Showing results by narrator "Ciaran Saward" in All Categories

Eli Hagin can’t finish anything. He hates his job, but can’t seem to quit. He doesn’t want to be with his girlfriend, but doesn’t know how end things with her, either. Eli wants to write a novel, but he’s never taken a story beyond the first chapter. Eli also has trouble separating reality from fiction. When his best friend kills himself, Eli is motivated, for the first time in his life, to finally end something himself, just as Mike did. Except sessions with his therapist suggest that Eli’s most recent ‘first chapters’ are not as fictitious as he had intended.

To the outside world, the Goodlights are perfect. Julia is a lawyer, Paul a stay-at-home dad who has dedicated his life to helping their daughter Chrissie achieve her dreams as a talented violinist. But on the night of a prestigious music competition, which has the power to change everything for Chrissie and her family, Chrissie goes missing. She puts on the performance of a lifetime, then completely disappears. Suddenly every single crack, every single secret that the family is hiding risks being exposed. Because the Goodlights aren’t perfect. Not even close.

Naira and Tarquin have escaped vicious counter-revolutionaries, misprinted monsters and the pull of a dying planet. Now, bound together to find the truth behind the blight that has been killing habitable planets, they need to hunt out the Mercator family secrets. But, when the head of Mercator disappears, taking the universe's remaining supply of starship fuel with him, chaos breaks loose between the ruling families. Naira's revolution must be put aside for the sake of humanity's immediate survival.

This term begins with a school trip to the coast, where Harley stumbles upon a mysterious fossil. Could it be that Harley has discovered an entirely new dinosaur species? Meanwhile, eager to best her class nemesis Fenelda in the contest for best invention, Harley dreams big with her attempt to invent a time travel machine. It doesn't seem to work, but soon strange happenings all over Inventia make her question whether the time travel machine might work after all! But what to do about the huge dinosaur that has been spotted in Forgetown?

Harley Hitch is back with another inventive adventure! When the circus comes to town, Harley's curiosity gets the better of her - and she accidentally breaks a cabinet that makes things magically disappear! Soon after, everyone realises that the Moon has gone missing. Time is speeding up, wildlife at night is getting disorientated by the darkness and there's no more tide. Is Harley to blame? Can she sort out the mess before it's too late?

All societies, in their very different ways, are orderly. The very term 'society' implies the existence of a degree of organisation and predictability to human life. Orderliness, however, is a matter of degree. It is neither total, nor totally absent. In recent times, however, such concerns have largely given way to a greater preoccupation with disorderliness: with significant and disruptive social change; with rising crime and anti-social behaviour; and with a variety of other social problems. But what has really been happening?

Run. Don’t look back. When a young teenager is stabbed to death at a busy fairground, Detective Mark Turpin is assigned the task of finding the boy’s killer. But this was no random murder. Mark knows the victim, and the man who ordered his death. As he sifts through the young victim’s final days, he uncovers a powerful crime syndicate that will do anything to protect its interests. Then tragedy strikes, and suddenly Mark isn’t just trying to solve a murder–he’s fighting for his own survival.

When 11-year-old Charlie Spruit finds an alien on his doorstep one morning he can hardly believe his luck. Who is he? Why has he come? Charlie soon discovers that his new friend Eeek! is soccer-mad and has run away from space to watch the World Cup Final with him. Charlie hides Eeek! in his bedroom, where he sleeps on the ceiling by night and pores over Charlie's football magazines by day. The only person he lets in on his alien secret is his best friend Jake.

In November 1974, British MP and former cabinet minister John Stonehouse walked into the sea off a beach in Miami and disappeared, seemingly drowned. Then he was found—on the other side of the world, in Australia—and his extraordinary story began to come to light: a Labour cabinet minister and a devoted family man, also in a long-term affair with his secretary, and a spy for the Czech State Security agency, who had committed fraud and attempted to fake his own death to escape catastrophic business failures.

Nine people arrive one night on Chelsea Bridge. They’ve never met. But at the same time, they run and leap to their deaths. Each of them received a letter in the post that morning, a pre-written suicide note, and a page containing only four words: Nothing important happened today. That is how they knew they had been chosen to become a part of the People of Choice: a mysterious suicide cult whose members have no knowledge of one another.

Barry lives all by himself deep in the forest. But this furry chap is never on his own for long. 'Come here, Snuggle-wuggles!' call the animals, diving in for a cuddle! There are simply too many hugs to handle. How can Barry get them to stop?

'Is it Christmas yet?' asks Little Bear – for the hundredth time! 'Soon,' says Big Bear, a little wearily. Christmas is coming. But there’s so much to do. And Little Bear is ready to pop with excitement! Then things start to go a bit wrong. Will it ever be Christmas …

When archaeologists discover a skeleton in secluded woodland, the body is first thought to be related to an ancient Saxon settlement. Then the torn and rotten remains of another woman’s bones are uncovered, her injuries bearing the markings of abuse and a violent death. Detective Mark Turpin is tasked with finding their killer, except the forensic evidence is perplexing and the victims’ bodies are proving impossible to identify. When a third victim is discovered only metres from the first, Mark and his team realise they’re running out of time to find out whoever is responsible.

This business novel is a story about Bob Bingham. He’s overwhelmed by running his small business. He works all hours – fixing production problems, designing special products, selling, keeping customers happy, and trying to manage his staff whom he considers mostly idiots. As his company has grown, the bottom line has stagnated. He’s under pressure from a once-patient investor who now wants returns. A big customer has stopped paying bills. Stock control is poor, causing last-minute buying at high prices. Bob’s marriage is at risk. He’s gaining weight because of a lack of exercise.

For five years, Ben Coates lived alongside a major channel of the river in Rotterdam, crossing it daily, swimming and sailing in its tributaries. In The Rhine, he sets out by bicycle from the Netherlands where it enters the North Sea, following it through Germany, France and Liechtenstein, to its source in the icy Alps. He explores the impact that the Rhine has had on European culture and history and finds out how influences have flowed along and across the river, shaping the people who live alongside it.

What actually is AI? Will it take over the world? And one day, will it tidy your bedroom...? In this beginner's guide, learn everything you need to know about AI, from how it helps us discover epic stuff up in space or under the sea, whether it will help you build your very own dinosaur, and why, it won't actually help you write your homework!

When the body of a young woman is found by the side of a quiet country road, police first suspect a hit and run. Then a darker side to the victim is uncovered–a dangerous addiction that led to her violent death. With little sympathy from a local population, Detective Mark Turpin faces a daunting task to track down her killer. When a second victim dies after a ferocious attack, Mark realises someone is determined to hide the truth. Both victims kept to the shadows of society–will their secrets die with them?

When Walter Brown is woken on his 10th birthday by his cat Sixpence, he has no idea that his life is about to change forever. A large present wrapped in silver paper reveals an old top hat, a tiny pair of white gloves, and a magician's wand - together with a mysterious note from his late great grandpa Horace.

Whiz through the marvellous menagerie of imagination, from honey-hungry bears to hand-holding otters, snowy white owls to not-so-scary monsters. These tales focus on love, friendship and belonging, laced with gentle humour and heart-warming messages—the perfect incentive for little ones to get an early night’s sleep!

It started with an invitation to dinner. An evening of good food and good company at a luxury villa. But as the night progresses, the party takes a dark turn. The host makes you an offer, a party favour he calls it: another guest has committed a heinous crime, you can end their life, stop their terror. He tells you there will be no consequences; do you believe him? Your decision will change your life. Choose carefully.