Showing results by narrator "Peter Kenny" in All Categories

She came to the throne in 1952 when Britain had a far-flung empire, sweets were rationed, mums stayed home and kids played on bombsites. Seventy years on, everything has changed utterly—except the Queen herself, ageing far more gracefully than the fractious nation over which she so lightly presides. How did we get from there to here in a single reign? To cancel culture, anti-vaxxers and Twitter feeds? Matthew Engel tells the story—starting with the years from Churchill to Thatcher—with his own light touch and a wealth of fascinating, forgotten, often funny detail.

The first book in Iain M. Banks's seminal science fiction series, The Culture. Consider Phlebas introduces readers to the utopian conglomeration of human and alien races that explores the nature of war, morality, and the limitless bounds of mankind's imagination. The war raged across the galaxy...

'A book that makes you look at the world around you in a different light... properly thrilling' Independent on Sunday Imagine a world that is one of infinite parallel worlds, between the dismantling of the Wall and the fall of the Twin Towers, in the shadow of suicide terrorism and financial...

Tobias Smollett, in his creation of the Scot Roderick Random, exposes the sheer incompetence and injustice of the Royal Navy, as well as the snobbery and hypocrisy prevalent in English middle-class society at the time. Set in the mid-18th century, this picaresque novel follows the life and adventures of Roderick, the eponymous hero who has been shunned by his gentleman father's family on the basis of the lowliness of his mother's family.

Having survived against goblins and the undead, Dirt and Socks are striking out on their own, leaving forest and den behind. Their spirits are high, but the reason for the journey is serious: Socks is being hunted by a mysterious entity called the Devourer, and it'll catch them if they stay in one place too long. To complicate matters, they finally encounter some real, live humans: a small group of adventurers wandering the wilds in search of a lost city in hopes of saving their people. Because it turns out humanity is on the brink of extinction.

Now, Jelly is accompanying Princess Liliana on her way to the Royal Varian Academy of Magic, where they both plan to learn more about the mystical arts. But not all is well, for a mad woman seeks the death of Varia's princess and will stop at nothing to ensure it happens. Add onto that new friends, bullies, and a prophecy, and Jelly has his tendrils full keeping the people he knows and loves safe.

The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. "Banks is a phenomenon."...

It's expected to be an excursion like any other. There is nothing in the records to indicate that anything out of the ordinary will happen. A bus will take them to the mall. They will have an hour or so to look around. Perhaps buy something, try their food. A minor traffic incident on the way back to the resort will provide additional interest - but the tour rep has no reason to expect any trouble. Until he notices that one of his party is missing. Most disturbingly, she is a woman who, according to the records, did not go missing.

Stuart's not sure about having a lodger. And he's not used to Florence, an ageing tribute band singer who's full of life. Nor the pairs of voluminous knickers left to dry on every spare surface in the bathroom. Florence is everything Stuart has never allowed himself to be: bold, fearless, unabashedly herself. He's spent his life putting everyone's needs ahead of his own, avoiding risks and hiding from chances. Soon Florence is persuading Stuart to dance with her in the kitchen. And when his childhood sweetheart shows up again, it's Florence who encourages him to make his move.

The Wopuld family built their fortune on a board game called Empire, now a wildly successful computer game. So successful, in fact, that the American Spraint Corp wants to buy the Wopulds out. Alban, who has been evading the family tentacles for the last few years, thinks Spraint should be treated with suspicion, but he also has other things on his mind. What, for example, drove his mother to take her own life?

When Grandma creates a robot babysitter for twins Jake and Jess, chaos ensues! Jake and Jess are on their way to Scotland to visit Robin, who’s been hiding out near a remote loch with Grandma. Jake can’t wait to see his favourite robot, but is shocked by how much he’s changed. Robin now spends most of his time camouflaged in bushes and can light a fire with a click of his fingers - he’s gone wild! But when Grandma ropes the trio into a plan to catch a local gang of thieves in the act, it looks like Robin’s new skills might just save the day....

Having started on Radio 2 in January 2003, Jeremy Vine realised he was soon to take his 25,000th listener call to his lunchtime show. As the magic number approached, he decided to take stock of the wisdom his listeners have imparted over the airwaves by way of anecdotes on everything including love, life and poisonous plants. This is his hilarious memoir of lessons learnt from life, listeners and Len Goodman.

Marcus Salvius Magnus, leader of the South Quirinal Crossroads Brotherhood, has long dominated his part of Rome's criminal underworld. From rival gangs and unpaid debts to rigged chariot races and blood feuds - if you have a problem, Magnus is the man to solve it. But while Magnus inhabits the underbelly of the city, his patron, Gaius Vespasius Pollo, moves in a different circle. As a senator, he needs men like Magnus to do his dirty work....

A man marked by magic. A woman marked by her past. On the other side of the Shadowpass, rebellion is brewing and refugees have begun to trickle into the city at the edge of the world. Looming high on the cliff is The Nest, a fortress full of mages who offer protection, but also embody everything the rebellion is fighting against: a strict hierarchy based on magic abilities. When Isha arrives as a refugee, she attempts to fit in amongst the other mages, but her tattoo brands her as an outcast. She can't remember her past or why she has the tattoo. All she knows is that she survived. 

To avoid financial ruin, the Bottle family’s theatre troupe has left London behind, travelling to the north of England by train. With new audiences to play to and less competition, they hope to make enough money to pay off their debts back home. But will their plans be foiled by the odious Olio Sleevery? It’s time for young actors Rosie and Charlie to save the day and, with the help of their new friend Edie Boiler, ensure the thunderous success of the company's first performance. 

Her eyes were black, wide as though with some sustained surprise, the skin from their outer corners to her small ears taut. Her lips were pale, and nearly too full for her small mouth, like something bled but bruised. He had never seen anyone or anything quite so beautiful in his life. Graham Park is in love. But Sara Fitch is an enigma to him, a creature of almost perverse mystery. Steven Grout is paranoid - and with justice. He knows that They are out to get him.

Jonas Jonasson is back with another irresistible adventure, this time set in nineteenth century Sweden. After his father’s death is caused by the greedy and cunning Count Bielkegren, Algot Olsson is left with nothing to his name, except for a potato field and a homemade still to make liquor...

Two 19th century stage illusionists, the aristocratic Rupert Angier and the working-class Alfred Borden, engage in a bitter and deadly feud; the effects are still being felt by their respective families a hundred years later.

Richard and Judy and international best-selling author of The Guilty One returns with a nail-biting ride of 'he said/she said' between a teacher and his pupil. For fans of Anatomy of a Scandal and TV's Liar and Dr Foster. While Nick Dean is enjoying an evening at home with his family, he is blissfully unaware that one of his pupils has just placed an allegation of abuse against him - and that Nick's imminent arrest will see the start of everything he knows and loves disintegrating around him. Because mud sticks, right? No matter if you're innocent or guilty.

Having escaped the Aether with Dora and Gaelin, Jelly is relieved, and eager to return to Orria and reunite with his beloved princess. However, that is easier said than done, and after drifting for several days across the ocean on an iceberg, Jelly and his friends find themselves in Distant Qwan, an exotic land of ancient magic and tradition.