Pearl
The Armstrong Empire (Book 1)
- Author Gillian Godden
- Narrator Emma Noakes
- Publisher Boldwood Books
- Publish Date 4 July 2026
- Run Time 10 hours and 13 minutes
- Format x-book®
- Genre Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction, Family life fiction, Fiction: narrative themes, Generational sagas, Historical fiction, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Social issues, Thriller: organised crime / gangland crime.
Flexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-book® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only £3.99.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price per title
- £8.99
- £7.99
- £6.99
- £5.99
- £4.99
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles don’t include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Listen to a sample
What to expect
Empires don’t need kings. They need queens.
Freshly paroled from Holloway Prison, Pearl Armstrong returns to Soho not for nostalgia — but to reclaim the empire she built with blood, cunning and grit.
Her sons, Kristian and Daniel, have turned the Armstrong legacy into a shadow of its former self: crumbling clubs, unpaid debts and dangerous alliances. The Oyster Club, once a symbol of power and precision, teeters towards ruin — and now the vultures are circling.
In a city where loyalty is scarce and betrayal lurks in every shadow, Pearl must outthink, outfight and outlast a generation chasing flashbulbs over discipline. As old scores collide with new threats, she’ll learn the hardest lesson of all: empires aren’t inherited — they’re seized, one brutal move at a time.
And Pearl is still a queen with many more moves left…
'A gritty powerful story. A must read for fans of gangland crime' Bestselling author Kerry Kaya
'The characters were so real I'm still looking over my shoulder!' Bestselling author Owen Mullen
| Author | Gillian Godden |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Emma Noakes |
| Series | The Armstrong Empire |
| Duration | 10 hours and 13 minutes |
| Release Date | |
| ISBN | 9781835614976 |
| Format | x-book® |
| Publisher | Boldwood Books |
| Genre | Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction, Family life fiction, Fiction: narrative themes, Generational sagas, Historical fiction, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Social issues, Thriller: organised crime / gangland crime |
| Availability | AU, GB, IE, US |
More from the same
Author
About xigxag and the x-book®
Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.
A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.
Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.
Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.