Mark McCrum

Somebody someday

A sleuthing crime writer may be out of his depth when two passengers die aboard a luxury liner, in this “entertaining mystery” (Publishers Weekly). Crime writer Francis Meadowes has landed an enviable job lecturing aboard the luxurious Golden Adventurer as it cruises down the West African coast. His fellow passengers, including opinionated retired surgeon Klaus, mischievous elderly widow Eve, flamboyant designer Sebastian, beautiful American aid worker Sadie, and her tedious but extremely wealthy aunt Marion, are an eclectic group. But when one guest is found dead in bed and another disappears overboard, Francis must employ all his professional expertise to find out which of the colorful characters on the ship is capable of murder . . . Praise for the Francis Meadowes mysteries “A rollicking read.” —Evening Standard “Ingenious.” —The Independent

A smart, witty and engaging cozy crime novel

Cruising to Murder

Murder Your Darlings

Danny Danziger

The world is full of thingummies - things we ought to know the names for, probably think we do know the names for, but when it comes to it we don't. This book looks at everything from a-line skirts to umbrellas. It provides us with the real names for many of those elusive thingummies complete with the history, myth and anecdote behind them.

The Thingummy

Robbie Williams

Once in a while a book is produced that captures the energy and spirit of the world of rock. "Somebody Someday" was published to massive popular and critical acclaim in September 2001, and spent 14 weeks at the top of bestseller lists. It looks at Robbie's professional, family, social and love lives. The insight, honesty and humourcombine with quality photographs and design to make this biography a triumph."

Somebody Someday

'A marvellous set of unsavoury suspects' Mail on Sunday 'Thriller of the Week' 'A rollicking read' Evening Standard Bryce Peabody is ready to give a scandalous talk at the annual literary festival in the pretty English town of Mold-on-Wold. Scathing in his reviews and unseemly in his affairs, Bryce is known to have many enemies. So when he is discovered dead in his hotel room festival-goers are desperate to know what happened. Could one of the numerous writers he insulted have taken revenge? Or perhaps one of his scorned lovers? As more festival-goers meet their ends, Francis Meadowes is drawn into a role he knows only from his own fiction; that of amateur detective.

The Festival Murders

Crime writer-sleuth Francis Meadowes discovers something dark hiding under the beautiful Umbrian sun when one of his writing group is found dead in Italy. Francis Meadowes is soaking up the late summer sun in Italy, running a creative writing course at the beautiful Villa Giulia, deep in the remote Umbrian countryside. Recruited by the villa’s owners, Stephanie and Gerry, Francis’s students include snooty, irritating Poppy and her ex-ambassador husband Duncan, eccentric Northern Irishman Liam, quirky, self-styled ‘Hampstead Jewess’ Zoe, bossy Scottish Diana, kooky young American Sasha, mysterious ‘spy’ Tony and restless civil servant Roz. But what should be a magical week under the Italian sun turns into something far more sinister when one of the group is found dead, and the local police quickly turn to Francis for help. Uncovering betrayal, lies, secrets and old scores to be settled, Francis soon realizes something very dark is lurking beneath the genteel and civilized veneer . . .

Jak uniknàç gaf w obcych krajach

Bruce Parry

Over several years, Parry spent a month living with fifteen different tribes in remote regions of the world. The result is an insight into wildly differing cultures that are vibrant, hospitable and full of spirit despite numerous hardships. Parry's insatiable curiosity takes him deep into the heart of each community, whether they be forest people, cannibals or nomadic herders, where beyond the obvious differences, he finds the same loves, trials and issues we have the world over. His encounters also throw up some thought-provoking and challenging questions: is change good? Should we protect tribes people? And, more importantly, who are we to impose our own cultural sensitivities in our judgement of their customs? Along the way, Parry takes part in some ridiculously dangerous rituals, which include taking mammoth amounts of a potentially lethal hallucinogen, having his penis forced back into his body and eating rats' livers cake. He also forges new friendships that will last him a lifetime.

Mark McCrum

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