Showing results by narrator "Gareth Gareth" in All Categories

When Antonia Fraser met Harold Pinter she was a celebrated biographer and he was Britain's finest playwright. Both were already married - Pinter to the actress Vivien Merchant and Fraser to the politician Hugh Fraser - but their union seemed inevitable from the moment they met: 'I would have found you somehow', Pinter told Fraser. Their relationship flourished until Pinter's death on Christmas Eve 2008 and was a source of delight and inspiration to them both until the very end.

In 10 powerful stories, Victoria Hislop takes us through the streets of Athens and into the tree-lined squares of Greek villages. As she evokes their distinct atmosphere, she brings vividly to life a host of unforgettable characters, from a lonesome priest to battling brothers, and from an unwanted stranger to a groom troubled by music and memory. These bittersweet tales of love and loyalty, of separation and reconciliation, captured in Victoria Hislop's unique voice, will stay with you long after you reach the end. Three of these stories appeared previously published in Victoria Hislop's collection, One Cretan Evening.

Two soldiers recently returned from the Great War are spending their summer larking about, chasing girls, drinking, smoking and forlornly trying to find gainful employment. Their lives are turned upside down when a girl is murdered on the seafront and they fall under suspicion. The accusations against them snowball. They are convicted by a juggernaut of evidence, although most is circumstantial. But did they do it? Inspector Blades and seconded Scotland Yard investigator CI David Walker are pretty sure they did. And they are determined to make the men go down for the horrific crime.

August, 1616. The whaling ship Heartsease has ventured high into the Arctic, but now must begin the long journey home. Only one man stays behind: Thomas Cave makes a wager to remain here, alone, until the next season. No man has yet been known to survive a winter this far north. As the light recedes and the ice begins to close in, Cave pits himself against blizzards, avalanches, bears - and his own demons.

It's Lydstock time again, the most anticipated music festival of the year. Max Effort, chilled ex-chef turned vanlifer, is already there, and when Min arrives to spend the whole weekend with him and Anxious the Jack Russell Terrier, he's as happy as any ex-husband could be. As the first night gets underway, and Uncle Ernie "Elbows" Effort's ska punk band The Skankin' Skeletons headline instead of their arch-rivals The Third Skatallion, things get spicier than a habanero vindaloo.

Max Effort never thought he'd find himself at The Dead Crow's sixth annual pickled onion festival, but serendipity is a peculiar thing, so here he stood. He didn't care, because his two best friends-Min his ex-wife, and Anxious the Terrier-were with him so life was sweet. When the pub's chef goes missing, Max reluctantly agrees to step in and save the day. Having vowed never to enter a commercial kitchen again, he soon regrets the decision, especially when the chef is found dead in a broom closet with a jar of pickled onions.

Gurney Close isn’t the sort of place where anything untoward should happen. It’s just a small, newly-built cul-de-sac with three nice houses and a bungalow overlooking the river Wye. The people who move in – three married couples and a divorcee – don’t expect much excitement beyond some neighbourhood friendliness. With this in mind, they organise a party to celebrate moving in. Everything goes well and a good time is had by all – until one of them is found dead the next morning.

Conceited, arrogant, and built like a prize stud, Rutger is a red-blooded Viking. But his brash, bad boy demeanour hides a chasm of pain. He has known love, only to have his heart cleaved in two by a faithless woman. Grethe’s hopes of marriage and children were cruelly dashed when her fickle betrothed abandoned her. With Rutger as her captive mate, she’ll punish him as she’d like to punish all men.

Three gripping historical romance novels, filled with excitement, family secrets, steamy bedroom scenes, and breathtaking love stories.

Bill and Ben both love to sing, but each one sings a different thing! A hilarious story about noisy singing from the bestselling School of Monsters series! Can Bill and Ben learn to sing in harmony?

Skelly's scared to ride too fast. But when he does, he has a blast! Skelly's used to riding his scooter at his own pace. When he tries a billy cart for the first time, he has so much fun that soon, he's going faster and faster. But what happens when he goes too fast?

Heti's homesick for the snow. Will a spell help? Oh dear! Oh no... Heti's friends are determined to make it snow, but it seems their magic spells only spell disaster! Can they figure out how to make winter magic for Heti?

Peggy's legs help her to listen and climb and jump and run with speed! When chaos breaks out during the school play, can Peggy – and her guide pet – save the day?

Bee makes a wish. The monsters stare. What's that growing from her hair? It's Bee's birthday, and her friends have given her a special wishing cake! But what will they do when Bee's wish gets out of control?

This is Jem. She likes to play, and thinks up fun new ways each day! Jem is fast, and Jem is strong – but she's always found first in hide and seek! Can she think up a way to win the game?

Today it's sports day in the sun. But do you think that Pete can run? Ever since Pete tripped over his long legs and enormous feet, he refuses to run races with the other monsters. But what happens when Jamie Lee gets stuck in the mud down the well? It will take a special someone to help rescue her!

Some kids are good and some are not … Some look the same, like Deb and Dot! Deb and Dot are twins and complete opposites. Deb is friendly and everyone likes her – but Dot doesn't quite know how to play nicely with the other monsters! Can Teacher Ted help the twins out with a plan?

When Jack feels good, she laughs and plays but sometimes Jack has grumpy days. Sometimes, Jack's feelings are way too big! Can she find a way to balance her moods?

When Will gets nervous, he lets out a stink. But what will all his classmates think? William wants to be in the school play, but there's a problem. When he's nervous, he farts! How can he possibly audition, let alone win a part?

All that Jess touches gets gooey and sticky. How can she solve a problem so tricky? Jess can slip and slide all over the school – but when it's too hot, things get a little sticky. Will she find a way to keep cool?