«The Hopeless Life of Charlie Summers» by Paul Torday

Hector Chetwode-Talbot, Eck to his friends, has left the army and is slightly at a loss as to what to do next, when he is approached by an old army pal, Bilbo Mountwilliam. Bilbo runs an investment fund company and business is booming. Bilbo persuades Eck to join the company as a 'greeter' for moneyed clients. All Eck has to do is supply the contacts with entertainment and large G&Ts and then the fund managers will do the rest.

Soon Eck is able to buy himself a luxury sports car and decadent flat. It is on a golfing trip to France that Eck first meets Charlie Summers, a fly-by-night entrepreneur whose latest scheme is to import Japanese dog food into the UK.

Soon Charlie lands on Eck's doorstep with his suitcase, intent on staying and relaunching his dog food business in the area. But with the financial crash looming, Eck begins to ask himself if they are so very different…

Read by Simon J. Williamson. Simon's roles on stage include Charlie Bell in FRED KARNO'S ARMY (Bristol Old Vic), Sagredo in Brecht's LIFE OF GALILEO (Young Vic) and Donalbain in MACBETH (Leicester Haymarket/The People Show). Series television includes THE BILL, CASUALTY, LONDON'S BURNING and WAITING FOR GOD. In film he played Max Rebo in RETURN OF THE JEDI, Ursol in Jim Henson's DARK CRYSTAL, and was a puppeteer in three MUPPET movies. Audiobook work includes the BROTHER CADFAEL series, Adam Hall's QUILLER BALALAIKA and James Fox's WHITE MISCHIEF.

(p) 2013 Orion Publishing Group