The Painted Tent

Written by Victor Canning

Narrated by John Higgins

Freckled fugitive Smiler is never far from trouble as he makes his way to North Devon in this thrilling finale to The Smiler Trilogy.

After hitching a ride south, Smiler finds his way to North Devon and the estate of the 'The Duchess' – a former fairground fortune-teller who now runs a farm. Here, he stays and tends to circus animals housed for the winter.

When a peregrine falcon, Fria, escapes, Smiler must search for ways of helping and recapturing the bird. In doing so, can he solve the problem that has kept him in hiding for so long?

Or does more trouble await?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Duckworth Books
• Release date: Jun 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9781788424400

Victor Canning

Victor Canning was a prolific writer, his first novel published when he was just 23. His later thrillers were dark and complex, and received great critical acclaim. "The Rainbird Pattern" was awarded the CWA Silver Dagger in 1973. In 1976 it was transformed by Alfred Hitchcock into the comic film The Family Plot. He also wrote pseudonymously as Julian Forest and Alan Gould. He died in February 1986 in Cirencester.