Best of
British-Literature

2013

The Prime Suspect Cases


Lynda La Plante - 2013
    For Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, this is the perfect opportunity to get herself noticed. But when every one of her colleagues is willing her to trip up, and the case is far from clear cut, will she be able to prove her mettle. PRIME SUSPECT 2: A FACE IN THE CROWDThe coroner's report identifies the body as young, black, female, and impossibly anonymous. Yet one thing is clear to DCI Jane Tennison - that news of her murder will tear apart a city already cracking with racial tensions, hurling Scotland Yard and Tennison herself into a maelstrom of shocking accusations and sudden, wrenching violence. PRIME SUSPECT 3: SILENT VICTIMSAs Vera Reynolds, drag queen and night club star, sways onstage singing, a sixteen-year-old rent boy lies in the older man's apartment, engulfed in flames. For DCI Jane Tennison, now head of the Vice Squad, this high-profile case threatens to destroy the career she fought so hard for.

Target Churchill


Warren Adler - 2013
    Winston Churchill, the cigar-puffing icon of the British fighting spirit embarks on a crusade to lift the veil of secrecy that hangs over Stalin's mission. Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri sets the diplomatic stage upon which the world's political players grapple for supremacy as Churchill delivers his fated Iron Curtain speech on March 5th 1946.Soviet operatives have infiltrated British and American governments at the highest level. As Churchill prepares to launch the Cold War, Stalin unleashes his trained mole, an American Nazi who served in Hitler's SS. His mission: Assassinate Winston Churchill.Churchill travels with a lone bodyguard, W.H. Thompson, a former British police officer who protected Churchill faithfully through the turbulent years of war. Thompson alone senses danger, but will his trained instincts and vigilance be enough to protect the former Prime Minister from a ruthless killer? In this gripping historical thriller, battles are fought not on the beaches, on the landing grounds, in the fields, on the streets or in the hills, but behind closed doors in the shadows of espionage.

Sisters of the East End


Helen Batten - 2013
    Working in the impoverished East End in the 1950s, she meets the Sisters of St John the Divine - a community of nuns dedicated to nursing and midwifery. The Sisters have been present at births, cared for the sick and laid out the dead for a hundred years, and Katie soon joins them to start her journey to becoming Sister Catherine Mary.As a novice Katie rallies against the vow of obedience, yet as a nurse and midwife she learns much about the nature of dedication, love and tragedy. Her story is full of hardship, humour and compassion, bringing to life the unique world of the nursing Sisters.Sister Catherine Mary's story was written by Helen Batten after in-depth interviews with today's Sisters of the Community of St John the Divine.

Whitstable


Stephen Volk - 2013
    A middle-aged man, wracked with grief, walks along the beach at Whitstable in Kent.A boy walks approaches him and, taking him for the famous vampire-hunter Doctor Van Helsing from the Hammer movies, asks for his help. Because he believes his stepfather really is a vampire...In Whitstable - which deftly mixes fact with fiction—the actor, devastated after the recent death of his wife and soul mate Helen, is an inconsolable recluse. In that vulnerable state he is forced to face an evil far more real and terrifying than any of the make-believe monsters he tackled on the big screen. And here he is not a crusader or expert with crucifixes to hand—merely a man. A man who in some ways craves death himself, but cannot ignore the pleas of an innocent child...

Eden Rising


Andrew Cunningham - 2013
    Maybe that's an exaggeration. It's not like the planet ceased to exist altogether. It just seemed like it. Cities were reduced to rubble. Millions of people died that day. I've since been told that 95% of the Earth's human population was wiped out. I don't know if that's true—I mean, who can know that for sure? It's not like we still have any of the technology that we once used to determine such things. But I do know that it was almost empty of people—live ones, that is..."Thus begins the journey of Ben and Lila, two ordinary teenagers forced to rise to extraordinary heights when faced with a world that has suddenly and inexplicably died. Dealing with the sorrow of all they have lost, but the love they have found in each other, they set off on an odyssey that will bring them to the limits of human endurance and face to face with the frailty of their very existence. From the extreme violence of many of the surviving humans toward one another, to a world physically falling apart at the seams, Ben and Lila are determined to make it through the devastation in their quest for a place to quietly share their life together. In the process, they have to become as violent as the world around them in order to survive, while struggling to hold onto the humanity that will keep them sane. Eden Rising is a survival tale and a love story, but it is also a book that delves deeply into the human psyche to discover just how far we would go to survive, and how much inner strength can be found when things are at their absolute worst.

The Audience


Peter Morgan - 2013
    It is private. Both parties have an unspoken agreement never to repeat what is said. Not even to their spouses.The Audience breaks this contract of silence. It imagines a series of pivotal meetings between the Downing Street incumbents and their Queen. From Churchill to Cameron, each prime minister has used these private conversations as a sounding board and a confessional - sometimes intimate, sometimes explosive.From young mother to grandmother, these private audiences chart the arc of the second Elizabethan Age. Politicians come and go through the revolving door of electoral politics, while she remains constant, waiting to welcome her next prime minister.The Audience by Peter Morgan premiered at the Gielgud Theatre, London, in March 2013.

The Prayer


Stephan J. Myers - 2013
    A haunting children’s Christmas tale from the imagination of Stephan J Myers, The Prayer is a rhapsody of images and words that will linger long after the last page is turned. Images and words that touch that special place inside, where the heart and mind know no boundaries. A tale of hope and reflection for readers young and old, as the ghost of Christmas fades and a New Year begins. Since it was first written in 2009, The Prayer has been read by thousands of readers across the world in its original text; leaving the imagination of the reader to paint the images the words evoke. For the first time, the words of The Prayer come to life as they were originally intended. Praise for Stephan J Myers “Myers' fairy tale is a rhapsody of colours, musicality and clever rhyming …... Each picture, with its vivid colours and soft lines, is a narrative statement of its own...so brilliant it should be framed!” “This is definitely a book that will be treasured and read again and again. The thing I still remember about my favourite childhood reads is the illustrations. There is so much detail on every page, I'm sure these will be remembered by generations to come.” “As far as writing and illustration go this is what dreams are made of. Immaculately written and illustrated.” “A truly charming & magical story by the very talented Stephen J Myers. As for the illustrations, they are simply stunning! I would highly recommend this book. A delightful read for all ages.”

Celebrating Pride and Prejudice: 200 Years of Jane Austen's Masterpiece


Susannah Fullerton - 2013
    The remembrance of Austen’s brilliant work has given its readers pleasure for 200 years and is certain to do so for centuries to come. The book is incomparable for its wit, humor, and insights into how we think and act—and how our “first impressions” (the book’s initial title) can often be remarkably off-base. All of these facets are explored and commemorated in Celebrating Pride and Prejudice, written by preeminent Austen scholar Susannah Fullerton. Fullerton delves into what makes Pride and Prejudice such a groundbreaking masterpiece, including the story behind its creation (the first version may have been an epistolary novel written when Austen was only twenty), its reception upon publication, and its tremendous legacy, from the many films and miniseries inspired by the book (such as the 1995 BBC miniseries starring Colin Firth) to the even more numerous “sequels,” adaptations, mash-ups (zombies and vampires and the like), and pieces of merchandise, many of them very bizarre.Interspersed throughout are fascinating stories about Austen’s brief engagement (perhaps to the man who inspired the ridiculous Mr. Collins), the “Darcin” pheromone, the ways in which Pride and Prejudice served as bibliotherapy in the World War I trenches, why it caused one famous author to be tempted into thievery, and much more. Celebrating Pride and Prejudice is a wonderful celebration of a book that has had an immeasurable influence on literature and on anyone who has had the good fortune to discover it.

Levels of Life


Julian Barnes - 2013
    And the world is changed..." One of the judges who awarded him the 2011 Man Booker Prize described him as "an unparalleled magus of the heart." This book confirms that opinion.

The Singing Bowl


Malcolm Guite - 2013
    It includes poems that seek beauty and transfiguration in contemporary life; sonnets inspired by Francis and other outstanding saints; poems centred on love (which might be used at weddings), others on parting and mortality (which might be used at funerals). A further group, 'Jamming your Machine', searches for the life of the spirit in the midst of the modern era and includes an ode to an iphone

Red Joan


Jennie Rooney - 2013
    ‘Nobody talked about what they did during the war. We all knew we weren’t allowed to.’Joan Stanley has a secret.  For fifty years she has been a loving mother, a doting grandmother and an occasional visitor to ballroom dancing and watercolour classes. Then one sunlit spring morning there is a knock on the door.

Next to Die


Neil White - 2013
    Two weeks before he's due in court he suddenly fires his defense team, claiming that there's only one lawyer he wants to defend him: Joe Parker. Despite his misgivings about taking on the case in such strange circumstances, Joe decides to represent Bagley. Little does he know that Bagley is smarter than anyone has given him credit for, and soon Joe will find himself pitched against his own brother, Sam, in a race to outwit the most terrifying serial killer the city has ever seen.It isn't long before Joe and Sam's shared past comes crashing into the present in a pulse-pounding race to find out who is NEXT TO DIE...

The Rise of Robin Hood


Angus Donald - 2013
    A legend is born in this short-story prequel to Angus Donald's masterly series The Outlaw Chronicles, perfect for devoted fans and newcomers alike.

To Be A Queen


Annie Whitehead - 2013
    This is the true story of Aethelflaed, the ‘Lady of the Mercians’, daughter of Alfred the Great. She was the only female leader of an Anglo-Saxon kingdom. Born into the royal house of Wessex at the height of the Viking wars, she is sent to her aunt in Mercia as a foster-child, only to return home when the Vikings overrun Mercia. In Wessex, she witnesses another Viking attack and this compounds her fear of the enemy. She falls in love with a Mercian lord but is heartbroken to be given as bride to the ruler of Mercia to seal the alliance between the two Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. She must learn to subjugate her feelings for her first love, overcome her indifference to her husband and win the hearts of the Mercians who despise her as a foreigner and twice make an attempt on her life. When her husband falls ill and is incapacitated, she has to learn to rule and lead an army in his stead. Eventually she must fight to save her adopted Mercia from the Vikings and, ultimately, her own brother.

Chance


Peter Dudgeon - 2013
    All in different parts of London. With eight million inhabitants, bad things happen to good people all the time.Only nine-year-old Cassie Janus knows there’s a connection, because she is the killer … in her nightmares at least.Cassie has the rare ability to unearth the darkest emotions of others. She sees a past they would rather keep hidden and a future too horrific to comprehend.Perhaps the killer can be stopped. If only she can make someone - her mother, her friend, her teacher - believe. Her words are dismissed, her sanity questioned. She knows they’ll believe her in the end … but by then, they’ll be facing death.Can she act to save them, or will their fate be left to chance?This is an alternative cover edition: B00HJKZ3E2

To Hold The Sun


Chas Watkins - 2013
    In lieu of payment, he gets to travel to and dive on Roatan, arguably one of the most beautiful, pristine islands in the Caribbean. Through a series of meetings, the reporter gets to know Paul's innermost philosophies. He learns an alternate way of living from a man who strives to perfect handstands on a dock and practices the art of happiness. The author developed the book as a guide to help his children live their lives in a way that would allow them to enjoy the journey. Drawing on wildly diverse disciplines including stoicism, neuroscience, skepticism, behavioral economics, and spirituality; the reader is taken on a journey that exposes the author's philosophy of life. He demonstrates that happiness is indeed a choice. All places detailed on Roatan exist and are more beautiful than described. Photos are by kind permission of Shawn Jackson."So much more than just an original, engaging, and consistently entertaining story, 'To Hold The Sun' can be viewed by the reader as a kind of guide or blueprint to live life in a way that would enable an appreciation of the journey and not just the destination. An expertly crafted work from beginning to end, 'To Hold The Sun' is enthusiastically recommended reading and will prove an enduringly popular addition to community library collections!"-- Midwest Book ReviewChas describes the spiritual warrior's journey in way that makes you want to come along, roll up your sleeves, and do the work required to become the best version of you there is!-- Timber Hawkeye, Buddhist Boot Camp

The Running Game


L.E. Fitzpatrick - 2013
    Count the exits, calculate the routes, and always be ready to run. On the surface, Rachel is just an ordinary doctor, but she has a secret. Rachel is a Reacher, wanted by the government and the criminal underworld for her psionic powers. Charlie and his brother John have a reputation for doing the impossible. But after losing his family, Charlie is a broken mess and John is barely keeping him afloat. In desperation, they take a job from a ruthless crime lord, only to discover the girl they are hunting is a Reacher... One of their own kind. With the help of dangerous and dubious allies, can Rachel turn the game around and save herself?

Peppermint Kiss (Rainbow Beauty) by Kelly McKain


Kelly McKain - 2013
    The first in a heart-warming series full of lush lotions, fabulous friendships and teenage crushes.

Someone to Watch Over Me


Madeleine Reiss - 2013
    Now, three years on, her marriage crushed by grief and the uncertainty around Charlie’s fate, Carrie keeps herself distracted by running a local gift shop. Persuaded by her mother to visit a medium, Carrie is initially sceptical, but is blown away when he appears to reveal something about Charlie’s disappearance; something that nobody could ever have known except herself.Single mum, Molly, is worried about her young son, Max. Naturally a sensitive child, Max has been having more of his little ‘accidents’ at school and has recently starting talking again to his imaginary friend.Reluctant to tell his teachers, Molly knows that Max’s problems stem from his very real anxieties about his father – a violent and unstable man – who they are now in hiding from.Carrie is desperate to learn the truth about Charlie’s disappearance and Molly is will do anything to protect Max from danger. Little do the women know that their worlds are about to converge – and both of them will have to face the thing they fear the most. But will the truth destroy them or will love be their saviour?

Unthinkable: The Shocking Scandal of Britain's Trafficked Children


Kris Hollington - 2013
    Yet many childcare experts reckon these crimes are just the tip of an iceberg of wide scale exploitation occurring across the country. The Deputy Children's Commissioner Sue Berelowitz said in June 2012 that there 'isn't a town, village or hamlet in which children are not being sexually exploited'. As this book goes to press, a gang of men similar to those convicted in Rochdale stands trial for similar crimes in Oxford. What is happening in Britain that means young vulnerable girls can be exploited in this way? Award-winning journalist Kris Hollington tells the inside story of some of the most shocking and heartbreaking crimes of recent years, focusing on the Rochdale case but also analysing recent cases in the London area that have echoes of the brutality of organised slavery. His findings expose how the British justice system is failing to protect children in the 21st century. It is a scandal that cannot be ignored.

C.S. Lewis: A Biography of Friendship


Colin Duriez - 2013
    Lewis's said he found his new tutor interesting, and was told by J.R.R. Tolkien, 'Interesting? Yes, he's certainly that. You'll never get to the bottom of him.' You can learn a great deal about people by their friends and nowhere is this more true than in the case of C.S. Lewis, the remarkable academic, author, populariser of faith - and creator of Narnia. He lost his mother early in life, and became estranged from his father, much to his regret. Throughout his life, key relationships mattered deeply to him, from his early days in the north of Ireland and his schooldays in England, as still a teenager in the trenches of World War One, and then later in Oxford. The friendships he cultivated throughout his life proved to be vital, influencing his thoughts, his beliefs and his writings. What did Arthur Greeves, a life-long friend from his adolescence, bring to him? How did J.R.R. Tolkien, and the other members of the now famous Inklings, shape him? Why, in his early twenties, did he move in with a single mother twice his age, Janie Moore, and live with her for so many years until her death? And why did he choose to marry so late? What of the relationship with his alcoholic and gifted brother, who eventually joined his unusual household? In this sparkling new biography, which draws on material not previously published, Colin Duriez brings C.S. Lewis and his friendships to life.

Historic Heston


Heston Blumenthal - 2013
    Now England’s most inventive chef is out to reclaim it. Heston Blumenthal, whose name is synonymous with cutting-edge cuisine, nonetheless finds his greatest source of inspiration in the unique and delicious food that the sceptered isle once produced. This has been the secret to his success at world-famous restaurants The Fat Duck and Dinner, where a contrast between old and new, modern and historic, is key. Historic Blumenthal charts a quest for identity through the best of British cooking that stretches from medieval to late-Victorian recipes. Start with thirty historic dishes, take them apart, put them together again, and what have you got? A sublime twenty-first-century take on delicacies including meat fruit (1500), quaking pudding (1660), and mock-turtle soup (1892). Heston examines the history behind each one’s invention and the science that makes it work. He puts these dishes in their social context and follows obscure culinary trails, ferreting out such curious sources as The Queen-like Closet from 1672 (which offers an excellent method for drying goose). What it adds up to is an idiosyncratic culinary history of Britain.This glorious tome also gives a unique insight into the way that Heston works, with signature dishes from both The Fat Duck and Dinner. Illustrated by Dave McKean and with some of the most superb food photography you’ll ever see, Historic Blumenthal is a book to treasure. You think you know about British cooking? Think again.

The Great Escaper


Simon Pearson - 2013
    Through exclusive access to this material - as well as fascinating new research from other sources - Simon Pearson, Chief Night Editor of The Times, has now written the first biography of this iconic figure. Born in South Africa in 1910, Roger Bushell was the son of a British mining engineer. By the age of 29, this charismatic character who spoke nine languages had become a London barrister with a reputation for successfully defending those much less fortunate than him. He was also renowned as an international ski champion and fighter pilot with a string of glamorous girlfriends. On 23 May, 1940, his Spitfire was shot down during a dogfight over Boulogne after destroying two German fighters. From then on his life was governed by an unquenchable desire to escape from Occupied Europe.Over the next four years he made three escapes, coming within 100 yards of the Swiss border during his first attempt. His second escape took him to Prague where he was sheltered by the Czech resistance for eight months before he was captured. The three month's of savage interrogation in Berlin by the Gestapo that followed made him even more determined. Prisoner or not, he would do his utmost to fight the Nazis. His third (and last escape) destabilised the Nazi leadership and captured the imagination of the world.He died on 29 March 1944, murdered on the explicit instructions of Adolf Hitler.Simon Pearson's revealing biography is a vivid account of war and love, triumph and tragedy - one man's attempt to challenge remorseless tyranny in the face of impossible odds.

Candleburn


Jack Hayes - 2013
    A city of easy money. And even easier death. Nate Aspinal returns to the city from a holiday to find two of his employees murdered. Both victims are found in hotel bathrooms - with the skin of their fingers and toes removed. All clues point to the infamous ‘Candle’ terrorist group who are rumoured to burn their victims during interrogations. As Nate begins to discover more about the terrorists, his young family are kidnapped by the vengeful ‘Candle’ in an attempt to silence him. Nate soon realises he is caught in the middle of a terrible conspiracy. Royal lives are in danger, and he must convince the authorities disaster is about to strike…before it is too late. Candleburn is a thrilling tale of international terrorism. It is perfect for fans of Jack Higgins and Frederick Forsyth. ‘Candleburn is a thriller of the highest order - tightly plotted, ingenious, suspenseful and unflaggingly action packed’ Roger Hurn, bestselling author of ‘Business is Murder’.

The Winter Freak Show


Daniel Parsons - 2013
    ONLY TOBY KNOWS WHY.CAN HE SAVE THE CITY BEFORE FALLING VICTIM HIMSELF?After twelve-year-old Toby Carter escapes a brutal workhouse at Christmas, he can’t believe his good fortune. Adopted by a band of travelling performers called The Winter Freak Show who put on spellbinding shows each night, he finally believes he’s found the family he always wanted. Then everything falls apart.Children are disappearing throughout the city. Pretty soon, all evidence points to those Toby trusted the most and he finds himself caught up in a conspiracy far more sinister than he ever imagined. Defenceless and on the run, he’s confronted with two options: uncover the kidnapper before another child falls victim, or stand by and watch as the shadowy criminal becomes unstoppable.The fate of Christmas rests in the balance.The Winter Freak Show is the first book in Daniel Parsons’s spellbinding Twisted Christmas Trilogy. If you like vivid magic, fantastic creatures, and a race against time, then you’ll love this thrilling fantasy adventure.Pick up The Winter Freak Show to discover this exciting, new series today!

Castles, Customs, and Kings: True Tales by English Historical Fiction Authors (Castles, Customs, and Kings #1)


Debra BrownPrue Batten - 2013
    Over fifty different authors share hundreds of real life stories and tantalizing tidbits discovered while doing research for their own historical novels.From the first English word to Tudor ladies-in-waiting, from Regency dining and dress to Victorian crime and technology, immerse yourself in the lore of Great Britain. Read the history behind the fiction and discover the true tales surrounding England’s castles, customs, and kings.

A Vampire In Edinburgh (Cassandra Bick 1.8)


Tracey Sinclair - 2013
    But this summer, something is using the chaos of the Fringe to hide a far worse crime than bad theatre, and the hunter Cain must team up with new friends and old enemies to stop a bloodthirsty killer who is targeting the visiting performers. This year, there are more things to worry about at the Fringe than just getting a bad review…A Vampire in Edinburgh is a Dark Dates short story (Cassandra Bick Chronicles).

Feral Youth


Polly Courtney - 2013
    They talk like it is, but really and truly it's black against white, young against old, authorities against the rest. It's countless of things. There's bare reasons for feeling vexed right now. Growing up on a south London estate and excluded from every school that would take her, Alesha is the poster girl for the nation's 'feral youth'. When a young teacher makes an unexpected reappearance in the 15-year-old's life, opening the door to a world of salaries, pianos and middle-class housemates, Alesha's instinct is to pull up her hood and return to the streets. But fuelled by a need to survive, she falls into a cycle of crime, violence and drug-dealing, her one true ally deserting her when she needs him most. While everyone around her is rallying against the authorities in a war of haves and have-nots, Alesha finds herself caught in the crossfire, inextricably linked to the people she is trying to fight against. Can she see a way out? And as riots sweep the nation, whose side will she take? Born in South London and a resident of Ealing, an area affected by the London riots, Polly wrote Feral Youth 'to give a voice to the thousands of frustrated youths who, like Alesha, feel marginalised and ignored by the rest of society'. She believes that the real causes of the riots have not gone away and that further unrest will happen in a matter of time. Feral Youth is a work of contemporary adult fiction that covers various topical themes, including the riots, youth culture, gangs and knife and gun crime. It is aimed primarily at the adult reader and provides an alternative perspective on a world we think we know.

Loss De Plott, The Colour Red


Stephan J. Myers - 2013
    And whatever you draw must come from your dreams, where the things that you see are not what they seem!”

Blue Into The Rip


K.J. Heritage - 2013
    Getting back home was the only thing that mattered to messed up, mixed race teenager, Blue (named after his stupid, googly blue eyes) - and that was the problem—home was over four hundred years in the past. But how does a lowly cadet in a military academy living in a post-apocalyptic future achieve such a goal, especially with the distractions of girls, pilot training, spacewalks and his almost constant unpopularity? The more Blue found out about this flooded, gung-ho and annoying future, about himself—who and what he was (was he even human?)—and the equally disturbing and shocking truth about his parents, the more he realised getting home was the only solution. Wasn't it?If Blue knew one thing, it was that he would at least try.WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT BLUE INTO THE RIP"An amazing read and Kev Heritage's writing is superb and unique...I definitely recommend this book to sci-fi adventure readers!" Girl In The Woods "Hands-down one of the most creative YA books I've read in a long time." - Reading For Pleasure "Fast paced, intriguing, thought provoking, character driven science fiction. I loved it." - The Written Universe "A fun, addictive read from page one." - 40 West Media "K.J.Heritage seems to understand that you don't need to go 'over the top' in order to make contact with the human heart." - The Underground Treehouse "It captivated me from the beginning and held me prisoner to the end!" - Author Alliance "This is one of those books and I was awake into the early hours reading. Young Adult time travel at its best." - A Woman's Wisdom "I was drawn in hook, line and sinker...an amazing story and a great ending." - Bookaholic Babe "A winner from the very beginning...an excellent piece of science-fiction that can be enjoyed by adults as well as teenagers."- My Writer's Cramp "The Rip? Awesome!" - Just Blogging "All the ingredients for a great scifi teen read...Highly enjoyable." - Liz Loves Books YA "Fun, heartwarming, made me want to turn the pages faster" - The Book Tart

Qualia


Marie Browne - 2013
    But with Armageddon looming, Joe had better find out what's really going on, because, once Lucifer is released, any human will have missed their chance to pick a side.However, as he prepares to deliver Graham Latimer, Lucifer's unwilling and confused human host to the angels, Joe discovers that all may not be as it seems. Hell is no longer the realm of eternal torment and Metatron's actions are not divinely inspired. Pursued by the very angels with whom he has worked for so long, Joe travels with a diverse group of 'demons' through what is left of the seven circles in an attempt to keep Graham safe and stop Metatron from fooling the other angels into destroying the world. Facing his own personal demons, which are far more dangerous than those creatures around him and trying to find the 'truth' amongst the varying shades of grey that make up 'good' and 'evil', Joe has just one chance to make a difference. However any change is going to come at a cost and nobody, demon, angel or human, wants to pay the price.

The Great Poets: The War Poetry of Wilfred Owen


Wilfred Owen - 2013
    His striking body of work, grim to the point of brutality yet, at the same time, majestic and awe-inspiring, defines the war for us. It is in each of these famous poems that Owen reflects on the four terrible months that he lived through; he conveys the experience of war, the death, the destruction and the filth, through a unique poetic language and a bold artistic vision. This anthology collects 49 of Owen's iconic poems and serves not only as a perfect introduction to his verse but also as a commemoration of the sacrifice that was made by an entire generation of young men.

Medical Detectives: The Lives and Cases of Britain's Forensic Five


Robin Odell - 2013
    Spanning 70 years, their careers and achievements marked major milestones in the development of legal medicine, their work and innovation laying the foundations for modern crime scene investigation (CSI). Bernard Spilsbury, Sydney Smith, and Professors Glaister, Camps, and Simpson were the original expert witnesses. Between them, they performed more than 200,000 post-mortems during their professional careers, establishing crucial elements of murder investigation such as time, place, and cause of death. This forensic quintet featured in many of the notable murder trials of their time, making groundbreaking discoveries in the process.

When Pleasure Blooms


Lance Greenfield - 2013
     When Pleasure Blooms – A unique short story which is very sensual and erotic yet has absolutely no explicit descriptions of sexual acts. An extremely rare and exotic flower brings great pleasure to those who are lucky enough to find it in bloom. An African Massage - The tale of Tony, who gets more relaxation than he expected when he visits an African resort and unwinds, on his first day, with a massage.Note: This story is also published as a standalone book in its own right. Mary Had A Naval Virgin - This story is based upon the popular nursery rhyme. These are the adventures of a couple of Royal Navy officer cadets when they encounter the unlikely ghost of the fabled Mary. Includes some m-f-m action with the ghost as the jam in the sandwich!This story is set in North and Mid Wales, and has some comedy value.Note: This story is also published as a standalone book in its own right. Highland Roots - Fiona, a female American descendant of Jesse Chisholm, founder of the Chisholm Trail, heads for the Highlands of Scotland to investigate her Scottish roots. She meets her kilted distant cousin, Bruce, in a pub. He takes her for a ride into the wild mountainous countryside on his ancient motorbike. The trip turns out to be more exciting than either of them could possibly have imagined.Note: This story is also published as a standalone book in its own right. On The Altar - Against the strong advice of her sister, Stacey O'Malley makes the long journey from western Canada to a medieval church in southern England in her quest to discover the truth behind her recurring dreams. The sexual tension builds to extreme heights, and is sustained as Stacey's emotions and body are stretched to the limits when she encounters a monstrous beast.Note: This story is also published as a standalone book in its own right.

At Home with the Brontes: The History of Haworth Parsonage Its Occupants


Ann Dinsdale - 2013
    Crowds of tourists are drawn to Haworth every year to discover what inspired Anne, Charlotte and Emily. Ann Dinsdale explores their lives there, the impact of the sisters' home on their writing, and their lasting legacy. However, the Parsonage has also been home to several other families. This book begins with the early history of the house and those who lived there before the arrival of the Brontes. After Patrick Bronte's death in 1861 the Parsonage became home to four of his successors before being purchased by the Bronte Society in 1928. Thereafter, it became home to four museum custodians and their families. All of these later occupants witnessed the development of tourism in Haworth, which had begun in Mr Bronte's own lifetime, and experienced the trials and tribulations of living in a literary shrine. Using a variety of sources, mostly unpublished, Ann Dinsdale also tells their stories.

Space Danger! The Deadly Planet of DEATH!


Doug Strider - 2013
    Life expectancy is debatable but at least the perks are minimal. The crew of HMSS Monstro have been given a mission, a very BIG mission. If they could only get around to it then the galaxy might be a safer place to live. Safer and, quite importantly, still existing.

Notes From the House Spirits


Lucy Wood - 2013
    27 minutes

World of Dust


Joel Biroco - 2013
    It was written from the states of mind that prevail upon a man who has driven himself to the edges of society. It’s a book that’s been lived in. The carpets are rucked up, a lot of thinking happened in this room. Someone flirted with madness in here, valued despair almost as much as joy. Stood alone for years before even thinking of return. It is a disturbing book, brutally honest, eccentric, frequently funny if you have a slightly deranged sense of humour, and peaceful in a strange sort of way. A clash of worlds. Metaphysical, and ordinary. A sparsely furnished room, and outer space. A falling away of everything. Childhood ransacked for moments of understanding from the distance of age. Playfulness with words. The beauty of language and what it can say when you don’t try too hard to force it into market-acceptable forms.World of Dust is a story shattered into fragments waiting to be picked up in matching pieces. It is a philosophy in sudden shafts of sunlight out of dark clouds. It is also, proudly, a book about nothing.

Complete Works of John Galsworthy - Delphi Classics


John Galsworthy - 2013
    46 Complete Works of John Galsworthy A Bit O' Love A Family Man Another Sheaf Beyond Censorship and Art Concerning Letters Five Tales Four Short Plays Fraternity Joy Justice Loyalties Quality and Others Saint's Progress Six Short Plays Strife Tatterdemalion The Burning Spear The Complete Essays The Complete Plays The Country House The Dark Flower The Eldest Son The Fifth Series Plays The First and Last The First Series Plays The Forsyte Saga, Complete The Foundations The Fourth Series Plays The Freelands The Fugitive The Inn of Tranquility The Island Pharisees The Little Dream The Little Man The Mob The Patrician The Pigeon The Second Series Plays, Complete The Silver Box The Skin Game The Third Series Plays, Complete To Let Villa Rubein And Other Stories Windows

Attack Hitler's Bunker!


Lazlo Ferran - 2013
    They are brought together by Anna, a Station X decoder. With a dark, Italian beauty, she is the booty both men want to win.Richard comes up with an audacious plan which will test his new, crack squadron of pilots to their limits.The odds are increasingly slim of either pilot surviving as German Intelligence gets wind of the plan and Hitler orders counter-measures. As the Hurricanes descend into the Hell's Mouth around the Reich Chancellery it seems as if the whole Third Reich is there to stop them.Fans of 633 Squadron will love this white-hot roller-coaster ride through the streets of Wartime Berlin on a bombing mission with no equal. All profits from sales of this book until 10 September 2015 will go to The Stirling Aircraft Project Charity, a project to build a Short Stirling front fuselage section from as many original parts as possible, in commemoration of the people who designed, built flew and maintained this historic aircraft.

Red Written


P.T. Mayes - 2013
    He has become practically a walking dictionary of his deepest, darkest desires. And he is not alone.But what is worse for poor Michael is that he has been given extra. There is a big MURDER over his heart, but he has never murdered anyone in his life. Surely, there must be some mistake?Society quickly crumbles and we follow the adventures of Michael and a woman named Eva Loh as they fight to survive in the this strange new world. But all around them the world is changing radically. From the ashes of chaos new societies begin to emerge, some are good, others evil, and some that are not what they appear to be. Danger is everywhere. Red Written is dark urban fantasy set in contemporary Britain. Please note that Red Written is aimed at MATURE readers, with adult language and themes. If you are offended by such things, please do not download.

Memories of a Pre-Raphaelite Youth


Ford Madox Ford - 2013
    The grandson of Ford Madox Brown, he grew up surrounded by all the great figures of Victorian artistic life, whom he saw with the unflinching eye of a child. This collection brings together some of his most evocative, witty, and tender memories of an extraordinary youth. There are rich anecdotes about the Rossettis, Brown, Morris, Burne Jones, Ruskin, Oscar Wilde, Leighton, Swinburne, the accomplished con-man Charles Augustus Howell, and many of the minor but no less vivid characters that made up the bohemian life of London in the second half of the 19th century. Ford's elegiac but always penetrating prose is a constant delight, and his comic timing invariably immaculate. Selected from Ford's many volumes of memoirs (all now out of print), this is a superb and very funny introduction to one of the great periods of English art and poetry by a great writer at the very heart of all that was old and all that was new.

Jack Dawkins


Charlton Daines - 2013
    Now he has returned to find that London has changed while the boy has turned into a man.With few prospects provided by his criminal past and having developed mannerisms that allow him to move amongst a higher strata of society, Jack turns his back on the streets that would have primed him as a successor to the murderer, Bill Sykes, and quickly remodels himself as a gentleman thief. New acquaintances and a series of chance encounters, including one with his old friend Oliver, create complications as remnants of his past come back to plague him. Jack is forced to struggle for a balance between his new life and memories that haunt him with visions of the derelict tavern where Nancy used to sing.

The Stuarts


Mike Walker - 2013
    Mike Walker's epic chronicle of the Stuarts

Space Danger! Nemesis Mine


Doug Strider - 2013
    He already knew it was really dangerous, of course, but now it's just getting ridiculous. Nemesis Mine follows directly on from Part 1, The Deadly Planet of Death, and the crew of HMSS Monstro are in something of a pickle.

Pan's Garden / Incredible Adventures


Algernon Blackwood - 2013
    Mike Ashley, in his introduction, calls Pan's Garden "the definitive volume of Blackwood's short stories. . . because it defines the true nature of Blackwood's writing."INCREDIBLE ADVENTURESIncredible Adventures represents what biographer Mike Ashley calls "thelast outburst of his golden period" and is comprised of three novellasand two short stories. Here, nature is a living force, truth is theonly religion and the past holds sway over the present. At times almostsurreal in their intensity, these tales exert a strange power over thereader, opening our eyes to a larger world around us. From the ruggedmountains of Eastern Europe in "The Regeneration of Lord Ernie" to thevast deserts of Egypt in "A Descent Into Egypt," Blackwood takes us toother places--and other worlds.

An Old Woman and Her Cat


Doris Lessing - 2013
    From the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Doris Lessing, a short story about a woman’s gradual drift outside the limits of society.An old woman, with gipsy blood, begins to find the conventions of society stifling – when her husband dies, and her children leave home, she embraces a marginal, unconventional existence, accompanied by her faithful cat.‘An Old Woman and Her Cat’ brilliantly combines Doris Lessing’s unforgiving examination of our society – and those it cannot accommodate and ulitmately fails – with a wonderful portrait of her favourite animal – the cat.This story also appears in the collection The Temptation of Jack Orkney.

Slaughter on the Somme 1 July 1916: The Complete War Diaries of the British Army's Worst Day


Martin Mace - 2013
    The ear-splitting explosions were replaced by the shrill sound of hundreds of whistles being blown. At that moment, tens of thousands of British soldiers climbed out from the trenches on their part of the Western Front, and began to make their way steadily towards the German lines opposite. It was the first day of the Battle of the Somme.By the end of the day, a number of the regiments involved had met with some degree of success; others had suffered heavy losses for no gain, whilst a few quite literally ceased to exist. That day, the old infantry tactics of the British Army clashed head-on with the reality of modern warfare. On what is generally accepted as the worst day in the British Army s history, there were more than 60,000 casualties a third of them fatal.In this publication, the authors have drawn together, for the first time ever, all the War Diary entries for 171 British Regiments that went over the top that day a day that even now still touches so many families both in the United Kingdom and around the world. The result will be a vital work of reference to the events of 1 July 1916, a valuable information source for not only for those interested in military history, but genealogists and historians alike."

Salvage


Eric Brown - 2013
    Ella is not at all what she seems, as he’s soon about to find out.What follows, as the spider-drones and the Hayakawa Organisation chase Ed, Ella and engineer Karrie light-years across space, is a fast-paced adventure with Ed learning more about Ella – and about himself – than he ever expected.The Salvageman Ed series of linked stories – four of which appear here for the first time – combine action, humour and pathos, from the master of character-based adventure science fiction. “Eric Brown’s modest, slightly retro, extremely charming and very human voice has been a distinctive, indeed unique, presence in British SF for many years. Here he offers another interlinked selection of stories which, as is typical of Eric Brown, manage to be small scale, close-up, and completely free of heroic posturing, in spite of the galactic scale of their setting. There is something restful about them, something comforting. Yet while they gently entertain, they also, very quietly, deal with big questions about identity, love, and the relationship between body and soul.” Chris Beckett, Arthur C Clarke Award-winning author of Dark Eden“These stories demonstrate everything that Eric Brown excels at: intelligent high adventure in space featuring fully-rounded characters that the reader can instantly relate to, revelling in their evolving relationship as Ed and his crew are forced to contend with all that the author’s vivid imagination throws at them. Wonderful stuff!” Ian Whates, author of The Noise Within

Cinnamon Twigs


Darren Freebury-Jones - 2013
    All he's ever wanted is immortality, the Holy Grail. To be remembered when he dies. But as the world of celebrity begins to hurtle from its axis, he realizes that the only way he can make his story remembered is through denying the press an ending. Even if it means devastating the woman he loves. Like a phoenix building itself a nest out of cinnamon twigs, he prepares to become reborn… A poignant memoir about love that transcends time itself, ghosts and pain, Daniel’s account is utterly compelling and unforgettable.

In the Footsteps of the Brontes


Mark Davis - 2013
    Mark Davies shows us through his stunning photography how his native Yorkshire influenced the Bronte family, and picks out certain buildings and aspects that were renamed and included in their writing.Through a fascinating selection of carefully selected old images, displayed alongside modern equivalents, it is hoped that a new and unique light will illuminate a fresh and exciting aspect of the Bronte's and their world. This unique collection will be essential reading for anyone who knows and loves Yorkshire, or the Brontes.

Red Room: New Short Stories Inspired by the Brontës


A.J. AshworthDavid Constantine - 2013
    The collection includes twelve new stories by some of Britain's most accomplished writers, many of whom have won prizes such as the Macmillan/PEN Prize, the BBC National Short Story Award, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award and the V. S. Pritchett Prize. The collection also includes a poem by Simon Armitage.The collection features a demon sheep, strange curates, acts of rebellion and acts of violence. There is love made and love ruined, parents lost and children found. A girl's controlling step-father gets more than he bargained for while out on a picnic. A troubled man finds comfort in the poetry of Emily Brontë during his wife's illness. A woman stumbles across a French officer while out walking and returns home with a secret.A percentage of the profits from sales of the book will be donated to The Brontë Birthplace Trust to help with their plans for Thornton, Bradford - the village where all three sisters were born.'Ranging from haunting to humorous, from formally inventive to jubilantly fantastical, and from 19th to 21st centuries, there is a story here for every taste, and for every Brontë lover.' Jane Rogers, author of Hitting Trees with Sticks.

Space Danger - First Sweep


Doug Strider - 2013
    Set before the events of 'Space Danger! The Deadly Planet of Death!' a viable planet for colonization needs a first sweep to see if there is anything there that might be rather violently annoyed by the intrusion.In this case, there might just be.

Thomas Hardy: The World of his Novels


J.B. Bullen - 2013
    As lovers of his novels and poetry know, this ‘partly real, partly dream-country’ was firmly rooted in the Dorset into which he had been born.J. B. Bullen explores the relationship between reality and the dream, identifying the places and the settings for Hardy’s writing, and showing how and why he shaped them to serve the needs of his characters and plots. The locations may be natural or man-made, but they are rarely fantastic or imaginary. A few have been destroyed and some moved from their original site, but all of them actually existed, and we can still trace most of them on the ground today.Thomas Hardy: The World of his Novels is essential reading for students of literature and for all Hardy enthusiasts who want to gain new insights into his work.

Space Danger! Space Marines' Graveyard


Doug Strider - 2013
    It's not easy getting that job. The training alone is enough to deter the hardest of candidates. But some have no choice.Unless they don't want to prove themselves to their mothers. But they all do.~This is a standalone story set in the Space Danger! universe. Well, galaxy really.

The Last Observer: A Magical Battle for reality


G. Michael Vasey - 2013
    An ordinary man is abruptly dragged into the middle of a violent struggle between black and white magicians who both seek to use his extraordinary powers of imagination and observation. He soon learns that reality is not at all what it seems before being called upon to play a decisive role in determining whose reality will prevail.Dennis Wheatley brought up to date with a liberal spicing of speculation about the nature of reality, quantum physics and parallel worlds. .... Highly recommended Herbie Brennan, New York Times best-selling author of Whisperers: The Secret History of the Spirit World.Dr. G. Michael Vasey writes about the nature of reality and our ability to shape that reality from an occultist point of view.