A Prisoner of Birth: A Novel

Written by Jeffrey Archer

Narrated by Roger Allam

International bestseller and master storyteller Jeffrey Archer returns with a tale of fate and fortune, redemption and revenge with A Prisoner of Birth.

Danny Cartwright and Spencer Craig never should have met. One evening, Danny, an East End cockney who works as a garage mechanic, takes his fianceé up to the West End to celebrate their engagement. He crosses the path of Spencer Craig, a West End barrister posed to be the youngest Queen's Counsel of his generation.

A few hours later Danny is arrested for murder and later is sentenced to twenty-two years in prison, thanks to irrefutable testimony from Spencer, the prosecution's main witness.

Danny spends the next few years in a high-security prison while Spencer Craig's career as a lawyer goes straight up. All the while Danny plans to escape and wreak his revenge.

Thus begins Jeffrey Archer's poignant novel of deception, hatred and vengeance, in which only one of them can finally triumph while the other will spend the rest of his days in jail. But which one will triumph? This suspenseful novel takes the listener through so many twists and turns that no one will guess the ending, even the most ardent of Archer's many, many fans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Mar 4, 2008
• ISBN: 9781427203069

Jeffrey Archer

Jeffrey Archer, whose novels and short stories include the Clifton Chronicles, Kane and Abel and Cat O’ Nine Tales, is one of the world’s favourite storytellers and has topped the bestseller lists around the world in a career spanning four decades. His work has been sold in 97 countries and in more than 37 languages. He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction, short stories and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries). Jeffrey is also an art collector and amateur auctioneer, and has raised more than £50m for different charities over the years. A member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century, the author is married to Dame Mary Archer, and they have two sons, two granddaughters and two grandsons.

Reviews for A Prisoner of Birth

[vivienner_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Archer is a fine storyteller and this retelling of Dumas' popular tale The Count of Monte Cristo is a gripping page-turner. Yes, it is a trifle beyond belief in places, but the reader is prepared to be amazed if a miscarriage of justice might be overturned. Although there are no real surprises in the plot, the court scenes were satisfyingly clever. Very enjoyable.

[Allison Marie Westbrook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Recording of book stopped around chapter 35? Very frustrating! The book is great and has me hooked!! The narrator is fabulous! I just picked up a copy form the library because scribd would only let me listen until halfway through. Very disappointed!

[swbesecker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have not read a book from this genre in a long while. I have to say, people who write these dramas must have twisted minds to begin with, but I am just naive, I'm sure. I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. Had a hard time putting it down.

[kevincannon1968 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Professional book reviewers seem to take great delight in trying to destroy Jeffrey Archer's reputation as a popular author.They ignore the fact that his books regularly top the best sellers lists and have sold millions of copies world-wide.I've never read an Archer that I didn't like - The plots are well paced and the characters force you to root for them. These are what I'd define as genuine page-turners.A Prisoner of Birth doesn't disappoint and makes a great modern retelling of the classic Alexandre Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo.Well recommended for all Archer fans and also anyone who has been put off by the reviews from so-called 'experts'Mr Archer's reputation in other areas may be a little murky but as a teller of tales he is up there with the best.

[sjh4255 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a great read in classic Archer style going back to the classic Kane & Abel. A story of revenge financially and in the courts. A cast of characters you sympathize with and others you loathe..

[joannemonck · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read. A young man is framed for the murder of his best friend by a "gentlemen" at the bar. The man and his fiance say he is innocent but four "gentlemen" at the bar said they saw him do it. He is imprisoned for 20 years. His cell mate turns out to be a "Sir" in Scotland. His cell mate is murdered (in his place) and the story goes from there. How does he escape and how does he get the actual murderer to admit or be charged with the murder.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer4 starsFrom The Book:If Danny Cartwright had proposed to Beth Wilson on any other day, he would not have been arrested and charged with the murder of his best friend. But when the prosecution witnesses happen to be a group of four upper-crust college friends―a barrister, a popular actor, an aristocrat, and the youngest partner in an established firm's history―who is going to believe Danny's side of the story?Danny is sentenced to twenty-two years and sent to Belmarsh prison, the highest-security jail in the land, from where no inmate has ever escaped. But Spencer Craig, Lawrence Davenport, Gerald Payne, and Toby Mortimer all underestimate Danny's determination to seek revenge―and the extent to which his fiancee Beth will go in pursuit of justice.My Thoughts:The result of the intriguing trial...which sees a novice defense lawyer against a well seasoned and skilled prosecutor...is a 22-year sentence for Danny. However Danny is lucky enough to share a cell with Sir Nicholas Moncrieff, who teaches him the ins and outs of surviving prison life. Danny learns well and begins to plot a scheme to enact his pound of flesh on the three men responsible not only for the death of his best friend but in a large part to Danny's 22 year sentence for a crime that all readers know....he didn't commit. Just when you think you have things figured out...Archer throws us an ending you just won’t see coming. Anyone that thrives on courtroom dramas will find this book irresistible.

[gaill_25 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting & suspenseful. Totally different twist. Excellent read in my opinion.

[rascalstar · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is by a British author, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. The reader did a good job and the story kept my interest such that I'll seek out other books by the author. I can't quite give it a 5 but it's close. There's something to be said for a book that sends a reader seeking more writings by the same author.

Briefly, the story is about a man falsely imprisoned, the relationships he has in and out of prison, and how justice is eventually served, with plenty of twists and surprises. Many of the details seem authentic and quite interesting. Well worth the read.

[indygirl_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Renenge is a dish, best served cold. A great…well thought out story. 8/24/09Listened on Audio Roger Allam - Good

[dcarlin-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

‘Prisoner of Birth’ was my first Jeffery Archer read for several years and as with his past novels I was not disappointed. I will not disagree with those who claim that the plausibility of being convicted of murder and then walking free under another’s identity may be more than stretching the truth. However, I read for enjoyment and I always find Jeffery Archer novels entertaining. Again, I found this a real page turner. As My-Good-Wife had only been able to purchase the large print edition, as a Father’s Day gift, the hundred or so words per page were quickly devoured! Was there a slight reference to my nearly three score years and eyesight in that purchase???? Hmm…..

[heatherlinc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is Jeffrey Archer at his best. I think "A Prisoner of Birth" would have to be my favourite.

[jiraiya_5 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This is the most well written book to which I've given a 1. It's also the first one star rating I've given to Jeffrey Archer. If you searched the words 'go to' in my dictionary, you'll find a picture of Archer. That's no longer true. More than the first half of the book had some merit, but it was only about build up, promise, and expectation. All three undercut, broken, and betrayed, respectively. If a restaurant makes you wait for so long that you're not faint of hunger but bored, impatient, and surly, do you feel satisfied in any way when a bunch of tripe is served to you? Of course(no pun intended) not; that is not sweetening the deal. This modern imagining of The Count Of Monte Christo is by contrast more barbaric than the original. The manner in which Beth's(the new Mercedes) and Danny's(Edmond)critical reunion is not depicted at all, is not a device or technique of the writer, but an admission that he doesn't have the talent or daring to write a true emotional scene that if pulled off, could have earned deserved plaudits for Archer. How ironical it is that a story of an impostor is itself an impostor to Dumas pere's work.

[tony2704 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely superb. Archer writes with so many twists you can never predict the outcome. He is becoming one of my favourite novelists

[gogglemiss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Furst tunem I have read a Jeffrey Archer novel, and it was a good one.I loved the court scenes, but the mistaken identity didn't ring true to me at all. But it didn't spoil the story.I shall be reading more from him. in future.

[kebets_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the first Archer book I have read and it won't be the last! I was hooked on the character of Danny Cartwright as soon as he was willing to go down on one knee in a posh restaurant to ask his sweetheart Beth to marry him. Clearly he has wonderful taste from the beginning to ask someone named "Beth" to be his wife!! :)But soon after this exciting moment both of their lives begin to unravel - as Danny is accused and charged with murdering Beth's brother during a bar fight -her brother who was Danny's best friend.There are four witnesses to this infamous fight - a lawyer, a real estate tycoon, a famous TV actor and a drug addict. And the story they tell in court doesn't match Danny or Beth's. But, they are from the upperclass side of London and Beth and Danny aren't. The court won't believe their side of events. And Danny ends up in prison.At the moment that his life belongs to the prison - it also takes a drastic turn that is the first step in owning his life for good. Danny is put into a cell shared by 2 other men - Nick Moncrieff and Big Al. Nick takes Danny under his wing and begins to teach him how to leave the East End of London and speak and act as a person with more potential.The book is about the opportunity to change, about the potential you are born with and about prison your birth can create.It was a great and quick read - a 2:00 in the morning finish!!

[mirrani_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First time I have ever read a book by this author and from the beginning I knew I would be tracking down more. I loved the writing style and the presentation of the story as it unfolded. You already know who did it, the question quickly becomes how is the man convicted of the crime going to prove his innocence? Typically I pick up all of the subtle hints and plot devices used to set up a mystery, but this was a genuinely enjoyable read for me. Some things I figured out well in advance, some I worked out gradually and the court scenes simply became a joy to experience. It's a big book and there is a lot of story to be told, but you never feel overwhelmed by the size and scope of what is put before you. In fact, I often picked up the book and read for hours without feeling those hours pass by. If you plan to read this book on your lunch break, remember to set an alarm because you will most likely forget to check the time while you're turning the pages.

[jo3jo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love listening to books that are full of action and suspense as they usually don't have a problem of keeping my attention. I can't say that was the case for A Prisoner of Birth though. I think I even missed a bit of the beginning, although it didn't take long to come to the conclusion that someone was murdered and Danny was being framed for the crime.Danny is sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit and learns quickly what he must do in order to survive on the inside. He meets some good friends during his imprisonment and he even makes some decisions that help to shape him into a better person. When certain events happen Danny decides to seize the opportunity and take control of his future.It is a long road for Danny as he seeks revenge on those that are responsible for his imprisonment. He takes his time as everything falls into place for him, allowing the true perpetrators to create their own demise. Once you get to a certain point of this audiobook you can't stop as we need to know how Danny is getting his revenge on these men!This was an interesting novel that did have me wanting to know how it all turned out, but for some reason did not capture my attention through its entirety. With themes of love, revenge, and justice, you may enjoy this book more than I did. I recommend this book to those of you that enjoy crime thrillers.

[brone_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Modern take on Monte Christo,

[vjanuska-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great. 10 out of 10

[dspoon_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Description: If Danny Cartwright had proposed to Beth Wilson on any other day, he would not have been arrested and charged with the murder of his best friend. But when the prosecution witnesses happen to be a group of four upper-crust college friends--a barrister, a popular actor, an aristocrat, and the youngest partner in an established firm's history--who is going to believe Danny's side of the story?Danny is sentenced to twenty-two years and sent to Belmarsh prison, the highest-security jail in the land, from where no inmate has ever escaped. But Spencer Craig, Lawrence Davenport, Gerald Payne, and Toby Mortimer all underestimate Danny's determination to seek revenge--and the extent to which his fiancée Beth will go in pursuit of justice.

[glorybe1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book, a little slow to begin but I was soon caught up in the characters and the plot. very clever a lot of suspense and Jeffrey Archers Style of writing made it a very good read. Would recommend.

[ccayne_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story telling. I listened to this and was captivated from the beginning. Archer makes great use of foreshadowing and although you may get a glimmer of how it will end, the ride is fun and diverting. Top notch audio entertainment.

[joanneblack_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

We've seen this one before from Mr. Archer. It's entertaining but it's his regular formula.

[vallimurugesan_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A Predictable book!!!

[bookwallah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Dumas’ Dantes did; and Archer’s Danny does.

[kaipakartik_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A remake of Count of Monte Cristo set in reasonably modern times. Again predictable but must admit that it one of the better written Archer works.

[cindybofo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quite enjoyable. A fun way to spend time. Enjoyed it very much. Andrew Webber should write an opera about this book!

[sallyapollon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Prisoner Of Birth by Jeffrey ArcherSally ApollonOverall score: 5.5 out of 10Archer’s most successful accomplishment with this book is the movement of plot. I became more and more involved in what was going to happen to Danny Cartwright, to Beth, to Lawrence Davenport and the rest of his cronies. I did not think that the character development was very thorough, but there were a lot of people to keep track of, so I’m sure it’s harder to develop more characters. I was especially disappointed by Beth’s character, she was overly bright and seemed to suffer no weak moments. She seemed the most two-dimensional; sad really, because I thought she would have had a lot of potential for frailty (brother dead, fiancé in prison, raising a daughter alone, unsupportive father etc.). One thing I found mystifying was that I couldn’t really tell what distinguished Danny to her, at the beginning he seemed singularly unremarkable.I actually really did like the character sketches of The Scottish cellmate—who became flatmate and complicit to his identity fraud. I also loved the character of the Scottish lawyer, he was fab.I do also have to say a word about Lawrence Davenport, like most twists in the plot, I did see the end coming. I think Archer tried to portray him as seedy, but didn’t go nearly far enough as far as I’m concerned, I think he stopped short of getting gritty—and realistic.It was, however, most intriguing to see how the identity-switch happened and to go through the anxiety with Danny of whether he would get away with it. The trips to Scotland were highlights for me and the release day from prison. I was naturally sympathetic and rooting for Danny because he’s wrongfully imprisoned and seems deserving of his new role in life, because he’s smart and initially has integrity. Which brings me to my next point. How unlifelike the whole book was. The scale of the fiction was so inflated that I felt like I was reading it with a sense of suspended reality. This is fine when you’re reading Harry Potter, which is NOT grounded in reality, but P of B was supposedly grounded as a lifelike tale, so I did have to keep pushing away the niggling “How absurd” “How unlikely!” thoughts. I was left with this sense about the whole book, which had all the loose ends too neatly tied up. Revenge also leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Did I like it? Not a question I care to answer, but if I were to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being “abysmal” 5 being “average” and 10 being “outstanding”, I think I’d have to give it a solid 5.5.

[zachmontana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The audio book was extremely well read by Roger Allam who did all the accents very well. I thought this was as good as the best of Grisham and in a legal mode similar to his, but with English courts and barristers. Not totally plausible, but great to see how Archer kept me entwined with many interesting twist and turns.