In 1907, Irish immigrant William Mulholland designed and began to build one of the greatest civil engineering feats in history: the aqueduct that carried water 233 miles from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Los Angeles allowing this small, resource-challenged desert city to grow into a modern global metropolis. Drawing on new research, Les Standiford vividly captures the larger-than-life engineer and the breathtaking scope of his six-year, $23 million project that would transform a region, a state, and a nation at the dawn of its greatest century.Mulholland, a penniless Dublin immigrant who made his way west as a stowaway on a passenger ship, personifies the American rags-to-riches tale, working from a position as a ditchdigger to become chief engineer of the Los Angeles Water Company. Confronted with a decade-long drought that threatened his adopted city's future, the self taught Mulholland found the answer in the rushing snow melt from the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, nearly 250 miles away. He proposed to build an aqueduct that would outdo any such ever conceived, one that would carry an entire river from its source to Los Angeles, through mountains, over chasms, and across an alternately freezing and blistering terra incognita, because he believed it was the city's only hope.The project brought a simmering-to-this-day firestorm of protest from residents of California's Owens Valley where the waters would be taken, as well as an all-out onslaught from political opponents and vested interests in Los Angeles, who were fearful of losing their stranglehold on the city's yield. But after nine years of struggle, including the efforts of thousands of workmen many of whom lost their lives and the use of engineering techniques and strategies never previously employed, Mulholland turned the gates and loosed the waters that brought an unprecedented wave of development and prosperity to his city and the region.Though the landmark film Chinatown touched on the subject, Mulholland was characterized there as Hollis Mulwray, a colorless pipsqueak easily dispatched by archvillain and developer Noah Cross (John Houston). In real life, however, Mulholland was every bit the equal of any of his foes, a colorful, brook-no-nonsense man of the people who accomplished a feat like no other and became a hero in the process. Water to the Angels is not only a book that provides insight into the seeds of significant ecological concerns of this day, it is also a stirring story of accomplishment against all odds, all the more captivating for being true.As Robert Towne, author of the screenplay for Chinatown suggests, the subject is timeless. "I found the ubiquity of water in everyone's lives to be compelling. Everybody needs water."At a time when the importance of water is being recognized as never before considered by many experts to be the essential resource of the twenty-first century Water to the Angels brings into focus the vigor of a fabled era, the might of a larger-than-life individual, and the scale of a priceless construction project, and sheds critical light on a past that offers insights for our future.

The great radio detective lives again in a brand new reading by Anthony Head. Returning from an author tour in America, Paul is met at the dockside by his publisher Scott Reed, who wants him to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Alfred Kelby. Reed had entrusted Kelby with a sensational diary written by Margaret Spender, the mistress of Lord Delamore, containing several clues pointing to the murderer of Delamore. When Kelby is strangled, and the diary stolen, it seems that the two events are connected. But could there be another motive for Kelby's murder? Paul is determined to find out...

The great radio detective lives again in a brand new reading by Anthony Head. Returning from an author tour in America, Paul is met at the dockside by his publisher Scott Reed, who wants him to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Alfred Kelby. Reed had entrusted Kelby with a sensational diary written by Margaret Spender, the mistress of Lord Delamore, containing several clues pointing to the murderer of Delamore. When Kelby is strangled, and the diary stolen, it seems that the two events are connected. But could there be another motive for Kelby's murder? Paul is determined to find out...

Ally Thompson's life is perfect. Calm, quiet, some might even say boring. The sole survivor of a tragic accident, she's not the adventurous type – something her new therapist wants to change. One roller-coaster ride… A murder and a detective in disguise shatter Ally's first attempt at "fun." Detective Greg Marsing is everything Ally knows better than to want. The gun-toting, tattooed, scumbags trying to kill her are almost a welcome distraction from her pointless attraction. Blows her world wide open… A contract on Ally has every lowlife for miles gunning for her. Sparks fly while she and her unlikely hero scramble to unravel clues. As the deadly game escalates, Greg has to decide if self-preservation rates higher than a love worth dying for.

This novel is set in the border country where Scots and English raided for centuries, committing atrocities that would be war crimes today and leaving the land reeking with blood and smoke. On the face of it, everything has changed. Nowadays cosy pubs sell real ale to discerning tourists and employ gourmet chefs, decrepit houses are restored by loving owners, fat geese graze village greens where quaint cottages are lush with clematis and roses. This is the Garden of Eden and that is the appearance, but Moffat is from farming stock; she has lived for most of her life in wild and wilderness country and her antannae are charged in every isolated village. As Sherlock Holmes pointed out: "the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside."

The usual flicker of nerves made Rosalie Walker stand up straighter as the receptionist opened the door to show her visitor in. The appointment had been made this morning and she’d been too busy to Google this new client. Would Morgan Danby be a man or a woman?

Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters - until a secret tore them apart. Now it might take them to their graves. Madeline has returned to Washington after her grandmother's mysterious death. And at her family's old, abandoned hotel - a place she never wanted to see again - a dying man's last words convey a warning: the secrets she and Daphne believed buried forever have been discovered. Now, after almost two decades, Madeline and Daphne will be reunited in friendship and in fear. Unable to trust the local police, Madeline summons Jack Rayner, the hotel chain's new security expert. Despite the secrets and mysteries that surround him, Jack is the only one she trusts . . . and wants. Jack is no good at relationships but he does possess a specific skill set that includes an intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. With the assistance of Jack's brother, Abe, a high-tech magician, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth . . . The New York Times bestselling author of Trust No One and River Road delivers a novel that twists and turns into a read that will leave you breathless

When a young boy goes missing, it’s easier to believe the lies than to believe the truth… Perfect for fans of Gregg Hurwitz and P.J. Tracy. On the same night that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, nine-year-old Charlie Olmstead jumped on his bike to see if he could get a better look. It was the last anyone ever saw of him.

24 hours: that’s all they have to stop a killer in his tracks… Perfect for fans of Gregg Hurwitz and P.J. Tracy. Two things Perry Hollow Police Chief Kat Campbell never thought she would do again: Enter a burning building, and lay eyes on Henry Goll, the man who was trapped inside with her the last time she was in one. So Kat's on high alert when, barely a year after the dust settled around the Grim Reaper killings, both happen on the same day. She's jolted awake at 1 a.m. by a desperate phone call telling her Perry Hollow’s one and only museum—home to all the town’s historical artifacts—has been set on fire. Arriving at the scene, Kat catches just a glimpse of Henry's face among the crowd before she's rushed into the charred building, only to find the museum curator dead…bludgeoned, not burned. Kat has lived through some tense moments and seen some gruesome crimes, but the next twenty-four hours will be the most dangerous of her life as she and Henry seek out a killer and the motivation behind these terrifying crimes. Todd Ritter returns to the beloved town of Perry Hollow, Pennsylvania with Death Night, his most poignant, cleverly plotted novel yet.

Prepare to be swept away by this enthralling story of love, war and one woman who survived them both… Lizzie Bishop’s humble beginnings as a dressmaker’s daughter see her hope for nothing more than a simple offer of marriage. Love, passion and romance are reserved for daydreams.

As the 1938 hurricane approaches Rhode Island, another storm brews in this New York Times bestseller from the author of The Secret Life of Violet Grant and Along the Infinite Sea. Lily Dane has returned to Seaview, Rhode Island, where her family has summered for generations. It’s an escape not only from New York’s social scene but from a heartbreak that still haunts her. Here, among the seaside community that has embraced her since childhood, she finds comfort in the familiar rituals of summer. But this summer is different. Budgie and Nick Greenwald—Lily’s former best friend and former fiancé—have arrived, too, and Seaview’s elite are abuzz. Under Budgie’s glamorous influence, Lily is seduced into a complicated web of renewed friendship and dangerous longing. As a cataclysmic hurricane churns north through the Atlantic, and uneasy secrets slowly reveal themselves, Lily and Nick must confront an emotional storm that will change their worlds forever...

The new novel from Sunday Times best seller Dilly Court. She turned the picture of the Christmas card over with her frozen hands. The scene showed a family at Yuletide as they gathered around the magnificent tree. Standing stiff with cold on the icy cobbles, Alice could only dream.... With the snow falling steadily, Alice and her ailing mother have found themselves on the cold streets of London with only debts to their name - forced to rely on the begrudging charity of cruel Aunt Jane. Determined to rid herself of an expensive responsibility, Jane instead tries forcing Alice into a monstrous marriage. Even though Alice knows her aunt will turn her out, she refuses the marriage and is sent to work in a grand house to earn her keep. Finding herself in sole charge of the untamable and spoilt young miss of the house, Alice's only ally is handsome Uncle Rory, who can see she's more than a mere servant. But when someone sets out to destroy her reputation, Alice can only pray a little Christmas spirit will save her from ruin..

Discover the brilliant DI Charlotte Savage - the first three books in Mark Sennen’s bestselling series TOUCH (DI Charlotte Savage 1) Harry likes pretty things. He likes to look at them. Sometimes that isn't enough. He wants to get closer. Naughty Harry. DI Savage and her team in Plymouth are struggling with their investigation into a string of horrific attacks on young women. The victims are being drugged, abducted, assaulted and then abandoned with only a dull memory of what has happened. But when the mutilated body of one of these women is found on a beach, the case becomes a chilling murder inquiry. Stopping at just one victim will never be enough…not for this killer. BAD BLOOD (DI Charlotte Savage 2) DI Charlotte Savage is back chasing a killer with a very personal grudge… When the body of a six-year-old girl is found buried beneath a patio, nobody is surprised when a local paedophile is murdered shortly afterwards. But when a member of DI Charlotte Savage’s team is abducted and several men are executed in cold blood it becomes apparent that there’s a psychopath on the loose with no mercy for his victims… CUT DEAD (DI Charlotte Savage 3) DI Charlotte Savage is back, chasing a killer who was last at large ten years ago, a killer they presumed dead…Now he’s back and more dangerous than ever. When three headless bodies are found mutilated in a pit, it’s a particularly challenging case for DI Savage and her team. The victims bear the hallmarks of a killer who butchered girls to their death; a killer who was never caught. Could this be a copycat or has the original murderer resurfaced? With a steady stream of bodies arriving at the morgue and gruesome secrets from the past emerging DI Savage is up against it to find the killer before he strikes again?

It’s 1971 and seventeen-year-old Christine is about to give birth to her son. When her family throw her out, Christine has the biggest fight of her life to bring up her son safe on the infamous Canterbury Estate in Bradford, rife with crime, alcohol and drugs, a place where family is everything and nothing. It's Friday evening on the Canterbury Estate in Bradford and Christine, who's been rushed to hospital by her friend, Josie, is on the maternity ward giving birth. She's 19 and terrified. Not just of the pain, which is ripping her in two, but because she knows that once the baby arrives, her family is never going to speak to her again. Her beautiful baby boy is about to start a chain of events that will lead to tragedy - and only her own family can save her.

From the internationally renowned expert on celiac disease and director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, here is the definitive book on gluten, uncovering the truth and explaining the science behind the current gluten-free craze. Thousands of people have adopted a gluten-free lifestyle, believing it’s healthier, that it will help them lose weight or increase their energy. The diet, a regimen once followed only by those diagnosed with coeliac disease (a serious autoimmune disorder), has become a cure-all, ‘prescribed’ not only by gastroenterologists, but also by nutritionists, trainers, psychiatrists, as well as celebrities. Gluten Exposed reveals: ? How little scientific evidence there is to justify this trend. The latest medical findings have shown that the majority of the information available about the effect of gluten on the body is only partly correct, or almost wholly untrue. ? How the gluten-free diet is a lifesaver for those with coeliac disease, but for others it may injure their health, rob them of essential nutrients, and mask their real problems. ? A practical, clear roadmap that can help anyone achieve a healthier, symptom-free life. Gluten Exposed provides an in-depth examination of every symptom and condition associated with gluten, how gluten works in the body, what the gluten-free diet cures—and what it doesn’t.

Wonderful stories from around the world of those who have received signs that their angels are listening and helping them in their time of need. In Angel Wings, afterlife expert and bestselling author, Jacky Newcomb, collects inspiring and heartwarming stories from those whom angels have protected, warned or guided. These magical tales of angel communication give hope and comfort in the knowledge that our loved ones watch over us and are by our sides always.

Stories of Cats with real character, living in some of the most interesting buildings and communities in the UK. A beautifully presented gift book and a great companion volume to Cathedral Cats.

She was just seven years old, wandering lost and hungry in the wilderness, when the solitary hunter took her in. In the years since then, he’s taught her how to survive in this desolate land where civilization has been destroyed and men are at the mercy of the elements and each other. But the man Elka thought she knew has been harboring a terrible secret. He’s a killer. A monster. And now that Elka knows the truth, she may be his next victim. Armed with nothing but her knife and the hard lessons Trapper’s drilled into her, Elka flees into the frozen north in search of her real parents. But judging by the trail of blood dogging her footsteps, she hasn’t left Trapper behind—and he won’t be letting his little girl go without a fight. If she’s going to survive, Elka will have to turn and confront not just him, but the truth about the dark road she’s been set on. The Wolf Road is an intimate cat-and-mouse tale of revenge and redemption, played out against a vast, unforgiving landscape—told by an indomitable young heroine fighting to escape her past and rejoin humanity.

Britain’s World Scrabble Champion reveals the secrets for mastering the world of competitive Scrabble. If you play at home, online, in a club or in competitive tournaments this is the ideal insight into the mind of a Scrabble World Champion. Craig analyses opening positions, middle game scenarios and of course the end game. Walk through common rack and board problems encountered by Craig and other top players so you are ideally prepared for your next match. With an attractive design, and grids and diagrams throughout, this is an invaluable reference for all keen Scrabble? players. Contains complete lists of all the latest valid two and three letter words and their definitions from Collins Scrabble Words 2015.

‘A Cottage in the Country is a real feast for the senses. Get the coffee pot on, grab a pack of biscuits and let Maddie soothe your soul.’ – BestChickLit What do you do when your best friend has an affair with your husband of twenty-five years? Well, you pack your bags, grab half of the equity in the house you've both lovingly restored and run away to an idyllic little cottage in the country. Only, it’s not quite so idyllic when 1) Rustic charm sounds rather romantic, but the reality is something else … 2) The heavens decide to open on moving day and the rain just keeps on coming Maddie Brooks grits her teeth and hires the highly recommended 'man who can', ex-soldier, Lewis Hart. As he rips out the very shabby, and decidedly not-so-chic kitchen, reality sets in. Not only is he the most abrupt person she's ever met, but the man is a Neanderthal! As the flood waters rise, and the village is cut off, everything that could possibly go wrong, does. Hitting the big five-o is the final straw. No presents, family or friends—just infuriating Lewis, who can’t leave because the flood has now cut off his exit. How on earth is she going to get through this and put her life back together? Can Maddie Brooks become that ‘fifty-and-fabulous’ woman of her dreams?

Discover the incredible memoirs of internationally bestselling author Casey Watson with this free extended eBook sampler of Casey’s first book, and Sunday Times bestseller, The Boy No One Loved. Justin was five years old; his brothers two and three. Their mother, a heroin addict, had left them alone again. Later that day, after trying to burn down the family home, Justin was taken into care. Six years on, after 20 failed placements, Justin arrives at Casey’s home. Casey and her husband Mike are specialist foster carers. They practice a new style of foster care that focuses on modifying the behaviour of profoundly damaged children. They are Justin’s last hope, and it quickly becomes clear that they are facing a big challenge. Try as they might to make him welcome, he seems determined to strip his life of all the comforts they bring him, violently lashing out at schoolmates and family and throwing any affection they offer him back in their faces. After a childhood filled with hurt and rejection, Justin simply doesn’t want to know. But, as it soon emerges, this is only the tip of a chilling iceberg. A visit to Justin’s mother on Boxing Day reveals that there are some very dark underlying problems that Justin has never spoken about. As the full picture becomes clearer, and the horrific truth of Justin’s early life is revealed, Casey and her family finally start to understand the pain he has suffered…