourteen years later, now with a teenage daughter by her side, Connie is diagnosed with breast cancer. She will be forced to confront her past so that her daughter will not be left on her own if she does not survive. She must decide how to explain her lies, her secrets, her selfish decisions – and ultimately her ‘widowed’ husband. Everything she thought she had fled from when she pretended to die in New York.Daniella Isaacs (Writer, Director and actor) says: “I was excited by the challenge of bringing new listeners, people that might usually reach for a tv show or a non-fiction podcast, to an audio drama. I wanted to adapt the book into something that played into the inherent confessional quality of the audio medium. There’s something thrilling about being privy to a character’s innermost secrets, their confessions and their selfish desires. I loved making this with such a brilliant team - all of us set on reimagining the traditional radio play… And I hope your ears enjoy it too.” Also, being in a health profession, I couldn't buy into the situation with her husband's mother. There are so many services available that it didn't ring true to me. Medicaid, for one, exists for people who have illnesses of that magnitude whose financial situations are dire. Told in two timelines the reader learns about circumstances that led to the drastic choice Emily made and about her current life as Connie. Her daughter Claire has no idea of the changes she has made in her life. The story is told by Emily, an admittedly flawed human who some readers may not like. But Emily has found herself in a tough life and really has no option but to live the life of a martyr, or live the life of a complete asshole. Enter 9/11. What would you have done? I don't think I would do as Emily did, but I don't dare judge the decision she made - no one should until you've walked in those particular shoes.

You also narrate documentary podcast Mother, Neighbor, Russian Spy , about deep-cover Russian spies in 00s America. That’s another story of lies and fake identities… I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Starring Rosamund Pike and Hugh Laurie, Kyle Soller, Isabella Sermon and Alfred Enoch. The first audio drama from the makers of Bad Sisters, People Who Knew Me is a 10-part series, written and directed by Daniella Isaacs, adapted from the book by Kim Hooper. Episode 1 of People Who Knew Me will be available on first BBC Sounds on 23 May, with episode 2 dropping on the 25 May. New episodes will drop twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the entire series will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from Monday 26 June.

Dylan Haskins (Commissioning Editor (Podcasts) for BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds) says: “Sharon Horgan has been the creative genius behind some of the best TV dramas of recent years – Bad Sisters, Catastrophe, Motherland – and now she, along with the Merman/Mermade team and Daniella, are turning their hands to audio drama for the first time. People Who Knew Me is an emotionally compelling drama with a sensational cast led by Rosamund Pike. It’s fitting that this podcast will be released by the BBC, which has been pioneering in audio drama for just shy of a century.” It's hard to really hate a character when they're acting in very human ways, and I found myself agreeing and getting angry when Emily began to resent her mother-in-law's dependence on her and her husband as caregivers. But as she starts to use this anger to justify cruel words and actions, I liked her less. Fourteen years later, Connie Prynne is diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, with her thirteen-year-old daughter Claire by her side, voiced by Isabella Sermon, Connie must confront her past so that her daughter will not be alone if she does not survive. Newark Airport, please,” I said. He didn’t respond, just nodded and navigated his way to the Henry Hudson Parkway, my road out of everything.