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The Satsuma Complex Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Bob Mortimer (Author, Narrator), Sally Phillips (Narrator), Simon & Schuster Audio UK (Publisher)
Editors' pick Hand-selected reads
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*WINNER OF THE BOLLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR COMIC FICTION 2023*

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘Funny, clever and sweet’– Sunday Times

‘The much loved comic proves adept at noirish fiction in a debut whose surrealist humour sets it apart’ – Observer

My name is Gary. I’m a thirty-year-old legal assistant with a firm of solicitors in London. To describe me as anonymous would be unfair but to notice me other than in passing would be a rarity. I did make a good connection with a girl, but that blew up in my face and smacked my arse with a fish slice.

Gary Thorn goes for a pint with a work acquaintance called Brendan. When Brendan leaves early, Gary meets a girl in the pub. He doesn’t catch her name, but falls for her anyway. When she suddenly disappears without saying goodbye, all Gary has to remember her by is the book she was reading: The Satsuma Complex. But when Brendan goes missing, Gary needs to track down the girl he now calls Satsuma to get some answers.

And so begins Gary’s quest, through the estates and pie shops of South London, to finally bring some love and excitement into his unremarkable life…

A thrilling story with a cast of unforgettable characters, The Satsuma Complex is the brilliantly funny smash hit first novel by bestselling author and comedian Bob Mortimer.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    6 hours and 52 minutes
  2. Author
    Bob Mortimer
  3. Narrator
    Sally Phillips, see all
  4. Audible release date
    27 Oct. 2022
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster Audio UK
  7. ASIN
    B0B5YBZP5J
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
Next slide of product details

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
10,534 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the storyline very neat with likeable characters. They also praise the writing style as well-written, humble, and well-constructed. Readers describe the pacing as swift and the book as an enjoyable, charming read with a good sense of humor. They find the characters well-described and believable. Customers also find the humor appropriate and wonderful.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilityHumorStorylineWriting styleCharacterizationPacingPlotEntertainment value
239 customers mention ‘Readability’239 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very funny, clever, and an all-around great read. They also say the novel is full of humour and suspense in equal measure, satisfying, and enjoyable. Readers also mention that the author has a playful, enjoyable style of writing, and that the book is a great light relief.

"...This humour is natural and not forced, it really is a superb read and I can’t recommend enough...." Read more

"...Bobs main character a solicitor is born from bobs passed. Enjoyable read with a good sense of humour as you would expect." Read more

"...So, to summarise, I'd venture to say it's a great book and would recommend you read it. Even if you don't think it'll be your thing." Read more

"Bob has a playful, enjoyable style of writing. I breezed through this book fairly quickly...." Read more

138 customers mention ‘Humor’126 positive12 negative

Customers find the humor in the book appropriate, quirky, and wonderful. They also appreciate the random silly points to laugh at.

"I have always found the author’s humour, characters and turns of phrase to be wonderful, but did doubt that it could be translated well into a novel...." Read more

"...Enjoyable read with a good sense of humour as you would expect." Read more

"...The story is multi-faceted and compelling. And, appropriately funny...." Read more

"...Good story, lots of random silly points to laugh at - just as you would expect from Bob's mind!..." Read more

136 customers mention ‘Storyline’116 positive20 negative

Customers find the storyline very neat, unpredictable, and heartwarming. They also appreciate the author's ability to tell stories and find the plot offbeat.

"...Even the wildlife! The story is multi-faceted and compelling. And, appropriately funny...." Read more

"...It was maybe a bit slight, but enjoyable enough with some good twists and turns." Read more

"...Good story, lots of random silly points to laugh at - just as you would expect from Bob's mind!..." Read more

"Bob MortimerHaving read Bob Mortimer’s excellent autobiography I thought I would like The Satsuma Complex...." Read more

99 customers mention ‘Writing style’86 positive13 negative

Customers find the writing style easy to read and not complex. They also say the book is satisfying and enjoyable.

"...I was very happy to be wrong! It’s a pacey, page-turner of a book with humble, rounded characters you really root for...." Read more

"Bob has a playful, enjoyable style of writing. I breezed through this book fairly quickly...." Read more

"...Again it is a really excellent read. It is well constructed and fair zips along...." Read more

"...to read the Satsuma Complex as it is an intelligent, funny and well written book. Best thing I have read since reading Bobs autobiography." Read more

71 customers mention ‘Characterization’64 positive7 negative

Customers find the characters relatable, believable, and able to identify with them. They also appreciate the author's unique descriptive talent.

"...It’s a pacey, page-turner of a book with humble, rounded characters you really root for...." Read more

"...The characters are believable and you can identify with them. Even the wildlife! The story is multi-faceted and compelling. And, appropriately funny...." Read more

"...The characters are well drawn and seem to turn into real people...." Read more

"...This was entirely different. Bob and Sally are both great at bringing the characters alive. The storyline rattles along nicely and made me smile...." Read more

15 customers mention ‘Pacing’12 positive3 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book fast and funny. They also say it's a very funny story and love the characters.

"...I was very happy to be wrong! It’s a pacey, page-turner of a book with humble, rounded characters you really root for...." Read more

"Swift delivery and value for money" Read more

"...Highly recommend this novel which flows swiftly from beginning to end." Read more

"It is too slow in the first quarter of the book. It needed something a little faster pace to get your attention...." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Plot’14 positive0 negative

Customers find the plot brilliant, clever, and gripping. They also mention that the book keeps them entertained and hooked with Bob's story.

"...I was very happy to be wrong! It’s a pacey, page-turner of a book with humble, rounded characters you really root for...." Read more

"...I did smile wryly but not the laughs. It was a good story, gripping at times...." Read more

"...In another, some sort of let down. Either way, it keeps the readers' attention...." Read more

"...I found this very funny with just the right amount of threat, it kept me guessing too,although I sometimes felt that Grace should knock Gary about..." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Entertainment value’0 positive10 negative

Customers find the book boring, annoying, and slight. They also say the writing lacks TV whimsy and sparkle.

"...I breezed through this book fairly quickly. It was maybe a bit slight, but enjoyable enough with some good twists and turns." Read more

"...arc i was not expecting this writing from teh author, it lacks his TV whimsy and sparkle and it left me flat...." Read more

"Bit boring and passed it onto charity shop once read" Read more

"I gave up on this book around 7 th Chapter,it just started getting monotonous and boring,especially the conversations with the squirrel,just wasn’t..." Read more

A bit bonkers but then it's Bob
4 Stars
A bit bonkers but then it's Bob
I bought The Satsuma Complex because it was written by Bob Mortimer.A bit bonkers, slightly surreal and laugh-out-loud funny, it is interwoven with threads of darkness, poignancy and extreme violence.Disenchanted with his day job and disinclined to give his Peckham flat any sense of permanency, Gary’s high points are Saturday pie with Grace next door and Battenberg with banter at Wayne’s coffee shop until the fateful evening he agrees to meet Brendan at his local for a pint where he is drawn to a pretty, dark-haired girl he names Satsuma (after the book she’s reading – it could happen to you!) and listens to his guffawing, garrulous work colleague for the last time.What follows is a well-constructed murder mystery with twists a-plenty, great character development, sad back stories and many hysterical moments. Alternative herbal tea, DIY health food bars and lower back pain remedies. Attic invaders, ducks and mouth-watering jelly snakes!And then there’s the squirrel.Of course there’s a squirrel.What better sounding board than a bushy-tailed buddy?I loved the humour, the harsh realities and the pacy plot as well as the portrayal of Gary, Emily, Grace and all the other characters, bad and badder.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

Steve B
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant read, with the expected humour, but also heart and intrigue
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 February 2024
Verified Purchase
I have always found the author’s humour, characters and turns of phrase to be wonderful, but did doubt that it could be translated well into a novel. I was very happy to be wrong! It’s a pacey, page-turner of a book with humble, rounded characters you really root for. This humour is natural and not forced, it really is a superb read and I can’t recommend enough. One warning is that you find yourself tempted to chat to squirrels, but it’s a chance worth taking.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Talking Squirrels?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2024
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They say you should always write about something you know. Bobs main character a solicitor is born from bobs passed. Enjoyable read with a good sense of humour as you would expect.
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Mr. Peter Franklin
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellently excellent.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 February 2024
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It was a bit of a punt for me reading this book. I like Bob Mortimer in stuff he's done on the telly but wasn't sure the book would be for me. But it grabbed me and I had it read in no time. Make the next one longer please Bob.

The characters are believable and you can identify with them. Even the wildlife! The story is multi-faceted and compelling. And, appropriately funny. In many such stories, there are fallow bits you just read through to get to the good bits, but not so with this one. It's genuinely a book you really don't want to put down at any stage.

As a novel, frankly, it compares very favourably with other telly workers that have turned to writing. So I hope you continue to write. And maybe do some more of those fishing programmes. They're not half bad either.

So, to summarise, I'd venture to say it's a great book and would recommend you read it. Even if you don't think it'll be your thing.
11 people found this helpful
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Luke Taylor
3.0 out of 5 stars Good fun
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 April 2024
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Bob has a playful, enjoyable style of writing. I breezed through this book fairly quickly. It was maybe a bit slight, but enjoyable enough with some good twists and turns.
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Lilliputian
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 April 2024
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This is a fantastic book, written so well you can practically hear Bob's voice as you read it. Good story, lots of random silly points to laugh at - just as you would expect from Bob's mind! I loved it, if you like Bob's humour in general I 100% recommend this book, and if you don't why not give it a shot anyhoo!
2 people found this helpful
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patricia
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 December 2023
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I read this after hearing an interview with Bob Mortimer where I got the impression that it would give me a lot of laughs. I did smile wryly but not the laughs. It was a good story, gripping at times. There was no "psychological realism" but it's not that kind of book. I found the incident with the dog being kidnapped by the homeless guy quite menacing. He knows how to elicit a range of emotions. I particularly liked the end where all the loose ends are tied up. Someone complained about how unlikely that was - but Dickens used to do that so he's in good company. I recommend this book but not if you're needing a good laugh.
5 people found this helpful
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Tulip mania
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 January 2024
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Bob Mortimer
Having read Bob Mortimer’s excellent autobiography I thought I would like The Satsuma Complex.

And I very much enjoyed reading The Satsuma Complex. Again it is a really excellent read. It is well constructed and fair zips along. I am usually a slow reader but I got to the end rather quickly unfortunately, as I enjoyed it so much I did not want it to end! The characters are well drawn and seem to turn into real people.

Because Bob Mortimer is a qualified solicitor and has worked as one, he brings considerable knowledge about the law and its workings to this crime novel. He also displays his usual play with words and lightness of touch.

I thoroughly recommend it. You will not be disappointed.
4 people found this helpful
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Heather Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Very amusing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2024
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A laugh a minute and couldn't put it down
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Top reviews from other countries

Camille Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars Cheering antidote to counter daily grim current events
Reviewed in the United States on 6 December 2023
Verified Purchase
1st exposure to Mortimer. Purchased because looking rather desperately for pure escape in face of relentless bad news these days. Wanted no LeCarre likep labyrinthine plot of dozens of characters to follow, philosophical mullings, above all not dark and morbid. This book perfectly met criteria. Mortimer's tale was well plotted, with just enough suspense and gore-lite to hold interest. Characters quirky, clever and likable (except for the bad guys...) Love's in there, and poignancy but book never became treacly, a common problem in 'cozy' genre. I enthusiastically recommend for a few hours (it's not long) of comfort-reading. diversion.
One person found this helpful
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R. Elliot
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Canada on 17 November 2023
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The mail took a little while but received it within time frame given. Bob Mortimer is so funny, loved the book.
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Poco
5.0 out of 5 stars Bob at his best
Reviewed in France on 26 March 2024
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Loved this book, typical Bob never what you think is going to happen, all the way to the end guessing who did it, anybody who likes Bob will know what to expect.
One person found this helpful
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RyanHikes
5.0 out of 5 stars Think around this...
Reviewed in Spain on 8 November 2022
Verified Purchase
Genuinely a really good read. Found the storyline to be a lot of fun and was hooked very quickly. Filled with loads of daft interactions with the characters that made me laugh so much. And Bob himself said the main character (Gary) is based on him, so you feel a warmth towards Gary right away.
If you don't take yourself to seriously, then this is a book for you.

(Update) Just reread for the second time, and can comfirm it's still a bundle of joy and laughter.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply excellent
Reviewed in Australia on 7 February 2024
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The best book I have read in years, a joy on every page.
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