Search results for ""john blake publishing""

'I'm interested in one thing and one thing only, and that's catching bent coppers.'Line of Duty: The Real Story is an astonishing exposé from inside the secret world of police corruption, starring a cast of twisted cops more chilling than all four H's put together. These characters operate well outside the letter of the law, inhabiting a murky, amoral world, leaving chaos in their wake.Who are the real-life Kates and Steves, tasked with hunting these corrupt cops? How has corruption invaded today's UK police forces? Who are the masterminds behind it all? In Line of Duty: The Real Story, bestselling author Wensley Clarkson goes behind the headlines and the hit show to look back at the history of corruption, and the AC-12 units which sniff out and expose the crooked coppers among the good.Referencing real-life historic and notable cases and people, from a range of sources and first-person interviews, this book tells the shocking truth behind the fiction, and its hard-hitting impact on real-life modern policing.Get ready to go undercover, infiltrate the criminal underworld - and uncover the secretive lives of these corrupt guardians of the law.

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This is the story of one of the world's best heptathletes and her journey to greatness.Katarina Johnson-Thompson is a British heptathlete and won gold in the 2019 World Championships with a British record of 6,981 points. After making her Olympic debut in 2012, Katarina has suffered many disappointments, heartbreaks and frustrations, but she has never let it stop her. Now a World Champion, she is ready to take on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

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Humans and the world around us have been governed by the waxing and waning of the moon since the planet came into being. Over the centuries different civilisations have embraced these natural cycles, and so lunar gardening has been around for as long as man has pulled food from the soil; once practised by the Incas and Native Americans, this tried and trusted method has been largely forgotten.John Harris, head gardener at Tresillian Estate in Cornwall, has been using Moon Gardening for over forty years. The methods he uses can be implemented anywhere, you do not need fancy tools, expensive seeds or substantial acreage, but instead, given time, patience and care, the results can be breath-taking. This is gardening at its most natural and organic.The Natural Gardener charts John's story from a rudderless young lad in a Cornish village to being charged with the salvation of the long-neglected gardens at Tresillian. As he shares how to follow these simple principles, he imparts his abundance of horticultural knowledge from years spent working in harmony with the soil, providing a timely link back to nature and the reassuring regularity of the seasons.

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Gangsters, hitmen, murderers and terrorists . . . Kate Kray has met them all. Using her unrivalled links to the criminal underworld, she has asked the questions many would be too terrified to utter.From seasoned hard man Roger Shaw to feared detainee Charles Bronson, Kate lifts the lid on the crimes they committed, and speaks to the men themselves to find out what exactly makes them tick. Infamous criminals, now seen as legends of British crime, open up to reveal their fated paths and the instrumental moments which caused them to turn to a life outside the law. These are the stories of the men behind the headlines, each one with a unique story to tell. But there is one thing they all have in common: they inhabit a world in which the rest of us fear to tread.

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold!Alexandre Lacazette has shown just what hard work and perseverance can do. He might not be the flashiest player on the pitch, but he's a firm favourite with the fans for his goals, as well as his strike partnership with Aubameyang that helped Arsenal reach the Europa League final in 2019. The superstar striker grew up in Lyon but he's now one of the most important players in the Arsenal squad.Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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The gritty prison memoir of Michaella McCollum, one half of the infamous 'Peru Two', imprisoned in a Peruvian jail for attempting to smuggle 11kg of cocaine from Peru to Madrid in August 2013. She was just a regular girl, spending the summer working at a bar in Ibiza, until she was approached by a man who asked her if she'd like to make some quick, easy money...and it would change her life forever. This is the truth of her time in prison, told through her own diaries and letters to her mother, family and friends, recounting tales of vicious guards, psychotic inmates and horrendous prison conditions.A brilliantly affecting tale of a naïve young girl who starts out in the Ibiza party scene and comes of age in the dark heart of Peru, before finally emerging into the sun a stronger, more confident, mature young woman.

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The Dartford Crossing: a vital transport hub connecting Kent and Essex, the busiest river crossing in Europe, and the site of some of the most vicious organised crime today...For the last decade, there has been a intense turf war in the south-east of England between two sets of criminal gangs:On one side, there's the 'Establishment' - the old-school firms that have operated for decades and weaved their way into all areas of their communities. On the other, 'The New Kids on the Bloc' - mainly Eastern European gangswho have muscled in, boasting they'll crush anyone in their way and dominate the British underworld.The Dartford Crossing, due to its location between London and the ports of the south-east, has become the epicentre of these battles.Since Brexit began, the war has become even bloodier as both gangs try to claim new territory before the borders close. In an already terrifying and volatile world of drug smuggling, people trafficking, prostitution and money laundering, all rules are out and the body count is rising...With research and interviews from both sides conducted by one of true crime's most established names, The Crossing is a ground-breaking and fascinating look inside the UK's newest crime phenomenon.

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Meet Antoine Griezmann - Ultimate Football HeroLeading the attack for France's golden generation is Antoine Griezmann - the golden boy. Antoine grew up in the heart of France, before his talent was quickly spotted by scouts who brought him to play in Spain. Ever since then, he has blazed a trail through the Spanish top division, La Liga, for Real Sociedad and then Atlético Madrid. This is the story of a speedy striker who chased his dream to the very top, when he fired France to World Cup glory in 2018. Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERMegan McKenna is the Essex girl who exploded onto our screens in some of the biggest reality TV shows in Britain, including Ex on the Beach, Celebrity Big Brother and, of course, TOWIE. Her sassy, no-holds-barred story follows her journey to the spotlight - from first ever steps on the stage, through to being flown to the EOTB villa for the first time. She speaks candidly about having her heart broken on national TV, as well as pursuing her musical dreams. Megan also shows readers her more vulnerable side, telling of the shy girl who hid from bullies, her struggles with coeliac disease, and the anxiety she still battles every day. Throughout all the meltdowns and mayhem, she has never let go of her dreams and passions - resulting in the launch of her own clothing and makeup brands, and a gluten-free fine-dining restaurant, McK Grill. MOUTHY will give readers unique access to what really goes on when the cameras stop rolling and the paparazzi have gone home. Megan uncovers the truth behind the headlines in her own words - straight from the famous Megan McKenna mouth!

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Barbra Paskin was the late Dudley Moore's official biographer, having known him well for many years. In this latest book, she provides an affectionate celebration of this extraordinary comic and musical talent. Although the book examines his extraordinary life and career from the ground-breaking stage revue Beyond the Fringe, followed by his long association with Peter Cook that produced such immortal television programmes as Not Only . . . But Also, to Hollywood stardom with films like 10 and Arthur, it is more than a biography. Uniquely, Dear Dudley also publishes for the first time a selection of the many kind, comforting, and often extremely funny letters that the author obtained from more than 100 leading celebrities to mark Dudley's 64th birthday, from the Rolling Stones to Michael Caine, Billy Joel to Paul McCartney, Goldie Hawn to Woody Allen - all of whom have given permission for them to be reproduced in the book.

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'You can get a couple of years for beating the shit out of another bloke or a couple of grand. I chose to do the latter.'Decca's story is that of a bullied boy with an impossible dream. Of solvent abuse, violence, drug addiction, depression, boxing, bare-knuckle fighting but - ultimately - redemption.It begins on a council estate in Carlisle where, as the victim of cruel bullies, a young Decca anaesthetised himself from the pain and humiliation by sniffing solvents. In his mid-teens the fear fell away to be replaced by fury, as the bullies soon discovered to their cost. Memories of that frightened boy fuelled a rage that forged a fearsome street-fighter and future champion.Working on the doors attracted more trouble but further enhanced his growing reputation. At the age of nineteen, life was good until the love of his life left him. Depression set in and prevailed. For almost ten years, he fell prey to a rampant cocaine habit, which provoked his demons, making him unpredictable and dangerous to be around. Serious jail time seemed inevitable.Out of sheer desperation, his dad arranged Decca's first unlicensed boxing match. He won and became instantly hooked. Having gotten fit, hungry, and off the drugs, he was lured into the bloody arena of bare-knuckle fighting. Many brutal undefeated fights followed, as did two BKB heavyweight titles. A chance meeting with renowned boxing promoter, Ricky English led to Decca's shot at the iconic 'Guv'nor' title. The rest, as they say, is history.

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1976, the hottest summer for a generation and life was perfect for the two young brothers Philip and Roger. They lived an idyllic life on a farm in the picturesque dales of the north of England. With their days spent on the farm, playing on Tarzan swings, building dens and swimming outdoors, their perfect existence was plunged into darkness when tragedy struck the family. Within a ten-week period, the boys lost their parents and were left as orphans.This is the story of Philip and his brother Roger, how their grandparents stepped in to bring them up and how a family and community came together to deal with the consequences that the devastation of death had left behind.Orphan Boys is not a misery memoir. It is a story full of love, strength and hope - an uplifting tale of a family's survival and how they faced the huge challenges that life threw at them.

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Almost seventy-five years ago, MI9 dreamt up the most audacious escape and evasion plan of World War Two. Formulated by Airey Neave, one of the first men ever to escape from Colditz, this plan was one of subterfuge, concealment and deception on a scale never seen before. With numerous downed RAF and Allied pilots on the run in Europe and with the fabled Comete Escape Line having been infiltrated by double agents, Neave's plan was to hide these men right under the very noses of the Nazis rather than risk repatriation. Choosing a forest in the heart of France, right next to one of the German Army's largest ammunition bases, Neave, Belgian agents and the French Resistance would secretly transport and hide Allied pilots and soldiers within feet of the enemy. Nobody thought it would work, but such was the success of the secret camp that a whole community of over one hundred and fifty Allied escapers lived within the forest for three months in the run-up to D-Day. Despite numerous close shaves, they were never discovered and this outrageous plan, brilliant in its simplicity, saw the Allied evaders make their home in the forest, cooking and hunting to survive - and even setting up a golf course in the forest using branches for clubs - without discovery. This operation remained absolutely secret, to the point that the inhabitants of the villages surrounding the forest were unaware, until the end, of the existence of that allied force so close to them.Told through interviews with evaders, members of the Resistance and the children charged with smuggling food into the forest, this book tells the compelling story of one of the most audacious operations in World War Two. A story that has, until today, remained as secret as the Hidden Army of Freteval.

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Until his retirement in 2011, Dr Martin Stephen was High Master of St Paul's School, and before that of Manchester Grammar School, two of the most academically successful independent schools in the world, bar none. As such, he is uniquely placed to write a study of that extraordinary phenomenon, the English public school, institutions that are as admired in some quarters as they are despised and vilified in others.His book, however, is no hagiography, and pulls no punches when it comes to the author's views on the failings of private educational establishments, while also showing that their benefits can be, and increasingly are, harnessed for a much wider good. His own long and influential experience within that world allows him to expose a world that is rarely less than baffling to outside observers, and frequently reviled; his often scathing and satirical view of public schools make his book a must read for anyone who is thinking of putting little Tarquin down for Eton or, conversely, for anyone who would like to see the places razed and their ruins sown with salt. But, as the author writes, 'If you are English and reading this now, a public school boy or girl is influencing your life.''A fascinating and important book which explains how public schools have become some of the most successful schools in the world' - Lord Baker of Dorking, former Secretary of State for Education 'Martin Stephen cannot write a boring line. By turns utterly horrifying and hilariously funny, [his book] is also academically fascinating, and . . . a rip-roaring good read' - Jilly Cooper

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold! 'With the TV cameras watching, Zlatan roared like a lion. It was his tenth league title in only twelve years but he never got tired of winning.' Zlatan follows the Swedish superstar on his amazing journey from the tough streets of Malmö to becoming the deadly striker at Manchester United. Along the way he has been a star for Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as becoming Sweden's all-time leading scorer. This is the story of one of a generation's finest footballers.Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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NOW A MAJOR TV DRAMA STARRING MARTIN CLUNES What does it take to catch one of Britain's most feared killers?THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERLevi Bellfield is one of the most notorious British serial killers of the last fifty years - his name alone evokes horror and revulsion, after his string of brutal murders in the early 2000s. At 3:07pm on 21st March, 2002, Milly Dowler left her school in Surrey for the last time. Less than an hour later, she was to be abducted and murdered in the cruellest fashion, sparking a missing person investigation that would span months before her body was found. In the two years that followed, two more young women - Marsha McDonnell and then Amélie Delagrange - were murdered in unspeakably brutal attacks. Yet with three murdered women on their hands, and few leads open to them, investigating officers were running out of ideas and options, until SIO Colin Sutton was drafted into the investigation for the murder of Delagrange. Seeing a connection between the three women, and thriving under the pressure of a serial killer hunt, Sutton was finally able to bring their murderer to justice after the case had begun to seem hopeless.Manhunt tells the story of how he led the charge to find a mystery killer, against the clock and against the odds - day by day and lead by lead. At once a gripping police procedural, and an insight into the life of an evil man, this is the story behind what it takes to track down a shockingly violent murderer before he strikes again.

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Throughout her years visiting people's homes as a cat groomer, Anita Kelsey has amassed a vast array of funny, cute and ridiculous stories about cats and, of course, their owners. In Claws, she picks out just a few of her favourite tales to share with the reader from, 'Sammy the Swooner' to 'Tubbs: The Fat Cat Caught in His Flap'. Claws is a must-have book for all cat lovers by an author drawing on a lifetime of living with and professionally caring for cats in their various guises and eccentricities. In the pages of Anita Kelsey's entertaining and heart warming book, you'll meet twenty of the most characterful cats, all eventually calmed and preened to their natural beauty and animal magnificence by the author. Meet their owners, too, and enjoy Anita's take on the individual relationships between pet and owner.

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For over fifty years, Freddie Foreman's name has commanded respect, and occasionally fear, from those who work to uphold the law - and those who operate just outside of it. With almost all of his compatriots - like the notorious Kray twins - now gone, Freddie is the last real gangster.A true entrepreneur and businessman, Freddie was one of the great personalities of the criminal underworld. A man of principle, protective of his family and unfailingly loyal to his friends, Freddie was someone who could be relied upon with complete confidence in all circumstances. Running with the Krays is the no-holds-barred account of life alongside the Kray twins - as well as dozens of other recognisable 'Faces' - and the exciting and glamorous world they lived.

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But before Whitesnake-and life on the road with former Deep Purple singer David Coverdale-became a chaotic reality, Moody had already formed a teenaged band with Free's Paul Rodgers, played with Juicy Lucy, been a founder member of Snafu and worked as an in-demand session musician. This saw him play with performers whose egos, neuroses-and, in some cases, supreme talent-led to some memorable encounters, giving him the opportunity to contribute, with some gusto, to the hedonism of the Seventies. His musical footprint has been nothing short of epic. But how did such a party-loving, excess-fueled outfit as Whitesnake conquer the mighty world of hard rock-and at what cost? Outrageous stories about catastrophic narcotic mix-ups and infamous groupies come as thick and fast as the band's musical output itself. However, with success comes a price, and as global domination, commercial success and late-night carousing began to give way to suspicion, greed and the repercussions of excess on the road, serious fallout was inevitable. In his memoirSnakes and Ladders, Micky relates his musical odyssey with fondness and a wry sense of humour. From, guitar lessons to guitar hero, this is his story of climbing the ladder-and surviving the 'Snake.

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On 18 January 2012, Elise Schwarz received a phone call that threatened to tear her world to pieces: 'There's something wrong with Evan. He's turning blue,' her babysitter screamed down the line. When Evan was born Elise felt her life was complete. She had her own New York apartment, a brilliant career as a litigator and a beautiful baby boy. But all that was thrown into turmoil when her only child was found to be the victim of shaken baby syndrome. All evidence pointed to the babysitter, with whom Elise had entrusted Evan's care. In the agonising weeks and months that follow, she finds herself taking on both the New York authorities, who at first prevent her from taking charge of her own child, and a medical establishment that seems anxious to terminate Evan's prospects as swiftly as possible. But this single gay mother, with a great support network of friends and family around her, had the resilience to fight like a tigress for her son in order to prevent his short life being extinguished prematurely.Faced with a nightmarish mix of emotions and a roller coaster of conflicting advice and agonising decision making, Elise emerges a Mother Courage, prepared to go to any lengths for her son. This moving and compelling account, told in diary form, is a testament to a mother's unbending love and above all unflinching belief in her child.

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Each year, thousands of competitors pit themselves against the elements, extremes of geography and their own psyches to take part in the world's hardest physical challenges. From the cold of the highest peaks to the unforgiving heat of the desert, by water, bike or foot seemingly ordinary people are undertaking extraordinary feats. Whether seeking to prove themselves as athletes, or attempting to escape the humdrum, one thing they all have in common is an unbreakable drive to test the very limits of their endurance. Are You Tough Enough? looks at over 60 of the most extreme marathons, triathlons, bike rides and other iconic endurance events from around the globe, taking in the hottest, coldest, highest and most remote locations, and the toughest, cruellest and wackiest challenges. With a detailed description of each event, featuring personal stories from competitors, this book offers massive highs and excruciating lows, showing just what we can achieve in pushing the bounds of human endeavour.

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With their silly puns, down-to-earth style and obvious affection for each other, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins were a defining part of 1990s popular culture. For two years their hit show, Light Lunch, was staple viewing for housewives and students up and down the country, and with lucrative advertising deals and endless panel show invitations it seemed like the duo were destined for superstardom. Comedy queens French and Saunders were even ready to hand over their crowns to the young stars, who they saw as their natural successors. But just a few short years later, Mel and Sue had gone their separate ways, leaving their loyal fans in mourning over the loss of the light-hearted double act. While Sue's career progressed steadily over the years, Mel's stalled, and with two young kids and a large mortgage she and her husband were left on the verge of bankruptcy. And although Sue was so popular she was hardly off our screens, her personal life wasn't always so uncomplicated. It would take ten years of hard work and setbacks before the revival of their old partnership would shoot them once more to the top - and cement their place in the nation's heart. In this, the unauthorised first biography of the cake-loving stars, award-winning journalist and author Tina Campanella gives you a candid insight into Mel and Sue's bumpy journey from funny best friends to much-loved presenters of the BAFTA-nominated, surprise hit show, The Great British Bake Off. It's a recipe for a great read.

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When a bomb blast buried Corporal Hannah Campbell alive while she was serving in Iraq it was the start of an incredible journey of self-discovery. From the collapse of her marriage, to suffering horrific post-traumatic stress disorder, becoming morbidly obese, addicted to prescription drugs and suicidal, she went to hell and back. Hannah, who left her toddler at home to go to war, then made the extraordinary decision to amputate her own badly damaged leg so she could learn to live again and be a mum to her four-year-old daughter Milly. Within hours of waking up from the amputation she announced she would fulfil her dream of running the London Marathon even though at that time she was unable to walk. Just two months later she put on her first of many prosthetic legs and crossed the finishing line, running into the arms of her beloved young daughter. This spurred her to lose half her body weight before spending her army compensation on a GBP52,000 cosmetic makeover which led her to find love again. In an amazing transformation of fortune, she became pregnant with miracle baby Lexi-River, astounding her doctors as this was a child she was told her she'd never have due to her blast injuries. Hannah's story is one of true heroism and triumph over seemingly insurmountable adversity. But simply it's also a story about how a mother's love for her children can conquer all.

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Ages 8 to 14 yearsA Puppy Called Dez is a charming offering for children, following on from the brilliant reception for A Dog Called Dez from older readers. Presented for a younger audience, A Puppy Called Dez takes up the story of Dez and `his human’ John from the perspective of Dez himself, as he learns the ropes at Guide Dog School as a young pup. Even with his best pal Stan to guide him, he discovers that becoming a guide dog is harder than he thought… and becoming Man’s Best Friend is another problem entirely. The story has a strong emotional core comprising offriendship, determination and learning new skills – all of which will appeal to parents.

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If you have ever wanted to know more about the fascinating history of Britain's Royal Family, then look no further: The Book of Royal Useless Information is jam-packed with surprising, shocking and hilarious facts. DID YOU KNOW? King Richard the Lionheart was gay. Charles I liked to place his 18-inch court dwarf between half-loaves of bread and pretend to eat him. Elizabeth I said she bathed once every three months whether she needed it or not. Henry VII was the last English king to win his throne on the field of battle. The Queen uses black blotting paper so people can't see what she's written. Wallis Simpson admonished her lover, Edward VIII, with the joke: 'You can't abdicate and eat it.' Bestselling authors Noel Botham and Bruce Montague irreverently present everything you could ever possibly want to know about the Royals - and a little bit more! So raise the Union Flag, feed the corgis, make yourself a nice cup of tea, and enjoy this truly mind-boggling collection of totally useless information.

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Boxing Day 1920, and 53,000 men, women and children pack inside Goodison Park. The extraordinary crowds have come to watch two local rivals play a match for charity. But this is no ordinary charity fixture. Eleven of the players are international celebrities and their team is the biggest draw in British - and world - football. Yet they are all full-time factory workers - and they are women. They are the ladies of Dick Kerr electrical works. And the male football establishment is terrified by them. With the men away fighting from 1914-1918, most of the workers in the factories of northern England were women. And many factories had a ladies' football team. In December 1917, the team from the Dick Kerr factory challenged the ladies of the nearby Arundel Coulthard Foundry to a charity match. It was the first of 828 games for Dick Kerr Ladies as over the decades they scored more than 3,500 goals and raised the equivalent of GBP1 million for an array of charities. By 1920, ladies football was a major spectator sport. But away from the cheering terraces are bastions of professional men's football viewed the mass popularity of women's soccer with increasing alarm.On 5 December 1921 the Football Association met in London. After a brief debate behind closed doors it unanimously passed an urgent resolution: women's football was banned from all professional football grounds. Dick Kerr Ladies did not give in, playing their matches on parkland with thousands of spectators turning up to watch. But constant pressure from the FA meant that one by one, teams began to fold,. It would take until 1971 for the FA to life its ban. Today, women's football has once again claimed a place in the global games. But it came too late for the pioneers of the sport: Preston Ladies - nee Dick Kerr Ladies - played their last match in 1969.

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Eddie Maher used to spend every day guarding big bags of someone else's cash. He'd always dreamed about the big house and the sporty car, and working for Securicor wasn't getting him anywhere fast. But all that was to change. The siren song of temptation proved too much. So one day, 'Fast' Eddie Maher decided it was his time to live the dream. He reached out his hand and grabbed opportunity...in the form of GBP1.2million cash in the back of a security van. The cheekiest heist of all time had taken no longer than a minute. For a man on the run, America was the place to be. No one knew him and no one was looking for him, although that didn't stop him wearing a fake beard and outsize shades to hide his face. Eddie travelled all around the States, living the outlaw life for 20 years. Colorado, Florida, Texas; he even married an air hostess in Las Vegas, the City of Sin. The USA was Eddie's playground. But fate is fickle and the easy living just wasn't meant to last. A quick Google search told Eddie's capricious daughter-in-law Jessica King all she needed to know about the strangely wealthy Mr Maher. Give up a wanted fugitive and net a GBP100,000 reward? She didn't have to think twice. Eddie was jailed in March 2013 for 5 years, the forfeit for his outrageous roll of the dice. This is the true story of 'Fast' Eddie Maher, the man who dared and almost won.

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This is the true story of an unusual hero. Tall, dark and handsome and often surrounded by an admiring crowd, this is no film star but an eight-year old bay gelding from the Mounted Branch of the Metropolitan Police. Horses such as Merlin go through a challenging training process to prepare them for life in the force. There are three stages of training; red, amber and green. Reports from his early training show that Merlin was sometimes naughty and spirited - but once his training was complete he was disciplined enough to maintain order at some of the toughest and most high-profile events in London. This book looks at Merlin's daily life and duties and his fascinating partnership with his mounted constable, Karen Howell. When Karen first met Merlin during his training it was love at first sight and over the years she has developed an intriguing bond with this brave, eccentric and deeply individual character.

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Drawing on extensive interviews and correspondence with many of Tann's surviving victims, Barbara Raymond shows how Tann not only popularised adoption - which until then had been feared and discouraged - but also commercialised and corrupted it. She tells how Tann abducted babies or coerced women to leave their children in her care and then sold them. To cover her kidnapping crimes she falsified birth certificates, a practice that was approved by legislators who believed it would spare adoptees the taint of illegitimacy - an one that still holds today in the form of 'amended' birth certificates and closed adoption records. Uncovering many life-shattering stories along the way, Raymond recounts how Tann openly sold more that 5,000 children, and killed so many through neglect that Memphis's infant mortality rate soared to the highest in the country. She explores how Tann's operation was able to thrive in a Tennessee governed by 'Boss' Ed Crump and the political network that allowed her to operate with impunity. And she portrays the lack of options available to women, affecting not only the birth mothers she robbed, but also Tann herself, who turned to social work after having been barred for a 'masculine profession' - the law. Written by an adoptive mother, The Baby Thief is part social history, part detective story, and part expose. It is a riveting investigative narrative that explores themes that continue to reverberate in the modern era, when baby sellers operate overseas. It is particularly relevant at this time in the UK, amidst heated national debate over the controversial adoption targets that seem to provide a perverse incentive to remove babies from birth parents.

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On 20 August 1612, ten people from Pendle were executed before a vast crowd at Lancaster's Gallows Hill. The condemned and their associates had endured six months of accusations, imprisonment and torture; their treatment was such that one of the group died in Lancaster Castle's dungeons, while awaiting trial. Today, a thriving tourism industry exists in and around Pendle, the former home of the so-called witches, yet virtually everything we know about the case originates from a single source: Thomas Potts' Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches, hurriedly published in 1613 and distinctly skewed in favour of the prosecution. Until now...Sunday Times bestselling author Carol Ann Lee brings an entirely fresh perspective to the story by approaching it as true crime. Having worked in the genre for more than a decade, her research leads to revelatory discoveries, transforming our knowledge of those shadowy figures behind ill-famed names, and the terribl

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Kim Chown was just 11 when her father Bernard Beaumont took her from her mother to Kenya. There, he tormented Kim with extreme sexual and emotional abuse, safe in the knowledge that as a pillar of the expat community his word would be believed over hers.Aged 20, Kim returned to England permanently, where she built a new life and a new family. However, she could not escape her father's influence, and eventually descended into alcoholism. But, after almost losing her life, Kim fought back. With the support of her husband and adult children, she finally faced her father in court and won justice for his shocking crimes.This is one woman's inspiring true story of overcoming horrific abuse to build a happy life - against the odds.

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Sarah Forsyth has spent most of her life in fear. After overcoming the hurt and heartbreak of a horrific childhood, Sarah managed to build a new life for herself as a nursery nurse.Then, one day, she spotted a newspaper advert for a job in a crèche in Amsterdam. Excited by the prospect of a fresh start abroad, she eagerly signed up. But within minutes of stepping off the plane in Amsterdam her life began to fall apart...There was no crèche and no job. That night, at just nineteen years of age, her life - her real life, her life as Sarah Forsyth - ended. Fed cocaine and cannabis, and forced at gunpoint to work as a prostitute in the Red Light District of Amsterdam: Sarah was a victim of sex-trafficking.Sarah Forsyth is a survivor. This is her heartbreaking story.

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Professor Brian Cox is among the best-known physicists in the world. As presenter of hit television series Human Universe, Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe, his affable charm and infectious enthusiasm have brought science to a whole new audience. Born in Lancashire in 1968, Cox was a bright but not brilliant pupil at school. He flourished at university, however, gaining a first-class honours degree and an MPhil in Physics from Manchester University before being awarded his PhD in particle physics in 1998. Alongside his studies, he played keyboards in the band D:Ream, who topped the charts in 1994 with 'Things Can Only Get Better', which was famously used by the Labour Party for its 1997 election campaign. Although an award-winning celebrity TV presenter, Brian Cox remains devoted to scientific research. He is a Royal Society University Research Fellow, an advanced fellow at the University of Manchester, and also works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland. In 2010 he was awarded the OBE for his services to science. Featuring exclusive interviews and in-depth research, this book delves into the fascinating universe of the man who single-handedly made physics cool.

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Amy-Beth Ellice has been baking since the tender age of three. Now a published cake-maker with celebrity clients, 16-year-old Amy has selected her most gorgeous recipes and collected them in this stunning book. This charming volume takes you on a mouthwatering journey through the seasons, providing easy-to-follow recipes and thoughtful tips to make the most delicious treats. From cute cupcakes, macarons, cookies, tarts and classic sponges, to sticky puddings, jams and gingerbread, there is an indulgent treat to suit every occasion. And Amy's simple instructions mean the finished results promise to delight. With a focus on family, the recipes are perfect for both seasoned bakers and young enthusiasts. And with tips on the perfect decoration and setting for each bake, you are sure to be inspired by young Amy's scrumptious creations. So, wooden spoons and frilly aprons at the ready, it's time to go on a cake-filled journey with Britain's brightest baker.

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'The first thing that caught my eye was the geezer with the gold tooth - the second was that he was holding a shooter - and the third that he was pointing it at me.' Carlton Leach is a gangland legend - the mere mention of his name strikes fear into his enemies; yet to his friends he is as loyal and caring as they come. If trouble comes calling, Carlton isn't afraid to let his fists do the talking and woe betide anyone who crosses him, or those close to him. At last, in Rise of the Footsoldier, Carlton gives the full account of his life including how his story has been made into a hugely successful film. Born and raised in East London, Carlton was a key member of the notorious Essex Boys gang and the West Ham InterCity Firm, one of the most violent hooligan gangs to trouble the football terraces during the eighties. He's been shot at, stabbed, glassed - he's even had an axe in his head. Yet the event that really brought turmoil into his life was the murder of his best friend in the infamous Range Rover murders. Carlton vowed that he would find those responsible and make them pay. There isn't much that Carlton hasn't seen or experienced in his life and his tales of violence, gang wars and close calls with death will have you on the edge of your seat. He knows how close he has come to dying and has therefore shut the door on a gangland life. He may have changed but, as he himself says, 'I'll always need to exercise the Carlton Leach brand of justice. It's in me - '

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Statins are the so-called wonder drugs widely prescribed to lower blood cholesterol levels and claim to offer unparalleled protection against heart disease. Believed to be completely safe and capable of preventing a whole series of other conditions, they are the most profitable drug in the history of medicine. In this groundbreaking book, GP Malcolm Kendrick exposes the truth behind the hype, revealing: high cholesterol levels don't cause heart disease; a high-fat diet - saturated or otherwise - does not affect blood cholesterol levels; and, the protection provided by statins is so small as to be not worth bothering about for most men and all women.Statins have many more side affects than has been admitted and their advocates should be treated with scepticism due to their links with the drugs' manufacturers.Kendrick lambastes a powerful pharmaceutical industry and unquestioning medical profession, who, he claims, perpetuate the madcap concepts of 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol and cholesterol levels to convince millions of people to spend billions of pounds on statins, thus creating an atmosphere of stress and anxiety - the real cause of fatal heart disease.With clarity and wit, "The Great Cholesterol Con" debunks our assumptions on what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and diet. It is the invaluable guide for anyone who thought there was a miracle cure for heart disease, an appeal to common sense and a controversial and fascinating breakthrough that will set dynamite under the whole area.

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Aileen Wuornos was executed in Florida, on the 9th of October, 2002 at the age of 46. She was the 10th woman to be sentenced to death in the USA since the death penalty resumed in 1976. Convicted for the murder of six men, in a two month period, Aileen claimed she acted in self defence however the investigation into these claims was poor and she later retracted her statement announcing to the Supreme Court, "I'm one who seriously hates human life and would kill again." All-too-often female prostitutes have been the victims of male serial killers - the killings of Aileen 'Lee' Wuornos were the inverse of this. She was a child prostitute, fleeing an abusive childhood at the hands of her grandparents, which led straight into a disastrous adulthood of difficult affairs with both men and women. Her metamorphosis from victim to attacker had brutal consequences: a stream of dead men. Following a renewed interest in this woman after the film "Monster", this is her story in her own words.

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Charlie Bronson has spent three decades in solitary confinement, and yet has stayed as fit as a fiddle, gaining several world strength and fitness records in the process. Now, in this no-nonsense guide to getting fit and staying fit, he reveals just how he's done it. Forget fancy gyms, expensive running shoes and designer outfits, what you need are the facts on what really works and the motivation to get on with the job. From his cell at Wakefield Prison, Charlie has complied this perfect guide to show you the best way to burn those calories, tone your abs and build your stamina giving you the know-how you need to be at the peak of mental and physical form.

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In 1991, five wannabe Mancunian musicians came together and cracked a spark that was to ignite the explosion which became Oasis. The band went from obscurity to become a global phenomenon in the space of a year, achieving world-wide recognition and selling over 70 million records. Pre Oasis, drummer Tony McCarroll joined a band called The Rain, linking up with guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, bassist Paul McGuigan and singer Chris Hutton. Hutton was later replaced by Liam Gallagher who in turn brought brother Noel along. What started out as five young lads with a common dream of becoming rock stars eventually disintegrated into in-fighting, clashes of egos and finanical disputes. In 1995, following the release of Definitely Maybe - the fastest-selling debut of all time - things came to a head and Tony left the band. In this candid and hilarious book, Tony tells one of the most in-depth rock 'n' roll stories of modern times. He reveals the truth about the early years before the band was even formed; he tells of the drinking and drug consumption. Plus, he talks of his much-publicised rift with Noel Gallagher. Tony's recollections include stories involving David Beckham, Prince, Eric Cantona and John McEnroe.

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Founded in 1864, Wrexham AFC is the oldest club in Wales, with passionate fans and a proud history of giant-killing in the cups. But in recent years, the Red Dragons had fallen on hard times.In 2008, the club dropped out of the Football League - and a long, gruelling quest to escape non-league football began. In 2020, new owners from Hollywood - the actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny - took over. With new leadership, and big signings like strikers Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer, the Dragons began to roar once again. Relive the magic of Wrexham AFC's epic fight for promotion - the games, the goals, the highs and lows, the heartbreak and heroism of two incredible seasons for the Welsh team and their loyal legions of supporters!

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THE UK'S NO.1 MILLION COPY BESTSELLING TRUE CRIME AUTHOR - A PETRIFYING GLIMPSE INTO THE MOST EVIL MINDS OF OUR TIME...'No one else does true crime quite like it,' Crime Monthly Magazine'Terrifying and chilling... True crime at its best.' Daily ExpressCase studies and conversations with the psychiatrists of:OSCAR PISTORIUSHAROLD SHIPMAN MEL MAGUIREAnd many more...In Talking With Psychopaths - A journey into the evil mind, bestselling author and criminologist Christopher Berry-Dee takes readers on a heart-racing journey deep inside the dark minds of some of the most pitiless and dangerous people alive.With unprecedented access to the world's most evil killers, Christopher spent years interviewing imprisoned criminals - including notorious serial killers - he discovered that the lack of remorse these people showed was in many ways

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold. The greatest football player of the 20th century.Considered as one of the greatest players of all time, Brazilian striker Pelé holds the Guinness World record for most goals scored, with a total of 1,283 goals in 1,363 matches. Raised in poverty in the state of São Paulo, Pelé was taught to play football by his father - as they could not afford a ball they played with a grapefruit or a sock stuffed with newspaper. Pelé tells the incredible story of how Edson Arantes do Nascimento, nicknamed Pelé, grew up to become the greatest player of the 20th century.Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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'Powerful. . . . A heart-wrenching profile of resilience, ingenuity, and heroism.' Publisher's Weekly 'A story of courage, compassion, and cunning so profound that it must be included with the greatest Holocaust literature. Janina Mehlberg is a heroine for the ages.' - Larry Loftis, New York Times bestselling author of The Watchmaker's Daughter The Holocaust has given rise to many accounts of resistance and rescue, but The Counterfeit Countess is unique. It tells the remarkable, untold story of 'Countess Janina Suchodolska', a Jewish woman named Janina Mehlberg who rescued more than 10,000 Poles imprisoned by their country's Nazi occupiers. Using the identity papers of a Polish aristocrat, she worked as a welfare official while also serving in the Polish resistance. With guile, cajolery, and steely persistence, 'the Countess' persuaded SS officials to release thousands of Poles from the Majdanek concentration camp. Incredibly, she eluded detection, survived the war and eventually emigrated to the USA. Drawing on the manuscript of Mehlberg's own unpublished memoir, supplemented with prodigious research, , historians and Holocaust experts Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa have uncovered the full story of this extraordinary woman. Unsparing yet inspiring, The Counterfeit Countess is an unforgettable account of selfless courage in the face of unspeakable cruelty, and a major addition to the history of the Holocaust.

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'A cracking good read... I will recommend this book to anyone' - Professor Richard Holmes, CBE 'The Falklands, Yom Kippur, Tet and Pearl Harbor? Avoidable intelligence blunders or much worse? Altogether a compelling read from someone who knows the business' - Nigel WestThis book is a professional military-intelligence officer's - and controversial insider's - view of some of the greatest intelligence blunders of recent history. It includes the serious developments in government misuse of intelligence in the US-led coalition's 2003 war with Iraq, as well as failures of intelligence in Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022. Colonel John Hughes-Wilson analyses not just the events that conspire to cause disaster, but why crucial intelligence is so often ignored, misunderstood or spun by politicians and seasoned generals alike. This book analyses: how Hitler's intelligence staff misled him in a bid to outfox their Nazi Party rivals; the bureaucratic bungling behind Pearl Harbor; how in-fighting within American intelligence ensured they were taken off guard by the Viet Cong's 1968 Tet Offensive; how overconfidence, political interference and deception facilitated Egypt and Syria's 1973 surprise attack on Israel; why a handful of marines and a London taxicab were all Britain had to defend the Falklands; the mistaken intelligence that allowed Saddam Hussein to remain in power until the second Iraq War of 2003; the truth behind the US failure to run a terrorist warning system before the 9/11 WTC bombing; and how governments are increasingly pressurising intelligence agencies to 'spin' a party-political line.

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'Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty. All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity. All over the world, a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a very British girl who transcended nationality. Someone with a natural nobility who was classless and who proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic...'From Charles Spencer's address at his sister Diana's funeral, Westminster Abbey, 6 September 1997Today, twenty-five years since Diana's death, seems the right moment for a reassessment of this remarkable woman. Did the Royal Family learn lessons from her life, about protection and privacy, about how to incorporate 'outsiders' into their ranks, about how to manage scandal? Did it take any lessons from her death, and the public's reaction not only to that, but to the behaviour of, in particular, the Queen and Prince Charles, in the aftermath? Or have the family and the Palace - 'the men in grey suits', as Diana called them - continued on the same track, unchanged, repeating many of the mistakes made with her, from her first nervous ventures in royal circles to her later defiance of traditional protocols?These and many other questions are explored in this authoritative book, written by two people closely associated with Diana: Inspector Ken Wharfe was the Princess's police protection officer for six years during the most turbulent period of her marriage to Prince Charles. Ros Coward was chosen as author of the official book by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Trust. Their book is both an examination of the people and events of the time, and an elegiac tribute to one of the most iconic figures of the late twentieth century.

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold!Gareth Southgate was once just a boy with a big England dream. But he knew he couldn't get there without hard work. He trained every day, honed his defensive qualities and quickly became a formidable centre-back for club and country. He went on to guide Middlesbrough, as captain, to a first major trophy in 128 years! His leadership qualities as a player would transform him into a manager.Discover how Southgate put the penalty pain of Euro 96 behind him and inspired the Three Lions through his kindness, tactical rigour and positive mindset, to their first ever the UEFA Euro final.Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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