Bøger af Richard Hernaman Allen

1969. Nick Storey is unexpectedly seconded to freight controls at Heathrow Airport. As no-one gives him a straight explanation about why he was chosen, he tries to find out about the sudden sickness of his predecessor. Assuming that something untoward had been going on, he tries to work out whether, and if so, how Customs staff could be helping criminals smuggle goods through the airport. His analysis leads to an abortive operation to trap those involved, but in doing so, he sets himself up as the gang's next target. In order to catch them, he has to offer himself as their unwitting victim and hope that Rosemary can arrive in time to save him. "Nothing was delivered" is the sixth book published in a series of detective stories set in Customs & Excise by Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner.

Shadowing an Excise officer in a tobacco factory, Nick Storey finds he is using incorrect procedures. When Nick carries out the right ones, he discovers that the company are importing large amounts of tobacco illicitly. But the evidence goes missing and Nick starts to feel the hand of Freemasonry protecting the firm and encouraging him to let matters drop. However, some unofficial surveillance and Rosemary going undercover leads to where the smuggled tobacco is being concealed. Seizing it has tragic consequences for those Customs officers involved and it requires a desperate evening's work to resolve the situation. "Magic Clarinet" is the fourteenth book in a series of detective stores set in HM Customs & Excise, by Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner.

1978. On holiday with their children in Oban, Nick and Rosemary Storey stumble across a stone hut filled with barrels of what seems to be illicit whisky. While on their way to walking nearby hills, they smell the unmistakeable smell of barley being fermented in a mash tun before distillation. But having overheard a conversation about the illegal whisky operation, Nick is unable to contact the local police or Excise officer. A chance remark and the arrival of the Customs cutter "Venturous" leads to a cat and mouse chase around Mull and the neighbouring islands. But there may be a price to pay for catching the whisky smugglers. "Copper Kettle" is the thirteenth book in a series of detective stores set in HM Customs & Excise, by Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner.

1977/8. Informed by an Italian diplomat that English Wine producers are using foreign grapes, Nick Storey investigates, but within weeks, one of the English Wine producer's equipment is blown up and his vines ploughed over. The possibility that this is retaliation for a refusal to cooperate with a local mafia in Calabria leads to information about imports through Avonmouth. When an examination of a similar type of import leads to the discovery of $1m in cash, it becomes apparent that the claim about English Wine is purely a pretext for something much bigger, which leads to Rosemary being abducted and a shootout with MOSSAD agents on Avonmouth dock in the middle of the night. "Kisses sweeter than wine" is the twelfth book in a series of detective stores set in HM Customs & Excise, by Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner.

1977. Nick & Rosemary Storey's help is sought by the EEC Commission to track down those responsible for fraudulently claiming money from the EEC's Regional Development Fund to convert a former copper mine in North Wales into a tourist attraction. As they pursue their enquiries, they come across "ghost beer", illicitly-produced beer which is being sold in North Wales and the Borders. Unmasking a crooked bank manager appears to lead to a dead end, as the "fixer" for the EEC fraud was run over - probably deliberately - eight months earlier. Trying to follow a cold trail in the valleys of Snowdonia, Nick and Rosemary are shot at. However, traces of evidence and links eventually lead them to an extraordinary and bloody conclusion to both cases. "Fools Copper" is the eleventh book published in a series of detective stories mostly set in Customs & Excise by Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner.

Having disposed of the bodies of the would-be informant and his killers, Rakvir and Arhilka Stagarnik try to unsettle the still largely unknown conspirators. Learning that a force of Borvmen soldiers are involved in some way, they discover their whereabouts and persuade them to depart. Shortness of time and the unhelpful intervention by a corrupt merchant mean that they have to force matters to a head. The conspirators are rounded up, but the astounding scale of the conspiracy and the treacherous nature of those involved are such that it needs to remain concealed. Not without risk to their lives, Rakvir and Arhilka ensure that suitable punishments are carried out and something is achieved to counterbalance the arrogant and wealthy of the city of Ralchis. "Out of Sight - 3 An invisible conspiracy" is the third of three volumes where Rakvir and Arhilka Stagarnik investigate murder and corruption in the City of Ralchis.

1966. Recently married, Nick and Rosemary Storey overhear two foreign exchange traders boasting that they can get secret information from Civil Servants about a possible devaluation of the Pound. A squash club/wine bar in the City is supposedly where this information is passed on. But when the two men are found dead in the squash club, leaving a suicide note, Nick and Rosemary smell a rat, especially when it becomes clear that they entered the locked club and killed themselves without leaving any keys. Assuming that the deaths were linked to the men's boasting, they pursue various leads without getting very far until a chance conversation allows them to arrange for several suspects to be kept under surveillance. But unmasking them still involves Nick in skating on some very thin ice. "A Well-Respected Man" is the latest in a series of books set mostly in Customs & Excise by Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner.

1974. Nick and Rosemary Storey are seconded to the EU as national experts in an anti-fraud unit. At an EEC-Soviet conference, a Latvian Customs official seeks EEC help to tackle heroin smuggling from Soviet Central Asia through Riga. After an unsuccessful search in Tilbury, Nick and Rosemary, while visiting Rotterdam Customs, encourage them to search another Soviet ship. After a package of heroin is dropped covertly off the side, surveillance picks up a Turkish immigrant, who leads the authorities to a complicated network of Soviet organisations involved in unofficial heroin smuggling. As this is unwound, Nick and Rosemary have to make a perilous visit to Riga to extricate the ringleader. "Along the Watchtower" is the fourth published book in a series of detective stories set in Customs & Excise by Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner.

The epic novel "Through Fire" is set in a far distant world. In order to provide background for the events which take place in the novel, a short history and geography of the world are provided here. As the hero encounters many people in different lands, the different lands speaking different languages, a list of characters and of translations of all the foreign words used are also set out. Certain poems play an important part in the narrative. They are collected here, as well as maps of the world and notes on pronunciation. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.

Though the killings by the "Nameless Ones" cease, a rebellion in eastern Kardakan is put down brutally. Rakvir Stagarnik is sent on a mission to preserve peace, but the Thlaxacan ruler who resisted war is murdered and his successor leads his people against all the "Otherworlders". Rakvir breaks their northern army and, by walking through fire, persuades the Thlaxacan temple-priests that the solar eclipse did not mean "Angry Thlac". He demands that the priests dissuade their followers in Kardakan from further violence. Unfortunately in a final battle, death awaits one who least deserves it. Peace returns to an exhausted world and Rakvir and his family pick up the threads of their lives. The sixth and final volume in the epic "Through Fire" "Thlaxaca: Blood of the Blood Sun", is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.

To prevent a violent campaign by Saldjaran Jafzim's army, Rakvir Stagarnik leads a small force to seek the Kalq Runa'at, thought to be a threat to the throne. To persuade him to sign a declaration of loyalty, Rakvir follows him in walking through fire. Cheated of the chance to capture the Kalq Runa'at, Rakvir's enemies send him on an embassy taking tribute to the Kahg of the Magd. Learning he is to be killed, Rakvir escapes and, discovering ships for an invasion, burns them. When war begins he is despatched with a small force on a diversionary campaign within Magdarg. After several victories, he fears that his home town is under siege and hurries to get there before the worst happens. The third volume in the epic "Through Fire", "Magdarg", is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.

The Magd are defeated, and the alliance is broken. Rakvir returns to Kerkrand to govern as Duyar and finds problems adjusting, especially when Arhilka nearly dies in childbirth. A unique solar eclipse causes many Thlaxacans to believe that the world has been re-born to the age of "Angry Thlac" who wants all "Otherworlders" to be driven from their lands. The "Nameless Ones" begin a campaign of assassinating "Otherworld" rulers, intending that reprisals will foment rebellion. By chance, Rakvir recognises the man sent to kill the Zgar and gets him to take him to the leader of the "Nameless Ones", fearing that the only thing that will persuade them to stop is by walking through fire again. The fifth volume in the epic "Through Fire", "Thlaxaca: the Blood Sun" is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.

Born the son of a fisherman in a small provincial port, Rakvir Stagarnik is given the chance to attend school. There he befriends the son of the local ruler, but, having fallen in love with the ruler's daughter, he is caught with her and has to flee to escape the ruler's vengeance. With two friends, he heads across the mountains only to be captured by a raiding party of barbarians and taken into slavery. He is badly beaten and forced to haul trees up the hillside near a barbarian fortress. In cold hatred, he makes plans to kill the barbarians and escape to make his fortune in the south. The first volume in the epic "Through Fire", Karizhka, is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.

Having escaped from a Magd slave camp, Rakvir Stagarnik and his companions flee south to Kardakan, where they are taken up by the Governor of Bulgand, a wise man. Rakvir's career advances in the Kardakan army through his strategic ability and skirmishes with the Magd. His love for Arhilka is put to the test by the Governor's daughter, Ruhqshana. Military success takes him to Arukand, capital of Kardakan were he must remain sure-footed amid the shifting sands of the venal and vindictive court of Saldjaran Jafzim. Various teachers expand his understanding of how he should lead his life But is he the hunter or the hunted? The second volume in the epic "Through Fire", "Kardakan", is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.

When VAT is introduced in 1973, Nick Storey is worried about the potential for fraud - especially in the financial sector. After he gets a tip-off about fishy business in two VAT offices, an undercover agent in one of them (City VAT Office) is murdered. Rosemary goes undercover in a merchant bank and identifies a corrupt VAT officer. But when Nick follows the man's boss by accident, he discovers the frauds are to fund the Protestant side of the Northern Irish "Troubles". After the boss is shot and the corrupt VAT officer vanishes, the trail to the leader of the fraud goes cold. But an unexpected opportunity arises to set a trap. Rosemary goes undercover in the City again and the leader is unmasked in the maze of back alleys in the City. This is the third novel set in HM Customs & Excise by Richard Hernaman Allen a former Commissioner of Customs & Excise.

Reunited with Arhilka and his family, Rakvir Stagarnik marries Arhilka, becoming Duyar of Kerkrand. He defeats the Magd armies on Karizhian soil and subsequently unmasks the traitors at the court of the Zgar. Allied with neighbouring realms also invaded by the Magd, he attacks their main northern fortress successfully with a rain of fire. Asked to command the Karizhian army, he attacks the Magd from the west, destroying their main army at the "Pass of the Warriors", but only after his allies' armies have been defeated by the Magd. As he attacks their last fortress in their capital, an immense lightning bolt strikes the fortress and kills many of the remaining enemy. The fourth volume in the epic "Through Fire", "Magdarg: the Judgement of Subrid", is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.