In 1813, when John and Margaret Richardson arrived in Manchester, it was the world's first great industrial city. To contemporaries it was an almost frightening spectacle that attracted visitors from every nation on earth. As the years passed, the Richardsons' descendants became part of Disraeli's "two nations," the super rich and the working class, their lives marked by stoic endeavours, love affairs, grudges, feuds, tragedies and melodramas. Here we meet thrusting entrepreneurs, black sheep, clowns and heroines, hard-won prosperity and sudden misfortune. Author Alan Richardson qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1963 and pursued a career in veterinary research. He has also taken a serious interest in certain aspects of Roman archaeology and has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers on Roman roads, military camps, forts, surveys and field systems. In 1985 he was awarded the Reginald Taylor Prize by the British Archaeological Association for his work on the Roman penetration of East Cheshire.

"Cleverly blending the real and imagined worlds until the reader can't differentiate the two, Knox has created a twisty, turny thriller that cuts through the heart of the modern true crime fascination, all while keeping us enraptured by it."—BuzzFeed THE #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER! For fans of true crime documentaries and Only Murders in the Building comes the chilling story of a university student's sudden disappearance, the woman who became obsessed with her case, and the crime writer who uncovered the truth about what happened... What happens to all the girls who go missing? In 2011, Zoe Nolan walked out of her dormitory in Manchester and was never seen or heard from again. Her case went cold. Her story was sad, certainly, but hardly sensational, crime writer Joseph Knox thought. He wouldn't have given her any more thought were it not for his friend, Evelyn Mitchell. Another writer struggling to come up with a new idea, Evelyn was wondering just what happens to all the girls who go missing. What happens to the Zoe Nolans of the world? Evelyn began investigating herself, interviewing Zoe's family and friends, and emailing Joseph with chapters of the book she was writing with her findings. Uneasy with the corkscrew twists and turns, Joseph Knox embedded himself in the case, ultimately discovering a truth more tragic and shocking than he could have possibly imagined... Just remember: Everything you read is fiction. Praise for True Crime Story: "Stunningly unique...For fans of stories with a little something extra, this book is set up like an oral history, complete with emails, newspaper clippings and photos that propel the story all the way to a shocking and satisfying conclusion." —Newsweek "Mr. Knox is a fantastic writer. His ambitious fourth novel satirises and celebrates the true-crime genre with glee. True Crime Story, by turns horrific and hilarious, is scandalously entertaining." —The Times (UK) "The gifted Joseph Knox continues his upwards trajectory with True Crime Story forging something original and innovative." —Financial Times (UK) "This is one of the most engaging cold-case novels I have read." —Literary Review (UK)

It is every person's - particularly every parent's - worst nightmare. For a loved one to walk out through the front door and never to return is one of the most heartbreaking, terrifying and harrowing experiences someone can go through. Not to know the fate of a person close to you is simply agonising - did they choose to disappear? Were they involved in an accident or did something even worse befall them? Not knowing for sure and being uncertain as to whether you should be saying goodbye or waiting for news of their return makes for a life in limbo. Every day in the UK, a staggering 600 people go missing. Most return within 72 hours of disappearing but there are still a large number that are never seen again. Some are students who take off to distant countries without telling their parents and then disappear; some are husbands who have left the marital home to come to terms with their own problems, there are runaways, unexplained disappearances and missing parents. In this compelling book, journalist Rose Rouse is granted exclusive access to the mothers, brothers, sons, wives, sisters and daughters of those who have vanished without trace. Take 19-year-old Eddie Gibson who went missing in Cambodia in 2004 - his courageous mother just wants her son back; or Tyler Blake, whose mother went missing when he was three - now nine years old, he desperately misses her and wants her back. Rose shares in the turmoil that they have endured in their quest to be reunited with these who have disappeared from their lives.

George Best was one of the greatest footballers ever to have walked the Earth - an absolute legend. His ability as an all-round player was, and still is, unsurpassed. He was highly skilful, a tough tackler and great in the air. As well as being an exceptionally gifted sportsman, George also had a unique gift when it came to people. His open and friendly nature meant that others were naturally drawn to him and he always had time to get to know anyone and everyone.Perhaps because of this, George Best reached so many people. As well as the legions of football fans who watched, awestruck, as he played, he also touched the hearts of everyone with whom he came in contact on a day-to-day basis; from club managers to the groundsmen at Old Trafford, Bestie had time for them all; it seems that almost everyone has a story to tell about him!Bernie Smith is an avid collector of everything to do with the late, great man and Maureen Hunt worked in the newspaper industry for over twenty years. From banknotes to team photographs, to signed shirts and even underwear, there is not much out there relating to George that they don't know about or possess! While gathering memorabilia they discovered that almost every keepsake, souvenir or trophy has a humorous, heart-warming or poignant story attached to it. Piecing together these gems of history, they have complied a fitting tribute to a genuine icon.Take, for example, the incredible journey of the pair of limited edition 'George Best' boots that ended up on a stall at Brick Lane market in London to eventually become the treasured possession of a man who idolised him; or the boy whose house backed onto the United training ground and who would jump over the fence to stand at the back of the nets to watch the Best magic and act as a ball boy when necessary; or even a gold thong, signed by George himself, that was bought at auction and left in a drawer...until now!Packed with anecdotes and rare photographs, this delightful book will be a welcome addition to any Best fan's collection and is a wonderful way to commemorate the man who was who both hero and friend to so many people.'The genius of George Best on the football field is well documented, as is the celebrity lifestyle which such genius often attracts. This book gives an insight into the much less well known human side of his life and the many unsung acts of kindness which were so typical and which endeared him to everyone who was fortunate enough to know or meet him. I count myself privileged to be amongst that number' - Doug Ellis, President Emeritus - Aston Villa Football Club'George Best was a fine fellow to share company with off the football field. It doesn't surprise me that the stories in this book celebrate the real side of George. George had a snooker table in his house and he loved to play the game. He was one of the nicest people you would ever wish to meet, with a great sense of humour' - Dennis Taylor, 1985 Embassy World Snooker Champion and fellow Belfast boy'Besite can only be described in one word - fantastic! - Ron 'Chopper' Harris

This unique collection consists of the most influential narratives of former slaves and the stories of people who have helped them. With their powerful & unflinching stories, they changed people's convictions and shook the very foundation of slavery: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup The Underground Railroad The Willie Lynch Letter: The Making of Slave! Confessions of Nat Turner Narrative of Sojourner Truth Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs Harriet: The Moses of Her People History of Mary Prince Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom, by William and Ellen Craft Thirty Years a Slave: From Bondage to Freedom, by Louis Hughes Narrative of the Life of J. D. Green, a Runaway Slave Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington Narrative of Olaudah Equiano Behind The Scenes - 30 Years a Slave & 4 Years in the White House, by Elizabeth Keckley Father Henson's Story of His Own Life Fifty Years in Chains, by Charles Ball Twenty-Two Years a Slave and Forty Years a Freeman, by Austin Steward Narrative of the Life of Henry Bibb Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave Story of Mattie J. Jackson A Slave Girl's Story, by Kate Drumgoold From the Darkness Cometh the Light, by Lucy A. Delaney Narrative of the Life of Moses Grandy Narrative of Joanna; An Emancipated Slave, of Surinam Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown, Who Escaped in a 3x2 Feet Box Memoir and Poems of Phillis Wheatley Buried Alive For a Quarter of a Century - Life of William Walker Pictures of Slavery in Church and State Dying Speech of Stephen Smith Who Was Executed for Burglary Life of Joseph Mountain Charge of Aiding and Abetting in the Rescue of a Fugitive Slave Lynch Law in All Its Phases Duty of Disobedience to the Fugitive Slave Act Captain Canot Pearl Incident: Personal Memoir of Daniel Drayton History of Abolition of African Slave-Trade History of American Abolitionism

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The triumphant true story of a woman who rode her horse across America in the 1950s, fulfilling her dying wish to see the Pacific Ocean, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Horse and The Eighty-Dollar Champion “The gift Elizabeth Letts has is that she makes you feel you are the one taking this trip. This is a book we can enjoy always but especially need now.”—Elizabeth Berg, author of The Story of Arthur Truluv In 1954, sixty-three-year-old Maine farmer Annie Wilkins embarked on an impossible journey. She had no money and no family, she had just lost her farm, and her doctor had given her only two years to live. But Annie wanted to see the Pacific Ocean before she died. She ignored her doctor’s advice to move into the county charity home. Instead, she bought a cast-off brown gelding named Tarzan, donned men’s dungarees, and headed south in mid-November, hoping to beat the snow. Annie had little idea what to expect beyond her rural crossroads; she didn’t even have a map. But she did have her ex-racehorse, her faithful mutt, and her own unfailing belief that Americans would treat a stranger with kindness. Annie, Tarzan, and her dog, Depeche Toi, rode straight into a world transformed by the rapid construction of modern highways. Between 1954 and 1956, the three travelers pushed through blizzards, forded rivers, climbed mountains, and clung to the narrow shoulder as cars whipped by them at terrifying speeds. Annie rode more than four thousand miles, through America’s big cities and small towns. Along the way, she met ordinary people and celebrities—from Andrew Wyeth (who sketched Tarzan) to Art Linkletter and Groucho Marx. She received many offers—a permanent home at a riding stable in New Jersey, a job at a gas station in rural Kentucky, even a marriage proposal from a Wyoming rancher. In a decade when car ownership nearly tripled, when television’s influence was expanding fast, when homeowners began locking their doors, Annie and her four-footed companions inspired an outpouring of neighborliness in a rapidly changing world.

“Terrifying” true stories of criminals who live seemingly normal lives, perfect for fans of Mindhunter—”these are the stories that keep me up at night” (Sgt. Joseph Kuns, LAPD). “He seemed so normal” is an all-too common sentiment from the neighbors of violent criminals when their heinous acts are finally exposed. There are often no obvious indicators that separate the pleasant neighbor from the sadistic murderer. Even serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and John Wayne Gacy managed to circulate unnoticed among their communities. They are neighbors and students, professionals and friends living out criminal double lives. In Double Lives, true crime author Eric Brach presents both a nonfiction exposé and a nationwide search that details the exploits of some of the worst criminals in recent American history, all of whom succeeded in going undetected for years while perpetrating one crime after another—all in their own hometowns. Monsters of every race, age, gender, and socioeconomic class are profiled in this roller-coaster of crime. Along the way, the author discusses the criminals he grew up with in his own seemingly innocent community, and provides a personal look at the current scourge of opioid addiction, making Double Lives a sensational yet sobering read.

From sex-crazed fiends to cold-eyed professional assassins, only those convicted of the most terrible murders are told they will die behind bars.This book tells the stories of those most depraved killers whose crimes outraged society and demanded the harshest penalty available to a British court. Among a UK prison population of close to 100,000, fewer than 40 men and women have been told they will end their days in a prison cell. They range from men who crossed continents to slay youngsters, to contract killers who relished their grisly calling. Some planned their killings in a sick and sadistic manner, others killed in an unanticipated explosion of rage, lust, greed or jealously. But whatever their crime, whatever their motive, each of these beasts has one thing in common: they are the most evil people in our prison system. A graphic and harrowing read, this book is the first ever to bring together the case histories of every full-term lifer in Britain's jails. It offers never-before-published information about these extraordinary offenders. Police, lawyers and the relatives of the victims and killers all describe how the truth behind these awful crimes was pieced together and those responsible were brought to justice to face the harshest punishment. These are the 36 monsters deemed beyond redemption, who by their own hands forfeited the right to live among us, forever. These are the killers whose crimes were such that society demanded that ...LIFE MEANS LIFE!