New books by local authors:
Call of the Curlew by Elizabeth Brooks
OUR AUGUST 2018 BOOK CLUB CHOICE
by Isle of Man based author, Elizabeth Brooks.
Published by Doubleday
Virginia Wrathmell has always known she will meet her death on the marsh. One snowy New Year's Eve, at the age of eighty-six, Virginia feels the time has finally come. New Year's Eve, 1939.
Virginia is ten, an orphan arriving to meet her new parents at their mysterious house, Salt Winds. Her new home sits on the edge of a vast marsh, a beautiful but dangerous place. War feels far away out here amongst the birds and shifting sands - until the day a German fighter plane crashes into the marsh.
The people at Salt Winds are the only ones to see it. What happens next is something Virginia will regret for the next seventy-five years, and which will change the whole course of her life.
Seaside Detective Agency by J C Williams
by Isle of Man based author, J C Williams
‘Eyes Peeled’ is the Isle of Man’s first and only Detective Agency.
Not much happens on the idyllic Island that needs detecting, so, on the whole, the team are not the most adept. In fact, generally speaking, they’re pretty useless.
One of the agency’s more eager employees is Sam Levy. Nearing forty, he’s finally found a job he actually loves – even if he isn’t particularly good at it.
Okay, let’s be honest. He’s rubbish.
Still, Sam’s services are secured by persons unknown to track down a glamorous, yet mysterious, art dealer recently arrived on the sleepy Island. Her arrival itself isn’t overly suspicious... but the international crime boss hot on her tail most certainly is!
Sam is desperate to prove himself and impress his pretty colleague, Abby, but this investigation could end up putting him in rather a spot of bother, with our hero risking life, limb, and hairpiece!
With this case, he could have bitten off more than he can chew.
Frank 'n' Stan's Bucket List #1: TT Races by J C Williams
by Isle of Man based author, J C Williams
Frank’s had better days…
The doctor gave him the news he didn't want and Frank's discovered the worst kept secret in Liverpool; that his wife’s fitness instructor is providing her services that extend beyond the gym.
With time a dwindling commodity, Frank decides it’s time to do something he wants to do. With a little encouragement from his oldest friend, Stan, the first destination for his ‘bucket-list’ is the Isle of Man TT Races.
They were content to just spectate, but fate had other ideas.
Magic Tunnel by Edith Quaggin
Beautifully illustrated and written in both Manx Gaelic and English.
Ffynlo Patch by Susie Heckles
By local author Susie Heckles and illustrated by Julie Roberts
The story tells of two children who are bored and unhappy leaving their home and friends in England, to visit an elderly relative on the Isle of Man.
All 3 books of Tram Tales of the Isle of Man
by Sara Goodwins
Set includes:
No 1 There's Something on the Line
No 2 Stick to Safety
No 3 The Really Big Surprise
Crescendo (part 2 of Face the Music)
by Maria Darnoult
The second of Maria's 'Music' trilogy. Following the success of Face The Music the story continues. They had Faced the Music of opposition from their scandalised townsfolk and were now on honeymoon, but already a skeleton had appeared in Will s family cupboard. This must be investigated while the couple continued to endure further persecution. Determined to be happy, they clung to the old soothsayer s prediction that there would be children, and they followed her instructions to find her secret place from long ago.
Face the Music by Maria Darnoult
by Maria Darnoult
On the night that 1899 became 1900, 19-year-old Hannah had a futuristic dream in which she met her own grand-daughter. The strangely dressed woman told her that she would marry the headmaster, William Waverley. He was among the gentry of their small town in the Isle of Man, prestigious, important, even flamboyant, but he was older than Hannah’s papa! It was so ludicrous that, at first, she dismissed the idea, but little by little, over several years, her dream became a day-dream, and then a fixation, a passion, and no other man would do. Surrounded by bitter resentment, they resolved that, whatever would happen, they would ‘Face The Music’ together.
For the Love of Manx Kippers
The Ups and Downs of Commercial Fishing in the Isle of Man.
Renowned fishing writer Mike Smylie takes a long hard look at the Manx
fishing industry. Following a brief historical overview we are led on an
enthusiast’s journey through the specialist areas that make fishing on
the Isle of Man so important and unique, with particular reference to
those most local of delicacies, Manx Kippers and Queenies. The author’s
affection and understanding of his subject make this a very personal
story as well as being of interest to anyone with a love for things Manx.
