Strangers on a Train

by Craig Warner (Adapter), Patricia Highsmith, Anton Lesser (Narrator)

When Guy Haines meets Charles Bruno in the dining car of a Texas-bound train, they share their secrets in the way that only strangers can. Charles confides his hatred for his controlling father, Guy confesses that he is divorcing his unfaithful wife. As the drink flows and the conversation turns darker, Charles proposes the perfect solution to both their problems - a murder swap - and Guy laughingly agrees.

Back home, he quickly forgets their drunken but Charles does not. Soon Guy is facing a nightmarish choice - fulfil his part of the bargain, or be framed for a murder he didn't commit...

Dramatised for radio by award-winning playwright Craig Warner, this disturbing tale of obsession, blackmail, guilt and fear stars Michael Sheen (Good Omens, Staged) as Guy Haines and Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones, Endeavour) as Charles Bruno.

Credits
Written by Craig Warner, based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith
Original music by Craig Warner
Directed by Andy Jordan

Cast
Charles Bruno........................Anton Lesser
Guy Haines........................Michael Sheen
Anne........................Saskia Reeves
Gerard........................Bill Nighy
Elsie Bruno........................Jane Whittenshaw
Alex........................Denys Hawthorne
Myers........................Roger May
Treacher........................Stephen Critchlow
Cop........................John Hartley
Frear........................Andrew Branch
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 25 January 1996

Strangers on a Train 1993 by Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich, all rights reserved.
2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Genres: Audiobook

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[LindaJ^ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy, very creepy. It was well done creepiness but I am not a fan of creepy! It was scarier than a horror story. Makes me think that keeping to one's self on a train is best and safest way to proceed! There are two main characters - the strangers who meet on a train. One is a deeply disturbed alcoholic. Even though he's 25, his father won't let him have control of the trust his grandfather left him because, well, he's a deeply disturbed alcoholic.

The other one is very 1950ish in his manner and actions. He seems like an ok guy for the most part. He's wants a divorce because his wife started cheating on him shortly after their marriage. They have been separated for years. She's said she's ready to give it to him because she's pregnant by a man she believes will marry her. You can probably see what's coming there.

I've read a couple of Highsmith's novels this year. They were my first by her. I have a couple of others hanging around but I think it will be awhile before I take them off the shelf! Maybe at Halloween.

[Anton Segers · Rating 3 out of 5]

BBC-radiobewerking van Highsmith’s roman over een ongewoon moordcomplot.
De eerste helft is origineel, psychologisch intrigerend, maar de afwikkeling stelt enigszins teleur, qua plot- en personageontwikkeling.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobooks are going to make me raise my reading goal this year at the rate I'm going.

Anyways, this would have been better as a short story. I think Highsmith knew it, and lost her focus at the end. The story itself is well known but I think what could have been told in about half of the time, was instead dragged out for the reader to muddle through self anguish of characters that really aren't that likeable.

That, and a long discussion about an investigation that was suddenly called off or otherwise not there, and the ending combined just made me feel like it was partially a waste of time to read it. I think this might be a case of a movie being better than the book, but I haven't seen the movie either.

[Abdullah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two strangers meet in a train. They talk and have a little chat. Then one of them comes up with an idea. They decide that one of them kills the other man's cheating wife, and the other kills the other man's annoying father. Even though one of them doesn't agree on what they have decided, they still go on with the plan. Lots of things happen after that, then they try to hide their crimes.

I listened to the Audio version of the novel, a BBC production adapted by Craig Warner. The acting is superb, the voice quality is fantastic, and the sound effects are brilliant! I really loved it and enjoyed listening to it. I would very much like to read the full novel by Patricia Highsmith someday.

[Jay French · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder story told in the heads of the two main characters. The crazy guy I surely couldn't identify with, but the architect I could see shared some of my own not-so-correct reasoning. Mom was right, don't talk to strangers.