Abiding Evil

A sleeping menace is roused deep in the darkness of the forest. For decades it grows, biding its time, reaching out to tug at the ordinary lives of those living beyond the shadow of the trees. Their children begin to disappear. Unaware and unsuspecting of the danger, a group of families, friends for many years, journey to a newly re-opened hotel. It stands alone in a clearing a mile or more within the forest boundary. For some this will be their last reunion. "Alison Buck's writing gives us a fresh perspective on horror. She combines timeless themes of good and evil with a very contemporary concern for genuinely believable characers. Abiding Evil is a sinister tale informed by psychological insight, wit and a style of writing that breathes life into the protagonists. This is a dark story that can make your blood run cold and yet also touch your heart. It is a chilling book which will appeal as much to fans of psychological drama as it will to lovers of traditional horror." Although, as a rule, she concerns herself with apparently quite normal, everyday characters, populating what appear to be quite normal and everyday surroundings, the events and dangers they encounter soon draw them away from the commonplace and lead them inexorably towards often frightening and sometimes bloody outcomes. Alison's can be very dark, unsettling tales. One Queen, two Kings, a Cardinal, a genius and a misnamed Righteous Elector. Just another day in the life of Peter White! Three people, from different times, with different motivation, but in a similar dilemma, united by a secret code. Passion: Queen Anne, married after a fairytale romance, caught between a loveless marriage to her husband King James and the guilty secret of her brief affair with handsome seducer, Frederick the Righteous - unknowingly the father of her daughter Elizabeth. Years of repression come to a puissant climax when James announces his intention to marry Elizabeth to Frederick's son. Aghast, Anne has nowhere to turn but the religious leaders she was brought up to despise and who are hated by the rest of the English court. Obsession: Leonardo is also caught between Church and State. The Cardinal of Aragon persuades the world-renowned genius to apply his talents in the 'service of God' to fulfil a dream of freeing the populace to spend their time in divine worship. The King of France, in awe of Leonardo's brilliance, but no intellectual lightweight himself, is dubious of the Cardinal's motivation and cautions Leonardo. Leonardo may have nowhere to turn but away from the religion with which he has only recently been reconciled. Truth: Peter White's life suddenly becomes complicated when he discovers the key to a cipher system, invented by Leonardo, hidden in the illustrations of a 17th century book. Soon Peter and his closest friend Al discover that this cipher has been used to hide both Anne's confession and the journal of Leonardo's anguished journey through the Cardinal's project. But uncovering truth can be very dangerous, especially when it threatens the very legitimacy of the British monarchy. Peter White returns in this prequel to Library of the Soul Elderly sisters Lizzie and May live quiet, ordered lives in the house in which they were born; their self-imposed seclusion and the unchanging predictability of their lives shielding them from the changing world beyond. But the day comes when this protective isolation is broken; the world outside forces its way in. A stranger appears, unsettling them, bringing with him the threat of danger, upheaval and violence. Fearful and alone, with all semblance of comforting routine wrenched from them, Lizzie and May are driven to desperation. Dark memories emerge from their buried past as the sisters gradually slip from reason into their own confused realities, within which even their former carefully regulated world seems only a distant memory. "Alison Buck is an exciting and strong new voice in modern fiction. Although her stories feature powerful insights and express a female perspective on important issues and concerns, they successfully speak to readers of all genders, ages and beliefs. Dark, psychological drama, mixed with wit and delivered with a light touch that makes you care about the hopes and dreams of her characters." Although, as a rule, she concerns herself with apparently quite normal, everyday characters, populating what appear to be quite normal and everyday surroundings, the events and dangers they encounter soon draw them away from the commonplace and lead them inexorably towards often frightening and sometimes bloody outcomes. Alison's can be very dark, unsettling tales. For years the CIA have been using a poison designed to cause a heart attack and then disperse without a trace. Now a batch has gone missing. On a visit to Rome, Peter White is recruited by his old friend Costanza into the oldest secret society in the world, in order to help her solve an urgent problem. Cardinals and other clerics around the world are dying of unexpected heart attacks. Police authorities are not interested as there is no evidence of foul play. But Costanza believes someone is using electronic cash and a betting website to fund and coordinate a campaign of murders that will ultimately lead to the assassination of the Pope. She and Peter must track down the killer before any more people die. Using the world's largest supercomputer, deep in the Secret Archives beneath the Vatican Library, they lay an electronic trap and wait. But when the Library itself becomes the target of an audacious plot to steal a 2000 year old manuscript, the problem suddenly becomes much more personal. This, Simon Buck's first published novel, introduces us to the world of Peter White. "Peter White mysteries will intrigue you with their twists and turns, while fascinating you with high technology and state of the art techniques, and tempting you with exotic locations and enticing meals. If you're a foodie, a techno-mage, an armchair traveller, an amateur sleuth or just enjoy a good yarn, you'll love these books." Two Elderly Sisters Live Alone In The House In Which They Were Born, Their Quiet, Ordered Lives Isolating And Protecting Them From The Changing World Beyond. This Peaceful Routine Is Ended When A Stranger Appears And Shatters Their Carefully Constructed Cocoon. Terrified, The Sisters Spiral Into Confusion And A New, Much Darker Reality.