As the prevailing winds of the global economy have changed, so Britain has been buffeted from boom to bust and back again. But how much is our country's economic landscape shaped by the huge forces of international capital - and the hope that 'something will turn up' - and how much by the individual men and women at the heart of our economic policy? David Smith forged his career as Britain's leading economic journalist during the country's traumatic transition from the 'workshop of the world' in the Midlands where he grew up, to an economy built on the sometimes shaky foundations of services and the City. Something Will Turn Up is his account of the chancellors, prime ministers, Bank of England governors and senior officials he has encountered and interviewed over the last five decades, and their impact on the realities of modern British life since the war. Smith leads us through the mire of government policy and long-term trends with wit and clarity to paint a vivid, personal picture of how we got to now - and where we might go from here.
The fifth Auguste Didier mystery. Only a dinner of first-class excellence can tempt the Prince of Wales to endure the ordeal of being the president of the Society of Literary Lionisers. And he ensures this by insisting that the year's highlight, the banquet at Broadstairs, will be cooked by master chef Auguste Didier. Broadstairs is famed not only as a seaside resort but also as the holiday haunt of Charles Dickens - the author the Society has chosen to lionise for the year of the Prince's presidency. The banquet, attended by six Peggottys, two Betsy Trotwoods, a couple of Little Dorrits, a Scrooge and a Mr Pickwick, not to mention a highly emotional Miss Havisham, passes off well - but the readings that follow do not. In the middle of the murder scene from Oliver Twist, the reader Sir Thomas Throgmorton collapses and dies. It is soon realised that he has been poisoned, and Inspector Naseby of the local constabulary believes Didier's banquet is to blame - after all, what can you expect when a foreigner cooks the food? Luckily Inspector Egbert Rose of Scotland Yard is on hand to help Didier's investigations to prove his innocence of this most heinous of accusations.
A bittersweet story in a beautiful setting - get away from it all with this touching, romantic tale Nell and Ange have their whole lives mapped out with their fiancés - brothers Marcus and Justin. But when a trip to Prague goes pear-shaped, the plane brings them back down to earth with a bump. Desperate for a change of direction, Nell sacks off her job and her sorry excuse for a boyfriend, and sets off to see her much-loved Aunt in Cornwall with Ange in tow. The girls soon settle into village life - Nell opening up her own cake shop and Ange pulling pints (and men) as a buxom barmaid. But not everything in this quaint seaside town is quite what it seems...
This is a fictional work that encompasses modern counterterrorism with current terrorist tactics that have been thwarted or investigated by respected counterterrorism agencies. These scenarios are linked together with the formation of a special privately owned terrorism task force that is designed to counter the weakening of the United States government and growth of a more sinister radical Islamic faction. These all take place in real locations with a cast of characters building as the book progresses. The title Casting Shadows has multiple meanings, first of which is the casting or formation of both groups; second, it refers to the methods used by these organizations to move forward; and lastly, it refers to the shadows and images of people burned on buildings after several nuclear explosions. Casting Shadows is a suspense thriller with law enforcement and military leanings, twisting back and forth between sides. This story line gets a little more complicated when more sides appear. Its not just a good guy meets bad guy book but has many dimensions of good and evil and the perception of either may be different, depending on the angle youre witnessing. Who are the real bad guys? The time line carries the reader through the development of the most sinister plot in the history of mankind. Complex and very involved, the plot destroys believers and nonbelievers alike. The sacrifice of their own people provides a screen that ultimately weakens their objective. Islamic radical factions from around the world bond together to create the ultimate union; this union called Al Infitar is attempting to finish the jihad their forefathers have started. With just a small force with perfect resolve, funds, and opportunity, they attempt to complete their jihad. Total Islam is their goal, and total destruction is their tool. Acquiring nukes for the black market, the brothers embark on a slow methodical plan to destroy the Western world as we know it. Is this book really fiction? Your call! The techniques are real. The targets are real, the motivation is real, and the desire is real. Even more frightening than that, the plots are real and are being attempted as you read this. Islamic radicals have stepped up attempts to destroy our way of life. The inner jihad they seek or the total acceptance of Allah by Muslims have now become an outward call for war against Western civilization and all non-Muslims. Jihad is being called in mosques throughout the world, and groups are forming for the final push. The Koran calls all Muslims to jihad, which by definition is the inner struggle of an individual to fight evil, the sort of yin and yang of Muslims. The radical leaders interpret this differently and call for the death of any nonbeliever. Who are they speaking of? Who are the nonbelievers? As you read this book, pay particular attention to the dates because in the beginning, the planning stages cover several years and locations. This is typical of radical plots, and the formation of cells by their recruiters takes time and large sums of money. What allows the fertile ground to produce such plots to blossom is the weakened state of the United States and European governments. This weakness will always be exploited, as the enemy will be constantly vigilant for such cracks in the armor. Enjoy this book the way it was intended, not to terrify but to enlighten and make these attempts public. Yes, they can happen. Yes, they are trying. And yes, we can stop them. So is this really a fictional book or a book that hedges on insanity? Is this book a recipe for disaster or too far-fetched to believe? Read it and make your own decision. This book, like real life, will continue. The plots will always be there, and the desire will continue. The will to survive is stronger than humans can comprehend. For a nation to survive, it sometimes takes continuous vigilance and strength. When one or the other is lacking, then evil creeps in to steal what it can. After 9/11
'A wonderful, magical storyteller' Cathy Kelly. Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy, a heartwarming novel of love, friendship and coming home from the Irish bestseller... When actress Jodi Ludlum returns to the Dublin village of Bakers Valley to raise her young son, she's determined to shield him from the media glare that follows her in LA. But coming home means leaving her husband behind - and waking old ghosts... Francine Hennessy was born and raised in Bakers Valley. To all appearances, she is the model wife, mother, home-maker and career woman. But, behind closed doors, Francine's life is crumbling around her. As Jodi struggles to conceal her secrets and Francine faces some shocking news, the two become unlikely confidants. Suddenly having the perfect life seems less important than finding friendship, and the perfect place to belong...
