Tag: Macmillan

Sword of Allah, by David A. Rollins

What if terrorists had weapons of mass destruction and they were aiming them right at Australia? This chilling scenario is at the centre of Sword of Allah.

SAS soldier Sergeant Tom Wilkes is in Papua New Guinea on protective escort duty when he comes across a drug runner exchanging weapons for drugs with a Highland tribe. Intrigued, he trails the smuggler, knowing he is onto something big. Just how big, though, is beyond his expectations.

In Indonesia, a terrorist organisation called Babu Islam has a camp where its members prepare for their work. Their drug running enterprise is a revenue raiser, to fund their work in ridding the world of infidels. To do this they need time, expertise and the chemical weapons which have come their way and now wait to be utitlised.

Tom Wilkes, who we first met in Rollins’ earlier offering Rogue Element, is on the trail of Babu Islam, but he cannot work alone. Only an international effort – involving Wilkes’ SAS, other Australian bodies, the CIA, even the Indonesian Kopassus, who Wilkes’ was up against in Rogue Element – can have any chance of tracking down the terrorists and averting a massive disaster.

From a slightly slow begining, Sword of Allah gathers momentum as it marches towards its climax. Australian readers will find it especially confronting, with the country’s preparations for the likelihood of attack and the reality of its unpreparedness a thought-provoking aspect of the book. It is a scenario which will have readers squirming, even as they keep turning pages, unable to put the book down.

Frighteningly real.

Sword of Allah, by David A. Rollins
Macmillan, 2004

Malicious Intent, by Kathryn Fox

Businness is slow for Anya Crichton, a freelance forensic physician and pathologist. But after her evidence helps to win a high-profile case, demand for her services grows. Perhaps now she can start building up her income to the point where she can afford to fight her ex-husband for custody of their three-year-old son.

When lawyer Dan Brody asks Anya to investigate the apparent accidental death of the teenaged daughter of a local Lebanese businessman, Anya comes across something unexpected. There are links between this death and those of a nun and a doctor. All appear to be suicides, but there are similarities which make Anya question this finding in all three cases.

As she probes deeper into the case, Anya struggles to find a motive for the deaths and, through her own brand of detective work, to find the evidence which will lead her to the killer. What she finds is as unexpected as it is shocking, leaving Anya fighting not just for her own safety, but also that of her colleague, Detective Sargeant Kate Farrer and of Anya’s son, Ben.

Malicious Intent is a gripping offering from first time author Kathryn Fox. Readers will be absorbed from start to finish, before being taken by surprise with the outcome.

Kathryn Fox is currently working on the second Anya Crichton novel. It will be eagerly awaited by those who read the first.

Malicious Intent, by Kathryn Fox
Macmillan, 2004

Gang of Four, by Liz Byrski

When Isabel decides she needs a break she doesn’t opt for a couple of weeks in a classy resort. No, she wants to take a year out and leave her husband, children, grandchildren and friends behind while she backpacks across Europe. Feeling incomplete, she wants to do something for herself and, at the same time, get to know her dead mother better by retracing her journey decades ago.

When Isabel tells her closest friends – Sally Robin and Grace – of her plans, they initially think she’s crazy. But soon enough each of the remaining members of the ‘gang of four’ are embarking on their own journeys. Sally heads off to San Francisco for a year’s study, hoping also to lay a guilty secret to rest. Robin, sick of being ‘the other woman’, rents a country hideout, hoping for time to heal and to make plans for her future. Grace, the sensible one, isn’t sure she needs to ‘do’ anything, but finds herself heading off for a short holiday in England – where she has to confront someone she hardly knows: herself.

These four very different women, separated by geographical distance, but united by their decades-old friendship, each learn about themselves, their past and their future in very different ways. New friendships are formed, life-changing decisions are made, but when one of the friends needs the others, they are able to come together once more.

Gang of Four is a very different coming-of-age story in that the protagonists are all in their fifties. Author Liz Byrski does a superb job of crafting four very different stories which overlap, diverge and merge again throughout the book. The reader is given the opportunity to know each of the four women intimately and to witness their friendship and their growth on a first hand basis.

Superb.

Gang of Four, by Liz Byrski
Macmillan, 2004

Until Death, by Sandy Curtis

When Libby Daniels wakes, feeling fuzzy and hungover, she can’t believe what she sees. Two men are standing over her mother’s battered body. When she hears one man say “Libby killed her,” she knows she must get away. She flees to Brisbane, hoping to find refuge with her grandfather, who she hasn’t seen for fourteen years.

In Brisbane, however, she finds not her grandfather, but a stranger – Conor Martin – who takes her in and helps in. He could be Libby’s knight in shining armour – if he wasn’t hiding a terrible secret of his own.

Libby and Conor are forced to learn to trust each other in order to ensure their survival, as their respective enemies combine forces, determined to destroy them.

Until Death is a fast-paced thriller, with a twist of romance. This is the fourth offering from author Sandy Curtis who manages to make each successive book a little more complex.

A gripping read.

Until Death, by Sandy Curtis
Macmillan, 2004

Far Horizon, by Tony Park

Ex-Australian Army Officer Mike Williams has a dream job as a travel guide in Africa. But when he hears that Captain Theron of the South African police wants to speak to him urgently, he knows instantly what it’s about.

Twelve months ago, Mike’s world was destroyed by a chance encounter with illegal hunters which left his girlfriend murdered and his head filled with unshakeable nightmares. Now he must revisit those memories and work alongside the police to catch the hunters.

With a busload of tourists to look after, Mike must choose between his need for revenge and his duty towards their safety. But, as the hunters and the travellers continue ther parallel journey across the continent, the choice may no longer be Mike’s to make.

Far Horizon is a gripping adventure set against the mysterious and beautiful African landscape. With the hard-hitting revenge plot unfolding entwined with a backpacker’s tour, it is likely to appeal to those who have enjoyed such travel, as well as all who enjoy gripping action.

Far Horizon, by Tony Parks
Macmillan, 2004

Jingle Jangle Jungle, by Axel Scheffler

The highlight of this simple rhyming story is the delgihtfull illustration style of Alex Scheffler, who uses plenty of vibrant colour to bring the jungle animals to life. Each double page spread includes two two-piece puzzles and is perfect both for little fingers learning to do puzzles, and little heads learning to count to 10.

With prancing giraffes, stomping elephants, skipping zebras and more, all dancing to the jungle beat, young readers will love the simple story and be delighted by the novelty of the puzzles.

A great gift book.

Jingle Jangle Jungle, by Alex Scheffler
Macmillan, 2003

Misconceptions, by Terry McGee

Julia loves her job. An obstetrician, she helps women to bring their children into the world safely and with as little intervention as possible. Although her job is gruelling – long, irregular hours leave her little time for herself or her daughter – keeping busy keeps her thoughts from dwelling on painful memories. In one painful year she lost her unborn son, lived through a very public court case involving her husband, and saw the demise of her marriage. The intervening years have dulled the pain and now Julia thinks she may be starting to move on.

Then a letter arrives which shakes Julia to the core. She is being sued for malpractice, by the mother of a child born brain damaged and permanently disabled. For Julia this is a double blow – not only will her professional integrity be challenged, but she must also revisit the pain of her husband’s traumatic court case. Will she be able to survive the court case and keep her personal life intact?

Misconceptions is a touching drama, which draws the reader to the character of Julia and to the friends and family who fill her life. It also provides an insight into the world of obstetrics, hospitals and litigation. Author Terry McGee, herself a practising obstetrician, is able to share her own knowledge in a believable way.

Great reading.

Misconceptions, by Terry McGee
Macmillan, 2003

Take 40, by Leanne Mercer

There is no birthday more talked about, more anticipated than a woman’s fortieth. For some it is a daunting age – perhaps signalling the end of youth, and admitting to being middle aged – for others a time of great challenge as they face changes in life, career, relationships.

In Take 40 Leanne Mercer, executive producer of Good Morning Australia talks to 40 women about their experiences of turning – and being – 40. They discuss how they felt at the time and how they feel now looking back.

Amongst those who share their thoughts are radio and television personality Amanda Keller, swimmer Tracey Wickham, singer Marina Prior and Sarah, the Duchess of York. Each woman’s experiences of reaching this milestone are different, but the common thread is that turning 40 is not a signal to sit back and admit defeat, but rather a time to go for it, to move forward and do whatever it is you want to do.

Take 40 also shares tips for looking and feeling good, as well as advice on careers, dating, marriage and more. An excellent gift for a woman approaching this age, Take 40 is an inspirational and insightful read.

Take 40, by Leanne Mercer
Pan Macmillan, 2003

Burning Eddy by Scot Gardner

Some people call Daniel Fairbrother Dan. Most just call him Fairy. It’s not a name that he likes.

Daniel is searching for meaning in his life. His family life is dominated by his moody and unloving father. Away from home, he has no friends and little to be happy about.

When Daniel meets a Dutch woman, Eddy, he starts to slowly see changes in his life. Eddy is eight-six. She has a tattoo, a history and can make music with her farts. She pays Dan well for the work he does in her garden, and seems to read his mind. She offers him more than work and pay – she offers him friendship. Eddy’s friendship does not prove to be an instant fix to all of Daniel’s problems – his father’s moodiness seems to escalate, the other boys pick on him and he is haunted by memories. But Eddy shows Daniel hope. Maybe there is a point to life – and maybe, just maybe, things will get better.

Burning Eddy is a poignant story about growing up, about family and about friendship. Author Scot Gardner weaves a tale which draws the reader in, caring deeply about these characters. Along the way he continues to drop bombshells that reshape the reader’s perceptions of the characters, so that the story is an ongoing surprise.

Absorbing.

Burning Eddy, by Scot Gardner
Pan Macmillan, 2003

Daughters of Nazareth, by Patricia Hughes

For the first seven years of her life Patricia Hughes lived with her sick but loving father and her alcoholic mother. Three days before her seventh birthday her life changed forever. Her father went back to hopsital and her mother abandoned her – leaving the police to deliver her to Nazareth House, a Catholic Orphanage.

For the next eight years Patricia lived in the ophanage, cared for by seemingly loveless nuns, intermittently placed in foster care with often abusive carers. When she was fifteen she decided she’d had enough and ran away from her foster paernts to start life on her own.

Although she never stopped wondering about her parents, it wasn’t until 1997 that she began to learn more about her family. Out of the blue she received a phone call from a woman claiming to be her sister. This was just the start of a series of extraordinary discoveries about their joint and separate pasts and about the family neither woman knew they had.

Daughters of Nazareth is a moving and intirguing tale of a search for family and understanding. Patricia Hughes is inspirational in her ability to move on and to accept. Her story, although recounting events which could be seen as tragic, is overwhelmingly positive.

A moving read.

Daughters of Nazareth, by Patricia Hughes
Pan Macmillan 2002