Listening Boost

Boost your A0 Vocabulary!

 

Big Hair Day | Margaret Johnson

Sophia is excited because she’s an extra in a film with a big star, Fabio Facelli. But things go wrong from the start, and soon Sophia’s at the police station, not on the film set. Does Fabio live up to her dreams when she finally meets him? Or might the policeman that Sophia calls ‘Mr Sit Down’ be the one to make her day?

Arman’s Journey | Philip Prowse

Arman, a teenage refugee, makes an epic journey across Europe, often in the hands of people smugglers. He lives and works as an illegal immigrant in the UK until one day love comes into his life.

 

Book Boy | Antoinette Moses

David lives in a house with lots of books and his cat, Socrates. But is he happy? Then he makes friends with Ella. ‘You’re a nice boy,’ says Ella. ‘But you don’t know anything about me. You don’t know me. I’m not a good person.’

 

 

Let Me Out! | Antoinette Moses

Nolan is a robot created by a lonely electronics expert, John, to run his home, cook and do the ironing. But Nolan is not content; he wants to be human. When he realises that this is not possible, he turns against John, who finds there is no escape from his malevolence.

 

Dirty Money | Sue Leather

Joe lives in Canada, in a beautiful, quiet place. His peace is interrupted one day by the noise of bulldozers excavating near his house. He is told that it’s a diamond mine. Joe is a journalist for a local newspaper and his neighbours soon come to ask him to write about the awful noise and destruction. Joe becomes suspicious when his boss won’t let him write about it. He starts to investigate the mine, but gets himself in harm’s way.

The Black Pearls | Richard MacAndrew

Raratonga, in the beautiful Pacific Cook Islands, is the setting for a daring robbery. When master-thief Wolfgang Peters arrives on the island, Inspector Janet Hunter of the New Zealand Police is waiting for him. Will Peters manage to escape justice once again, or will Hunter and the Raratongan police catch him?

The Penang File | Richard MacAndrew

Secret agent, Ian Munro, is dispatched to Penang to stop an assassination attempt on the Prince (a member of the British Royal Family who is there on a state visit). Munro tracks down the assassin, identifies where and how the ‘hit’ will take place, but can he foil the assassination attempt in time?

The Girl at the Window | Antoinette Moses

For Grace, a ghost in a haunted house, the arrival of a young mother with a baby stirs memories of the man and the child she lost so many years before. But then danger threatens the baby girl and Grace must act decisively.

Why? | Philip Prowse

Alex is a soldier with a peacekeeping force in a poor country torn apart by fighting. He doesn’t speak the language and is not sure why he is there. On patrol he comes face to face with the reality of what arms sales mean and pays the ultimate price. Why?

 

What a Lottery! | Colin Campbell

Rick Drummond is a music lover without a job who dreams of making it big in the world of music. The people around him think he’s just a dreamer, or a loser. When his wife walks out on him it seems the real world is falling around him. But then his luck changes when he wins the lottery. Is this really a change of fortune for Rick or is he about to lose again?

A Death in Oxford | Richard MacAndrew

When Dr Leighton is murdered, Inspector Frank Williams and Sergeant Kate Miller set out to track down her killer. Was it her husband, her son or her colleague? All had reasons to hate her, but which one killed her?

Boost your A0/A1 Vocabulary!

Bad Love | Sue Leather

Detective Flick Laine meets handsome Dr Jack Daly at a party in Denver, USA. When Daly calls later, inviting her to meet him to ‘talk about something’, she accepts. But before they can talk,  the doctor is found dead in an apparent case of suicide. Flick is put in charge of the investigation. How did the doctor die? And what has love got to do with it?

Blood Diamonds | Richard MacAndrew

Diamonds smuggled from the bloody civil war zones of Africa and traded illegally for weapons are known as ‘blood diamonds’. London journalists Harley Kirkpatrick and Annie Shepherd sense the scoop of a lifetime when they try to trap a dealer in these diamonds. But who is trapping who and are the people involved what they seem?

Don’t Stop Now! | Philip Prowse

A brick smashes the window of a family-run internet café in central London. A message comes with it: ‘Don’t Stop Now!’. Matt, a frequent visitor to the café, offers to help Kate and her family. But Kate’s father won’t tell Matt what the message means. What is Kate’s family secret? And who are the men ready to do anything to stop Matt finding out?

Help! | Philip Prowse

A struggling writer and a computer with a mind of its own fight for control of the writer’s story and destiny. When Frank Wormold buys a computer to help him with his writing, he gets a lot more help than he wants. The ensuing battle of wills between himself and the computer makes Frank realise what the important things in life really are.

Inspector Logan | Richard MacAndrew

A missing woman and a dead body welcome Inspector Jenny Logan to her new job with the Edinburgh police. Logan questions the husband of the dead woman and a local doctor about the murder, but can she believe what they say? Then, a piece of jewellery leads Logan to the killer.

 

Hotel Casanova | Sue Leather

Life and death in Venice. A young man and a beautiful woman meet and fall in love in the most romantic city in the world. She gives him the thing he wants most, but what does the future hold for them and what price must they pay for their happiness?

 

John Doe | Antoinette Moses

A man is found on the street and taken to hospital. He appears unable to tell the doctor who he is or where he comes from, but has he really lost his memory? The man is playing a dangerous game and really knows a lot more than he is prepared to say. When he leaves the hospital, he goes to the house of the nurse who looked after him and events take a very sinister turn.

Just Like a Movie | Sue Leather

Brad and his girlfriend Gina love the movies and go every Saturday night. They want to get married but haven’t got much money.  Then one day, Brad gets an idea from a movie about how to make a lot of money – an idea that involves murder. But Brad’s plan doesn’t go quite as he hoped and he discovers that real life doesn’t always have a happy ending.

Parallel | Colin Campbell

Max Holland, an assassin for hire, receives a lucrative offer from a mysterious man. But the man’s instructions are rather strange and Max isn’t sure whether to believe him. It is the start of a job that leads Max to a very unusual place – a world where Max makes a life-changing decision.

 

Next Door to Love | Margaret Johnson

Stella is curious about her attractive new London neighbour, Tony. She gradually gets to know Tony – and also his young daughter, Daisy. But Stella and Tony’s growing relationship is threatened when Tony’s ex-wife makes plans to move away with Daisy. How can Tony keep Daisy, and how can Stella keep Tony?

The Big Picture | Sue Leather

The right place at the right time? Photographer Ken Harada thinks so when he gets a fantastic photo of a famous sumo star who is visiting Tokyo. However, it becomes clear that somebody wants that photo badly and will do anything to get it. Life suddenly becomes very dangerous for Ken and when he develops the photo he realises why.

Ten Long Years | Alan Bettersby

New York private investigator Nat Marley meets a stranger who is celebrating his release from prison after a ten-year sentence. The man wants to trace an old friend and reclaim the money which the friend is holding for him. Finding the ‘friend’ turns out to be relatively easy, but getting hold of the money is quite another matter.

Three Tomorrows | Frank Brennan

Three stories to make you think, set in the near future, 100 years and 1500 years from now. The end of spam – a curse or a blessing? Are people robots? What happens to the last brain in the world?

 

The Caribbean File | Richard MacAndrew

Secret agent Ian Munro is sent to the islands of the Caribbean to discover what two notorious terrorists are doing there. He tracks down the men and their beautiful female accomplice, and then follows them as they put their plan to dominate the world into action. How can he stop them? And what about the kidnapped boy and his nuclear scientist father?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boost your A1/-B1 Vocabulary!

A Picture to Remember | Sarah Scott-Malden

Cristina, who works in an art gallery in Buenos Aires, is waiting at the traffic lights on her motorbike. She notices two men with a gun in the car next to her. Seconds later she is hit by a taxi, and wakes up in hospital with no memory of the accident or the two men. However, the men are afraid of what might happen if her memory returns and plan to make sure it never does.

Apollo’s Gold | Antoinette Moses

Liz teaches archaeology in Athens. She works too hard and her doctor tells her she needs to take a holiday. So she goes to the beautiful and peaceful Greek island of Sifnos. But the peace does not last long when a local man dies in suspicious circumstances. Liz ignores advice not to get involved and her relaxing holiday becomes a matter of life and death.

Bad Company | Richard MacAndrew

Detective Inspector Helen Shepherd is called to investigate the murder of a young woman on a beach on the south coast of England. The young woman was one of a group of workers from a music company who are staying at a nearby hotel. Inspector Shepherd and her new sergeant Webb question the other workers to find out who had a motive for murder. More than one has, so which one is the murderer and how did they do it?

Circle Games | Frank Brennan

United by the theme of the circle, these stories are set in the UK, the USA and Singapore. From the discovery by a student archaeologist of a mysterious silver disc with strange properties, to the heart-warming story of the rescue of a dangerously ill child by a poor tri-shaw driver, this collection of five stories is both amusing and thought-provoking.

Dead Cold | Sue Leather

A dead girl in a swimming pool in Pine Crest, USA. She’s Janine, a 23-year-old student who wanted to write for a newspaper. Detective Flick Laine has to find the killer. But first she must find out the big story Janine was working on before her death.

 

Different Worlds | Margaret Johnson

Sam is like any other teenage girl except that she was born deaf. She meets Jim, falls in love and feels happier than ever before. Then one day Jim’s jealous ex-girlfriend reveals a secret. Sam is left wondering if she really knows Jim at all. For their love to grow Jim must show her that their worlds are not too different.

Jojo’s Story | Antoinette Moses

Jojo is playing in the fields when soldiers come and kill everyone in his village. With the help of Chris, a British journalist, and his memories, Jojo struggles to come to terms with the loss of his family and friends. Jojo’s journey across his war-torn country leads him to self-discovery and a decision that will change his life forever.

Logan’s Choice | Richard MacAndrew

When Edinburgh restaurant owner Alex Maclennan is found dead in his bathroom, Inspector Jenny Logan is called in to investigate. At first his death looks like an accident but Logan begins to think it could be murder. Does his wife, his brother in-law or his friend know more about his death than they will admit? Logan uncovers the truth about Alex’s business affairs and personal life, and devises a plan to catch the killer.

Superbird | Brian Tomlinson

A spaceship crashes on a strange planet. The only survivor, Mary Mount, is taken prisoner by an alien civilization. In time she is allowed to return to her old planet with some of her new friends. But when they arrive back at her home, the plan seems to have changed. And Mary doesn’t receive the welcome she expects.

 

One Day | Helen Naylor

It was just a normal Friday evening in Moreland Road. Jason was listening to his iPod and couldn’t hear his mother shouting. Nina wasn’t sure how to tell her husband about her news. Maggie smiled as she thought about her holiday romance in Chile. Sam looked worried – money trouble again. Then that evening something happened which changed all of their lives.

The Dark Side of the City | Alan Battersby

In snowy Manhattan a client asks private investigator Nat Marley to help with a family problem. But after someone dies, things turn serious and Marley has an unusual case on his hands. As his client says, ‘Snakes and drugs don’t go together.’

The Double Bass Mystery | Jeremy Harmer

Penny Wade travels to Barcelona to perform in a concert with her orchestra. But the trip is not quite what she imagined. Her double bass goes missing and her boyfriend is acting very strangely. One night everyone is woken by screams and the orchestra manager is found dead on the street outside their hotel. Did he fall from the hotel window or was he pushed? And what has Penny’s missing double bass got to do with it?

The Man from Nowhere | Bernard Smith

A plane crashes in the middle of the desert in Oman leaving a pilot and his family hurt and stranded. The pilot begins a journey across the desert to get help but collapses from exhaustion. He is found and taken to a nearby hospital but he is unconscious and no one has any idea who he is or where he has come from. Meanwhile time is running out for his wife and son who are waiting in the desert for help to arrive.

Within High Fences | Penny Hancock

Nancy is a security guard at a detention centre for asylum seekers and refugees who have come to Britain to escape persecution in their own countries. Nancy thinks she has everything: a comfortable house, nice furniture, a boyfriend and a beautiful Rolex watch. Then, she falls in love with George, an asylum seeker who has nothing, and her world changes completely.

The New Zealand File | Richard MacAndrew

Called away suddenly to a secret meeting in New Zealand, British spy Ian Munro senses that he is being followed. Who’s following him? And why is the coded information he is given so secret that others are prepared to kill for it? Can Munro escape and crack the code?

 

Boost your -B1 Vocabulary!

A Puzzle for Logan | 

Richard MacAndrew

Ronnie Campbell has escaped from prison and Morag Mackenzie has been found murdered. Seven years ago Morag gave evidence in an Edinburgh court that sent Ronnie to prison for murder. Inspector Logan is not sure this case is as straightforward as it seems. She returns to the original crime scene in order to find out the truth.

No Place to Hide | Alan Battersby

One day in the fall a woman calls at the New York office of Nat Marley, licensed private investigator, to ask him to find Patrick, her missing husband. Marley’s enquiries take him to the financial district of Wall Street and an investment company whose returns are too good to be true. Then the police find a body in the trunk of a car – Patrick’s car. Whose is the body and where is Patrick?

Not Above the Law | Richard MacAndrew

George Keegan, a Dublin lawyer, wakes to find himself lying in bed in a pool of blood. He can’t remember what happened the night before. He soon has a clue when he sees the body of his girlfriend and colleague, Orla, on the TV news. But who killed Orla if he didn’t? And why? George wants to know. And so does Inspector Sean Murphy of the Dublin police.

Strong Medicine | Richard MacAndrew

Dr Mark Latto travels to California in the USA to learn about an alternative medical treatment from Deborah Spencer. But he finds that Deborah has died and the book she was writing has vanished. The police don’t suspect murder, but Mark does.

Tales of the Supernatural | Frank Brennan

Six stories about a world we cannot explain. A film star discovers the dangers of dancing with a stranger. A man comes face-to-face with his father’s history. An Irish-American family cannot escape someone from the past. A woman doesn’t listen to warnings about an old tree. An English writer slowly becomes more and more Japanese. And a killer watches himself die in hospital.

The Beast | Carolyn Walker

Talk in the local pub is of strange deaths of sheep and rumours of the return of the legendary Beast of Brynmawr. Susie and Charlie are taking a break from work in London and renting a cottage in Brynmawr, where events grow stranger and stranger until it becomes clear that it is Susie the Beast wants.

The House by the Sea | Patricia Aspinall

Carl begins to worry when his wife Linda does not arrive for the weekend at their seaside house in the east of England. When he asks local people whether they have seen her, they appear helpful, but he soon begins to wonder whether they are hiding information from him about his missing wife.

The Ironing Man | Colin Campbell

A young man appears at the door and seems to be the answer to Marina’s wishes. She and her husband Tom have moved from London to a quiet village, and Marina is bored with her life, as it seems she does nothing but housework. One day she wishes for somebody to help with the ironing, and the ‘ironing man’ appears. Not only does he help Marina with the housework, but he also helps Tom realise just how important Marina is to him.

The Lahti File | Richard MacAndrew

Hundreds of dead fish, some unexplained deaths and a birdless town. Three newspaper reports from Finland attract interest from the British secret service. ‘Foreign Executive’ Ian Munro is sent to Lahti to investigate. But when his first contact is killed in front of him, Munro realises that someone knows why he is there… and that they will do anything to protect their secret.

Two Lives | Helen Naylor

In a small Welsh village Megan and Huw fall in love. But then a tragic accident changes Huw’s life and he must move abroad. Fifty years later, Huw and Megan finally meet again. Both their lives have changed and Megan is about to get married. Can Huw convince her that their love is still strong?

Wild Country | Margaret Johnson

Tess and Grant are tour leaders for a group walking holiday in France. And they don’t get on at all. Tess is an artist and a dreamer, whose father owns the tour company. Grant is experienced, knowledgeable and efficient – and enjoys making Tess appear foolish. As the rain pours down, things go from bad to worse until …

 

Boost your B1 Vocabulary!

A Matter of Chance | David A. Hill

Paul Morris’s happy life in Italy changes when his wife dies suddenly. He develops a relationship with Sandra, a friend at work, but everything is not as it seems. How can Sandra afford such an expensive car? And why does she keep making mysterious phone calls? Soon Paul is involved in international crime and a thrilling car chase across Europe.

Berlin Express | Michael Austen

Hiro, a 20-year-old Japanese student, sits next to an old man on a train to Berlin. By mistake they exchange phones and read each other’s text messages. Hiro believes that the man’s messages show that he is going to Berlin to kill someone. Hiro’s first day in the city is a race against time as he tries to warn people of an assassination plot. But is the plot real or does it exist only in Hiro’s imagination?

But Was it Murder? | Jania Barrell

Alex Forley had everything: good looks, money, a beautiful house in London, an attractive girlfriend and a close group of friends. But now he is dead – an apparent case of suicide. Detective Inspector Rod Eliot isn’t sure Alex killed himself and he wants the answers to two simple questions. Was it murder? And if so, who did it?

High Life, Low Life | Alan Battersby

A story of jealousy, estrangement and murder. Private Investigator Nathan Marley is hired by a homeless woman to find her missing son. At the same time Marley embarks on a strange relationship with a rich eccentric widow. The poorest and richest of New York are brought together in this thriller from the American detective series.

Love in the Lakes | Penny Hancock

On holiday in the Lake District with her new jet-skiing boyfriend, Nick, Laura meets the local vet, Robert. Robert dislikes both Laura and Nick on sight. However, Laura soon discovers why Robert hates people from the city. Slowly Laura and Robert get to know each other better, and she soon has to make a choice: Nick or Robert?

In the House | Margaret Johnson

In the Big Eye House, Annie is the only female contestant left in a reality TV show. Viewers follow the contestants’ every move and regularly vote to eject one of them. There is a big prize for the winner, and another for any couple to have a romance in the house. What will Annie learn about the remaining four male contestants, and about herself? And which prize will she win, if any?

Man Hunt | Richard MacAndrew

‘The first killing went well. Perfectly, in fact. Though I always knew it would. I had planned it well. Arrangements, organisation – these are things I’m good at. Now I’ve discovered I’m good at killing too.’ The police are in a race against time to catch the murderer before he kills again. And again…

Nothing but the Truth | George Kershaw

It is the start of a new school year for teenager Hu at an international school in the exciting city of Bangkok. She has a problem with one of the teachers and does not know what to do. Through an adventure in a national park, acting in a musical, and the help of friends, Hu finds the courage to tell the truth.

The Fruitcake Special and other stories | Frank Brennan

Five entertaining stories about the power of discovery set in countries across the globe. A perfume made from some very unusual ingredients becomes more effective than expected. A remarkable change in a woman’s life leaves her family to make a decision. The secret and danger of high intelligence are revealed to a university student. A teacher discovers a way of making time stand still. And a book tells a young manager more than he wants to know.

The Amsterdam Connection | Sue Leather

Journalist Kate Jensen is shocked when her friend Max is found murdered in Amsterdam. She goes there to search for her friend’s killer and starts asking questions at the football club he owned. It soon becomes clear that someone doesn’t want her to get any answers and Kate discovers that football can be a very dangerous game indeed.

Staying Together | Judith Wilson

Ikuko goes to England to study English, promising her boyfriend Hiroshi she will return to Japan to marry him. However, in Birmingham Ikuko discovers a whole new world and falls in love with another overseas student. Ikuko’s journey across the world not only teaches her about different ways of life but also becomes a voyage of self-discovery.

The University Murders | Richard MacAndrew

An Inspector Logan story Billy Marr, a local misfit, claims he has murdered someone in an Edinburgh park. Inspector Logan and Sergeant Grant don’t believe him – Billy has lied many times in the past about crimes he hasn’t committed. But then a young woman is found dead in the park. Soon there is another body. Perhaps Billy is not so innocent after all.

When Summer Comes | Helen Naylor

A hot summer and a holiday by the sea: Stephen and Anna Martins are escaping their stressful lives in London, and taking a holiday in the south-west of England. They make friends with a local fisherman, but when Stephen is called back to London for work, Anna is left alone for a few days. And then something happens which changes their lives forever.

Boost your B2 Vocabulary!

All I Want | Margaret Johnson

Alex is a thirty-year-old art gallery assistant and hopelessly in love with her boss, Brad. Then, an incident at the gallery means they have to spend a few days at Brad’s country house. This is Alex’s opportunity to impress but nothing seems to go the way she planned. A surprise guest and a Christmas party help Alex to discover what she really, really wants.

A Tangled Web | Alan Maley

Dan Combes is a former MI6 agent living peacefully in France. After being attacked by a former colleague, he realises his relationship with the British Secret Service has not yet finished. He believes the attack is linked to his roles in Berlin and Central America. But that was years ago so why do they want him dead now? Dan returns to England and confronts his difficult past – a web of lies and deceit that he knows must end.

Better Late than Never | J.M. Newsome

Alexandria, Egypt. Anika and Zaphira are sitting at a seafront café. Suddenly, there is a huge explosion which knocks them over and changes their lives for ever. Both teenage girls learn a lot about each other as they struggle to survive, and to understand what has happened and why. And their combined strength is a surprise to the men they come up against.

Death in the Dojo | Sue Leather

Reporter Kate Jensen investigates the death of a karate master in a ‘dojo’, a karate training room in London. Another death quickly follows and Kate finds herself drawn into the mystery. The trail takes her to Japan, back to London, and back in time to a crime committed over thirty years earlier.

Dolphin Music | Antoinette Moses

It is 2051. CONTROL, the government of Europe, keeps everyone happy in a virtual reality where music made by dolphins gives exquisite pleasure. When Saul Grant, a writer, discovers the truth about the music, the illusion is shattered. He soon sets out to free the dolphins but CONTROL is aware of his actions and will stop him at any cost.

Dragons’ Eggs | J.M. Newsome

Tendai comes to live in an isolated African village. Tendai is a runner, a dreamer and a storyteller. When landmines turn his world upside down, he runs, dreams and tells stories to try to deal with a terrible tragedy. A gripping story of victory over man-made evil, and of a young man who never gives up.

East 43rd Street | Alan Battersby

It’s Christmas in New York and Private Investigator Nathan Marley is hired by a rich attractive woman to reclaim a briefcase of jewellery from a locker at Grand Central station. Marley is right not to trust the woman and soon finds himself involved in a case of criminal activity involving fraud, computer hacking and kidnap.

Emergency Murder | Janet McGiffin

When the wife of a prominent surgeon dies suddenly in the hospital emergency room of Mercy Hospital in Milwaukee, USA, Dr Maxine Cassidy suspects murder. Maxine is determined to find the killer. However, when someone tries to kill her, she begins to wonder which of her medical colleagues she can trust.

In the Shadow of the Mountain | Helen Naylor

A tragic love story is uncovered as journalist Clare Crowe goes to Switzerland to bring home a relative’s body. Clare’s grandfather has been found frozen in a glacier, 74 years after a climbing accident. Clare knows this could make an interesting story for her newspaper, but as she investigates her grandfather’s last climb, she learns that the accident wasn’t so simple as she had first thought.

In the Shadow of the Mountain | Helen Naylor

A tragic love story is uncovered as journalist Clare Crowe goes to Switzerland to bring home a relative’s body. Clare’s grandfather has been found frozen in a glacier, 74 years after a climbing accident. Clare knows this could make an interesting story for her newspaper, but as she investigates her grandfather’s last climb, she learns that the accident wasn’t so simple as she had first thought.

Jungle Love | Margaret Johnson

On an adventure holiday in the Caribbean, Lisa and Jennifer are sharing a room. They are very different people and do not get on. However, they do have something in common: they are both attracted to Ian. And Ian likes both of them. But what about Ian’s girlfriend, Caroline? And then there’s Pete and of course, Gary…

Murder by Art | Janet McGiffin

On a hot August night in Milwaukee in the USA, a young artist and a gang leader’s girlfriend are shot in the street, a woman dies mysteriously in the Mercy Hospital emergency room, and a famous artist is killed at the opening of an exhibition of his work. Dr Maxine Cassidy feels sure there must be a connection between these events and sets out to find it.

The Sugar Glider | Rod Neilsen

Pilot Don Radcliffe returns to Australia hoping to rescue a failed marriage and to spend more time with his daughter, Judy. But a routine cargo flight turns into tragedy. Don and Judy’s chances of survival seem slim as they struggle against sabotage, unscrupulous businessmen and the inhospitable landscape.

Windows of the Mind | Frank Brennan

Five stories about the senses: Arlo hates noise and has a plan to bring the world silence. Gopal uses smell to protect the memory of his sister. Journalist Kathy uses her blindness to get a clear picture of human characters. Daniel has a tongue that earns him a living but could also be his downfall. And Jamie learns to balance the benefits of Tai Chi in his search for health and happiness.

Boost your C1 Vocabulary!

A Dangerous Sky | Michael Austen

Eighteen-year-old Francesca comes to England to achieve her life-long ambition of learning to fly. The first lessons go really well and Doug, her instructor, describes her as a natural pilot. But when Doug’s actions lead Francesca to question his motives, she starts to lose her confidence. Her dream of independence in the sky is in danger.

Deadly Harvest | Carolyn Walker

Chief Inspector Jane Honeywell is a city detective who wonders why she has moved to a sleepy country town – nothing happens in Pilton. But then the rural peace and quiet is suddenly disturbed by a horrible murder. When Jane starts the dangerous pursuit of the killer, she discovers a more terrible plan in operation.

A Love for Life | Penny Hancock

In Cambridge, Fanella bravely faces the challenge of adopting a child alone after her partner leaves her. Fanella and five-year-old Ellie get off to a rocky start, but Fanella patiently steers their relationship onto more solid ground. Meanwhile, her relationship with Rod, Ellie’s teacher and a married man, is a little more complicated.

Frozen Pizza and other slices of life | Antoinette Moses

A collection of stories that offer eight slices of life in England today. The themes covered include British eating habits, the media, inner-city problems, immigration, football hooliganism, student life, leisure activities, and the countryside. Well-observed, lively, and amusing, these stories provide a fascinating picture of the country at the start of a new century.

He Knows Too Much | Alan Maley

An English company executive in India is dismissed after he tries to uncover corruption within his company. He returns to England where his life falls apart and his marriage breaks up. He then sets out on a one-man search for the truth behind his dismissal. He turns to the rich mystery and beauty of India and is finally forced to choose between love and revenge.

Nelson’s Dream | M. Newsome

Nelson Mbizi returns to his home in southern Africa after studying in Britain. When he tries to help a family of orphans he meets Viki, a South African TV presenter. The story of Nelson and Viki’s relationship is told against a background of HIV/AIDS and government corruption on the one hand, and great humour and wonderful music on the other.

Murder Maker | Margaret Johnson

After being jilted by her lover, Carla is devastated and intends to seek revenge. She joins a self-help group for people in similar situations and there she meets three women who have been betrayed or abandoned by their husbands. Carla decides to rehearse her revenge on these men and starts by buying a ticket to Cuba.

Solo Saxophone | Jeremy Harmer

In the early 1990s Katy, a young reporter, arrives in Sarajevo, a city under siege, and receives conflicting advice from two colleagues. ‘Of all the wars I’ve been in,’ a news cameraman tells her, ‘this is the one where it’s not possible to “be objective”. You can’t be objective about what’s going on here.’ ‘This is not my war or your war,’ an Italian journalist explains. ‘We just report what we see, but we stay outside it. We can’t get too involved. We mustn’t get too near.’ But Katy does get too near…

The Best of Times? | Alan Maley

Chee Seng, a 16-year-old Malaysian boy, has to grow up fast as he lives through the best and the worst of times. He suffers heartbreak as his parents’ marriage falls apart and experiences the joys and heartache of first love.

The Way Home | Sue Leather

Seven journeys which change lives forever. A New York fashion buyer returns to her English home. A successful author meets an old friend. A reporter travels to an execution. A lorry driver gives an escaped prisoner a lift. A taxi driver picks up ‘Bruce Lee’. A man’s love for a tram driver leads him to follow her. And four strangers meet at a motel for the first and last time.

This Time it’s Personal | Alan Battersby

Crime becomes personal for New York private investigator Nathan Marley as he tries to prove the innocence of murder suspect José – a member of his assistant Stella’s family. As unidentified bodies are washed up on a beach, the search for proof takes him into the heart of the New York Russian American community. Marley must work quickly to save José and find the real criminals.

Trumpet Voluntary | Jeremy Harmer

A musician disappears, leaving only a strange e-mail message. Her husband, in a desperate search to find her, revisits their shared past and has to face up to some unpleasant realities, before trying to rebuild his life. His journey of discovery takes us across the world to Poland and Rio and deep into the human heart.

Regular exposure to varied accents, speeds, and styles of English in listening activities helps learners improve their comprehension skills. They become better equipped to understand different speakers in real-life situations.

Listening exposes learners to a wide range of vocabulary used in context. It helps them understand how words are pronounced and used naturally, contributing to a richer and more nuanced vocabulary.

Through listening practice, learners become more adept at understanding and participating in conversations. They pick up on conversational cues, turn-taking, and the rhythm of spoken language.

Listening to authentic materials provides insights into the cultural aspects of language use. Learners gain a deeper understanding of idioms, expressions, and cultural references embedded in the language.

Listening activities often involve tasks such as summarizing or extracting key information. This helps learners develop effective note-taking skills, a valuable skill in academic and professional contexts.

Listening comprehension tasks often require learners to infer meaning or make connections between ideas. This promotes critical thinking skills as students engage with the content on a deeper level.

Listening practice exposes learners to the language as it is naturally spoken, preparing them for real-life situations where they need to understand spoken English, such as job interviews, meetings, or social gatherings.