'"I've turned boys into men and policemen into coppers," said the Sergeant. "Policemen have got brains, but coppers, they've got brains and common sense."' No two days were ever the same for bobby on the beat PC Johnson. Whether he was chasing unlikely coal thieves, tracking down peacocks gone...  more

'"I've turned boys into men and policemen into coppers," said the Sergeant. "Policemen have got brains, but coppers, they've got brains and common sense."' No two days were ever the same for bobby on the beat PC Johnson. Whether he was chasing unlikely coal thieves, tracking down peacocks gone AWOL or investigating mysterious flying saucers over Sheffield, he faced every new challenge with a smile and a healthy dose of his copper's common sense. In his charming and funny memoir, Martyn Johnson recalls the rogues, cheats and scoundrels - as well as the many friends - who made his life on the beat in 1960s Sheffield so unforgettable.

Little could stand in Debra Gauthier's way. A marathon runner, Debra excelled in the Police Academy, garnering respect as one of the few female police officers in Las Vegas. However, through her twenty-one years on the police force, Debra faced discrimination in the male-dominated profession,...  more

Little could stand in Debra Gauthier's way. A marathon runner, Debra excelled in the Police Academy, garnering respect as one of the few female police officers in Las Vegas. However, through her twenty-one years on the police force, Debra faced discrimination in the male-dominated profession, suffering demotions and unsafe working conditions when other officers would not provide backup. In addition to the disappointment of injustice, she struggled with her sexuality, becoming entrenched in a homosexual lifestyle. After establishing an identity as a respected police officer, Debra was devastated when her career crumbled. Bright Lights, Dark Places thoughtfully expresses the painful reality of combating biased attitudes and the joy that comes from surpassing limitations. Packed with fascinating stories of a vibrant career, from teaching at the academy to pioneering a bicycle patrol, Bright Lights, Dark Places gives you an inside look at the career of one of the first female officers in Las Vegas. You will be encouraged by this powerful story of one woman finding grace to overcome trials.

Rumshott is one of the finest landed estates in England. However, when James Aden takes up the position of Deputy Agent he does not realise the full extent of what the job entails. He finds himself spending his days negotiating with royalty, farmers, and even wildlife, as well as the imperious...  more

Rumshott is one of the finest landed estates in England. However, when James Aden takes up the position of Deputy Agent he does not realise the full extent of what the job entails. He finds himself spending his days negotiating with royalty, farmers, and even wildlife, as well as the imperious Lady Leghorn. In order to survive, James must come to terms with his role quickly, and not let himself get too distracted by Sophie, the pre-college assistant.

A collection of essays on the practice and philosophy of country life yields advice for sometime farmers, explores the differences between country and city, and considers the problems all transplanted city-dwellers must deal with

Faith Morgan, former policewoman and vicar of the small English village of Little Worthy, goes to visit one of her parishioners at his farm, only to discover the house surrounded by police cars. A body has been found in the local river and farmer Markham is charged with murder.Though busy with...  more

Faith Morgan, former policewoman and vicar of the small English village of Little Worthy, goes to visit one of her parishioners at his farm, only to discover the house surrounded by police cars. A body has been found in the local river and farmer Markham is charged with murder.Though busy with preparations for Christmas, Faith is called on to investigate when it?s found out that the victim is also a member of her congregation-Lucas Kemp, a member of the choir.Faith's informal inquiries lead her to uncover a hotbed of tensions and romantic rivalries in the choir, questions about drugs, and a run-in with an unsavory uncle-which leads to a dramatic rescue by Ben, Faith's former detective partner and ex-boyfriend.In the tradition of Father Brown and Miss Marple, The Advent of Murder brings readers an authentic picture of English rural and church life combined with a satisfying mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end.

?A brilliant collection of gardening books.??The New York Times Book ReviewFrom the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a series The New York Times calls a "brilliant collection of gardening books."The world-famous Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a renowned collection of international experts, and celebrated...  more

?A brilliant collection of gardening books.??The New York Times Book ReviewFrom the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a series The New York Times calls a "brilliant collection of gardening books."The world-famous Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a renowned collection of international experts, and celebrated orchid photographer Charles Marsden Fitch, combine their talents to give gardeners all the information they need to cultivate the exotic orchid. This unmatched and beautiful handbook covers all the basics in painstaking detail, from propagation and potting to watering and fertilizing to setting temperatures and light. There?s advice on overcoming common beginner?s pitfalls, creating an orchid collection, growing under lights, and control of common pests.

From the foreword: We are not Old Wives ourselves; being in fact old spinsters, nor are we professional gardners in any sense. We collected the tips in this book because we need them. Our garden for some forty years has been at the basement level of our house in Pimlico... "Planting...  more

From the foreword: We are not Old Wives ourselves; being in fact old spinsters, nor are we professional gardners in any sense. We collected the tips in this book because we need them. Our garden for some forty years has been at the basement level of our house in Pimlico... "Planting Likes," "Controlling Weeds," "Controlling Diseases,"Pests - Fauna among the Flora," and "Waste Not Weather," are some of the subjects for which the old spinsters give advice.

A mediocre mystery-writer, Ethelred Tressider has even less interest in writing his books than his (dwindling) fan base has in reading them, and his agent -- the pesky, nosy, vulgar, chocolate-chomping Elsie -- has no interest in them at all.  But with a name like Ethelred, things can...  more

A mediocre mystery-writer, Ethelred Tressider has even less interest in writing his books than his (dwindling) fan base has in reading them, and his agent -- the pesky, nosy, vulgar, chocolate-chomping Elsie -- has no interest in them at all.  But with a name like Ethelred, things can always get worse, and when Ethelred's dishy ex-wife turns up dead, they do. The Case of the Dead Fish is the most exciting project Elsie's come across in years, but however much she bullies Ethelred he refuses to take much interest in the mystery.  Chalk it up to some pathetic life-crisis?  Maybe.  But how much more interesting would it be to note that Ethelred's lack of interest raises what might be called some extremely interesting questions.

Written by the presenter of BBC TV's "Songs of Praise", this novel recounts the effect on a Suffolk village of the arrival of the "Songs of Praise" team to make a programme. Few are left unaffected by the making of the programme in this story.

James Aden has his hands full when he leaves the comparative sanity of a job on an estate in Scotland when his wife inherits a farm in Suffolk. To supplement the income from the farm, he takes a job as an agent on Sir Charles Buckley's vast estate. The list of problems, and problematic...  more

James Aden has his hands full when he leaves the comparative sanity of a job on an estate in Scotland when his wife inherits a farm in Suffolk. To supplement the income from the farm, he takes a job as an agent on Sir Charles Buckley's vast estate. The list of problems, and problematic characters, that he has to deal with is virtually endless with rogue chimney pots, unsavoury tenants and delinquent sheep giving him frought days and sleepless nights. There's no point in counting sheep to get to sleep when they simply won't do as they're told. Then there's the farm secretary, Gail, whose turbulent love life provides James with even more headaches than the troublesome sheep, without even the prospect of a decent Sunday roast to look forward to once the troublemakers have been put out of their misery!

Aunt Jane talks with her niece about her quilts and their stories.  Great reminisces and touching stories.

Here Are Tips That Really Work - From Backyard Gardeners Across the Country. Answers gardening questions such as: How do you keep rabbits out of the garden? How do you protect tomato plants from frost? How do you train vines to grow up a trellis? And many more...

An anthology of crime from a distinguished selection of British writers, including Reginald Hill, Chris Simms, Andrew Taylor, Charles Todd and Laura Wilson. A verger's son, whose childhood playground was a graveyard, remembers a night best forgotten... Two drug addicts find that theft...  more

An anthology of crime from a distinguished selection of British writers, including Reginald Hill, Chris Simms, Andrew Taylor, Charles Todd and Laura Wilson. A verger's son, whose childhood playground was a graveyard, remembers a night best forgotten... Two drug addicts find that theft does not pay... A corrupt politician charges a curious vehicle to his expenses... The latest showcase of shorts from the CWA takes readers on a twisted route to the origin of evil: original sin. From a fish that can't help but dispense his own kind of justice, to an assassin handling a misogynistic client, these tales demonstrate that, for some, there's no going against their own nature.

As a girl growing up in Hong Kong, Lily Lin was captivated by photographs of the desert - its long, lonely vistas and shifting sand dunes. Now living in New York, Lily is struggling to finish her graduate degree when she receives an astonishing offer. An aunt she never knew existed will pay Lily...  more

As a girl growing up in Hong Kong, Lily Lin was captivated by photographs of the desert - its long, lonely vistas and shifting sand dunes. Now living in New York, Lily is struggling to finish her graduate degree when she receives an astonishing offer. An aunt she never knew existed will pay Lily a huge sum to travel across China's desolate Taklamakan Desert - and carry out a series of tasks along the way. Intrigued, Lily accepts. Her assignments range from the dangerous to the bizarre. Lily must seduce a monk. She must scrape a piece of clay from the famous Terracotta Warriors, and climb the Mountains of Heaven to gather a rare herb. At Xian, her first stop, Lily meets Alex, a young American with whom she forms a powerful connection. And soon, she faces revelations that will redefine her past, her destiny, and the shocking truth behind her aunt's motivations...Powerful and eloquent, "Song of the Silk Road" is a captivating story of self-discovery, resonant with the mysteries of its haunting, exotic landscape.

Lieutenant Randy Sutton?s fascinating collection of stories and memories, solicited from law enforcement officers across the country, offers a broad and insightful look at the many facets of police life: courage, exhilaration, frustration, loss, and even humor?from the everyday to the...  more

Lieutenant Randy Sutton?s fascinating collection of stories and memories, solicited from law enforcement officers across the country, offers a broad and insightful look at the many facets of police life: courage, exhilaration, frustration, loss, and even humor?from the everyday to the career-defining moments on the job. Told by the cops who lived them, the stories in True Blue  show what it truly means to protect and serve.Readers will come to recognize the faces behind the badge, as they witness officers charge into the unknown on The Beat, honor and mourn friends in The Fallen, hear the War Stories spread in police locker rooms and bars, discover the unbreakable line between civilian and cop in the Line of Duty, and feel the blood-boiling adrenaline during those life-altering moments when a cop must use Deadly Force.

To a casual visitor, the island of Heavenly Daze is just like a dozen others off the coast of Maine. It is decorated with graceful Victorian mansions, carpeted with gray cobblestones and bright wild flowers, and populated by sturdy, hard-working folks-most of whom are unaware that the island of...  more

To a casual visitor, the island of Heavenly Daze is just like a dozen others off the coast of Maine. It is decorated with graceful Victorian mansions, carpeted with gray cobblestones and bright wild flowers, and populated by sturdy, hard-working folks-most of whom are unaware that the island of Heavenly Daze is not just like the other islands of coastal Maine. The small town that crowns its peak consists of seven buildings, each inhabited, according to divine decree, by an angel who has been commanded to guard and help anyone who crosses the threshold. Unexpected hijinks and heart-warming results occur when mortals and immortals cross paths-and unaware visitors to the picturesque establishments of Heavenly Daze discover that they have been entertained by angels.

Jakob Grimshaw has eked out a precarious living as a Staffordshire moorland farmer by selling off some of his land to Gabriel Frank, a local businessman, who seized the opportunity to build a select development of nine houses, the Prospect Farm Estate. But having been sold a rural idyll, the...  more

Jakob Grimshaw has eked out a precarious living as a Staffordshire moorland farmer by selling off some of his land to Gabriel Frank, a local businessman, who seized the opportunity to build a select development of nine houses, the Prospect Farm Estate. But having been sold a rural idyll, the residents of the estate quickly realize that they do not like Grimshaw's old farm building--surely such an eyesore will mean their properties will depreciate in value? And so the war begins complaints, petty obstruction, and each inhabitant with his or her own reason for wanting Grimshaw to move away. What none of the residents realize is that the old farmer is neither simple nor honest. He has a cunning and devious nature and likes to play malicious tricks, including double-crossing the landowners around him. When Grimshaw's body is discovered at the foot of his boundary wall, his head crushed by one of the copestones, it is up to DI Joanna Piercy to unravel the events leading up to his death. But Joanna has worries of her own in her personal life and the last thing she needs on her desk is a gruesome murder investigation . . .

A leaky roof and puffin paintings. Letters to angels and the World Wide Web. The angels have their hands full in Heavenly Daze, Maine. It's November, and as the residents of Heavenly Daze are preparing for winter, sacks of undeliverable mail pour in to postmistress Beatrice Coughlin. The...  more

A leaky roof and puffin paintings. Letters to angels and the World Wide Web. The angels have their hands full in Heavenly Daze, Maine. It's November, and as the residents of Heavenly Daze are preparing for winter, sacks of undeliverable mail pour in to postmistress Beatrice Coughlin. The requests are different, but the salutation is the same: "Dear Angel..." Perplexed, Bea and her sister Birdie consider answering them under the moniker "angel assistants." But where will they get the funds to help these folks? When news of the letters spreads, the townspeople are divided over what to do. Will there be enough resources for their own needs and to share with others? And will the media attention turn their quaint island into a circus, or worse -- Las Vegas? Meanwhile, the local art gallery needs a new roof, but proprietors Charles and Babette Graham are tapped out. With the tourist season ending, Charles sets to work on the great American novel while Babette is left to wrestle with financial matters. When an art dealer from Boston shows interest in their son's paintings, it seems like the answer to their economic woes. Maybe five-year-old Georgie is an art prodigy... As Thanksgiving approaches, will the bickering islanders make peace long enough to break bread? And will they finally see God's hand of provision for their needs? They will if the real angels who watch over Heavenly Daze have their way.

As a teen, Kristy Smith spent her nights dreaming of a college scholarship -- dreams that ended abruptly when she became pregnant. Now Kristy works hard to support her young son, Jason, and her ailing grandmother, staving off regrets about the chances that slipped away. When Craig Houston...  more

As a teen, Kristy Smith spent her nights dreaming of a college scholarship -- dreams that ended abruptly when she became pregnant. Now Kristy works hard to support her young son, Jason, and her ailing grandmother, staving off regrets about the chances that slipped away. When Craig Houston became a pastor, he envisioned making a difference in some distant, poverty-stricken country, not dealing with youth groups and shut-ins in a tidy suburb like Fairbrook. But things aren't always what they seem. Soon, Craig finds locals who need guidance even if they'll never admit it -- like Kristy's best friend, Shana, who's always strived to be the perfect daughter; Renee, a pregnant teen trying to make it on her own; and Kristy herself, a vibrant and loving young woman unaware of just how much she has to offer. One by one, the residents of Fairbrook are about to learn that the future can surprise and redeem us, especially when there is courage and true friendship in abundance, and a little help from an unexpected source...

The New England town of Dorsetville, “where miracles are never far away,” faces unexpected challenges in this much-anticipated fourth volume of Katherine Valentine’s beloved series.The rumor mill is running at full speed: the Country Kettle Café, meeting place for everyone...  more

The New England town of Dorsetville, “where miracles are never far away,” faces unexpected challenges in this much-anticipated fourth volume of Katherine Valentine’s beloved series.The rumor mill is running at full speed: the Country Kettle Café, meeting place for everyone who’s anyone, may close down now that the owner’s wife has struck it rich. Deputy Hill is devastated over his open-ended assignment to the graveyard shift, his just desserts for having nearly wrecked a car and a wedding in one unfortunate mishap. Then tragedy strikes: the Gallagher twins are fighting for their lives after a fall through the ice—one on life support and the other in a coma. Doc Hammond is waging his own battle for life while helping the twins. More than ever, Dorsetville needs a miracle.

From the author who's inspired millions worldwide with books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most imaginative novel yet, The Time Keeper--a compelling fable about the first man on earth to count the hours. The man who became Father Time. In Mitch...  more

From the author who's inspired millions worldwide with books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most imaginative novel yet, The Time Keeper--a compelling fable about the first man on earth to count the hours. The man who became Father Time. In Mitch Albom's newest work of fiction, the inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time. He returns to our world--now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began--and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so. Told in Albom's signature spare, evocative prose, this remarkably original tale will inspire readers everywhere to reconsider their own notions of time, how they spend it and how precious it truly is.

Publisher: Saddle Pal Creations Inc., Cantwell, Alsaka, USA A journey into the Alaskan wilderness and back in time to the exciting Gold Rush days of 100 years ago.

Deborah Joy Corey captures the voice of rural poverty and the voice of a single, struggling family in southeastern Canada. The voice belongs to an innocent nine-year-old girl, who, throughout this startling novel, remains a nameless, silent outsider in a family whose troubles don't leave much...  more

Deborah Joy Corey captures the voice of rural poverty and the voice of a single, struggling family in southeastern Canada. The voice belongs to an innocent nine-year-old girl, who, throughout this startling novel, remains a nameless, silent outsider in a family whose troubles don't leave much energy for paying attention to someone who isn't in desperate need. "Deborah Joy Corey makes a stunning debut with her first novel." -Maclean's

Sweet and Low is the bittersweet, hilarious story of Ben Eisenstadt, who invented sugar packets and SweetN Low, and amassed the great fortune that would later destroy his family. It is a story of immigrants, Jewish gangsters, and Brooklyn; of sugar, saccharine, obesity, and diet crazes; of...  more

Sweet and Low is the bittersweet, hilarious story of Ben Eisenstadt, who invented sugar packets and SweetN Low, and amassed the great fortune that would later destroy his family. It is a story of immigrants, Jewish gangsters, and Brooklyn; of sugar, saccharine, obesity, and diet crazes; of jealousy, betrayal, and ambition. Disinherited along with his mother and siblings, Rich Cohen has written a rancorous, colorful history of his extraordinary family and their pursuit of the American dream.

Infamous rock star Poison Peters is cast as Christ, a central role in the Medieval Mystery Cycle, and the York establishment is outraged.  Director Bruce Exelby is vilified by players and townspeople alike -- some even accuse him of sacrilege!  Playing God is British Telecom Engineer,...  more

Infamous rock star Poison Peters is cast as Christ, a central role in the Medieval Mystery Cycle, and the York establishment is outraged.  Director Bruce Exelby is vilified by players and townspeople alike -- some even accuse him of sacrilege!  Playing God is British Telecom Engineer, Tom Churchward: as rehearsals progress Tom is made reluctantly aware that there is more to Poison than meets the eye or ear...  When a series of dangerous mishaps on the set culminates in an apparently accidental death, Churchyard -- who holds a vital clue -- finds he is surprisingly unwilling to play God with another's life...  Playing God -- a classic whodunnit steeped in mystery and set in the historic city of York.

75 Peaceful, Serene Crosswords from The New York TimesFor many crossworders, solving crossword puzzles induces a Zenlike state of relaxation and contentment; their daily crossword solving is one of the soothing, serene highlights of their day. With this in mind, editor Will Shortz and The New...  more

75 Peaceful, Serene Crosswords from The New York TimesFor many crossworders, solving crossword puzzles induces a Zenlike state of relaxation and contentment; their daily crossword solving is one of the soothing, serene highlights of their day. With this in mind, editor Will Shortz and The New York Times have teamed up to bring you seventy-five select, solvable puzzles that are sure to wipe any frown from your face and any stress from your shoulders.

Undertaker Drew Slocombe is not having a good day. His business is failing, the car needs an MOT (safety inspection) and he's driving 120 miles to the Cotswolds to carry out the late Greta Simmonds' final wishes. Unfortunately, when he gets there, a string of bureaucratic mistakes means...  more

Undertaker Drew Slocombe is not having a good day. His business is failing, the car needs an MOT (safety inspection) and he's driving 120 miles to the Cotswolds to carry out the late Greta Simmonds' final wishes. Unfortunately, when he gets there, a string of bureaucratic mistakes means that he's now the chief suspect of a murder inquiry. He's beginning to wish he had never heard of Greta Simmonds. Thea Osborne and her loyal spaniel Hepzie are still pursuing their occupation as house-sitters, despite the disastrous incidents of the past. At the moment they are staying in Greta Simmonds' house, which is currently between ownership. Thea is torn between moving back home or waiting for the execution of the will. After all, she does have outstanding payments due. Then the discovery of a body in a nearby field takes the decision out of Thea's hands, and she finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation once again. Having befriended the police's only suspect, Drew Slocombe, Thea believes him to be innocent. As Thea and Drew work together to clear his name, it slowly dawns on them that in a village simmering with secrets, a means and a motive could be laid at anybody's door.

For sixty years he treated thousands of cats and made so many house calls he became known as "Albert Schweitzer of the cat world" In recollections both funny and tender, Dr. Camuti astutely observes his patients and their protectors -- the cat people whose foibles and follies he...  more

For sixty years he treated thousands of cats and made so many house calls he became known as "Albert Schweitzer of the cat world" In recollections both funny and tender, Dr. Camuti astutely observes his patients and their protectors -- the cat people whose foibles and follies he understands as thoroughly as he does his feline patients.  He attended "celebrity cats," such as those of  Tullulah Bankhead and James Mason; interesting unknowns like Inky, the ghost cat; and "the burglar cat," who proudly brought gloves, toupees, and other purloined items home to his owners.  His expertise in urban wildlife even extended to such non-feline patients as Anastasia, a talented mail pigeon who could eat birdseed out of a humans navel.  Encounters with marmosets, honey bears, and ocelots lead him to conclude, "If an animal can fit through an apartment window in Manhattan, someone will have it as a pet." Dr. Camuti was known as "the fastest shot in the East," found vodka to be the perfect antiseptic, and developed the "Camuti Method" of tracking down cats in their most unfathomable hideouts.  He was everything you (or your cat) wanted him to be.  Whether or not you like cats, you'll love Dr. Camuti as he delights everyone with tales of his life and adventures.  

Continuing his memoirs of his time on Sir Charles Buckley's estate, James Aden deals with obstacles from the discovery of Roman treasure to the tramp living in the attic of Frampton Hall; he finds his days varied, especially with the arrival of Sir Charles' heir, Sebastian who provides...  more

Continuing his memoirs of his time on Sir Charles Buckley's estate, James Aden deals with obstacles from the discovery of Roman treasure to the tramp living in the attic of Frampton Hall; he finds his days varied, especially with the arrival of Sir Charles' heir, Sebastian who provides him with insights into the life of the traditional landed estates as they slowly come to terms with the twenty first century.

Caffy Tyler believes she has well and truly left her old life behind her, in spite of her emotional and physical scars. Living in rural Kent, with a new job and new friends, she feels safe, and -- for the first time in her life -- happy. However a series of troubling events bring this brief...  more

Caffy Tyler believes she has well and truly left her old life behind her, in spite of her emotional and physical scars. Living in rural Kent, with a new job and new friends, she feels safe, and -- for the first time in her life -- happy. However a series of troubling events bring this brief feeling of contentment to a sharp halt. The combination of seeing a dead body through the window of a house she is painting, and then running into her drug-dealer ex-boyfriend shopping in her local supermarket throw Caffy’s life into disarray. Forced to assume a new identity, she discovers that there are more bizarre things going on than she had originally thought. Not only did the body she saw mysteriously disappear, but the police are being seriously unhelpful and, on top of that, she keeps seeing strangers wandering around the marsh in the middle of the night. Can it all be connected? Caffy needs to know who to trust. The man she once loved is now a police officer and seems unable (or perhaps that’s just unwilling?) to help her. And she beings to wonder if her new friends are as reliable as they seem. . .

Readers have already fallen in love with the quirky personalities that inhabit Heavenly Daze. In A Warmth in Winter, the unforgettable characters and humorous circumstances offer poignant lessons of God's love and faithfulness. The story centers around Vernie Bidderman, owner of Mooseleuk...  more

Readers have already fallen in love with the quirky personalities that inhabit Heavenly Daze. In A Warmth in Winter, the unforgettable characters and humorous circumstances offer poignant lessons of God's love and faithfulness. The story centers around Vernie Bidderman, owner of Mooseleuk Mercantile and Salt Gribbon, the lighthouse operator, who despite the vast differences in their struggles are being taught about the ultimate failure and frustration of self-reliance.

Presents an illustrated collection of Lillian Candlin's favourite tales, offering a blend of humour, romance, excitement, and wickedness.

The First Phone Call from Heaven tells the story of a small town on Lake Michigan that gets worldwide attention when its citizens start receiving phone calls from the afterlife. Is it the greatest miracle ever or a massive hoax? Sully Harding, a grief-stricken single father, is determined to...  more

The First Phone Call from Heaven tells the story of a small town on Lake Michigan that gets worldwide attention when its citizens start receiving phone calls from the afterlife. Is it the greatest miracle ever or a massive hoax? Sully Harding, a grief-stricken single father, is determined to find out. An allegory about the power of belief -- and a page-turner that will touch your soul -- Albom's masterful storytelling has never been so moving and unexpected. Readers of The Five People You Meet in Heaven will recognize the warmth and emotion so redolent of Albom's writing, and those who haven't yet enjoyed the power of his storytelling, will thrill at the discovery of one of the best-loved writers of our time.

Effectively disproving any notion that Christians are relentlessly dour, melancholy, humorless, and joyless, these books from Cal and Rose Samra offer a rib-tickling treasury of Christian joy and humor. They're as ideally suited to individuals and families looking for a laugh as they are to...  more

Effectively disproving any notion that Christians are relentlessly dour, melancholy, humorless, and joyless, these books from Cal and Rose Samra offer a rib-tickling treasury of Christian joy and humor. They're as ideally suited to individuals and families looking for a laugh as they are to pastors, speakers, and all those who seek to spice up their presentations - and their lives - with a few power-packed moments of Holy Humor.        For more than a decade, the interdenominational Fellowship of Merry Christians has been publishing The Joyful Noiseletter, an award-winning newsletter filled with church life humor by some of the world's top comedians, humorists, clowns, and cartoonists. Now, the most snicker-spurring and laughter-inciting of these comical contributions are available in four uproarious trade paperback collections and four mini-giftbooks!        Featuring cartoons by such gifted cartoonists as Bil Keane, creator of The Family Circus, and Johnny Hart, creator of B.C., these collections by editors Cal and Rose Samra are a virtual treasury of good, clean, inspirational humor. Within the pages of each book, readers will find enough knee-slapping jokes, uplifting anecdotes, zingy one-liners, joyful Scripture references, inspiring stories, top ten lists, clean limericks, church cartoons, real-life "uh-ohs," bulletin bloopers, and "jestimonials" from pastors, health professionals, chaplains, and patients to make them laugh from start to finish!        Conveniently arranged by topic or month for easy use, each book is ideal for pastors, teachers, public speakers, and all who seek to fill their lives with God-inspired joy and holy laughter, to help them face the challenges of life.

This is an excellent value omnibus edition of the first three books in Fred Secombe's entertaining and nostalgic series. It is comprised of: How Green Was My Curate, A Curate for All Seasons and Goodbye Curate.

It's a long way from Fort Worth, Texas, to New Bern, Connecticut, yet it only takes a day in the charming Yankee town to make Evelyn Dixon realize she's found her new home. The abrupt end of her marriage was Evelyn's wake-up call to get busy chasing her dream of opening a quilt shop....  more

It's a long way from Fort Worth, Texas, to New Bern, Connecticut, yet it only takes a day in the charming Yankee town to make Evelyn Dixon realize she's found her new home. The abrupt end of her marriage was Evelyn's wake-up call to get busy chasing her dream of opening a quilt shop. Finding a storefront is easy enough; starting a new life isn't. Little does Evelyn imagine it will bring a trio like Abigail Burgess, her niece Liza, and Margot Matthews through her door... Troubled and angry after her mother's death, Liza threatens to embarrass her Aunt Abigail all over town unless she joins her for quilting classes. A victim of downsizing at the peak of her career, Margot hopes an event hosted by the quilt shop could be a great chance to network -- and keep from dying of boredom... As they stitch their unique creations, Evelyn, Abigail, Liza, and Margot form a sisterhood they never sought -- but one that they'll be grateful for when the unexpected provides a poignant reminder of the single thread that binds us all...

Gilbert Marshall did not seem like the type of man who would commit murder.  That sort of thing was not for people in his position.  Gilbert had spent 20 years achieving the Post of Senior Invoice Assistant at his large firm.  He had also evolved over 20 years a plan for the...  more

Gilbert Marshall did not seem like the type of man who would commit murder.  That sort of thing was not for people in his position.  Gilbert had spent 20 years achieving the Post of Senior Invoice Assistant at his large firm.  He had also evolved over 20 years a plan for the elimination of his wife Pamela; but he wanted to do nothing precipitate.   People envied him Pamela, who was well-groomed and beautiful; but Gilbert had long ceased to think of her as a wife, or even as a companion.  They lived separate existences.  Even Gilbert did not know how much she spent on her appearance.  When the polished Edward entered the scene, the lives of both Gilbert and Pamela were suddenly changed.  As was Gilbert's attitude toward his long-cherished plan for murder...

NOTHING TO REPORT is a novel about Police Patrol in New York City during the turbulent eras of the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. Although a novel of fiction it is based upon real incidents that occurred during that time period. Actual locales in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island are utilized....  more

NOTHING TO REPORT is a novel about Police Patrol in New York City during the turbulent eras of the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. Although a novel of fiction it is based upon real incidents that occurred during that time period. Actual locales in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island are utilized. The book contains love, death, passion, violence and is interspersed throughout with history of the time period. It centers around two main characters who work together in the 120th police precinct. The prominent character is Lieutenant A. and his driver Charlie. During their times together Lt. A goes back into his past and describes for Charlie some of the most horrific incidents that he had encountered when he was a young officer during the 1960's and 1970's. Charlie begins to have a horrid affair with a woman he meets while on Patrol and eventually falls in love with her. He is married and, eventually, his wife finds out. Charlie begins to feel torn between his wife and his girl friend and confides in Lt. A with his problem. He begins to rely on Lt. A to help him with his problem. The stories that Lt. A recounts for him help take Charlie's mind off his pressing problems with his on going affair. The pressure of the affair begins to have a negative affect on Charlie especially after his wife finds out and, she too, begins an affair in the office where she works. Charlie finally realizes that he does not want to lose his wife and finally confesses everything to Lt. A who comes up with a solution that just might help Charlie with his problem.

Arriving in the picturesque town of Dunbridge to take up his first curacy at St Stephens, the young Neil Fisher is not quite sure what to expect. Shy, kind and earnest, he is keen to make a good impression before his ordination to become a fully-qualified priest. But, on meeting the formidable...  more

Arriving in the picturesque town of Dunbridge to take up his first curacy at St Stephens, the young Neil Fisher is not quite sure what to expect. Shy, kind and earnest, he is keen to make a good impression before his ordination to become a fully-qualified priest. But, on meeting the formidable Revd Margaret Prowse and the colourful array of village characters, he realises he has been well and truly thrown into the deep end of Dunbridge life. Taken under Margaret's wing, Neil soon finds himself an ear for the villagers' assortment of problems and life troubles. Firstly there's the terrifying Glenda Fellowes and her long-suffering husband Peter, the church warden who is struggling to remain true to his wedding vows. Then there's Graham -- thirty something, slightly overweight and looking for love. Can Neil make him realise that what he's searching for may have been under his nose all along? On top of all this, Neil has problems of his own -- his demanding and disapproving mother, for a start- not to mention the advances of the beguiling, but determined, Wendy. When tragedy strikes his beloved elderly neighbour Harry, can Neil be there to support Harry's niece Claire, whilst keeping their relationship purely platonic? The year rushes on with its delightful mix of summer fetes, Harvest Festivals, carol services, funerals, weddings and pastoral visits -- but as Neil prepares for his Ordination, does he have a completely clear conscience?

During the 1970s New York City was a Mecca for heroin and cocaine usage with addiction a major health concern. The majority of these drugs was trafficked and sold by traditional organized crime families such as the Gambino, Bonnano and Genovese LCN clans. One location where these groups planned,...  more

During the 1970s New York City was a Mecca for heroin and cocaine usage with addiction a major health concern. The majority of these drugs was trafficked and sold by traditional organized crime families such as the Gambino, Bonnano and Genovese LCN clans. One location where these groups planned, trafficked and sold these drugs, affectionately called Boy for heroin and Girl for cocaine, was in the Bronx. A special unit was put together to gather information on these groups and subsequently dismantle their networks. This unit of NYPD, under the auspices of the Organized Crime Control Bureau was able to accomplish this through many hard working hours and the assistance of an informant namely KENNY O. The members of this group were the diverse in nature speaking Spanish, Italian as well as the Sicilian dialect. This memoir is the actual story of the relationship of KENNY O and Tony Pesca, the NYPD Officer assigned to work with KENNY O in an undercover capacity to infiltrate these groups which included several violent and sociopathic members who eventually placed both KENNY O and Tony Pesca in harm's way. KENNY O was bright and had a humorous personality which led to a few cases that bring laughter to the reader. This story brings to the reader the life events of both Tony Pesca and KENNY O that led to their relationship. But the success they achieved is unmatched in bringing down several notorious traffickers and contract killers. Additional information from KENNY O led to the conviction and incarceration of the head of the Gambino LCN family - John Gotti.

The eighth annual of the very best of British crime-writing from established bestsellers and newcomers alike. Thirty-five stories from top contemporary names in British crime fiction, such as Christopher Fowler, Alexander McCall Smith, Reginald Hill, and Colin Dexter.

Growing up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in the 1950s, Tom Ward had good reason for wanting to join the NYPD.  He saw his father's bar and grill repeatedly burglarized and his beloved dog brutally beaten by burglars; he himself got mugged by a gang of older kids.  How Ward became a police...  more

Growing up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in the 1950s, Tom Ward had good reason for wanting to join the NYPD.  He saw his father's bar and grill repeatedly burglarized and his beloved dog brutally beaten by burglars; he himself got mugged by a gang of older kids.  How Ward became a police officer, a corrections executive and a college professor is a fascinating journey that took him from the police academy to Rikers Island to positions of power and prestige.  Now he offers his thrilling " war stories" and a rare inside look at the criminal justice system.

A policeman, walking his lonely beat, is blinded by a point-blank shotgun blast...and the fair-haired assailant calmly walks away. With only a partial fingerprint to go on, the police doggedly stalk their elusive quarry. What two detectives who bait a clever trap.

6 More Dead! A True Story Ana lay in a hospital bed. Her throat had been sawed open. Her face swollen beyond recognition and unable to speak, her only method of communication was a pencil and pad. NYPD Detective Raymond Berke, upon seeing Ana, realized that he would have to wait until she was...  more

6 More Dead! A True Story Ana lay in a hospital bed. Her throat had been sawed open. Her face swollen beyond recognition and unable to speak, her only method of communication was a pencil and pad. NYPD Detective Raymond Berke, upon seeing Ana, realized that he would have to wait until she was better able to communicate. As he started to leave, she grabbed his arm and pulled him to her bed. Using her pencil she scrawled '6 More Dead'. Go inside the patrol cars of the NYPD, the Detective Squad rooms and interrogation rooms, where mass murderers sit inches away from the detectives who try to get them to admit to their heinous acts. Chronicling the true life experiences of NYPD Detective Raymond Berke, ?6 More Dead? begins with his first days as a rookie cop on the mean streets of Brooklyn, and follows him through his rise to Detective in the Silk Stocking district of Manhattan. His cases involve heart wrenching suicides, crazed and insane murderers killing their families, and the white collar criminals of society?s upper echelon. Berke?s cases take him as far away as London, England for investigations involving possible ties to the royal family of Great Britain. Berke?s cases don?t stop, culminating in his shocking and terrifying investigation into one of the largest mass murders in New York history, The College Point Massacre. If ever a book got into the minds of both Criminals and Detectives, this is it!

Manhattan's 19th police precinct stretches from Fifty-ninth to Ninety-sixth streets, from the East River to Fifth Avenue. Its residents include New York's richest and most influential... and the city's poorest and most desperate. Behind the scenes at New York's high-powered 19th precinct, there...  more

Manhattan's 19th police precinct stretches from Fifty-ninth to Ninety-sixth streets, from the East River to Fifth Avenue. Its residents include New York's richest and most influential... and the city's poorest and most desperate. Behind the scenes at New York's high-powered 19th precinct, there are the men and women who wear the badge, the police officers who risk their lives and sanity from day to day. This is their story. Their hopes and fears. Their frustrations and triumphs. This is life at PRECINCT 19.

The stories in Bob Reed's delightful book are surefire spirit lifters that celebrate life and enrich the soul. Reed's seven tales not only come alive with hilarity and warmth, they show how God works through even the most bumbling and misdirected human efforts. Reed's humor is laced...  more

The stories in Bob Reed's delightful book are surefire spirit lifters that celebrate life and enrich the soul. Reed's seven tales not only come alive with hilarity and warmth, they show how God works through even the most bumbling and misdirected human efforts. Reed's humor is laced with insight, his descriptions with inspiration, and his characters with God's own love. In the lead story, "The Choir That Couldn't Sing," Reed's description of a hopelessly off-key church choir assembled from eccentrics and misfits will trigger gales of laughter. But tears are sure to flow when readers feel the impact of the choir's humble but grand accomplishment. The book's other stories come equally alive with humor, insight, and inspiration that demonstrate how the least in the kingdom of heaven can touch the heart of God.

Biographies of six "ladies of pleasure," whose parlor houses were scandalous ornaments to the whole state, make amusing reading.

Not always dangerous as a N.Y.C. Police Officer... As an N.Y.C. Police Officer the things you see will either break you down or kill you. But believe me, in this great city you can find humor in just about any situation. Or die laughing.....

What's a 10-letter word for "A way to have fun and sharpen your mind, too?" As recent studies, including one in the Journal of the American Medical Association, have found, one answer to the above clue is "Crosswords." Not only loads of fun, The New York Times crossword puzzles can also...  more

What's a 10-letter word for "A way to have fun and sharpen your mind, too?" As recent studies, including one in the Journal of the American Medical Association, have found, one answer to the above clue is "Crosswords." Not only loads of fun, The New York Times crossword puzzles can also stimulate your mind and improve your vocabulary! - With special hints and tips from Will Shortz to help solvers boost their crossword solving power-and their brainpower as well- 75 puzzles arranged from easy to hard: a challenge for all puzzlers from novice to advanced - Edited and with an introduction by crossword great Will Shortz - Author bylines allows fans to get to know their favorite constructors

In the bestselling tradition of Nicholas Pileggi, Joseph Wambaugh, and Robert Daley's Prince of the City, a thoroughly enthralling story of how the seasoned veterans of New York's elite Homicide Investigation Unit took down the city's most dangerous drug gang, and in the process...  more

In the bestselling tradition of Nicholas Pileggi, Joseph Wambaugh, and Robert Daley's Prince of the City, a thoroughly enthralling story of how the seasoned veterans of New York's elite Homicide Investigation Unit took down the city's most dangerous drug gang, and in the process rewrote the book on tackling gang crime. Gangbusters is a riveting narrative about the secretive, elite Homicide Investigation Unit and its successful investigation and prosecution of the notorious upper Manhattan Wild Cowboys, one of the bloodiest and most violent drug gangs in New York's long history. For two years, veteran reporter Michael Stone was granted exclusive access to the inner workings of HIU, its brilliant and iconoclastic chief, Walter Arsenault, and the seasoned, street-smart detectives and prosecutors who helped to put the Wild Cowboys behind bars. The book opens with the shocking and senseless execution of a Tarrytown college boy on the West Side Highway. Over time, the case leads detectives to the Wild Cowboys, a drug gang whose size and penchant for violence and intimidation have terrorized the South Bronx and upper Manhattan for years. HIU's attempts to bring down the Wild Cowboys' ruthless leader, Lenny, and feared enforcers, Platano and Pasqualito, triggermen for scores of the gang's murders, posed challenges that would test the unit's very survival. But HIU's dedicated collaboration of prosecutors and detectives and the strategies Arsenault employed in the unit's investigation have since become a model for gang enforcement in cities around the world. In the end, the Wild Cowboys and their allies were responsible for more than sixty murders.  A rich roller-coaster ride of a narrative with a colorful and, at times, heroic cast of characters, Gangbusters is true crime at its page-turning best.

Honoring the wish of her late grandmother, Maura Donovan visits the small Irish village where her Gran was born—though she never expected to get bogged down in a murder mystery. Nor had she planned to take a job in one of the local pubs, but she finds herself excited to get to know the...  more

Honoring the wish of her late grandmother, Maura Donovan visits the small Irish village where her Gran was born—though she never expected to get bogged down in a murder mystery. Nor had she planned to take a job in one of the local pubs, but she finds herself excited to get to know the people who knew her Gran. In the pub, she’s swamped with drink orders as everyone in town gathers to talk about the recent discovery of a nearly one-hundred-year-old body in a nearby bog. When Maura realizes she may know something about the dead man—and that the body’s connected to another, more recent, death—she fears she’s about to become mired in a homicide investigation. After she discovers the death is connected to another from almost a century earlier, Maura has a sinking feeling she may really be getting in over her head... 

The tragic events of September 11, 2001 forever altered the American landscape, both figuratively and literally. Immediately after the jets struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, Dennis Smith, a former firefighter, reported to Manhattan's Ladder Co. 16 to volunteer in the rescue...  more

The tragic events of September 11, 2001 forever altered the American landscape, both figuratively and literally. Immediately after the jets struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, Dennis Smith, a former firefighter, reported to Manhattan's Ladder Co. 16 to volunteer in the rescue efforts. In the weeks that followed, Smith was present on the front lines, attending the wounded, sifting through the wreckage, and mourning with New York's devastated fire and police departments. This is Smith's vivid account of the rescue efforts by the fire and police departments and emergency medical teams as they rushed to face a disaster that would claim more than five thousand lives. Smith takes readers inside the minds and lives of the rescuers at Ground Zero as he shares stories about these heroic individuals and the effect their loss has had on their families and their companies. Written with drama and urgency, Report from Ground Zero honors the men and women who-in America's darkest hours-redefined our understanding of courage.

Champion musher Jessie Arnold has been out of racing for a number of years, ever since she incurred a devastating knee injury. Now she's ready to get back into shape for this year's Iditarod. While taking her team on a practice run down a local trail she takes a snowy bump that's never been...  more

Champion musher Jessie Arnold has been out of racing for a number of years, ever since she incurred a devastating knee injury. Now she's ready to get back into shape for this year's Iditarod. While taking her team on a practice run down a local trail she takes a snowy bump that's never been there before. It turns out to be a snow-shrouded body. Now, Jessie and her boyfriend, Alaska State Trooper Alex Jensen, are back chasing criminals. And the hunt is on for the killer of a supposed earthquake victim-whose death turns out to actually be a murder.

'Best Eaten Cold' and Other Stories showcases a group of highly regarded, award-winning crime writers who all share a special passion for crime, which is reflected in this superb new volume. Funny and sad, atmospheric and dark, ingenious and frightening, each of the thirteen stories in this...  more

'Best Eaten Cold' and Other Stories showcases a group of highly regarded, award-winning crime writers who all share a special passion for crime, which is reflected in this superb new volume. Funny and sad, atmospheric and dark, ingenious and frightening, each of the thirteen stories in this collection will thrill all lovers of crime fiction.

Daily Study Bible for Women provides adult Christian women an opportunity to improve their understanding and obtain a fresh perspective of the Bible through daily study. Over 360 daily studies by Jill Briscoe guide readers to a Scripture passage and key verse designed to apply the passage to...  more

Daily Study Bible for Women provides adult Christian women an opportunity to improve their understanding and obtain a fresh perspective of the Bible through daily study. Over 360 daily studies by Jill Briscoe guide readers to a Scripture passage and key verse designed to apply the passage to issues that influence women's lives. The devotionals are arranged in topical tracks that include "Hearing God's Voice," "God's Design for Marriage," and "Serving Others." The study includes a track outline to assist readers in navigating the daily studies, introductions for each book of the Bible, and other study helps to get women into the Bible easily every day.

This is the fourth in a series of fictionalized memoirs set in the small Welsh town of Pontywen. Newly married and promoted to vicar, Fred is rightly pleased with life, but he soon finds that his elevation exposes him to new problems.

Mrs. Gross and Mrs. Kahn were both elderly tenants on West End Avenue. Both lived -- and suddenly died -- in buildings undergoing million-dollar co-op conversions. And -- most sinister of all -- neither of them had cockroaches... Housing Court attorney Nina Fischman's life is unravelling. Her...  more

Mrs. Gross and Mrs. Kahn were both elderly tenants on West End Avenue. Both lived -- and suddenly died -- in buildings undergoing million-dollar co-op conversions. And -- most sinister of all -- neither of them had cockroaches... Housing Court attorney Nina Fischman's life is unravelling. Her job is running her ragged, and she can't decide whether to leave her nice WASP boyfriend -- or marry him. But when two reasonably healthy old ladies die in very valuable apartments, Nina begins to suspect murder. Now all she has to do is convince Judah Lev, a short, younger, Orthodox prosecutor in the D.A.'s office, that something's not kosher...and figure out why she's so attracted to him. In the meantime, Ida, Nina's sharp-wited mom, is on the case. After all, isn't detective just another word for yenta?

A warm-hearted, nostalgic and funny continuation of the story begun in the popular Teacher, Teacher! With a wonderful gallery of characters in this North Yorkshire village, author and real-life headmaster, Jack Sheffield, chronicles another riotous year in the life of Ragley-in-the Forest...  more

A warm-hearted, nostalgic and funny continuation of the story begun in the popular Teacher, Teacher! With a wonderful gallery of characters in this North Yorkshire village, author and real-life headmaster, Jack Sheffield, chronicles another riotous year in the life of Ragley-in-the Forest village school.

Sunday Peanuts as you?ve never seen them before?meticulously re-colored to match their original appearance. Since their original publication, Peanuts Sundays have almost always been collected and reprinted in black and white. But many who read Peanuts in their original Sunday papers remain fond...  more

Sunday Peanuts as you?ve never seen them before?meticulously re-colored to match their original appearance. Since their original publication, Peanuts Sundays have almost always been collected and reprinted in black and white. But many who read Peanuts in their original Sunday papers remain fond of the striking coloring, which makes for a surprisingly different reading experience. These late 1950s strips comprise the first golden age of Peanuts Sundays in one gorgeous, full-color coffee table book. Linus, Charlie Brown, Pig-Pen, Shermy, Violet, Sally, Patty, and Schroeder are all present, but the rising star is undoubtedly Snoopy. Peanuts Every Sunday: 1956-1960 has been scrupulously re-colored to match the original syndicate coloring?allowing readers once again to plunge back into Charles Schulz?s marvelous world. Full color

Thousands of people live in the subway, railroad, and sewage tunnels that form the bowels of New York City and this book is about them, the so-called mole people. They live alone and in communities, in subway tunnels and below subway platforms and this fascinating study presents how and why...  more

Thousands of people live in the subway, railroad, and sewage tunnels that form the bowels of New York City and this book is about them, the so-called mole people. They live alone and in communities, in subway tunnels and below subway platforms and this fascinating study presents how and why people move underground, who they are, and what they have to say about their lives and the “topside” world they’ve left behind.

The first English language translation of a chilling murder mystery by a prolific Japanese detective novelist: `Prosecutor Tsuchida, I am being held here as a murderer. But the truth is that I am probably not that murderer. That's right. Probably.?' While Shimaura Eizo sits in jail...  more

The first English language translation of a chilling murder mystery by a prolific Japanese detective novelist: `Prosecutor Tsuchida, I am being held here as a murderer. But the truth is that I am probably not that murderer. That's right. Probably.?' While Shimaura Eizo sits in jail awaiting trial for the murder of a beautiful young woman, his erstwhile lover and initiator into a sinister, restless existence has risen in the ranks of the legal profession and is now the prosecutor on the case. Spinning a complex web of events and influences in this chilling murder mystery, Hamao probes the notion of guilt--both psychological and legal.

In New York City's Spanish Harlem, Julio and Maritza are each searching for a path that will give their lives meaning, even if it's shadowed by controversy. Julio is an arsonist for hire, pocketing thousands of dollars from investors eager to capitalize on more expensive real estate. But when he...  more

In New York City's Spanish Harlem, Julio and Maritza are each searching for a path that will give their lives meaning, even if it's shadowed by controversy. Julio is an arsonist for hire, pocketing thousands of dollars from investors eager to capitalize on more expensive real estate. But when he has reason to stop setting his neighborhood ablaze and vows to change his ways, Julio's employers threaten his life -- and the lives of those close to him. Maritza, meanwhile, has become the pastor of a progressive Pentecostal church -- the perfect cover for the scam she's running. For the right price, she'll make anyone an American citizen. With a cast of characters as colorful as the city itself, Ernesto Quiñonez brings to life a landscape we can all recognize.

The most decorated cop in New York City describes his experiences out on his beat, encountering killers, drug dealers, and others and putting his life on the line.

Thea Osbourne is perhaps over-optimistic about the English summertime and her latest assignment in the Cotswolds house-sitting for reptile breeder Harriet Young. For Thea soon finds a dark side to the characters she encounters there, indeed Harriet 's beloved geckoes are not the only...  more

Thea Osbourne is perhaps over-optimistic about the English summertime and her latest assignment in the Cotswolds house-sitting for reptile breeder Harriet Young. For Thea soon finds a dark side to the characters she encounters there, indeed Harriet 's beloved geckoes are not the only cold-blooded creatures at large... Yet again, the region 's bucolic charms prove to be more than deceptive, and Thea is thrust once again into the heart of a Cotswolds mystery. For despite the ease with which Thea 's new assignment in the secluded village of Cranham begins, she soon finds a dark side to the characters she encounters there. From the tragic Donny Davis to the enigmatic figure of Edwina, Thea begins to realize that Harriet Young 's beloved geckoes are not the only cold-blooded creatures at large in Cranham. Family intrigues, murder, suicide and deception combine to give Thea a decidedly challenging summer in the Heart of England...

Berdie Elliott, the wife of the new parish priest, thought she left her old life as an investigative reporter behind her, but she soon discovers a village full of secrets when a man dies at a Christmas celebration. Could a clue to his demise be hidden in an advent wreath? Can Berdie curb her...  more

Berdie Elliott, the wife of the new parish priest, thought she left her old life as an investigative reporter behind her, but she soon discovers a village full of secrets when a man dies at a Christmas celebration. Could a clue to his demise be hidden in an advent wreath? Can Berdie curb her natural instincts to get involved in both a mystery and a romance, or will she let the local law handle things?