Mercy

by Peter Bradshaw, Joanna Scanlan (Narrator), Dempsey Bovell (Narrator)

Care comes at a cost.

On her final shift before forced retirement, nurse Allison is ready to tell her story. But this is no ordinary farewell. As the hospital clock ticks towards midnight, she unravels a web of compassion, calculation, and cold-blooded justice that will make you question everything you know about care, mercy, and survival.

Performed by BAFTA Award winner Joanna Scanlan and written by acclaimed film critic Peter Bradshaw, MERCY is a darkly comic thriller with a twist that gently questions the boundary between care and something else entirely.

Also featuring Dempsey Bovell, Jason Forbes, Lesley Hart, David Holt, Finbar Lynch and Carl Prekopp.

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

Genres: Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published January 15, 2026

About the author

Peter Bradshaw is a British writer and film critic. He was a pupil at the independent Haberdashers' Aske's school in Hertfordshire,[1] and studied Modern Languages at Cambridge University, where he was president of Footlights.
Bradshaw is the film critic for The Guardian. Before joining The Guardian, Bradshaw was employed by the Evening Standard for whom he wrote a series of parodic diary entries purporting to written by the Conservative MP and historian Alan Clark which he thought deceptive and were the subject of a court case resolved in January 1998. The court found in Clark's favour, granting an injunction, deciding that Bradshaw's articles were then being published in a form that "a substantial number of readers" would believe they were genuinely being written by Alan Clark.[2] Bradshaw found it "the most bizarre and surreal business of my professional life. I'm very flattered that Mr Clark should go to all this trouble and expense in suing me like this."[3]
Peter Bradshaw has written a novel, Dr Sweet and his Daughter, published in 2004. He also wrote and performed a BBC radio programme titled For One Horrible Moment, recorded 10 October 1998 and first broadcast 20 January 1999. The programme chronicled a young man's coming of age in 1970s Cambridgeshire. He also co-wrote and acted in David Baddiel's sitcom Baddiel's Syndrome.

Reviews

[MagicaCat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars because it was reasonably funny - but only two because the humour is sophomoric at best and I forwarded through a good chunk of it because constant raving about smoking and sex, and smoking and sex oh and sex and sex and smoking and sex got old REALLY fast.
Jfc, get a hobby.

[Sandra Leivesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella, which is free with Audible Plus, is a dark comedy, performed by the wonderful Joanna Scanlon and a supporting cast, which made me snigger out loud whilst out walking my dogs. My only complaint is that I wanted more!

[Autumn Telles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little unhinged. Had a little bit of a hard time keeping up because the stories just kept going and going. But the drama and craziness is what made it.

[lucy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pointless

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A weird but enjoyable listen on Audible. I had several laughs and found this book very entertaining.

[Daniel Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and solid audiobook excellently performed and with an expected but fun twist towards the end.

[Regis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, dark, funny listen. Good narration.

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even for a very short story, it was a waste of my time. Nothing but smoking, sex and taking advantage of patients before killing them.

[Mahayana Dugast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unhinged and funny.

[Sw33t_Nicci · Rating 4 out of 5]

very entertaining

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short audiobook

[Bailey Van Vlack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little listen. Not sure it was my cup of tea, but it was okay

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bizarre. Not sure it was worth the listen!

[Melody Dugan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was short but sweet. It was an interesting view of what a nurse could possibly have the opportunity to do. I wasn’t really impressed.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was not overly impressed with this...I hoped for a quick listen that would be gripping and intriguing but instead, I got a plot that lacked depth and characters who were predictable. A shame!

[Wendy Posten · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short Audible freebie. A perfect bedtime story! The narrator’s voice is diabolical yet motherly in the best way

[Patricia Quinlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read this to get the m for my 2026 alphabet challange so it served its perpous it was fine short story but lacked something I cant fully put my finger on

[Noor 🎀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m surprised the ratings are so low! It was an easy listen and allowed an insight into a different world.

[Macey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible
Good potential for a fleshed out thriller.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing little story brilliantly narrated by Joanna Scanlon. A bit predictable and a bit crude but entertaining nonetheless!