Felicity Jones Sets Audiobook Narrating Debut With James Patterson’s ‘The Picasso Heist’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Felicity Jones is making her audiobook narrating debut with James Patterson‘s newest novel “The Picasso Heist.”

The actor — who recently received her second Oscar nomination for her turn in Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist — is returning to her audio roots after beginning her career on the BBC Radio 4 soap opera “The Archers” in 1999.

The synopsis for “The Picasso Heist” reads: “As a rare Picasso heads to auction, gifted art student Halston Graham sees an opportunity. One that not only could secure millions for her future, but more importantly free her wrongly imprisoned father. To pull off the ultimate heist in a world where trust is scarce, Halston must assemble an unlikely crew of fixers, including an expert in forgery, a merciless mob boss, and an eccentric fashion designer. Will Halston’s brilliance be enough to outsmart her enemies, or will one wrong move cost her everything?”

It’s the latest page-turner from Patterson, one of the most successful and well-known authors of all time who is the creator of hit series including “Alex Cross,” “The Women’s Murder Club” and “Private.”

“I strive to craft unforgettable stories that move fast, twist hard and keep readers guessing. ‘The Picasso Heist’ is all of that and more,” Patterson said in a statement. “Halston is one of the most daring characters I’ve ever created, and Felicity brings her and the whole tale to life with real fire. I couldn’t be more excited for people to hear this.”

Added Jones, ““What better way to challenge myself than tackling audiobook narration for the first time, and ‘The Picasso Heist’ was the perfect choice. Halston instantly drew me in. I enjoyed her intelligence, her wit and how she’s always one step ahead of everyone else — bringing her to life in audio was incredibly exciting. The writing of this book stood out to me, too. There’s such a cinematic quality to ‘The Picasso Heist’ and I could really see it play out like a film as I was narrating. It isn’t just a fast-paced thriller, Patterson has laced in humor, and I really liked being able to capture that in the recording.”

James Keyte, head of audio content at Penguin Random House Audio, called Halston one of Patterson’s “most original characters” whom Jones brings to life “with skill and verve.”

“It’s an unforgettable performance, and I have no doubt that this will be one of the most talked about audiobooks of the year,” he continued.

“The Picasso Heist” audiobook will release on Aug. 28 via Penguin Random House Audio in the U.K. and internationally and by Hachette in the U.S. Listeners can purchase the audiobook to stream on platforms including Audible, Spotify, Apple Books and Google Play.

Listen to the first 10 minutes of “The Picasso Heist” audiobook below.