Hugh Bonneville to narrate Peter James' Absolute Proof

Actor Hugh Bonneville is voicing the audiobook of Peter James' upcoming new thriller Absolute Proof.

James and Bonneville first met in 2008, when they discussed the possibility of Bonneville playing Detective Superintendent Grace in a TV adaptation. James said he knew from the moment he met Bonneville that he wanted to work with him; a decade on, although the adaptation didn't move forward, the two remained friends and the audiobook for Absolute Proof will now be their first collaboration. 

Absolute Proof - which the publisher said was James' "most epic and ambitious stand-alone thriller to date" - is described as "a breathless race against time to solve the greatest mystery of all". It has been in the making since 1993 and the premise centres on the question 'what would happen if someone had absolute proof that God exists, and what might the consequences for the person who finds it be?'

James said Bonneville was "the natural choice" for the book's narration.

While the book is based on years of research in conversation with academics, theologians and clerics in the UK and internationally, Bonneville himself holds a theology degree from Cambridge University where he was taught by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

Earlier this year, Bonneville also presented the documentary "Jesus: Countdown to Calvary", examining the events leading up to the execution of Jesus of Nazareth by the Roman government.

"Hugh is an incredible actor and his reading really captures the suspense and excitement in the book. I’m delighted with how it’s turned out," said James.

Commenting on his involvement with Absolute Proof, Bonneville said: "Absolute Proof is a thriller that grips from the outset but it’s also incredibly thought-provoking, asking some of life’s biggest questions about science and faith, setting big pharma and high church on a collision course that could change the world. I was thrilled when Peter asked me to provide the narration for his latest, most compelling book."

The audiobook for Absolute Proof has been recorded in partnership with Audible, which will be releasing it as an audio first exclusive in the US in October.

In April Pan Macmillan revealed it had splashed a seven figure advance for the next three books from James.