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Saturday Bloody Saturday
by Alastair Campbell Paul FletcherFebruary 1974. Football manager Charlie Gordon is struggling, and with each defeat the sack gets closer. His greatness as a player counts for nothing with directors or fans, or the Number 2 who is after his job. Things are no better off the field, and after a failed marriage and the loss of a child, he is taking more and more consolation in alcohol.Only a decent Cup run is keeping him in work. But how to turn things around with the same players who got him here in the first place? Can he trust this remarkable but often unreliable mix of characters to save him? Footballers fall into two categories - artists or assassins. With the next round of the Cup at Chelsea away he will soon find out which of his players, from homesick teenage starlet Willie Buchanan, to playboy record signing DD Marland, can deliver for him.Meanwhile, as the country prepares for a general election, one of the most audacious and high-profile political assassinations in the IRA's history is being planned in London. An active service unit of two men and a woman await the critical signal to proceed. Now both teams - the IRA's and Charlie's - converge on the capital for a result that will alter everyone's lives irrevocably, with consequences far beyond football.Read by Jonathan Keeble(p) Orion Publishing Group 2018
Northern Spy: A Reese Witherspoon's Book Club Pick
by Flynn BerryTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK'You'll devour Northern Spy . . . I loved this thrill ride of a book'REESE WITHERSPOON'A chilling, gorgeously written tale... Berry is a beautiful writer with a sophisticated, nuanced understanding of this most complicated of places'NEW YORK TIMES'Thrillingly good... Flynn Berry shows a le Carré-like flair for making you wonder what's really going on at any given moment' WASHINGTON POST'An elegantly wrought story about the perils of not being what you seem... Nerve-shredding suspense'DAILY MAILA producer at the Belfast bureau of the BBC, Tessa is at work one day when the news of another IRA raid comes on the air. As the anchor requests the public's help in locating those responsible for this latest attack - a robbery at a gas station - Tessa's sister appears on the screen pulling a black mask over her face.The police believe Marian has joined the IRA, but Tessa knows this is impossible. But when the truth of what has happened to her sister reveals itself, Tessa will be forced to choose: between her ideals and her family.
Your Call: What My Listeners Say and Why We Should Take Note
by Jeremy VineThis title was previously published in 2017 with the original title, 'What I Learnt'Jeremy Vine has been presenting a BBC Radio 2 show since 2003 that attracts more than seven million listeners. In that time he calculates he has taken more than 25,000 calls on topical subjects - big issues and small ones: on life, love, lollipop ladies and poisonous plants. But what have the callers told him? In the age of Brexit and Donald Trump, is the world now being run by Radio 2 listeners? If you listen to Radio 4, Brexit was a shock. If you are a Radio 2 listener it wouldn't have surprised you at all. Where Jeremy's callers once expressed a kind of resignation ('But what can you do?' or the gloomy rejoinder: 'You have to laugh'), now they tend to give him their views expecting to be heeded. They have not called in to entertain the audience. They expect to take the wheel of the car and drive.Listener wisdom is far more valuable than most of what we hear from appointed spokespeople. What was the response when Jeremy asked: 'Have you ever been pecked in the eye by a gannet?' Which subjects are most likely to start pitched warfare between different sections of the audience? (Answer: old people using buses, old people NOT using buses, cellophane, or Tony Blair saying anything.)In a book punctuated by vivid anecdotes and laugh-out-loud moments, Jeremy Vine explains what it's like to hit a button and hear - totally unvarnished and unspun - the voices of so-called ordinary people. And why they are not so ordinary after all.Read by Peter Kenny and Introduced by Jeremy Vine(p) Orion Recording Group 2017
Postcards to Europe: The unique must-have collection
by VariousThis is not a book about politics. It is a book about what makes us British, and what makes us European.Spend time with some of your favourite writers and artists in this truly unique collection spanning everything from art, language, food, music and movies, to war, literature, driving, nudity, geography, smoking and nature.Featuring pieces of exceptional quality from some of our most treasured novelists, historians, journalists, poets and artists, including: Jessie Burton, Richard Herring, Alain de Botton, Tom Bradby, Val McDermid, Matt Haig, Afua Hirsch, Lionel Shriver, Sarah Perry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Ian Rankin, Owen Jones, Mark Kermode, Robert Macfarlane, Chris Riddell, Former Prime Minister Jim Hacker and many more.A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the times we live in, our relationship with the continent, and ourselves.* * * * *INCLUDES PIECES BY:Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Tom Bradby, Jessie Burton, Ben Collins (aka The Stig), Colonel Tim Collins, Robert Crampton, Adam Dant, Alain de Botton, Kate Eberlen, Matt Frei, Nicci French, Simon Garfield, Jonathan Lynn writing as Former Prime Minister Jim Hacker, Matt Haig, Richard Herring, Jennifer Higgie, Afua Hirsch, Owen Jones, Oliver Kamm, Alex Kapranos, Mark Kermode, Hari Kunzru, Olivia Laing, Marie Le Conte, Amy Liptrot, Robert Macfarlane, Henry Marsh, Val McDermid, Ian McEwan, Hollie McNish, Kate Mosse, Jenni Murray, Sarah Perry, Ian Rankin, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Cathy Rentzenbrink, Chris Riddell, Andrew Roberts, Will Self, David Shrigley, Lionel Shriver, Sunny Singh, Ece Temelkuran, Rob Temple, Bee Wilson, Sarah Winman
Guess Who: ONE ROOM. FIVE SUSPECTS. THREE HOURS TO FIND A KILLER.
by Chris McGeorgeONE ROOM. FIVE SUSPECTS. THREE HOURS TO FIND A KILLER.'An impressive debut' James Oswald**************GUESS WHO A waitress. A cleaner. An actress. A lawyer. A student. Everyone is a suspect.WHERE In a locked room - with no escape, and no idea how they got there. WHAT In the bathtub, the body of a man they all knew. Someone murdered him. Someone in this room. WHY They have three hours to find out. Or they all die. THE RULES ARE SIMPLE. THE GAME IS NOT Imagine Agatha Christie had created an interactive Escape the Room game, and GUESS WHO would be the result. For fans of the DI Helen Grace series by MJ Arlidge, The Lucky Ones by Mark Edwards, Ragdoll by Daniel Cole, and From the Dead by Mark Billingham.**************What readers are saying about this gripping thriller from the new king of the locked room mystery, Chris McGeorge:'Guess Who boils with claustrophobic intensity. Packed with gripping twists and turns, Guess Who is an inventive, entertaining locked room mystery that kept me utterly hooked.' Adam Hamdy, author of Pendulum'Aningenious twisty mystery in a totally unique setting.' Claire McGowan, author of The Lost'An impressive debut and a sign of great things to come.' James Oswald, author of Natural Causes'Chris McGeorge's Guess Who is a fresh take on the locked room murder mystery. The plotting is intricate, the characters well drawn, and the pace never lets up as it drives headlong to the surprising end.' David C. Taylor, Edgar-nominated, Nero Wolfe Award-winning author of Night Life'Guess Who is an incredibly satisfying, intelligent thriller running at break-neck pace right until it's closing pages. A marvellous debut.' Francesca Dorricott, author of After the Eclipse'To say that I found ithard to put down would be an understatement indeed. And when we got to the reveal, I was gobsmacked! Well done that author, take a bow. Not only is it a wholly satisfying, cracking read but, for a debut, it is also very brave and indeed impressive.' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'The story is incredibly well-written; it's one of those books that once started, can't be put down. The plot is solid and character development is good. A perfect, modern-day Agatha Christie-esque novel.' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'I must admit I am somewhat daunted at the prospect of writing a review for this book - it was so fantastic that I am not sure I can encapsulate just good it was in this review.' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars
Guess Who: ONE ROOM. FIVE SUSPECTS. THREE HOURS TO FIND A KILLER.
by Chris McGeorgeAt eleven years old, Morgan Sheppard solved the murder of his Maths teacher when everyone else believed it to be a suicide.Twenty-five years later...Morgan Sheppard wakes up handcuffed to a bed in an unfamiliar hotel room, with five strangers waking up around him. In the bathroom - a corpse. One of the people in the room is the killer and Sheppard has three hours to solve the murder. If he doesn't find the killer, they all die. As everyone in the room panics, Sheppard starts to unravel an impossible case, where the real mystery might stretch all the way back to his childhood.Read by Tom Lawrence(p) Orion Publishing Group 2018
Troubles: Winner of the Lost Man Booker Prize 1970 (W&N Essentials)
by J. G. FarrellWinner of the 1970 lost Man Booker prize in 2010.Major Brendan Archer travels to Ireland - to the Majestic Hotel and to the fiancée he acquired on a rash afternoon's leave three years ago. Despite her many letters, the lady herself proves elusive, and the Major's engagement is short-lived. But he is unable to detach himself from the alluring discomforts of the crumbling hotel. Ensconced in the dim and shabby splendour of the Palm Court, surrounded by gently decaying old ladies and proliferating cats, the Major passes the summer. So hypnotic are the faded charms of the Majestic, the Major is almost unaware of the gathering storm. But this is Ireland in 1919 - and the struggle for independence is about to explode with brutal force.(p) Orion Publishing Group 2018
The Globotics Upheaval: Globalisation, Robotics and the Future of Work
by Richard Baldwin'A manifesto for future-proofing our jobs and prosperity' THE SUNDAY TIMESWe stand on the edge of a new era that will bring change to our world on a par with the Industrial Revolution. Automation, artificial intelligence and robotics are changing our lives quickly - but digital disruption goes much further than we realize. Richard Baldwin, one of the world's leading globalization experts, argues that the inhuman speed of this transformation threatens to overwhelm our capacity to adapt. But while the changes are now inevitable, there are strategies that humanity can use to adapt to this new world, employing the indispensable skills that no machine can copy: creativity and independent thought. THE GLOBOTICS UPHEAVAL will help each of us prepare for the oncoming wave of the advanced robotic workforce.
The Man Who Came Uptown: One of The Times ‘Best Crime Novels of the Decade’
by George PelecanosFrom writer and producer on HBO's THE WIRE and THE DEUCE comes one of the most critically-acclaimed crime novels of the year:'He is, quite simply, among America's finest crime writers. This latest story does not disappoint ... lyrical, beautifully observed and constantly surprising, it is a delight' Daily Mail'In his first novel for five years, Pelecanos demonstrates why he deserves to be regarded as one of the best American crime novelists ... It's a moving tale, beautifully told' The Times* * * * *Anna Byrne is a jailhouse librarian. In a place where hope is hard to find, the power of books can be a light in the dark. For some of the prisoners, her work is life-changing.Like Michael Hudson, her best student, who's been locked up awaiting trial before his sudden release. He's relieved to be free - to 'come uptown', as they say - but can't shake the question: why is the witness who put him behind bars is suddenly refusing to testify? There's a man who might have the answer, but he wants something first. Phil Ornazian is a private investigator who moonlights as a petty criminal. He's not exactly proud of it, but times are hard in Washington, D.C. People have to change to survive, or die trying.But everything comes at a price and, at some point, everyone has to pay...* * * * *Praise for George Pelecanos: 'Perhaps the greatest living American crime writer' Stephen King 'Outstanding' Sunday Telegraph 'Powerful' Observer'American crime writing at its finest' Independent on Sunday'Terrific' Elmore Leonard 'Powerful' Michael Connelly 'I love the way he writes: economical, rhythmic, elliptical and angrily political' Val McDermid'Hard-boiled fiction with heart' Sunday Telegraph'Pelecanos has joined James Lee Burke and Lawrence Block at the high table of contemporary crime greats' The Times'The coolest writer in America' GQ 'Gold-standard character-driven crime writing that few will ever match' Financial Times
The Man Who Came Uptown: One of The Times ‘Best Crime Novels of the Decade'
by George PelecanosAnna Byrne is a jailhouse librarian. Most days, she loves her job and shares the life-affirming power of books to people who would have no hope without them. Often, she can get too close and forget some of these men are dangerous criminals.But some of them never had a chance. Like Michael Hudson, who's been locked up awaiting trial before his sudden release. He's happy and relieved but can't shake the question preying on his mind: how comes the witness who put him behind bars is suddenly refusing to testify?There's a man who might have the answer, but he wants something first. Phil Ornazian is a private investigator who moonlights as a petty criminal. He's not exactly proud of it, but times are hard in Washington D.C. People have to change to survive, or die trying.But everything comes at a price and, at some point, everyone has to pay...
Goodbye Europe: The unique must-have collection
by VariousThis is not a book about politics. It is a book about what makes us British, and what makes us European.Spend time with some of your favourite writers and artists in this truly unique collection spanning everything from art, language, food, music and movies, to war, literature, driving, nudity, geography, smoking and nature.Featuring pieces of exceptional quality from some of our most treasured novelists, historians, journalists, poets and artists, including: Jessie Burton, Richard Herring, Alain de Botton, Tom Bradby, Val McDermid, Matt Haig, Afua Hirsch, Lionel Shriver, Sarah Perry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Ian Rankin, Owen Jones, Mark Kermode, Robert Macfarlane, Chris Riddell, Former Prime Minister Jim Hacker and many more.A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the times we live in, our relationship with the continent, and ourselves.* * * * *INCLUDES PIECES BY:Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Tom Bradby, Jessie Burton, Ben Collins (aka The Stig), Colonel Tim Collins, Robert Crampton, Adam Dant, Alain de Botton, Kate Eberlen, Matt Frei, Nicci French, Simon Garfield, Jonathan Lynn writing as Former Prime Minister Jim Hacker, Matt Haig, Richard Herring, Jennifer Higgie, Afua Hirsch, Owen Jones, Oliver Kamm, Alex Kapranos, Mark Kermode, Hari Kunzru, Olivia Laing, Marie Le Conte, Amy Liptrot, Robert Macfarlane, Henry Marsh, Val McDermid, Ian McEwan, Hollie McNish, Kate Mosse, Jenni Murray, Sarah Perry, Ian Rankin, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Cathy Rentzenbrink, Chris Riddell, Andrew Roberts, Will Self, David Shrigley, Lionel Shriver, Sunny Singh, Ece Temelkuran, Rob Temple, Bee Wilson, Sarah Winman
Francis I: The Maker of Modern France
by Leonie FriedaFrancis I (1494-1547) was inconstant, amorous, hot-headed and flawed. Yet he was also arguably the most significant king that France ever had. This is his story. A contemporary of Henry VIII of England, Francis saw himself as the first Renaissance king, a man who was the exemplar of courtly and civilised behaviour throughout Europe. A courageous and heroic warrior, he was also a keen aesthete, an accomplished diplomat and an energetic ruler who turned his country into a force to be reckoned with. Yet he was also capricious, vain and arrogant, taking hugely unnecessary risks, at least one of which nearly resulted in the end of his kingdom. His great feud with his nemesis Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, defined European diplomacy and sovereignty, but his notorious alliance with the great Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent threatened to destroy everything. With access to never-before-seen private archives, Leonie Frieda's comprehensive and sympathetic account explores the life of the most human of all Renaissance monarchs - and the most enigmatic.Read by Carole Boyd(p) Orion Publishing Group 2018
Hawkwood's Sword: The Brand New Adventure from the Master of Historical Fiction
by Christian Cameron'One of the finest writers of historical fiction in the world' BEN KANETHE BRAND NEW MEDIEVAL ADVENTURE FROM THE MASTER OF HISTORICAL FICTION1368. France, Spain and England prepare for war. In Italy, the Pope and the Visconti princes are battling for bloody supremacy.The worst years of Sir William Gold's life are about to begin. Leaving the side of his commander, Sir John Hawkwood, William embarks on a new journey that will bring him fame and favour - until a heart-breaking personal tragedy leads him to put down his sword. But men of war can't stay out of battle for long. Gold yearns to return to Italy and rejoin Hawkwood. Only now the game of the Italian Princes is changing and, as chaos descends, Gold must finally decide who he stands for...* * * * * * *Praise for Christian Cameron:'The master of historical fiction' SUNDAY TIMES'A storyteller at the height of his powers' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY'Superb' THE TIMES'A sword-slash above the rest' IRISH EXAMINER
Hawkwood's Sword: The Brand New Adventure from the Master of Historical Fiction
by Christian Cameron'One of THE finest writers of historical fiction in the world' BEN KANETHE BRAND NEW MEDIEVAL ADVENTURE FROM THE MASTER OF HISTORICAL FICTION1368. France, Spain and England prepare for war. In Italy, the Pope and the Visconti princes are battling for bloody supremacy.The worst years of Sir William Gold's life are about to begin. Leaving the side of his commander, Sir John Hawkwood, William embarks on a new journey that will bring him fame and favour - until a heart-breaking personal tragedy leads him to put down his sword. But men of war can't stay out of battle for long. Gold yearns to return to Italy and rejoin Hawkwood. Only now the game of the Italian Princes is changing and, as chaos descends, Gold must finally decide who he stands for...* * * * * * *Praise for Christian Cameron:'The master of historical fiction' SUNDAY TIMES'A storyteller at the height of his powers' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY'Superb' THE TIMES'A sword-slash above the rest' IRISH EXAMINER
Dead Doubles: The Extraordinary Worldwide Hunt for One of the Cold War's Most Notorious Spy Rings
by Trevor BarnesTHE PORTLAND SPY RING was one of the most infamous espionage cases from the Cold War. People the world over were shocked when its exposure revealed the shadowy world of deep cover KGB 'illegals' - spies operating under false identities stolen from the dead.The CIA's revelation to MI5 in 1960 that a KGB agent was stealing crucial secrets from the world-leading submarine research base at Portland in Dorset looked initially like a dangerous but contained lapse of security by a British man and his mistress. But the couple were tailed by MI5 'watchers' to a covert meeting with a Canadian businessman, Gordon Lonsdale. The unsuspecting Lonsdale in turn led MI5's spycatchers to an innocent-looking couple in suburban Ruislip called the Krogers.But within weeks the CIA rang the alarm - their critical source of intelligence was to defect within hours - and MI5 was forced to act immediately. The Krogers were exposed as two of the most important Russian 'illegals' ever, whom the Americans had been hunting for years. And Lonsdale was no Canadian, but a senior KGB controller.This astonishing but true story of MI5's spyhunt is straight from the world of John le Carré and is told here for the first time using hitherto secret MI5 and FBI files, private family archives and original interviews. Its tentacles stretch around the world - from America, to the USSR, Canada, New Zealand, Europe and the UK. DEAD DOUBLES is a gripping episode of Cold War history, and a case that fully justified the West's paranoia about infiltration and treachery.
Long Shot: My Life As a Sniper in the Fight Against ISIS
by Azad CudiIn September 2014, Azad Cudi became one of seventeen snipers deployed when ISIS, trying to shatter the Kurds in a decisive battle, besieged the northern city of Kobani. In LONG SHOT, he tells the inside story of how a group of activists and idealists withstood a ferocious assault and, street by street, house by house, took back their land in a victory that was to prove the turning point in the war against ISIS. By turns devastating, inspiring and lyrical, this is a unique account of modern war and of the incalculable price of victory as a few thousand men and women achieved the impossible and kept their dream of freedom alive.
30 Years of Matt: The best of the best - brilliant cartoons from the genius, award-winning Matt.
by Matt PritchettFrom all-day opening hours to President Trump; from the first Red Nose Day to Brexit...The last 30 years has seen some momentous - and not so momentous - events. 6 Prime Ministers, 7 General Elections, from Thatcher to New Labour, Cameron's Coalition to May's Minority. 1 Brexit, 1 hung Parliament, 1 Queen, 3 Popes and the first black US President. And chronicling the entire three decades is Matt, beloved, award-winning cartoonist - and the very best there is. Whether it's beleaguered commuters, political surprises, national absurdities, Royal babies or the weather, Matt always encapsulates the moment with the perfect cartoon.'Matt is the Don Bradman of daily cartoonists - so much greater than his nearest rivals it's almost embarrassing' Stephen Fry
30 Years of Matt: The best of the best - brilliant cartoons from the genius, award-winning Matt.
by Matt PritchettFrom all-day opening hours to President Trump; from the first Red Nose Day to Brexit...The last 30 years has seen some momentous - and not so momentous - events. 6 Prime Ministers, 7 General Elections, from Thatcher to New Labour, Cameron's Coalition to May's Minority. 1 Brexit, 1 hung Parliament, 1 Queen, 3 Popes and the first black US President. And chronicling the entire three decades is Matt, beloved, award-winning cartoonist - and the very best there is. Whether it's beleaguered commuters, political surprises, national absurdities, Royal babies or the weather, Matt always encapsulates the moment with the perfect cartoon.'Matt is the Don Bradman of daily cartoonists - so much greater than his nearest rivals it's almost embarrassing' Stephen Fry
Political Risk: Facing the Threat of Global Insecurity in the Twenty-First Century
by Condoleezza Rice Amy ZegartPolitical risk - the probability that a political action could significantly affect an organisation - is changing fast, and it's more widespread than ever before.In the past, the chief concern used to be whether a foreign dictator would nationalise the country's oil industry or impose onerous new regulations. Today, political risk stems from a widening array of political agents, from Twitter users and terrorists to local officials, transnational activists, hackers and insurgents. What's more, the very institutions and laws that are supposed to reduce uncertainty and risk often increase it instead. This means that in today's globalised world there are no 'safe' bets. Political risk affects companies and organisations of all sizes, operating everywhere from London to Lahore, even if they don't know it.Political Risk investigates and analyses this shifting landscape, suggests what businesses can do to navigate it, and explains how all of us can better understand and deal with these rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics.Read by Grace Angela Henry(P) Hachette book Group US 2018
In the Shadow of the Empress: The Defiant Lives of Maria Theresa, Mother of Marie Antoinette, and Her Daughters
by Nancy GoldstoneOut of the thrilling and tempestuous eighteenth century comes the sweeping family saga of beautiful Maria Theresa, a sovereign of extraordinary strength and vision, the only woman ever to inherit and rule the vast Habsburg empire in her own name, and three of her remarkable daughters: lovely, talented Maria Christina, governor-general of the Austrian Netherlands; spirited Maria Carolina, the resolute queen of Naples; and the youngest, Marie Antoinette, the glamorous, tragic queen of France, perhaps the most famous princess in history. Unfolding against an irresistible backdrop of brilliant courts from Vienna to Versailles, embracing the exotic lure of Naples and Sicily, this epic history of Maria Theresa and her daughters is a tour de force of desire, adventure, ambition, treachery, sorrow, and glory.Each of these women's lives was packed with passion and heart-stopping suspense. Maria Theresa inherited her father's thrones at the age of twenty-three and was immediately attacked on all sides by foreign powers confident that a woman would to be too weak to defend herself. Maria Christina, a gifted artist, who alone among her sisters succeeded in marrying for love, would face the same dangers that destroyed the monarchy in France. Resourceful Maria Carolina would usher in the golden age of Naples only to then face the deadly whirlwind of Napoleon. And, finally, Marie Antoinette, the doomed queen whose stylish excesses and captivating notoriety have masked the truth about her husband and herself for two hundred and fifty years.
A Planet for the President
by Alistair BeatonThis is a story written over a decade ago.Before Fake News, or Alternative Facts, or even social media.It told the story of a not-too-distant future, which really was not too distant.*The President of the United States is facing a global catastrophe.The environment is in meltdown. People are dying. Americans are dying.Even he can't ignore it.There's hardly a corner of the world that isn't in crisis.And that's when he's persuaded of a truth his advisers hold to be self-evident: That it's time to think the unthinkable.The problem isn't power, or politics, or the planet, or the President.It's the People.*Hilarious and horrifying - this enormously entertaining satire has never been more razor-sharp, revelatory or relevant. What readers are saying about this hilarious, critically acclaimed novel:'For anyone who likes laughs and thrills in one package and who's been following recent developments in the White House this is an absolute must.' Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars'This political and satirical novel manages to be both thrilling and funny. And, given its prescience, scary too. The characters, the setting and the plot are fantastic and believable. A real page turner.' Amazon Reviewer,5 stars'A frighteningly plausible thriller, which imagines what might happen if the White House were finally to believe that something had to be done about global warming ... clever, funny and a really good read.' Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars'This thriller is packed with good jokes and tells a tale that is utterly credible. Parts were jaw-droppingly frightening and I wished I could have put it down but thesharp humour and pacey plot made me keep reading. It's a laugh and a chiller in one book.' Amazon Reviewer,5 stars
A Planet for the President: A Novel
by Alistair Beaton'For anyone who likes laughs and thrills in one package and who's been following recent developments in the White House this is an absolute must.' Amazon Reviewer, 5 starsIt is the near future and things are not going well for the President of the United States. He wants Americans to be adored by everyone but half the planet seems to be in a permanent state of insurrection against US power. What's more, there's a growing environmental crisis that even he can't ignore. It's one thing when there are floods in Bangladesh, quite another when almost 2,000 Americans die in flooding in Texas.His advisers warn him he could be remembered as the President who wrecked the planet.The President is persuaded of one simple fact: there are too many people in the world. Only radical action can deal with the problem. His advisors come up with a solution more ruthless than anything ever contemplated before. Appalled, the president refuses to go along with their plan.But it isn't long before he is committed to thinking the unthinkable ...****************What readers are saying about this hilarious, critically acclaimed novel:'This political and satirical novel manages to be both thrilling and funny. And, given its prescience, scary too. The characters, the setting and the plot are fantastic and believable. A real page turner.' Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars'A frighteningly plausible thriller, which imagines what might happen if the White House were finally to believe that something had to be done about global warming ... clever, funny and a really good read.' Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars'This thriller is packed with good jokes and tells a tale that is utterly credible. Parts were jaw-droppingly frightening and I wished I could have put it down but thesharp humour and pacey plot made me keep reading. It's a laugh and a chiller in one book.' Amazon Reviewer,5 stars
We Need New Stories: Challenging the Toxic Myths Behind Our Age of Discontent
by Nesrine Malik'Nesrine Malik writes with urgent eloquence about the world we live in, applying her brilliant mind to some of the most important debates of our age. She's right: we do need new stories. Most of all though, we need this book' Elizabeth Day'A powerful and persuasive debunking exercise' GUARDIANWe are in a unique moment as it is becoming clear that the old frames of reference are not working, that the narratives used for decades to stave off progressive causes are in danger of being exposed as falsehoods, that the myths, be it of sexual liberation or of white non-identity, are at odds with the lived experience and in urgent need of revision. Nesrine Malik applies her uniquely sharp intellect to a range of stories used to maintain the status quo. As the centre ground is being eroded, she challenges us to find new narrators whose stories can fill the void and unite us behind a shared progressive vision. Do women mistake access for arrival? Has the concept of political correctness been weaponised to avoid ceding space to those excluded from power? Is whiteness an identity with barriers to entry? These are some of the questions at the centre of Nesrine Malik's radical and compelling analysis.(p) Orion Publishing Group Ltd 2019
Call Him Mine: A Telegraph Thriller of the Year
by Tim MacGabhannJaded reporter Andrew and his photographer boyfriend, Carlos, are sick of telling just another story. From cartel massacres to corrupt politicians, sifting the dregs of Mexico's drug war, they think they've seen it all. But when they find a body even the police are too scared to look at, what started out as just another reportage becomes the sort of story all reporters dream of.Until Carlos pushes for answers too fast, and winds up murdered, leaving Andrew grief-stricken and flailing for answers, justice, and revenge. Caught in a web of dirty money that stretches from the boardrooms of the United States to the death squads of El Salvador, Andrew must decide whether to save himself - or find out who killed the man he loves, and destroyed the only home he's ever known.(p) Orion Publishing Group Ltd 2019
Catherine de Medici: A Biography
by Leonie FriedaThe bestselling revisionist biography of one of the great women of the 16th centuryOrphaned in infancy, Catherine de Medici was the sole legitimate heiress to the Medici family fortune. Married at fourteen to the future Henri II of France, she was constantly humiliated by his influential mistress Diane de Poitiers. When her husband died as a result of a duelling accident in Paris, Catherine was made queen regent during the short reign of her eldest son (married to Mary Queen of Scots and like many of her children he died young). When her second son became king she was the power behind the throne. She nursed dynastic ambitions, but was continually drawn into political and religious intrigues between Catholics and Protestants that plagued France for much of the later part of her life. It had always been said that she was implicated in the notorious Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre, together with the king and her third son who succeeded to the throne in 1574, but was murdered. Her political influence waned, but she survived long enough to ensure the succession of her son-in-law who had married her daughter Margaret.Read by Sarah Le Fevre(p) Orion Publishing Group 2018