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The Art of Deception: The Complete Series 1 and 2
The Art of Deception: The Complete Series 1 and 2
May 13, 2025 12:44 PM

Author:Philip Palmer,Indira Varma,Hattie Morahan,David Schofield,Full Cast

The Art of Deception: The Complete Series 1 and 2

All ten episodes of the compelling BBC radio thriller about art forger Daniel Ballantyne and his biographer and nemesis, Jessica Brown

Daniel Ballantyne: monster and angel, thief and conman, genius - and murderer?

Newly released from Wormwood Scrubs, and dying of cancer, notorious art forger Daniel Ballantyne agrees to help art critic Jessica Brown write his biography. But as Jessica digs deeper into his life, she realises that nearly everything he's told her is a lie, and behind his charming persona is a man capable of almost anything.

Trapped in a cat-and-mouse game with a master manipulator, Jessica finds herself putting her reputation - and her life - on the line...

Written by Philip Palmer (Red and Blue, Keeping the Wolf Out), this wickedly enjoyable crime drama stars David Schofield as Daniel Ballantyne, withIndira Varma and Hattie Morahan as Jessica Brown.

NB: Contains strong language and scenes which some listeners may find disturbing

Production credits

Written by Philip Palmer

Produced and directed by Toby Swift

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22-26 June 2009 (Series 1), 20-24 December 2010 (Series 2)

Cast

Daniel Ballantyne - David Schofield

Jessica Brown - Indira Varma/Hattie Morahan

Ben - Matt Addis

Andrew Jarrold - Jonathan Keeble/Harry Myers

Claire de Vere - Belinda Lang

DI Grimwood/Art dealer - John Biggins

Stavros Persakis - Malcolm Tierney

Museum curator - Philip Fox

DS Ruckley/Taxi driver - Benjamin Askew

Moisha Perez/Stefan Hunt - Stephen Greif

Lisa - Pandora Colin

DC Morgan - Sally Orrock

Gondolier/Waiter - Iain Batchelor

Other parts played by Kenneth Collard and Jude Akuwudike

© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Reviews

Spy Line is vigorous and sleazy, psychologically complex and action-packed. It is always exciting.

—— Daily Mail

This is vintage Deighton.

—— Sunday Times

No one can evoke the city of Berlin better than Deighton.

—— Sunday Telegraph

Deighton's outstanding achievement is the nine-volume series chronicling the life and times of Bernard Samson ... Deighton's Samson trilogies are as much about the elusiveness of human interactions as espionage. Spying is not a secret world sealed off from ordinary life but an extension of the world we all live in.

—— John Gray , New Statesman

As gripping as anything he's written before . . . Chilling

—— New

Buckle up - this is one serious pulse-pounder

—— Heat

Praise for Tim Weaver

—— -

Terrific

—— Sunday Times

Thrilling

—— Richard & Judy Book Club

Packed with twists

—— Daily Express

It had me racing to the end

—— Fiona Barton

I couldn't put it down

—— Sun

What a talent

—— Daily Mail

Impressive

—— Guardian

Dark, complex and visceral

—— Financial Times

So many twists and surprises

—— Times

Enthralling, intriguing

—— Liz Nugent

A brilliant crime-meets-survival thriller

—— Heat

A suspenseful and exciting thriller filled with twists and turns

—— Essential Marbella Magazine

The writing is tight and crisp. The characters are astute, tenacious, and authentic. And the plot, with its short, intense chapters, keeps you on the edge of your seat as it immerses you, page after page, into a world full of terrorism, politics, revenge, corruption, coercion, military operations, and Secret Service drama. Overall, The President's Daughter is a meticulous, compelling, intricate mystery by this dynamic writing duo that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

—— What’s Better Than Books

As with the previous book written by this partnership, the plot, structure and syntax, read very much like a trademark James Patterson novel with literary techniques galore. It's an exciting, fast-paced, all-action, easy read and it will definitely appeal to Patterson fans

—— Whispering Story

Great entertainment which surely also works quite well on the screen

—— MissMesmerized

I really enjoy a decent thriller that I can sink my teeth into and there is certainly plenty to chew over here.

—— Nikki’s Book Nook

With the tension inside these chapters, I definitely recommend reading The President's Daughter

—— Book Read 2Day

It's perfectly paced, full of explosive action and it kept me hooked with all of the political drama and deceit.

—— Sarah in Readerland

Invite Me In is a riveting, character-driven thriller that hooked me from the first page and kept me captivated.

—— Take a Break

Curtis keeps us hooked with twists and a cast of characters who are convincing, if hardly likeable.

—— Herald

Kept me glued to every page

—— Good Housekeeping

Gripping, cleverly-constructed, and heart-wrenching. Truly original

—— Paula Daly

Intelligent. Compulsive. Heart-wrenching. Unforgettable

—— Jane Corry

Brilliantly written

—— Fiona Barton

A thrilling mystery with a strong emotional heart

—— Woman & Home

Ingeniously constructed, with real flesh-and-blood characters and cliff-hanging suspense

—— Louise Candlish
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