Michael Hardwick

A fascinating insight into the shared characteristics of the world's greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his illustrious creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Perfect for readers of Martin Booth, Andrew Norman, Christopher Sandford, and Andrew Lycett. From the moment he first appeared in 1887, Sherlock Holmes has captivated and enthralled readers across the globe. He is the best-known and arguably the most beloved of all fictional detectives - an iconic hero who continues to appeal to audiences to this very day. To understand the enduring legacy of Holmes, one must look to his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, for the timeless qualities they shared. The close association and comparison of one with the other are made in intimate detail, exploring their family history and the extraordinarily active and eventful aspects of their real and fictional lives. Growing up, Doyle stood out for his unusual nature and talent. It was his father who encouraged him to develop his powers of observation and intellect for reasoning and deduction. These skills enabled both character and writer to become pioneers in criminology and methods of detection that changed the face of policing forever. With a strict moral code and a disregard for personal gain, both worked tirelessly to expose injustices perpetrated by law enforcers, including judges and the Home Office. Quoting evidence from official sources, family members, friends, colleagues, and his own publications, this book presents the many varied aspects of Doyle's compelling life - as a sportsman, literary giant, campaigner, soldier, medical practitioner, scientist, family man, intellectual, and innovator. 'the Hardwicks have done a beautiful job' - The New York Times

A thrilling collection of aviation mysteries from around the world Twenty-one aerial cases that combine first-rate storytelling with valuable insights. Perfect for fans of true-life mysteries. Who shot down the Red Baron, Germany's greatest air ace of the First World War? What caused the disaster of the airship R101 in 1930? What happened to Glenn Miller on a routine cross-Channel flight in 1944? Why did two airliners collide over the Grand Canyon in 1956? Author Michael Hardwick presents all these and many more mysteries of the air in this gripping collection of cases from aviation history. From vanishing aristocratic aviators to wartime enigmas, civil aviation disasters to eyewitness accounts of UFOs, the history of flying is riddled with mysterious and unresolved events around which speculation continues to rage. Well-known cases include that of Leslie Howard, the British film star, whose plane was shot down by eight Junkers-88s in 1943, and the disappearance of American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart in 1937 during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. The World's Greatest Air Mysteries is a must-read for all enthusiasts of aviation mysteries

A topographical biography of Charles Dickens's England. Ideal for everyone interested in the places associated with the great Victorian novelist and his works. This book conducts the reader to every English scene and building connected by any significance with Dickens which is still to be seen today. Despite the numerous changes that have taken place since his death in 1870, many places Dickens knew personally and immortalized in his books still stand; and it is within the setting of these that the authors tell the story of his life - a biography in terms of place, showing how Dickens's keen observation and brilliant descriptive ability transmuted his memories of his homes, his schools, his lodgings, and the towns and villages he visited into the background of his novels and stories. Such was the enormous fame Dickens enjoyed in his lifetime, that any house he lived in, visited or wrote about was remembered for his sake. In Kent, his chosen county and cradle of his genius, the pride in him is strongest, the houses and scenes most abounding; but it is possible to follow him to many other parts of the country and to find something of him in unassuming hotels and seaside inns, lonely churches and stately homes, places that knew him and can help to bring him to life for us. Dickens's England is a fascinating topographical study concentrating on what is still to be seen, rather than what has disappeared, and offers both immediate interest and enduring value for fans of the great author.

A thrilling collection of sea mysteries from around the world Twenty-eight maritime stories told in a compelling style that combines first-rate storytelling with valuable insights. Perfect for fans of true-life mysteries. What happened to the crew of the Mary Celeste? How did a racehorse come to be found on an uninhabited island several miles out to sea? Is there really sunken treasure at Tobermory? Who did the hand discovered on a New Zealand beach belong to? All these and many more unexplained mysteries of the sea are presented in this fascinating collection of the strangest tales ever heard on the high seas. Authors Michael and Mollie Hardwick present a diversity of accounts covering every kind of maritime mystery, from olden times to the present day, set in all the oceans of the world. From sightings of sea serpents and phantom ships silently sailing the ocean waves, to the discovery of a skeleton-strewn ship missing for nearly a quarter of a century, many of the bizarre events recorded here continue to baffle experts today. Well-known cases include that of the Mary Celeste, discovered adrift and deserted in 1872, and the true-life disappearance of Britain's most famous frogman, Commander Crabb, in 1956. THE WORLD'S GREATEST SEA MYSTERIES is a must-read for everyone fascinated by the myths, legends and unsolved stories of the sea. So read on, if you dare...