Search results for ""mirror books""

'A beautifully written book with a charming, young narrator, combined with a surprisingly dark and unusual whodunnit. It's a touching, powerful and twisty read, packed with intrigue. Will appeal to fans of Joanna Cannon's The Trouble With Goats and Sheep.' S.J. Harris, author of The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder'Powerful writing...' Woman's Way Magazine'With devastating purity and clarity, nine year old Frankie Appleton is likely to enter your hearts in this poignant and emotional read.' Love Reading Nine-year-old Frankie Appleton likes to count gates.One day she hopes to design the perfect gate - a gate to keep the bad things out.Little does she know that the bad things have already got in.Now her mother is dead, and the only other person with a house key has disappeared.Frankie thinks she knows who it is. But first she has to prove it.A delicately brutal exploration of what lies behind closed doors, and of the secrets and lies that form the fabric of every family, The Weight of Small Things is as charming as it is chilling.

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“When they heard the allies were coming, we were given extra rice to have the strength and energy to dig our own graves.“ In February 1942, ten-year old Olga Morris and her family were living in Singapore when the city fell to the Japanese Imperial Army in the biggest defeat in history of the British Forces. Turned back at an evacuation ship’s gangway as the bombs fell, Olga and her parents and siblings were forced to take their chances and hide out until, captured by Japanese soldiers, they were sent on a forced march to the notorious Changi Prison. There’s a certain stereotype of the British in Singapore in the ‘30s and early ‘40s, which Olga Morris – Henderson as she is now – definitely did not fit. Her family was not part of the privileged Raffles Hotel set, with their big houses and servants. Her father worked in construction, building roads, the city’s hospital and a mosque. Olga and her siblings grew up in Johor Bahru, a diverse part of Malaya just across the causeway from Singapore, amongst children of all faiths and cultures, who played together without a thought to race or class. It was a very happy upbringing. All that changed in 1942. Olga was playing with her guinea pigs when a British Army officer arrived to tell her mother that the family had just 20 minutes to pack what they could and get out. The Japanese were ten miles away. Olga’s mother grabbed the family photograph album and they ran... Three years of captivity followed. Three years of disease, malnutrition, deprivation and oppression. Olga and her friends bravely raided the vegetable plot; “dodging the searchlights” and sometimes enduring severe punishments. She stood alongside the other women and children through the ordeal of Tenko in the blazing sun. They were used as slave labour. Halfway through their captivity, Olga’s ten-year-old brother William was put into the men’s camp, where he suffered terribly cruelty that scarred him for life. February 2022 marked 80 years since the Fall of Singapore and at last Olga is ready to tell the story of her years as a child prisoner of war. It’s a story of great fear and deprivation; of a childhood utterly lost to conflict. It’s also a story of class prejudice and unkindness that didn’t end when Olga was freed from the camp and returned to England as an unwanted refugee. Yet moments of humour and camaraderie also live on in Olga’s memory. The camp’s girl guide group held clandestine meetings, where they worked on sewing a quilt. The ‘Changi Quilt’ is now held at the Imperial War Museum in London, as an emblem of the guides’ courage and faith. As Olga says, “We always felt the end of the war would come, we lived for it, from month to month and tried never to lose hope.”

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Maike Mullenders was just twenty-one when police broke the devastating news her father had taken his own life. Not only that, but he also left behind a handwritten confession suggesting that he had been ‘physically inappropriate with my daughter’. Maike was painfully aware of her father’s troubled life, but this came as a complete shock – she loved him and had no conscious memory of any sexual abuse. Thrown into personal turmoil, and questioning her identity and place in the world, she spent the next twenty years trying to uncover the truth. Had he broken her trust in the worst way imaginable? Was it a symptom of his mental anguish? Or had he constructed a story to make her hate him so her loss might be more manageable? Through deeply personal counselling sessions, extensive research, yoga and meditation she explored the darkest reaches of her subconscious and unearthed ‘memories’ long buried, yet emerged with an ‘answer’ that enabled her to live again, free from the agonising burden of The Confession. This is Maike’s remarkable journey to hope and peace after her father’s chilling final message pushed her to the brink of insanity.

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Kelsey Parker's world was turned upside down in the summer of 2020 when her husband Tom, singer in boyband The Wanted, was cruelly diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. Heavily pregnant with their second child and coping with her own heartache at losing her partner of 13 years, Kelsey remained a tower of strength and positivity for Tom during his darkest days. When traditional treatments stopped working, she spent hours researching alternative therapies to give her husband extra time with his young children Aurelia and Bodhi. Hope came late in 2021 when Tom's tumour became stable, but sadly his condition quickly deteriorated and on March 30, 2022, aged just 33, he died surrounded by his loyal wife, family and friends. With And Without You is her moving, deeply personal story of the first 12 months since Tom's tragic passing. An intimate diary of how she coped with a year of unwanted firsts - first birthdays, first Christmas, first Valentine's Day - all without the love of her life. It is the story of how she rebuilt her life, and bravely found a way to face the future. Since Tom's death, Kelsey has been an inspiration to many and a rock to the couple's children. She has sought to raise awareness of glioblastoma and has bravely campaigned for vital funds for more research into the disease. She has also found spirituality - following Tom's long held belief there is something greater than just one life. With And Without You is not only a story of coping with unimaginable heartbreak and grief, but how your love for someone you've lost can be turned into something positive and bring hope and light into your life as you carry on your journey without them.

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Joanne Phillips’ ordeal began aged 13 when she was gang-raped in her bedroom by local boys. Following the trauma, she dropped out of school, was befriended by an older man and was forced into prostitution aged 16. Over the next six years, she was raped by over 500 men, starved, beaten, and transported around the country to brothels. Forced to have sex with men from all walks of life including lawyers, stockbrokers, doctors, a parish councillor, Joanne was even made to have sex with her former school headteacher – who didn’t recognise her. Every attempt to flee failed. Police warned her mother and stepdad she had chosen the lifestyle and even threatened to charge her parents with living off immoral earnings if they allowed her to move back. Escape seemed impossible, until one day she couldn’t take any more. Just before her 21st birthday, Joanne eventually escaped her enslavement. After being left alone briefly in a London flat, where she was expected to work, she took a chance after finding a bag of money and a handgun. Fearing for her life, she fled into the night with nothing but a plastic bag of cash. After catching a train to Northern Ireland, she found her real dad and hid at his home from her pimp. Desperate to readjust to normal life, she found a job and went on to study at university. But when she tried to explain to a new boyfriend about her past, he didn’t believe any of it was true, so she vowed to keep the abuse a secret – until years later, a conversation with one of her own teenage daughters changed her life...

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On March 2nd, 2019, Yousef Makki, a scholarship pupil at Manchester Grammar school, was stabbed in the heart by one of his friends on a quiet, leafy street in the wealthy Manchester suburb of Hale Barns. The two boys who were with him as the 17-year-old lay dying from a 12cm deep knife wound were brought up in the affluent surrounding areas and like Yousef had attended expensive public schools. But unlike them, Yousef was not from a wealthy family. He grew up seven miles and a world away on a council estate in Burnage and won a life changing bursary to a prestigious grammar school. Just four months after Yousef was killed, a jury found his friend not guilty of murder or manslaughter. The outcome has been widely questioned, raising issues of class, wealth, and privilege in the justice system. Yousef died from a single stab wound to the chest. When his sister, Jade, collected his blood-stained clothes and personal possessions, he had a single pound coin in his pocket. This is Jade's personal story of her brother and how the fight for justice has transformed her life.

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Award-winning Jay Flynn, MBE, the nation's favourite quiz master is back with a new follow-up to his best-selling quiz book. Hailed by Stephen Fry as the 'quizmaster's quizmaster', Jay's online quiz entertained the nation during lockdown and became a viral phenomenon, reaching thousands of households and raising 1 million pounds for charity. It earned him a Queen's honour, a Guinness World Record, countless media appearances and even a thank-you letter from Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This brand new quiz book is bigger and even better than before - ideal for family, friends, colleagues and contains everything you need to be the best quizmaster. More than 30 set quizzes centre around everything from general knowledge, science and nature, sports, history and even some specialist Harry Potter and Marvel Movies questions. If you're one of the many thousands of Jay fans out there, or just someone who loves a pub quiz, this is a must-have book for you.

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In Cops and Horrors: Uncut Tales from the Frontline, Matt Calveley offers an up close and personal view into the life of a dedicated officer serving in one of the biggest police forces in the world. Highly decorated, Matt lived a varied career, meaning he is able to give readers an eye-opening insight into the job from all angles. On the Met's frontline, he fought violent criminals, arrested hundreds, dealt with horrific death scenes every day- and got bitten by a squirrel monkey called Clive. Matt served as custody Sergeant, provided jury protection during a huge corruption trial, and qualified as a mass fatality specialist. In Cops and Horrors, he reveals how he: * Discovered sickening photographs at a crash scene that led to a child rapist being jailed * Worked undercover in the Met's massive surveillance operation to catch Mardi Gras bomber Edgar Pearce * Expertly broke into Paul Daniel's car after the late magician locked his keys inside it * Nicked a bent 'Santa' driving a stolen limo after a high-speed Christmas morning road chase * Fought a machete-wielding maniac * Was mistaken as a stripper after hitching a lift to an emergency in a limo packed with tipsy hen party revellers Matt also gives an unprecedented, detailed account of law enforcement on London's roads. From dealing with arrogant motorists, catching drink drivers and facing catastrophic road deaths, to white-knuckle car chases and painstakingly reconstructing crash scenes, Matt has seen - and survived - it all.

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We all know the fairy-tale. An everyday girl meets her Prince Charming, they get married, have children and ride off into the sunset. Sadly, this isn't always the case and Christine McGuinness is keen to change the stereotype that marriage, fame and fortune brings an easy and blissful life... This is Christine's first book, where she tells the world her life story for the very first time. As well as outlining the difficulties and joys of being a mother to three autistic children, the autobiography delves into her anorexia battle, fertility troubles, her marriage, modelling career and tough childhood, subjects which are sensitive and many of which she hasn't spoken about before. She is a mum of three to eight-year-old twins Leo and Penelope and four-year-old Felicity, all of whom have been diagnosed with autism. In this frank and candid read, Christine reveals the struggles she's overcome in her life and still battles with today, but at the heart of it, she's on a mission to learn more about autism and to educate others and change the stigma around the condition. Christine wants to campaign to improve rights for those with invisible disabilities. She wants her children to be able to get a job, have relationships and live independent lives. Alongside writing her book, Christine and her husband Paddy are filming a BBC documentary about autism. It will air this Autumn. In the book, Christine will give readers a detailed insight into what being a full-time mum with three autistic children is like.

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'A superb book... Joey's story is extraordinary and its authenticity and relevance to the times we're living in is stunning' Eamon Dunphy'Gritty, terrifying and the most incredible true gangland story you will ever read. The Witness is hard to put down but will be harder to forget.' Donal MacIntyreJoey O'Callaghan was just 18 years old when he became a ghost - the youngest ever person to be signed up to the Witness Protection Programme.Groomed into a drug gang from the age of 10, a cold-blooded assassination sickened him to his core, and he broke the golden bond of gangland silence. His evidence won murder convictions against two of the most violent drug bosses in Ireland.Relocated to England with a new identity, Joey had to face the world alone, and soon realised it was he who had received the life sentence.15 years on, the ripple effects of the gunshots that rang out that night continue to leave a devastating legacy for everyone. None more so than Joey 'The Lips'.This is his story.

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Two sisters, one war and an extraordinary family secret1939. In the nation's hour of need, brave sisters Patricia and Jean Owtram answered the call of duty.With their fierce intelligence and steely determination, these remarkable young women would stop at nothing to help crack the Enigma code, support Allied troops, and defeat the Nazis.Their top-secret mission would finally see the tide of war turn in Britain's favour...This is their incredible true story.

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Think you know everything about the Krays?Think again.Britain's most infamous criminals: the Kray twins. The extent of their activities has always been uncertain. But now, it is time for the conclusive account of their story, from their East End beginnings, to becoming the kingpins of London's underworld.This objective account, compiled by best-selling crime author and criminal lawyer James Morton, cuts through the conflicting versions of their stories and answers burning questions still being asked, 50 years after their infamous conviction. How was the clergy involved in evading police action? What was Charlie Kray's true position with his brothers? Just how many did they kill?Featuring an in-depth discussion at the supposed claims they killed up to 30, and a deep dive into the death of champion boxer Freddie Mills, Krays: The Final Word compiles all previous accounts and then some to find the truth behind their legendary status.This is the Krays - all fact, no fiction.

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'In my darkest hour, I reached for a hand and found your paw'When Nicola found Buddy, abandoned and broken, she vowed to do all she could to help save him. What she didn't know at the time was that this little dog would in turn save her.This is the story of Buddy and me: a remarkable true story of survival, hope, and never giving up, no matter how hard life gets.

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Featuring two exclusive bonus chapters on the trial of Basil, the last Hatton Garden gang member to be caught.ONE LAST JOB was the only book on the Hatton Garden Heist to correctly predict the identity of Basil.This new edition reveals the full story of Michael Seed, Reader's mysterious protégé, by the only writers to cover his recent trial in full. The son of a Cambridge DNA pioneer, he inherited his father's brilliant mind, but used it for a career in crime after meeting Reader.Branded The Master - and a Gentleman Thief - Brian Reader is a true character from the old school of British crime.This book marks the end of the era of big set-piece raids that captured the public imagination.At the age of 71, Reader masterminded a break-in at Mayfair jewellers Chatila, containing safes holding more than £40 million worth of jewellery.Charting his criminal career from his first arrest at the age of 11, ONE LAST JOB recounts Reader's dry run for the Hatton Garden job in unprecedented detail.EXCLUSIVE interviews with the friends and associates of Brian Reader - Britain's most prolific and enigmatic thief, linked to crimes worth £150m.

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In July 1983, James Morgan Kane returned home in the evening to find a corpse in his living room.Fearing that he would be held responsible, and sensing that his wife was somehow involved, he wanted to do all he could to protect his young family.Jamie worked through the night to dispose of the body, all the while disbelieving the situation he found himself in. But his luck ran out days later, as he was arrested and sentenced to thirteen years in prison. Jamie entered the American prison system and was to stay there for 34 years with stints in San Quentin, Folsom State Prison and the notorious Deuel Vocational Institution (DVI) in California. He would rub shoulders with some of the world's most infamous serial killers such as Charles Manson, Edmund Kemper, Charles Tex Watson and Herbie Mullin, as well as gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood and Mexican cartels.This book tells of his time locked up with no hope of release, living the brutality of the tough and unforgiving American penitentiary system, and finding his new purpose in life. As well as tales of his many run-ins with some of the world's most dangerous inmates.For the first time ever, he tells his story. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, no matter how incredible it may sound.

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'Explosive' Belfast TelegraphChilling. Candid. Controversial.This is the voice of one man from within a dark scandal that nestled in the heart of London's Soho in the 1970s.Travelling to the big city to escape The Troubles in his native Northern Ireland, Anthony Daly accepted a job in Foyles Bookshop and began a new life in England. However, his naivety saw him quickly fall foul of predators, looking for young men to blackmail and sexually exploit.After years of hiding the secret of his abuse at the hands of some of the most influential men in the country, Anthony's trauma became harder to contain, as he witnessed revelations of historic abuse coming to light on TV and in newspapers.Then, finally, his lost voice ripped through the safe family life he had built over 40 years.With parallels to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, this is stylishly written and politically explosive. It is the haunting true story of a young man's decent into a hell designed to satisfy the powerful. A world that destroyed the lives of everyone involved.***Previously published as Playland (2018)***'Tony Daly's story goes to the very heart of a corrupt and perverted establishment.' Derry Journal'An extremely powerful and honest read that I just couldn't put down.' Waterstones staff review'A shattering memoir' Robin Jarossi, author of The Hunt for the 60s Ripper

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'What an extraordinary story... very moving indeed' Vanessa Feltz, Radio 2The astonishing true story of a daughter's search for her own past and the desperate mother who gave her up.Phyllis Whitsell began the search for her birth mother as a young woman, and although it was many years before she finally met her, their lives had crossed on the journey without their knowledge.This is a daughter's personal account of the remarkable relationship that grew from abandonment into love, understanding and selfless care.'I lit the candle and prayed for my birth mother, asking God to take care of her. Even at such a young age, I found it difficult to understand, but I always feared that she was in danger and needed my prayers.'It was the only thing at the time that I could do for her. I feared that she might be coming to some harm and that she was not happy, but I was helpless and had nobody to talk to about my feelings.'Phyllis' story continues with A Song for Bridget - also available now.

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Shortlisted for the 2019 Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year Award.'A wonderful book with a great story and a sparky, unusual voice. I loved it!' Katie FfordeA cheeky romantic comedy for fans of Gilmore Girls, this is the first in the Love in the Dales series, set in a beautiful Yorkshire village.Chock-full of colourful characters, bawdy wit and a bit of love and passion for good measure.In a lost corner of the Yorkshire Dales, Lana Donati runs a medieval-themed restaurant with her brother. As a distraction to help them get over losing the father they loved dearly, and as a tribute to his passion for the beautiful area they live in, Lana hatches a plan to boost business for everyone by having the Grand Départ route pass through their village.But this entails getting the small community to work together to convince the decision-makers that their beloved village is Tour material. Not an easy task when the people involved include Lana's shy, unlucky-in-love brother Tom, the man-eating WI chair Yolanda, bickering spouses Gerry and Sue, arrogant celebrity Harper Brady, and Lana's (attractive) arch-nemesis, former pro cyclist turned bike shop owner, Stewart McLean, whose offbeat ideas might just cost them everything. From the author of The Honey Trap and Meet Me at the Lighthouse, this is a rural romance for lovers of Jenny Colgan, Fiona Gibson and Sue Moorcroft.'A love story in its widest sense, this story takes an affectionate, humorous and often moving look at the ties that bind us as we move through life.' Debbie Johnson, author of the Comfort Food Café series

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Inspirational tale of how Hope Daniels overcame her demons and rebuilt her life, winning justice after years of childhood abuse. Written by Hope Daniels, bestselling author of Hackney Child, and co-written by Sunday Times bestselling author Ann Cusack.

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Bertie the pug had an unlucky start in life.Diagnosed with hemivertebrae and unable to walk, his owner decided to open up a dog-friendly cafe where he could meet friends and have fun.The Pug Cafe quickly became a very special place for all dog owners to meet and have a drink.But when the cafe faced closure, it was brave Bertie the pug and his friends who came to the rescue.Inspired by true events, Happy Days at the Pug Cafe tells the heartwarming story of one little pug and his beloved cafe.Help yourself to a Puguccino, put up your paws and get your nose into the heartwarming tale of Bertie and friends.

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A true story of resilience, survival and achievement, and a heartbreaking tale of a father's complicity in his own family's disintegration.In Yorkshire in the 1950s, Suz Evasdaughter, aged just 5, is moved to a children's home with her brothers. Confused, little Suz begins to blame herself for her mother's death. Her father eventually brings them back, but instead of finding a safe haven to rebuild their family, Suz finds herself plunged into a life of misery at the mercy of an uncaring and brutal stepmother.Unwanted tells the story of Suz's struggle to escape from her broken home and leave her fractured past behind her. But lurking in the shadows is a dark family secret...

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"In the beginning, I lived day to day, sometimes even hour to hour. I was pleased at the end of the day, to have survived, more or less. Now I know, I am strong. Life continues, for which I am glad." For Julia Engelhorn life divides into the Before and After. There was a time Before, when her life was filled with the joys and struggles of parenthood, when she was run off her feet trying to take care of a seven year old and three year old twins Octavia and Maximo. And then there was a time After, when her world was encased in darkness, when there was only one child left and she had become a member of a club that no one wants to join. On 6 April 2016 Julia went to pick up her three children from the rental home of her ex- husband Mario Deus where he had been taking care of them over the Easter holidays. Although it had been a difficult couple of years, Julia hoped that now the divorce was finalised they could get their relationship on a better and more stable footing for the sake of the children. Nothing could have prepared her for what happened that day. On arrival to the house, Mario told her to pick up a knife because he intended to kill her. When she asked what was happening he said that the twins were dead. Julia's world shattered in that moment, she ran to the bedroom where she thought her children were asleep, only to find their lifeless bodies. This is the story of her Before and After - a story of healing after unimaginable loss. Precious Scars is Julia's inspiring story of how she put herself back together again after being broken apart by unthinkable loss. It is about finding a way through impenetrable grief and learning to love, laugh and sing again. "The scars I carry with me, inside me, are a reminder of what I have survived. From the broken pieces of my old self, something new was created, just as beautiful, but different."

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"He had raped me, had me beaten up, drained me of every last shred of self-respect. Surely he would leave me alone now? But that evening, as I was eating with my parents, the phone rang. My blood ran cold…" Christina O’Connor is the main prosecution witness from the Huddersfield Grooming scandal which saw 11 men convicted of a staggering 43 offences against her, including 22 counts of rape. Christina will describe how, from being an innocent child in a normal family, she fell into the clutches of a grooming gang whose abuse of children earned them a total of 257 years in prison. Christina’s helpless parents tried desperately to save their 13 year old daughter as she began playing truant, and was lured into sexual activities with complete strangers, in exchange for pizza, vodka and cannabis. After five years of almost daily rape, Christina committed robberies under duress from the grooming gang and was jailed. She made a complaint to police about the abuse, but no action was taken. She sees the prison term as her salvation; from this moment she turned her life around. Two years after her release, her police statement was found at the back of a filing cabinet, and Operation Tendersea, the investigation into the grooming gang was launched. This is the first time Christina has spoken out. She has waived her right to anonymity and wants the world to hear her voice.

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No criminal sparked as much fear and loathing among the public and law enforcement as underworld crime boss, Kenny Noye; a man with a central role in some of the most high-profile crimes of a generation. From the GBP125 million (current value) Brink's Mat gold bullion raid to the death of Covert Police Operative John Fordham, and road rage victim Stephen Cameron, the multimillionaire villain became universally known as 'Public Enemy: No 1'. He had spent more than a third of his life in jail, but for two years, with near unlimited resources, and underworld connections around the globe, Noye played a game of hide and seek with Scotland Yard, MI5, INTERPOL, The FBI, and other national police forces as he fled the UK after the death of twenty-one-year-old Stephen Cameron in a road rage incident in May 1996. From South America to Africa, from Cuba to Holland, France to Aruba, and beyond, Noye evaded capture despite the best efforts of some of the most powerful agencies and global security services. From dining with unwitting FBI officers on cruise ships to sitting on Castro's presidential seat in Havana, Noye's 'Grand Tour on the Run' was as unbelievable as it was unprecedented. It was life on the run but not as we know it. Back in the UK, the family of Stephen Cameron grieved under the weight of the life of impunity and privilege that Noye was covertly leading but the takedown was as dramatic and extraordinary as the secrets of Noye's life under the radar. The police would ultimately get their man. His downfall would be placed at the door of an informant. Was it his lover or a gangland rival? Or was it the secret services? When the Spanish police ultimately swooped down with their English counterparts and arrested the affluent and charming 'Mick the Builder' - they were armed with a secret weapon of their own - Stephen Cameron's fiance. With unique access to Noye, and key witnesses, the secret battle of wits between the underworld's 'Governor' and law enforcement is reported in chilling detail. The reader is given a 360' vista of one of the most expensive manhunts in British policing history. The authors deliver a compelling account of a major criminal, who shunned the effective discomfort of bunkers and safe houses to live a life on the run brimming with luxury, women, sun, sea, and Bacardi - and all while hiding in plain sight.

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‘I’ve a body out the back for you...’ Imagine having that sentence said to you. And then imagine it actually being pertinent. Welcome to Evie King’s world. What happens if you die without family or money? The answer to this very three-in-the-morning question is that Evie, or someone like her, will step in and arrange your funeral. Evie is a local council worker charged with carrying out Section 46 funerals under the Public Health Act. Or to put it in less cold, legislative language; funerals for those with nobody around, willing or able to bury or cremate them. Ashes to Admin lifts the coffin lid on some moving and unexpected personal life stories. Sometimes tragic, as with the case of an unidentified woman found on a beach buried without even a name, but often uplifting and occasionally hilarious. Ultimately, Evie discovers that her job is more about life than it is about death, funerals being for the living and death being merely a trigger to rediscover a life and celebrate it against the odds.

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Tracey Curtis-Taylor is renowned as one of Britain’s foremost female adventurers – but she had to fight against the odds to make her dreams come true. Paying homage to two historic aviators, Curtis-Taylor made headlines all over the world with three epic flights in a 1942 Boeing Stearman biplane, from Cape Town to Goodwood, Farnborough to Australia, and across the USA. But it didn’t come easy. With searing honesty and breathtaking detail, Bird tells the remarkable personal story of how she overcame extreme adversity to complete her three remarkable journeys. From cheating death twice and saving her crew from a firing squad to overcoming a bitter campaign waged by a male-dominated aviation industry; from her relationship with a mysterious French spy to the shocking secret that drove her family apart. This is the action-packed, inspirational story of a woman who fulfilled her high-flying ambitions, was brought crashing down to earth in more ways than one, yet still survived to tell the tale.

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"I am just an ordinary mum, yet I would go to the ends of the earth to get justice for my daughter. If I can change the way people are treated, then Jodey will not have died in vain. I now feel that this was her destiny; to change the lives of millions of others." While Jodey Whiting was stuck in hospital battling pneumonia over Christmas, a letter dropped on her doormat from the Department of Work and Pensions, asking her to attend an assessment. It was a letter she never saw. Despite suffering from major health problems and needing daily care, the powers-that-be callously halted benefit payments for the mum-of-nine. While waiting for her appeal, and with no money coming in, Jodey killed herself, aged just 42. Another DWP letter pronouncing her 'fit to work' was sent to her home three days after her tragic death. A Mother's Job is the story of how Jodey's mum Joy Dove, 67, took on the system - and won justice for her daughter. A former cleaner and shop-worker, she is intimidated by nothing and nobody. Joy reveals how she struggled to raise her family, as a single mother, living on the now notorious: 'Benefits Street' estate in Stockton-on-Tees. Of how Jodey, her middle daughter, developed problems including curvature of the spine, a brain cyst, and bipolar and personality disorders and how, as her health deteriorated, Joy became her unofficial carer, visiting several times a day. Jodey left farewell notes following her suicide, warning that her youngest son, Cory, a twin, was particularly vulnerable. Tragically, her premonition was realised when, unable to cope with his grief, he died from a drug overdose, aged 19, in May 2020. Joy felt that the DWP had stolen two members from her family. An inquiry after Jodey's death found the DWP had failed to follow its own safeguarding practice. It issued an apology and compensation. The case was discussed in Parliament where the Prime Minister labelled it 'appalling.' Joy launched 'Justice For Jodey' which aims to hold the DWP to account and to prevent other tragedies. She met other grieving families and her campaign saw her take centre stage at the Labour Party conference and argue her case in the High Court.

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The Talk of Liverpool is a unique record of life in one of the world's most talked about cities across four headline-making decades. Paddy Shennan covered the biggest subjects and talked to people who dominated Merseyside life between the 1980s and the present day. A master of the big interview, he is a leading authority on high-profile news stories including Hillsborough, the murder of James Bulger and the abduction of Madeleine McCann. But this compelling book also reveals its author to be a true all-rounder, capable of writing about any subject - including comedy (interviews with Ken Dodd, Alexei Sayle and many others), politics (the "Liverpool 47" and many others) and football (read how he upset Joe Royle and Jim Beglin but delighted Wayne Rooney's family and Barry Horne). Paddy had the pleasure of interviewing many of his heroes - including Tony Benn, Alan Bleasdale, Jean Alexander, Mark E. Smith of The Fall and Nigel Blackwell of Half Man Half Biscuit. He also relished variety; whether it be telling the stories of those who knew The Beatles best, going behind the scenes at Ann Summers or hearing the confessions of a funeral director. As Alastair Machray, his former editor, says: "Paddy is a simply brilliant writer who can bring any subject to life with a turn of phrase that is gifted and not learned. He has a rare ability to communicate with his audience despite that audience being an eclectic mix of ages, cultures and demographics. He writes with flair yet with insight, with humour yet with sensitivity; with courage yet with wisdom."

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“It’s me, love … I’m The Yorkshire Ripper.” When Peter Sutcliffe spoke those words to his wife Sonia following his arrest in 1981, it marked the end of a killing spree which had terrorised northern England for five years. The nation had been appalled yet gripped by the Ripper and was now fascinated by the man behind the headlines. But despite millions of words being written about the case since his arrest 40 years ago, the full Peter Sutcliffe story has never been told – until now. Based on a vast quantity of raw material collected from Sutcliffe himself over a period of 16 years, ‘I’m the Yorkshire Ripper’ is the compelling account of the most terrifying series of murders in British history – much of it in the killer’s own words. The book covers all aspects of his life in intimate detail never publicly revealed before including: • His relationship with his neglectful, violent father and his loving, devoted mother • The night when he first met his future wife Sonia • The defining moment in his life in Bingley cemetery when, while working as a grave digger, he claimed to have first heard the voices which would later tell him to kill • The incredible moment when, while on a shopping trip, he walked past a woman who had survived one of his attacks • His arrest, trial and detention and his time in Broadmoor, including how he once tried to escape with the help of one of the Kray twins • His reaction to the theories of why he became a serial killer – and his own theory

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Fraudster, swindler, conman, chancer, trickster, loveable rogue, the Southerner with more front than Southend - call him what you will.Tony Sales knew how to make money.From emptying fruit machines to cloning credit cards, the man from Greenwich made a mint. And boy did he splash the cash. Fast cars, holidays in sun-kissed millionaires' playgrounds, mixing with the great and the good.Then came the internet - the game-changer. Data became the new currency, and how he exploited it, stealing identities and splurging hundreds of thousands on the latest must-have goods.Sales never fails. Or so he thought.Tony bit off more than he could chew, and ended up having to swallow a twelve-month stretch in 2010 for passport forgery. It would prove to be a life-changing sentence.Now he has done a Frank Abagnale Jr. and gone from poacher to gamekeeper, helping global finance giants stave off prolific cyber crooks like his former self.Only through the eyes of a criminal can you anticipate their next move. This is the incredible true story of King Con: how he stole a fortune, lost it all, and turned his life around.

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'From Wham! to Spandau Ballet, from success to chaos in the blink of an eye - Martin and I are two ordinary people who have been on an extraordinary adventure together. Through it all, our commitment to each other and to our family is what has always mattered the most.' Shirlie Kemp With a heartwarming foreword by Noel Fitzpatrick, IT'S A LOVE STORY tells the incredible story of Martin and Shirlie Kemp from the moment they set eyes on each other, through their stellar careers, to raising a family together. For the first time, fans and readers will have an insight into their journey together, the lessons they have learned in the spotlight and behind the scenes, and their secrets to success, happiness and raising a loving family. The book will uncover the personal highs and lows of Britain's favourite couple, and the unbreakable bond that has kept them strong, no matter how hard the fight gets. '40 years together has been filled with incredible highs, when every teenage dream and every wish literally came true, to the most horrifying of lows that belonged in our nightmares. Shirlie and I are always asked, "What's the secret to a long marriage?" - well, hopefully within the pages of this book we all might find the answer to that question!' Martin Kemp

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'If ever a dog's story is guaranteed to touch hearts, then Maggie's is.' Your Dog Magazine'This story will leave you smiling.' Best MagazineBeaten, tortured and shot 17 times, Maggie the little street dog should have given up on the world.But the world didn't give up on her.With the help of her human friends, Maggie begins her long road to recovery and starts to spread joy everywhere she goes.This is the inspirational true story of a little dog who learned to be loved just as she is.

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERWhen a fancy car pulls up outside six-year-old Marie's home in Oldham, in 1959, she is told she is going on holiday...In fact, she is taken to live in a convent, overseen by a cruel and sadistic nun.There, a horrific ritual of physical, sexual and mental abuse begins.Marie feels unable to share details of her suffering with anyone. Until years later, when a police investigation is launched, and she realises that the time has finally come to tell the truth...

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Think you know everything about the Krays?Think again.Britain's most infamous criminals: the Kray twins. The extent of their activities has always been uncertain. But now, it is time for the conclusive account of their story, from their East End beginnings, to becoming the kingpins of London's underworld.This objective account, compiled by best-selling crime author and criminal lawyer James Morton, cuts through the conflicting versions of their stories and answers burning questions still being asked, 50 years after their infamous conviction. How was the clergy involved in evading police action? What was Charlie Kray's true position with his brothers? Just how many did they kill?Featuring an in-depth discussion at the supposed claims they killed up to 30, and a deep dive into the death of champion boxer Freddie Mills, Krays: The Final Word compiles all previous accounts and then some to find the truth behind their legendary status.This is the Krays - all fact, no fiction.

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Abdul is just 7 years old when his parents are killed before his eyes.As a brutal war sweeps Sudan, Abdul and his 3-year-old brother are forced to flee.Their gruelling journey across the Sahara to a refugee camp in Chad is fraught with danger, and every day is a struggle against hunger and disease.Until one day Abdul is offered a chance to escape. A chance that could save him, but will force him to make the most heartbreaking decision of his life.Abdul's death-defying flight leaves deep scars. But his affinity with animals provides a lifeline, when he is offered the chance to work with elite racehorses. Including one owned by the Queen.____________________________________________________'What Abdul has gone through is simply unimaginable. But his story shows the incredible power of sport to bring people together and help them to heal, even after the most appalling suffering.' CLARE BALDING'A lesson to us all in courage and hope' LORD DUBS, who escaped Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport in 1939

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THE SEQUEL TO THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, 1963: A SLICE OF BREAD AND JAMPlacing a child in care doesn't mean caring for a child.When little Tommy Rhattigan was taken into care in 1963 aged just 7, he entered a closed off world of institutionalised sexual abuse.Moved between a care home in Manchester and a reform school in Liverpool, the state was supposed to pick up the duty of care that his parents had failed to give him. But instead, separated from his siblings, young Tommy was thrown to the wolves.Tommy Rhattigan takes us, in his own inimitable way, back to his own childhood of pranks, cruelty and laughter, grown from a need to survive his daily torment and to stick two fingers up to the system that was failing him so spectacularly. Reader can't get enough of Boy Number 26:'A heart-wrenching story''This is a good book that definitely needs to be read by anyone who cares about children or mental health''Rhattigan is honest and brutal in his writing'(Real reader reviews taken from NetGalley.co.uk)

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How do you teach a mother to love her child, when she's still a child herself?Jeanie Doyle nurtures, teaches and cares for young and dysfunctional mums, showing them how to care for their newborn babies, sometimes even taking the mother into foster care before the baby is born.The first in a brand-new series of books by the 'foster super-gran', Wicked Girl is the shocking true story of the very first case Jeanie dealt with: a baby girl who was found abandoned on the steps of a church just before Christmas. While the 14-year-old mother was tracked down, Jeanie took her little daughter into her own care. But while she tried to help the two of them heal and bond, the terrible truth about the baby's father was revealed...A twist on the standard Cathy Glass books, Wicked Girl offers Jeanie's rare perspective of fostering young women alongside their babies. Will mother and daughter be reunited for good, or will the vulnerable young mother make the heartbreaking decision that they are both better off apart?

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A riotously funny memoir with lots of heart (and just the right amount of bitterness!), Helen Lederer pulls no punches, but every blow is wrapped in a laugh of recognition. Brilliantly written, revealing, and moving, Not That I'm Bitter is sweet, sour, laugh-out-loud, and addictive.

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Ashley is a young single mum raising her daughter, Eden, and working hard to do the very best job she can – until one night she can't find a babysitter and makes the decision to leave Eden home alone for a couple of hours, asleep inside a wardrobe. It is an action that begins a terrible downward spiral for both of them. When Eden arrives at experienced foster carer Louise Allen's home, she has entered the care system because her mother is in prison. Eden is five years old and will not speak to any human. She begins exhibiting some other disturbing behaviours alongside the mutism, too, including torturing the family pets she loves. This eventually leads Louise to discover the pain and tragic reality behind Eden's Story.

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"My Hidden Race" is the story of Olympic medallist Anyika Onuora, who stood on the podium at every major championship in athletics. This book won't go into detail about the technicalities of her sport or the beauty of the Olympic spirit however. In the era of the Black Lives Matter and Me Too, this is an unflinching testimony of what it takes to pursue your dreams as a Black British woman against all odds. This three-time Olympian will lift the lid on the reality of life as a black female athlete in Britain in a way that nobody else has done before her. Nothing is off the record. She is revealing her life for the first time in this book with complete fearlessness. There have been far too many years of silence caught in a system. Now Anyika is determined to make up for lost time and use her story to inspire and heal others. "My Hidden Race" will take you into a world that often takes place far from the spotlight of the Olympic torch and shines an intense light on the brutal reality of professional sport for many black females.

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As seen on the BBC Victoria Derbyshire ShowAs heard on The Jeremy Vine ShowThink you've got a dysfunctional family?Meet mine.For 18 years, my family lived a normal life in a respectable suburb…Until one day, my dad gave up his successful career, and unexpectedly became Britain's most wanted crystal meth dealer.This is our story. At times shocking, often unbelievable, and all 100% true.

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Louise gets a frantic call to take in a damaged and destructive young girl. Separated from her siblings, Sparkle is hostile and angry. A short while after settling in, Sparkle begins to identify as pansexual. A revolution is underway in the Allen household, with Sparkle’s transition motivating all of the young people to explore what becoming an adult means for them. But it’s Sparkle’s escalating behaviour that causes concern. Discovering a dark fact about Sparkle’s birth and the shocking events that the children in her house were part of, Louise is desperate for more help – and not just for the child in her care. As Sparkle’s erratic and violent behaviour increases, Louise finds herself and her homelife under serious threat.

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The redoubtable Owtram sisters, best-selling authors of Codebreaking Sisters, take us back in time once again with recently rediscovered diaries and letters from the '20s and 30s that paint a vivid picture of their childhood at Newland Hall in Lancashire's Lune Valley. Here they lived with their parents Bunty and Cary Owtram and younger brother Bob, supported by a fascinating cast of cooks, maids and groundsmen, all presided over by 'Grandboffin', the sisters' indomitable grandfather. The Owtram sisters' childhood was one of nannies and governesses, balls and tennis parties, theatricals and ponies. But their hilarious stories of British eccentricity and etiquette and the trials and tribulations of boarding school, are set against the backdrop of a world in the throes of great change; the Spanish Civil War, the Great Depression, hunger marches, the abdication of Edward VIII and his wedding to "that American", Mrs Simpson... Closer to home, the sisters witnessed a shocking murder- suicide, in a scenario straight out of Romeo and Juliet. In 1938, the arrival at Newland Hall of the first Austrian Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis, became the catalyst for the Owtram sisters' decision to join the women's forces, where they serve with such distinction in World War Two. The war changed their lives forever. The work of post war recovery opened to the sisters a world that hitherto inconceivable. Jean immersed herself in travel, working with refugees. Later, she became a social worker and one of the founding members of the team that set up Lancaster University. Pat became one of the first female journalists on the Daily Mail before pursuing a career in television at Granada and the BBC, producing such great family favourites as University Challenge and the Sky At Night. With Jean soon to turn 98 and Pat approaching her 100th birthday in June 2023, this is a unique opportunity to hear more first-hand stories from a soon-to-be-forgotten world. Using the sisters' contemporaneous correspondence, diary entries (including Pat's 1940/41 Blitz diary) and their 21st century reflection, Century Sisters will tell those stories with the inimitable Owtram style and flair.

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Harry Redknapp is a well known and highly respected face in the world of football. But it wasn't until his stint in the I'm A Celebrity Jungle in 2018 that he was propelled into a whole new audience along with his loyal wife of 55 years, Sandra. Viewers instantly fell in love with the couple after Harry regaled tales of their meeting in the Two Puddings pub in Barking, London in 1963. And there was even a new found love for the classic jam roly-poly as Harry fondly revealed it was the dessert she always cooks for him! Now, Sandra is joining Harry in the spotlight as they share their entire love story for the very first time. From their low key wedding, to the births of their two sons Mark and Jamie, Harry and Sandra will reveal the highs and lows of their marriage in their first ever joint autobiography, When Harry Met Sandra. Sandra will open up for the first time about the devastating death of her beloved sister, Pat, mum to former Chelsea star Frank, and the horror car crash that left Harry feared dead in Italy in 1990. The couple will also candidly discuss the deep depression Harry felt as a footballer manager, his arrest for alleged tax evasion in 2006 and the moment Harry accidentally ran his wife over in his car, crushing her foot - with Sandra being his rock throughout. In happier times, Harry and Sandra will recall their time spent living in America with the late, great Bobby Moore, as well as the births of their much loved grandchildren, including former footballer Jamie's son, Raphael, who was born last November. The couple will also look ahead to next year, which marks 60 years since they first met. When Harry Met Sandra is an incredible tale of love, loss and loyalty.

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Jaco van Gass was 23 when he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Afghanistan in 2009. Losing his left arm to the blast, he sustained life-threatening injuries that stopped his heart twice; yet by a miracle - and the skill of the medics treating him - he survived. Against all the odds, Jaco has fought to build a post- injury life as an adventurer and professional athlete, a journey that has taken him from the slopes of the world's highest mountains to the North Pole, from the Carretera Austral to international cycling competitions in an Olympic velodrome. In his inspirational autobiography, Jaco tells his compelling and inspiring story, starting with his childhood in South Africa and ending on the podium in Tokyo. Shedding light on the potholes and pitfalls encountered along the way, he paints a vivid picture of the harshness of Basic Training, the cruel realities of war, the struggle to rebuild his life after losing a limb, the energy-sapping cold experienced at 6,000 metres above sea level, and the complexities of navigating the world of British Cycling. From the dust of the Afghan desert to the blinding whiteness of the North Pole, Jaco's story is one of horror and of great hope, of near-death escapes and of fierce resolve, and, above all, his unequivocal determination to succeed. Jaco has overcome extraordinary odds, not only in refusing to let injury define his life, but in going on to tackle challenges of which few people would even dream. Not just for adventure and military enthusiasts, Unequivocal is for any reader looking for an honest, inspiring voice that will encourage them to live life to the full.

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Separating fact from fiction, Anatomy of an Injustice - The Killing of Fr Niall Molloy re-examines the astonishing circumstances surrounding the death of a 52-year-old priest almost forty years ago. In July 1985, the discovery of Fr Niall Molloy's badly beaten body in the bedroom of his close friends and business associates, Richard and Therese Flynn, was the stuff of soap operas, not of a small rural village in the Irish midlands. The gentle-natured cleric came to a violent and bloody end during a weekend of extravagant wedding celebrations at the Flynn stately home, Kilcoursey House. For decades, the events of that tragic night fuelled rife speculation and gossip, as well as allegations of a cover-up by the State and Church, and today his death remains unsolved and shrouded in mystery. From an extraordinary criminal trial and acquittal, which conflicted with a subsequent inquest verdict, to a botched investigation and questions over motive, the savage beating of Fr Niall Molloy continues to beg more questions than answers. Anatomy of an Injustice - The Killing of Fr Niall Molloy builds on fresh revelations unveiled in a recent two-part TV documentary for RTE, 'The killing of Fr Niall Molloy', to detail and document the whole story before and after that fateful summer Sunday. In this new book, TV documentary producer, Sharon Lawless of Flawless Films, and Maresa Fagan, a journalist of 20 years standing, delve further into the case to test evidence, old and new, and follow the money trail. It forensically analyses all available facts and testimony given at the 1986 trial and inquest and also hears from criminal and medical experts about how Fr Molloy died and about what really might have occurred that night. This story of significant public interest also sheds light on the many injustices in the case and how the Molloy family were let down by the State and criminal justice system.

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"If you think you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito." - Dalai Lama In 2009, one nightshift spent on duty at his emergency vet clinic changed everything for Marc Abraham. Eight very sick puppies came in needing Marc's help. He subsequently discovered they'd all been purchased from a pet shop and had been born in the same cruel puppy farm. Since that fateful night, no one could have ever predicted the impact those poorly pups would have on the world of animal welfare, or indeed the future of grassroots campaigning in the UK, and beyond. Fast forward to June 2019 and over 10 years since Marc treated those eight sick puppies and 'Lucy's Law', named after a rescued puppy farm breeding dog whose pups were also sold through pet shops, passed into law by the UK Government. It bans the selling of puppies (and kittens) by pet shops and dealers, making all breeders accountable. Now, in his new book, #BeMoreMosquito, Marc has put together the ultimate guide for individuals to campaign for what they believe in - no matter what their cause or belief. It shows how YOU have the power to create change - and that YOUR voice matters. He shares in detail his personal campaigning tips, toolkit, and experiences from his own extraordinary journey, which included over 300 visits to Westminster. From meeting MPs and engaging with A-list celebrities, to the role of e-government petitions and developing your own campaign brand, Marc helps guide you through how to raise awareness, dispel myths, change public and even corporate behaviour, and importantly, how to make that all-important progress and influence legislation that can make our world a better place, and all for free.

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Stephen Port was jailed in November 2016 after luring four young, gay men through dating apps so he could drug them to death and rape them. Easy Kills tracks Port's life and crimes and questions the role of Barking and Dagenham Police, who were investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as a result. Officers neglected to check Port's electronic devices when the first overdosed body turned up outside his flat in June 2014. They found Port had called 999 trying to pose as a bystander after hiring the young man as an escort. He was not charged with murder, but perverting the course of justice. In August 2014, a second body turned up 400 yards from Port's front door. The young immigrant's corpse showed signs of being dragged. No investigation was opened. Less than one month later, another body turned up in the same churchyard. Port was jailed in March 2015 after being given eight months for perverting the course of justice. He served just under three. Had he served the full sentence, he wouldn't have been free to murder his fourth victim, Jack Taylor. The case has garnered massive national media attention, resulting in a TV drama airing January 2022.

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