Kirjahaku

For those who like satirical send-ups and the puncturing of pomposity. Alf King, a minor Gang Boss 'Thinks the Unthinkable' and plans to steal the Home Secretary's limousine. Harry Cuthbertson, despite other evidence is certain Alf did it. Alf gives it to Esmarelda and the Duke in Spain - and only then finds it has a Tracker fitted - but it can be switched off. So a trap is set for Tubby Grimshaw. Following a 'hot lead to grab Alf' found by Harry, he and DS Ford go undercover as villains with 'money to launder' to liaise with Grimshaw to get Alf. Wanting to 'get' Grimshaw Alf and the Duke plant the car (now with the Tracker switched on) on him as he is going to London to 'sort out' the delay in the hot money coming through. Harry, already enamoured of the beautiful Home Secretary Felicity Harbison,is alerted to the the return of the limo and roars off to grab Alf. He finds it's Grimshaw with a false Passport and arrests him. And finds he has more UK arrests Warrants. He's promoted - to Alf's fury.

Detective Sergeant Cuthbertson gets his dearest wish - Alf King finally behind bars. Offered inducements Frankie Lane has fingered Alf and The Gang for Handling Stolen Goods. Just to make sure Harry says he 'suspects' Alf has connections with Mafias, Yardies and Triads. It boosts Alf's criminal Rep. fantastically. He uses it Inside all ways. They get 6 months. Released on Bail, The Gang face a new threat - a Takeover Bid by Martha for the Gang Bosshood. At the Appeal, Sir Septimus 'has a quiet word' with the Judge so Alf gets another month 'for Reports', while Fred and Sid are released. Alf uses his experience of prison ways. But his Brief is worried why the Judge (a Golfing Partner)made that weird decision and uses 'certain' methods to find out. In Court again, all the Reports proclaim Alf is a 'Reformed character'. Harry daren't repeat his allegations of Alf's underworld connections he'd used before despite the Judge hints. So he can make only one decision.

When Alf King, Gang Boss is told he could get on the Local Council and so be on the Police Authority, he thought he could become a Police Boss at the same time. To the benefit of his friends and himself. His old enemy DS Harry Cuthbertson is furious (he reveres politicians)and the Home Secretary sets up a Focus Group to stop Alf - but see no practical strategy. Alf wins the Election with a thumping majority and goes to the Town Hall intending to solve all the Housing problems of the area in a matter of days. He meets Top Officials for the first time who take their routine steps to 'housetrain' newly elected Councillors. Alf is quickly reduced to subservience. He becomes assertive about his intentions for the Police though - which calls the Focus Group into Emergency Session. No practical solutions emerge - until Tarquin (the Home Secretary's Personal Secretary) provides the answer. Which infuriates Harry but also provides Alf with a welcome 'out'.

When Alf King (Gang Boss) and Fred are Summoned for Jury Service, both are appalled at how Regulars would react if they got to know. There seems no way out - until Eleanor sorts it. The Gang become resident night-time Security Guards on a mansion for the length of Jury Service - so stay well away from home territory. Alf and Fred are in the Jury for the trial of con-man and jewel thief (Hon. Michael Seafrood from whom Alf had 'lifted' the case of jewels) and persuade the rest to acquit him. Student Protesters (against Lottery Winners) raid the mansion, and then Masked Raiders - a Heavy Mob - attack to strip the mansion. The Students - now supporters of the mansion owner thanks to Eleanor and Alf - deal with them. The police come, backed by DS Cuthbertson and DC Wilde of Operation Monarch, arrest everyone - and Alf has his work cut out to get the release of all the Deserving.

When Dee is challenged to investigate a haunted and remote Scottish Castle near their School Camp she is delighted that Trevor's school will be there too. Till he tells her that the pretty Sandy they knew in Lanzarote is going too now that she is goes to his school. Dee is devastated at first. With that sorted and they go Nessie hunting, was what they saw - and videoed too - a Nessie after all? While Dee believes the evidence FOR the ghost at first, questions emerge. Why does Hamish change his story about seeing the ghost? Why the massive door to the castle entrance, and the still bigger one they find in a nearby cave? The mysterious ghost on the mountainside coming out of the mist. Does the robbery that caused a terrible accident in Inverness they were so nearly involved in have any part in it? The mysterious wake at the dead of night. The silent motor boats that were heading to the cave. What is that cave hiding? And how could they get away when tied up and gagged?

The Fifth story in the 'Space Rebel' series for Young Adults especially. When Commanders Jim Atkins and Ali Mukbar have the chance to join a Scientific Expedition to the distant Extar System where two Comets are due to impact a planet. No one expected to encounter dangerous Life-forms there. Kharloriasn Biologists had thought the System too young for these to have developed. But even more deadly than those were the Warriors of Canergorm, temporary allies of the Dagar Confederation at war with the Kharlorian Empire. At first it was a Contract to take some Dagar scientists to study the Comet Impact. But finding Ali and Jim were going, Jano Dagar promised further payment for eliminating Ali and Jim. When the Canergorms immobilised all the Kharlorian Saucers and captured Ali and others including Princess Clyra Vergred, they hoped to getr still more. With Jim and just a few scientists still free they are their only hope.

Jim Atkins and Ali Mukbar and Trigger, Jim's dog, never expected that their camping trip would result in their rescuing a Princess of an interstellar Empire being pursued by a cruel Rebel (Jano of Dagar)intent on capturing her to blackmail her father and the Empire. But they got the backing of the Army and Air Force in her defence when besieged. Could they really hope to beat the resources of an interstellar Battle Cruiser as a forcefield covered the Cruiser, the Research Station and even individual Space Marines that totally stopped all their weaponry? A Hyper-space radio, built from scratch by the scientists at the Station got a message through to the Emperor, but it seemed impossible for him to get to Earth in time. And Jim was about to be shot by Jano, when Trigger, Jim's dog, took a hand.

This autobiography gives a schoolboy's experiences of Evacuation and London bombing during World War 2.The effects of his serious injuries and his sister's death from the same incident when their London school was bombed during a daylight raid are described in graphic detail. But in addition the Author explains the background to much of the background leading to the wartime scene and that bombing incident in particular.

The Jacksons are an ordinary London family caught up with the events of WW2. Ron becomes a Warden as well as being a Driver for NAAFI. Kitty (10 in 1939) and Tim (5 in 1939)are Evacuated to Folkestone and then Wales. Kitty forms close relationships with both her sets of foster-parents that her mother (May) deeply resents. Taking Kitty back to London when Ron becomes ill, Kitty is then kept there. She is furious. Tim comes back 6 mos. later. Both are seriously injured 4 mos. later when their school is bombed. May is distraught blaming herself. Ron had formed a deep relationship with Anne in Folkestone and they had planned to set up a Transport firm there taking Kitty, knowing she wanted that. After the school bombing and May and the children needing Ron, those were put on Hold. Unexpectedly things happen that made the Plan possible.

This Part 2 of The Jackson story is set in the later years and early Post-war years of WW2. Ron Jackson, now living with Anne Carruthers in Folkestone develops the tiny Transport firm of 2 semi-derelict vehicles into a thriving firm and moves into Air Cargo Transport as war ends buying some war surplus aircraft and participates in the Berlin Airlift with its attendant dangers from weather and threatening Russian fighters. Throughout there are battles with his ex-wife (who also re-marries)and Tim decides to join his father and sister Kathleen in Folkestone when 15 yrs. to work in hisd father's Airfield.

When Anne and Ron Jackson's, Carruthers Chandlery expands to selling cruisers it seemed a sound move. But they had not reckoned on their Manager's other ideas. Domestic life is not plain sailing either as conflict between Ron and his ex-wife flares with much wider repercussions than themselves. During those years, 1950-1962, Britain's other wars intrude into their lives too, from Franks' National Service to the Cuban Nuclear Missile Crisis that drags them all into danger.

Inside Russia an anti-Western cabal organises co-ordinated terror strikes against the UK and the US using extremist groups, criminal gangs and 'Sleeper' Agents, culminating these with 'suitcase' nuclear weapons to explode in London, Washington, New York and Florida. A remnant of a damaged CD could hold vital clues - if it can be deciphered. . It takes the wizardry of Jack Stirling and Homer Talbot, computer experts to unravel the clues in the CD. But double-dealing and obstructions by top level politicians complicate the lethal mix. Can the locations of the suitcase nuclear bombs be found in time for them to be disarmed and World War 3 averted?

When people go missing from the Tenderfoot Trail in rural USA, it sparks FBI and Pentagon Security involvement. They become aware it's happening worldwide and often a blue beam from satellites is involved. No evidence can be found against any nation - so thoughts turn to Alien involvement. But no traces of them can be found. Then some of the Missing are returned - infected with a deadly disease that becomes pandemic. Then chasing after two children running away from a school trip, Jane Sanders their teacher has to go onto the Tenderfoot Trail - and is Abducted. Deputy Sheriff Jason Phillips, involved in the first investigations and Jane's fiance, suggest he be 'kitted up', walk the Tenderfoot Trail and if he is Abducted he might find Jane or at least get information about the Abductors back to Earth. If they can't be rescued for Earth to 'nuke' where the Abductors are. He finds Jane and the discoveries they make change everything.

Dee and Trevor (13 year old Investigative Reporters) go treasure hunting and when their find of Celtic coins disappear overnight, they suspect the farmer whose land they are on, so decide to investigate. They include Our Bunch, Dee's group of close school friends, in this. The police become involved, setting up a 'Sting' operation, but fail to trap the farmer. Dee and Trevor are asked by Nellie Grainger (6 yrs.) the daughter of a neighbouring farmer to check what she calls a 'Goblins Grotto'. The ground collapses under them plunging them into a cave system. Being in danger of drowning from the cave beginning to flood, they manage to escape into an underground Cold War headquarters bunker. Asked to be nearby when the police raid the farmer's property they see him escaping and follow. His getaway car crashes and catches fire. They are first on hand and have to rescue the farmer and his son. With the co-operation of a neighbouring farmer a Visitor Centre is established for the Celtic Settlement.

Teenage Science Fiction in the Space Rebels series. Jim Atkins and Ali Mukbar are the first Solarians to visit Kharlor-Prime. They are to train to be Commanders in the Emperor's Space Navy. However, they soon find themselves battling for their lives - and the future of the Empire - with their old enemy Jano Dagar.

Jim Atkins and Ali Mukbar are tasked to be Close Protection for Princess Clyra on a Diplomatic Mission to the warlike Sintar System. They find themselves not only battling Sintars, Jano Dagar and mammoth flesh-eating 'Crabs', but joining in a desperate life-saving mission as the Sintar sun is about to go nova. (The third SPACE REBELS adventure: Space Rebels; Warriors of Kharlor; Operation Sintar).

When I picked Lanzarote with its volcanoes - for me - and its camels - for Mum - for our holiday I never thought I'd meet up with Trevor (my age), his kid brother (the pain), Sandy Griffiths (the awful) and Ranolf Meredith (the puzzle). Or that Trevor would want to help with my Authoring. Or that we'd become Investigative Reporters. So what did that older Ranolf really want with the pretty, barely 13 year old Sandy? Was he one of those dangerous 'Internet Daters' we'd been warned about at school, trying it on in this holiday Complex? Or was he the 'Contact Man' for a gang of kidnappers as Sandy's parents were rich?

The experiences of a Probation Officer/Senior Probation Officer over a 30+ year period 1963-1994, working in the Field, Courts, Prisons, YOIs with criminals of all kinds. Also Adoption and Divorce cases.

Alf King and The Gang go to the Costa del Sol on holiday. They meet glamorous Flamenco dancers (Esmarelda and Margaretta) and join in a Plan to steal a Spanish Duke's antique watches. The Gang foil it, but Jim Cooke shouldn't have tried to use Esmarelda as a hostage.