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A disillusioned young British journalist, Harry Marks, is drawn into a covert intelligence operation in Istanbul by a charismatic agent named James. What begins as a casual friendship spirals into espionage, murder, and manipulation as Harry unknowingly becomes a pawn in a rogue Anglo-American mission to seize Saddam Hussein’s stolen wealth. Haunted, hunted, and morally compromised, Harry must choose between loyalty, survival, and the truth. The Istanbul Connection is a gripping, morally complex thriller that explores the blurred lines between ideology and manipulation.

After seventeen years in stand-up comedy and, by 1981, fourteen years in children’s television, Johnny’s self-created shows Think of a Number and Think Again were attracting huge audiences. Yet his roller-coaster career was anything but steady. Each success seemed to be matched by a setback, as if someone, or something, was always waiting to pull him back down. Before long, the world of engineering and big business came calling. Johnny found himself not only presenting but also writing and lecturing on an extraordinary range of subjects, always in support of new ideas and initiatives. And, more often than not, he came out smiling and armed with new, funnier or sometimes more shocking stories that simply just ‘must be told’. Today, the roller-coaster ride continues. The lows may feel steeper than ever, but the highs are even more thrilling and exhilarating. Through it all, one thing remains certain: it’s still a laugh-a-minute adventure. Enjoy the ride!

When Amy’s boyfriend and soulmate, James, is killed in a road accident, her world shatters. Consumed by grief and desperate to know he’s all right, she turns to mediumship. Meanwhile, up in heaven, James is facing his own turmoil. A glitch in his celestial pain filter means he misses Amy and is dismayed by her heartbreak. He appeals to God for help with contacting her, but an underintuitive heavenly app and an elderly psychic are among the obstacles that stand in the way of communicating across the great divide. As Amy’s grief overwhelms her, despite the support of a new group of friends, James is compelled to take drastic action to convince her it’s time for a fresh start. But will divine intervention end up causing more harm than good?

Claudia Alcock is looking for a hitman. Not just any hitman but one who can get the job done properly. After all, she may be a frizzy-haired, middle-aged woman with paranoid tendencies and a chequered romantic past, but she’s no fool. Her cheating soon-to-be ex-husband Gary, aided by his equally unfaithful new lover Alexa, deserve nothing less than a fitting comeuppance. Unfortunately for Claudia, Gary has plans of his own. Determined to secure Claudia’s fortune, he hires his own hitman whose messy efforts range from bombs to snipers to poisonous spiders. Can Claudia dodge these increasingly ludicrous attempts on her lif? any, darkly comic and gloriously unpredictable.

“…when a beautiful flower smells so sweet, sometimes you forget to look out for the thorns."1484, Leicester. Lady Katherine Turner never expected to inherit power, but after the sudden loss of her beloved brother, she steps into the role of Countess of Leicester, only to find herself ensnared in a world of ambition, secrets and betrayal. Her newfound wealth soon attracts attention from suitors eager to claim both her hand and her fortune. None is more relentless than the notorious Lord Henry Tyrell, Earl of Dornton, who is as charming as he is treacherous. But as love blossoms between Katherine and the handsome Yorkshireman Lord James Stanford, Lord Tyrell refuses to accept defeat. Fuelled by obsession and greed, he will stop at nothing to possess what he believes is rightfully his. In a world where power is a perilous game, Katherine must find her voice among the thorns – before it is silenced forever. A tale of romance, resilience and one woman’s fight to forge her own destiny, The Rose Amongst the Thorns reimagines the struggles of a woman who dared to defy expectations in a world ruled by men.

He was a thorn without a rose.Scorned for his unusual appearance and nature, young Josiah’s expulsion from school leads him to the grim world of rat-catching at the local orphanage. Amid newfound bonds and a simmering animosity, a longing for independence draws him towards the quiet life of a nearby village.Welcomed by kind souls, Josiah earns his keep as a skilled vermin remover and helpful stable hand. But when a rat-borne illness strikes the town, Josiah’s unique abilities bring him to the attention of the imposing Duke.Within the castle walls, caught in the strange dynamic between the Duke’s son, Bergen, and the formidable Helga—children and ogres in one—Josiah’s life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of the spirited Nadia. Their shared love of poetry ignites a passionate connection, but joy is fragile, and loss leaves an indelible mark.Unbeknownst to Josiah, Helga’s deep-seated hatred of children is taking root within the Duke’s domain, setting in motion a chain of events that will irrevocably alter his destiny…

Dark forces are moving in the deserted tunnels of London. Zoe Sinclair’s father, Dr Edward Sinclair, is no longer himself – his body has been taken over by a warrior named Telos. Now Ed is a silent passenger, able to see, hear, and share his thoughts with Telos, but powerless to move or speak. To make matters worse, while fighting alongside the resistance, Ed discovers he can see the dead – but he has no idea why.Incessantly bickering, Ed and Telos lead a unit of Safe Enclave troopers in subterranean missions, from Bayswater to Canary Wharf. Bound by their shared purpose, the unlikely pair are determined to uncover the truth behind the pandemic. Deep beneath the crumbling tower blocks of the city, in a vast crypt, they finally unearth the secret at the heart of the catastrophe – and realise things are about to get far worse.With the help of Peter Finch – also known as the Magic Man – can they defeat the secret horror awakening in London’s lost tunnels before it fully matures?

Patching the Puncture continues Peter’s story, living with Alzheimer’s and defying expectations. He still rides his penny farthing and shares, with candour and humour, the reality of life with dementia. Spanning the five years since their first book, Slow Puncture, this sequel offers an insight into Peter’s evolving world. Through his words, we see both the heart-rending challenges and the unexpected moments of joy, while Deb reflects on her own journey of self-discovery and the profound impact of their friendship. Together, they recount cycling adventures, public speaking engagements and the growing influence of Peter’s story. With warmth and honesty, they share practical strategies for living well with Alzheimer’s, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate the contributions people living with Alzheimer’s make. Moving, funny and deeply inspiring, Patching the Puncture is a tribute to resilience, friendship and the power of finding hope in the smallest of things.

London, 1855. Twelve-year-old Rosa doesn’t want to leave her widowed father and when he reluctantly sends her to live with her wealthy relatives across the river, she feels more alone than ever. She soon discovers the Surrey Zoological Gardens, where she befriends Jem, a young bearkeeper. When Rosa learns the animals are to be sold, and the bears may be killed, she joins forces with Jem, vowing to save them. A travelling menagerie seems like the perfect solution, until Rosa encounters the villainous Mr Murdlock and uncovers the bears’ true, dreadful fate. With Jem threatened into silence, and no adult she can trust, Rosa realises the only way to protect the animals is to take matters into her own hands. Together, can Rosa and Jem outwit the dangerous Mr Murdlock and rescue the bears before it’s too late?

Being a teenager is never easy – but for Jake, it’s harder than most. His dad, known locally as the “chicken and chips man”, is a hopeless drunk, the town’s running joke, and Jake’s biggest embarrassment. At school, things are no better. Darius, the resident bully, seems to take special pleasure in tormenting him – especially about his father. And then there’s the chaos of adolescence itself: a whirlwind of hormones, confusion and new desires. Jake finds himself daydreaming about Kelly, while fending off the unwanted attention of Rosalind, the headmaster’s interfering daughter. Between dodging bullies, managing crushes, and dealing with his chaotic home life, Jake must summon all the courage and quick thinking he can muster. But will his wit and grit be enough to face the challenges that lie ahead?

In the summer of 2022, a judgement reverberates across the world, shaking generations of women. Roe v. Wade – the 1973 Supreme Court case that ruled a woman’s right to abortion was protected by the constitutional right to privacy – is overturned. Fourteen women’s lives intertwine – writers and artists, mothers and daughters, friends and strangers – crossing time and reality, drawn together by abortion, choices, biscuits, and knitting. Their voices need to be heard in a world where a woman’s right to choose is never certain, and where the lines of the argument blur. This is their story.

1940.Born in the impoverished Gorbals, Beryl Allen enters a world of hardship, shaped by hunger, violence, and seismic social upheaval.Amid the soot-stained streets and crumbling tenements, she finds companionship in the bold and charismatic Rhea. Their bond, forged in childhood, deepens into something more—something Beryl is too afraid to name.Terrified of scandal and rejection, Beryl lashes out, shunning Rhea in anger—a decision with devastating, far-reaching consequences. Years later, Beryl must confront the truth she buried for decades…

Join Stikki and his mate Rella on their second exciting adventure—full of mystery, danger, and the wonders of magic found in the most unexpected places.Winter has arrived in Hazy Hills Wood, covering everything in a blanket of snow.Food is hard to find, and the animals are getting hungry. To make things worse, there is a scary food thief on the prowl.Stikki heads out into the cold to find his secret stash, but when he doesn’t come home, Rella goes searching for him. A frightening journey looms ahead as Stikki and Rella are forced to confront their enemies and the dreaded longlegs.Deep in the heart of the ancient wood stands the animals sacred ash tree. When Brodboar the badger spots something strange high in the tree’s branches, he is shocked by the discovery and begins to worry. Is it a warning?With Stikki and Rella still missing—can the woodland animals work together to find their friends before it’s too late

In this richly woven tapestry of family, social, and local history, the lives of ordinary people unfold in extraordinary ways.The Jaques brothers were part of the infamous Long Company—a criminal gang that brought fear to the streets of Prescot in the mid-nineteenth century. A silk winder rose to fame as a blackfaced performer on the variety theatre circuit across northern England. In a bold leap of faith, a pawnbroker from Bolton emigrated to Canada with his family in the 1870s, going on to build a new life as a successful prairie farmer. And in a true rags-to-riches story, the illegitimate son of impoverished weavers in Victorian England rose through the ranks to manage a thriving cotton-spinning mill in Bolton.These compelling stories—drawn from the author’s own ancestors—reveal how individuals shaped and were shaped by the communities around them. From watchmakers and millers to miners and a possible link to landed gentry, this book explores the shifting landscapes of industrial Britain through deeply personal lenses.Meticulously researched and richly documented with archival material and contemporary press reports, it offers fresh insight into the lives that formed the backbone of a changing society.

The new King of the Elves has disappeared while searching for stolen gold and missing Leprechaun children. As a last resort, the elves turn to humans for help. Once again, Henry, along with Tom and Flora, must step into a parallel world to find the lost king and the missing children. Their epic journey is steeped in ancient folklore, ghostly encounters, and a battle against the evil Goblin Empire. The dangers they face are many: bloodthirsty werewolves, a deadly maze, and a ritual human sacrifice. A magical coronation at Ludlow Castle hangs in the balance. The odds of success are slim — but with the help of a brave beaver family, talking nettles, and a magical longbow, is there still hope?

When Cougar Bill, lead guitarist and founder of the iconic pop group The Cougars, is found hanging from the rafters of his sprawling country home by a curious schoolboy, Detective Chief Inspector Max Bellamy is called in to investigate.Was it suicide—or something far more sinister? What links Bill’s death to a string of mysterious drownings from years past? And how much does Josie, Bill’s wife and the band’s manager, Eric Irwin, really know?As Bellamy digs deeper, he finds himself navigating a tangle of suspects, secrets, and those eager to dismiss the death as a suicide. But when threats are made against his wife, MP Louise Bellamy, the case becomes personal—and the stakes turn deadly.Will Bellamy uncover the truth before it''s too late?