Under the Skin

Michel Faber

Aug 2012 · Blackstone Audio Inc. · Narrated by Fiona Hardingham

About this audiobook

Hailed as "original and unsettling, an Animal Farm for the new century" (Wall Street Journal), this debut novel lingers long after the last page has been turned.

A "fascinating psychological thriller" (Baltimore Sun), this entrancing novel introduces Isserley, a female driver who scouts the Scottish highlands for male hitchhikers with big muscles. She herself is tiny—like a kid peering up over the steering wheel. Scarred and awkward, yet strangely erotic and threatening, Isserley listens to her passengers as they open up to her, revealing clues about who might miss them should they disappear—and then she strikes. What happens to her victims next is only part of a terrifying reality.

At once humane and horrifying, Under the Skin takes us on a heart-thumping ride through dangerous territory: our own moral instincts and the boundaries of compassion. A grotesque and comical allegory and a surreal representation of contemporary society run amok, Under the Skin was internationally received as the arrival of an exciting talent, rich and assured.

Ratings and reviews

I picked it up because I saw the movie adaptation and many people said it left a lot to be desired and I can't say they were wrong. I don't think any visual can capture the loneliness, horror and misery interwoven in this story. To the people that proclaim it as a pro-vegan narrative: I think you're missing the point but whatever floats your boat, babe

I listened to the audiobook because I saw the movie. After the movie, I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. The voice actor has become one of my favorites and I completely empathize with the main character. The internal thoughts keep you well informed so you get a better understanding of the characters and what they endure. A really beautiful book.

About the author

Michel Faber’s work has been published in numerous countries and has received several literary awards. He is the author of The Crimson Petal and the White, a New York Times bestseller, and Under the Skin, which was shortlisted for the Whitbread award.

Fiona Hardingham is a British-born actress, singer, voice-over artist, and AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. On stage, she appeared at the Edinburgh Festival in her comedic one-woman show The Dark Show. She has also starred in the dark-comedy short film The Ballerino. She earned a BA honors degree in performing arts from Middlesex University, London, and also studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.