Bøger af Robin Hardy

First published in 1978, five years after the release of the classic horror film from which it is adapted, The Wicker Man is a gripping horror classic. It is the tale of Highlands policeman, Police Sergeant Neil Howie, on the trail of a missing girl being lured to the remote Scottish island of Summerisle. As May Day approaches, strange, shamanistic and erotic events erupt around him. Initially he is convinced that the girl has been abducted for human sacrifice - only to find that he may be the revellers' quarry...

One hundred years after the Great Surchatain Roman of Lystra . . . At the spring fair, the beautiful Chataine Renée meets 17-year-old Nicole, daughter of a humble tailor, and insists that she come for a visit to the palace at Westford. Raised in a peasant village on the coast, Nicole is unprepared for the sophistication and treachery of palace life-but her father has decreed that she must acquire a rich or noble husband. Nicole's prospects include Counselor Carmine, handsome but disinterested; Commander Ares, who carries the pain of his past; and possibly even Surchatain Cedric himself. But these are dark times for Lystra, and Nicole discovers that in the presence of evil, even good men may veil the truth. Nicole of Prie Mer is the first book of the nine Latter Annals of Lystra. Book Two is Ares of Westford.

When reclusive Dallas billionaire Fletcher Streiker proposes marriage sight unseen to Adair Weiss in Streiker's Bride, she accepts after deep soul-searching-and discovers life on a whole new level. In this sequel, Fletcher takes his bride home to Hawaii, where he has some important business waiting. . . . "You know what a killdeer is, Adair? The bird?" he asked. She shrugged slightly. "It's a little brown bird that builds its nest right on the ground. When predators get too close to her nest, the mama killdeer will lure them away. It's a very effective defense. I hope I can do half as well." Adair eyed him and he explained, "I intend to lure the predators away from the business that's most important to me." The Streiker Saga begins with Streiker's Bride, continues in Streiker: The Killdeer, and concludes with Streiker's Morning Sun. Fletcher Streiker makes his next appearance in His Strange Ways, the sequel to Padre.

Someone has broken open the long-sealed secret passage in the palace of Westford. While Surchatain Ares is investigating the breach, an intruder uses this same passage to kidnap his young wife Nicole from her bed. And Ares discovers the kidnapper to be someone they had long assumed to be dead. Recovering Nicole is only half the battle, for Ares must find out who paid a dead man to kidnap the Surchataine of Lystra, and what he intended to do with her. The palace becomes a battleground of wits as the Lystrans uncover more secrets in its ancient chambers-and a close friend turns treacherous. Dead Man's Token is the fifth book in The Latter Annals of Lystra, which begins with Nicole of Prie Mer. Book Six is Games of God and Men.

After her marriage to a high-powered CEO ends after 28 years, Wimsey Reade moves to the Old England Retirement Village on Lake LBJ in Texas' beautiful Hill Country. All she wants is some peace and quiet-but her first day in the village, a woman she meets by chance is inexplicably murdered. Because of what Wimsey may have witnessed, the detective in charge of the case asks for her help. At that time the news hits that Wimsey's ex-husband, head of an international communications company, is indicted on felony charges of mail fraud and money laundering, and she stumbles upon evidence that may convict him. Soon Wimsey is being stalked. Is it because of her ex-husband or the woman's murder? To find out, Wimsey throws a Halloween party which succeeds a little too well when a mannequin comes to life.

Thanks to a $35-million lottery win, ex-Dallas police detective Sammy Kidman is comfortably ensconced in his own private detective agency. Sammy and his two coworkers, also ex-detectives, primarily collect past-due child support for needy families on a pro bono basis. Despite that fact that Sammy, 36, is a faithful husband to his wife Marni, he draws a lot of female attention as a singularly handsome man. Sammy is therefore unperturbed when a beautiful dancer gives an orchid sprig to his 3-year-old son. However, Sammy doesn't know quite what to do when a similar orchid appears on his desk in his locked office. He begins researching the dancer, but the only match he can find is to a woman who has just died. Meanwhile, one of Sammy's coworkers mistakenly collects on a large past-due account from the wrong person. The ramifications of what amounts to felony theft threaten to overwhelm the agency and destroy Sammy personally. At that point, reclusive Dallas billionaire Fletcher Streiker steps in. Previously, Sammy had never seen him or spoken to him, so why would he bother with this obscure little agency? As it turns out, his wife requested it-and she's a dancer. If Only for This Life is a continuation of both The Sammy Series and The Streiker Saga, but readers who never heard of either can jump right into this story. The sequel, Abby's Monsters, will be released November 2015.

New York copywriter Royce Lindel takes a chance on a camping trip with two female friends in remote Big Bend, Texas. Little do they know that their schedule of activities includes being dumped in the desert by their guide. Matters look bleak until they stumble across other campers: three men whose business in the wilderness involves drugs and guns. When the men reluctantly rescue the stranded New Yorkers, Royce falls in love with the one they call Padre. But she doesn't know his real name or why he's running. She doesn't even know how he feels about her-until she's kidnapped by the people he just robbed. The sequel to Padre is His Strange Ways, in which Fletcher Streiker steps in to help Padre and Royce find each other again-and what they're willing to do to be together.

Former Dallas Police detective Sammy Kidman is now a private investigator working for his wife Marni's agency, MK & Associates. While he is out tracking down scofflaws who owe past-due child support, he rescues a dog from becoming road kill. Miraculously, Marni allows Sammy to keep the gangly mongrel, whom Sammy soon discovers to be an unexpected asset in his work. He has no idea how much of an asset, however, until he tangles with a high-powered woman executive who resents his collection efforts so much as to concoct a particularly harrowing revenge. Sammy: The Consolation of Bucephalus is Book 11 in the Sammy Series, which begins with Sammy: Dallas Detective.

The private detectives of Sammy and Marni's agency are happily engaged in collecting delinquent child support on a pro bono basis. But since Sammy can't refrain from opening his wallet to every struggling parent he meets, Marni is forced to tighten the purse strings. Whereupon Sammy discovers another income opportunity in ghostwriting a handbook on crime for Christian celebrity Anne Paget. Wading through the seamy underside of Christian ministry is disconcerting, but Sammy is not truly devastated until his dad, who is working for wealthy Dallas socialite Dolly Threlkeld, decides to marry her. Sammy: Love Shouldn't Hurt is Book 10 in the Sammy Series, which begins with Sammy: Dallas Detective. Book 11 is The Consolation of Bucephalus.

Thanks to finding a $35-million lottery ticket on the ground, former Dallas Police Detective Sammy Kidman now runs his own private detective agency-or so he thinks. In reality, the agency is headed by his wife, Marni Kidman, who also discovered that the lottery ticket was worth something after Sammy had forgotten all about it. So Marni the Boss assigns Sammy the Laborer some tedious and time-consuming paperwork in order to help out her mother. But when Sammy and his partner Dave Pruett can't seem to get it done, Marni hires temporary office help whom Sammy must supervise. And the first day on the job, his new secretary demonstrates some nerve-wracking office skills that go along with her avocation as a witch. Sammy: Grave Agreement is Book 9 in the Sammy Series, which begins with Sammy: Dallas Detective. The story continues in Book 10, Sammy: Love Shouldn't Hurt.

Circumstances do not look propitious for Dallas Police Detective Sammy Kidman. His longtime partner receives a promotion to sergeant, so Sammy gets a new partner who happens to be a woman. But this is not just any woman-this is "Rosie the Riveter," who attained her rank of detective by threats of a lawsuit, and who keeps getting bounced from one investigative unit to another because of her caustic, uncooperative nature. So on Sammy's first assignment with Rosie, he guarantees himself trouble by preventing her from shooting an unarmed suspect, and then saying so when she lies about it. But then he picks up a piece of trash that turns his world upside down. . . . Sammy: In Principle is Book 8 in the Sammy Series, which begins with Sammy: Dallas Detective. The story continues in Book 9, Sammy: Grave Agreement.

The owner of the Dallas Guns, the local arena football team, has been receiving threats on his life from someone he believes to be on his team. So Dallas detective Sammy Kidman gets roped into trying out for the Guns in order to uncover the perpetrator. As Sammy embraces the novelty of arenaball to the detriment of his work and family, his wife Marni loses all patience. With the connivance of society matron Dolly Threlkeld, Marni does a little investigative work of her own. What they discover about the owner's true purpose throws her into a terrible quandary: How can she tell Sammy that should he achieve his goal of playing, it would entail a most unpleasant surprise? Sammy: Arenamania is Book 7 in the Sammy Series, which begins with Sammy: Dallas Detective. The story continues in Book 8, Sammy: In Principle.

The head of a modeling agency ropes Dallas Police Detective Sammy Kidman into investigating who's trying to ruin her business. Coincidentally, his ex-wife wants to restart her modeling career there. When he tries to make peace with her, she tells him that in college, he killed her best friend driving drunk. Being accused of a crime he can't remember paralyzes Sammy so that he can't even tell his loyal wife Marni about it. All she knows is that he's hiding something-and spending a lot of time with beautiful models. So Marni takes action, and Sammy is forced to confront the ghosts from his past. Sammy: Ghosts is Book 6 in the Sammy Series, which begins with Sammy: Dallas Detective. The story continues in Book 7, Sammy: Arenamania.

Are you misunderstood? Nobody is as misunderstood as Dallas police detective Sammy Kidman. From bungled field assignments to a close encounter with his best friend's wife, Sammy lurches from one near-disaster to the next. Even his loyal wife Marni can't understand his participation in a bizarre Vice sting. But when his dad's position as chauffeur to a wealthy socialite changes to that of her boyfriend, Sammy thinks nothing worse can happen-until he's staring down the barrel of his own gun. Sammy: Little Misunderstandings is the fifth in The Sammy Series, which begins with Sammy: Dallas Detective. Book 6 is Sammy: Ghosts.

When the going gets tough, the tough . . . go fishing. The daily grind of working for a living starts to wear on Dallas detective Sammy Kidman, so he and his wife Marni accept her parents' invitation to spend a week fishing with them and their pastor on Lake Texoma. But when a runaway hiding in their cabin draws the unwelcome attention of the county sheriff, Sammy poses as a Hollywood documentary producer come to film the residents of Bastion, Oklahoma. Just when he thinks he has everything under control, a member of his party falls seriously ill and he takes up a bedside vigil in the local hospital. But the sheriff is bent on petty revenge, so Sammy's back in the fray. Sammy: On Vacation is the fourth book in The Sammy Series, which begins with Sammy: Dallas Detective. Book 5 in the series is Sammy: Little Misunderstandings.

It's just a job, right? With a wife and baby to support, Sammy Kidman decides that it's time to get a safe, reliable job for a change. Sure, he loves his work as a detective in the Dallas Police Department, but it does get hazardous. So, in a fit of maturity, he decides to put his family's security first. Too bad his good intentions count for squat. When Sammy gets fired, he tries several questionable jobs-security guard, "Rent-a-Boyfriend," even underwear modeling-to pay the bills. However, when Sammy is finally drawn back to his true calling, he's faced with an assignment so full of treachery and deception that only a supernatural Backup can save his hide. Sammy: Working for a Living is the third in a series starring the most sweetly obnoxious cop that was never on the Dallas police force. Previous books in the Sammy series are Sammy: Dallas Detective and Sammy: Women Troubles.

You think you have troubles? When Sammy Kidman, Dallas Police Department detective, takes a special undercover assignment as chauffeur to an old-money Dallas family, he tangles with three generations of troublesome women: the matriarch, Dolly Threlkeld, made of steel and made over by plastic surgery; her ex-daughter-in-law Linda Threlkeld-Rains, who deals in suspicious art and con men; and her daughter Jessica Threlkeld, who'll do anything for a little attention. Thank goodness, Sammy has his level-headed, sensible wife, Marni, with him on assignment. But when she gets all hormonal and weird on him-poor Sammy's in for nothing but trouble. Sammy: Women Troubles is the second book in The Sammy Series, which begins with Sammy: Dallas Detective. The story continues in Book 3, Sammy: Working for a Living.

Do you believe in miracles? When Marni Taylor meets her new apartment neighbor-brash, good-looking Dallas Narcotics Detective Sammy Kidman-she pegs him right away as a heartbreaker, a user. Still, she agrees to help him with an undercover assignment. By the time he's through with her, Marni is so traumatized that she is driven to find healing in a faith she never knew she had. That same faith forces Marni to decide what to do about a man she both hates and loves, while Sammy, faced with the terrifying consequences of his actions, makes a blind grab at redemption. But Sammy is a cop, first and last, and his life comes down to the choice every cop must make of how much of himself to give. The question is, when the time comes to give your all . . . how much do you believe? Sammy: Dallas Detective is the first book in The Sammy Series. The story continues in Sammy: Women Troubles.

Native New Yorker Royce Arrendondo wearies of life on a Texas ranch and leaves. When her husband Paul sets out to look for her a month later, he comes to a dead end in Fort Worth-until meeting reclusive billionaire Fletcher Streiker: "Paul, let me tell you a great truth: everybody gets what they truly want-not what they think they want, but what they genuinely desire in the depths of their heart. Ultimately, this is what they receive." The question is, can Paul believe it enough to find Royce? Or is he too afraid to discover what he really wants? His Strange Ways is the sequel to Padre.

Answering a golden threat requires a sterling faith . . . Secure on the throne of Lystra, Roman, the Chataine's former guardian, heeds a warning that a nearby ruler is amassing power to strike. Roman decides to go see the situation for himself. His wife, the Surchataine Deirdre, convinces him that she should go as well. Leaving their young son in trusted hands, they travel to Corona to confront a madman who dresses himself not just in gold, but in supernatural powers. During their absence, a usurper attempts to seize power at Westford, so Roman must attack his own capital to regain control. With each success, new threats arise. The crisis point comes when all Lystra believes Roman is dead, and the fate of the province lies in the hands of a teenage girl. The Annals of Lystra begin with Chataine's Guardian, continue in Stone of Help, and conclude with Liberation of Lystra. The story then picks up 100 years later with Nicole of Prie Mer: Book One of the Latter Annals of Lystra.

The Chataine's guardian, Roman, sees his dreams fulfilled beyond his wildest hopes when the armies invading Lystra are felled by disease and Roman's Commander, Galapos, assumes rulership of the country. Moreover, Roman is reunited with his bride, Chataine Deirdre, who is pregnant with their first child. But while Galapos is consumed with the task of rebuilding war-torn Lystra, Deirdre allows herself to be lured away from Roman's protection. Immediately after giving birth in a cave, she is sold into slavery and taken to another province. Upon her mysterious disappearance, Roman undertakes a futile search for her, not knowing that her redemption has already been ordained, nor the terrible price that must be paid to free her. The Annals of Lystra begin with Chataine's Guardian, continue in Stone of Help, and conclude in Liberation of Lystra. The story continues 100 years later in The Latter Annals of Lystra, which begin with Nicole of Prie Mer.

"I am assigning a guardian to ward you. His name is Roman. . . ." Thus begins Surchatain Karel's explanation to his daughter, ten-year-old Chataine Deirdre, as to why her life is about to change dramatically. Karel's small country, Lystra, possesses the only navigable river on the southern coast of the Continent. The provinces that surround Lystra want its river trade, and will do anything to gain it-even kill the heir to the throne. So, hand selecting the most capable and trustworthy soldier he can find, Karel places her life in his keeping. Willful and spoiled, Deirdre sees this guardian only as another servant. She teases and abuses him as he places his life on the line for her day after day, year after year. Deirdre does not know at what point she begins to love him. But Roman knows from the very beginning that to love her will mean his death. The Annals of Lystra begin with Chataine's Guardian, continue in Stone of Help, and conclude in Liberation of Lystra. The story continues 100 years later in The Latter Annals of Lystra, which begin with Nicole of Prie Mer.

Having abdicated the throne of Lystra in favor of his adopted son, Henry, Ares travels to the monastery/ leprosarium he had established, the Sanctum. Ares has heard disturbing reports that the Master of the Sanctum has converted it to his own private domain. Not to be left behind, Nicole follows. With the cooperation of Nicole and the Second Oswald, Ares acts as poltergeist to the Master's rule at the Sanctum. But when Henry's sister Renée misplaces some property, she goes to the Sanctum to recover it-and there discovers who is fomenting rebellion against the young Surchatain. The Laughing Side of the World is the ninth and final book of the Latter Annals of Lystra, which begin with Nicole of Prie Mer.

Driven to distraction keeping control of twin twelve-year-old daughters, Surchatain Ares welcomes the services of a jester at the palace of Westford. Upon finding himself a celebrity and a confidant of the Surchatain, the jester attempts to discredit his main rival for Ares' attention: the Surchataine Nicole. In countering the jester's attack, Nicole turns to the superior gamesmanship of the beautiful, heartless Chataine Renée, who plays her part with such skill that the jester becomes a pawn in a power struggle between two provinces. However, the game is altered by the unexpected entrance of another player-Renée's younger brother Henry. Exiled for his faithfulness, struggling with the apparent capriciousness of God, Henry makes the move that determines the game's outcome. Games of God and Men is the sixth book of the Latter Annals of Lystra, which begin with Nicole of Prie Mer. Book Seven in the series is In Extremis.

This special 4th edition features a new ending! Welcome to Beaconville. It's a suspicious, unfriendly little town suspended in a dreary, bone-chilling winter. But when reclusive Dallas billionaire Fletcher Streiker receives a rambling plea for help from one of the residents, he decides to make a personal visit, bringing his wife, Adair, and their young son, Daniel. The citizens react with predictable hostility when Fletcher shows a little too much interest-and insight-into their doings. Inexplicable things begin to happen, as when pieces from Adair's past appear around town. However, when Fletcher pushes the townspeople a little too far, she and Daniel are left on their own. And the only way they can leave-the only way anyone can leave-is on Fletcher's train, the Morning Sun. The Streiker Saga begins with Streiker's Bride, continues in Streiker: The Killdeer, and concludes with Streiker's Morning Sun. Fletcher Streiker makes his next appearance in His Strange Ways, the sequel to Padre.

"Come at once. Ares is dying." So reads the frantic message from Surchataine Nicole that brings Ares' adopted son Henry out of exile after two years. When Henry arrives at Westford, he discovers vultures gathering over the province, eyeing Ares' twin 14-year-old daughters, Sophie and Bonnie. Accustomed to patrolling the wild western border of Lystra to keep out slavers, Henry must now readjust to courtly intrigues-a task made all the more difficult by the meaningless but conspicuous leper's brand on his hand. Matters come to a head when Surchatain Magnus of Scylla comes for an unexpected visit. He brings not only the spoiled, immature son he plans to marry off to Sophie, but a surprise guest who has designs on a most unwilling Henry. In Extremis is the seventh book of the Latter Annals of Lystra, which begin with Nicole of Prie Mer. Book Eight is All Mirrors and All Suns.

When a poisoner attempts to murder Surchatain Ares-again-Ares decides the time has come to step down from the throne and go underground to find out who is trying to take over the province. In his clandestine searches, he discovers a hidden room containing a vast cache of gold. While Ares is preoccupied with establishing a link between the gold and his would-be assassin, Henry is experiencing his own torments in getting his betrothed, Ares' daughter Sophie, to agree to a wedding date. However, prompting her to act turns out to be a trivial matter compared to his discovery that the task of arranging his nuptials has been assigned to Westford's chief tormenter: his sister Renée. All Mirrors and All Suns is the eighth book of the Latter Annals of Lystra, which begin with Nicole of Prie Mer. The ninth and final book of the series is The Laughing Side of the World.

He had a lot to offer, but his terms were high. What would you do if you received the offer of a lifetime-marriage to a billionaire-with one catch: you had to make up your mind without ever seeing him? When lowly bank teller Adair Weiss receives such an offer from reclusive philanthropist Fletcher Streiker, she is dumbfounded and disbelieving: Why me? What does he know about me? What does he want? Rejecting his offer would end her dream of dancing. But accepting it would change her life in ways she never guessed. . . . Streiker's Bride, the first book of The Streiker Saga, is followed by Streiker: The Killdeer and Streiker's Morning Sun. Fletcher Streiker makes his next appearance in His Strange Ways, the sequel to Padre. Cover image courtesy of En'val Entertainment, LLC, now producing a movie based on this book. Keep current of movie developments via www.facebook.com/streikermovie.

Thirteen-year-old Chatain Henry has disappeared. Fearing that he regrets abdicating the throne to his guardian, Surchatain Ares, Commander Thom wants to place a bounty on his head. But when Thom captures a slave trader who claims to have sold Henry, Ares takes it upon himself to go look for him. And the road he must travel is rumored to end at a portal that takes travelers to unknown realms. Because his young wife Nicole is the only one who can see the portal, she must go with him. While Nicole and Ares are gone, the Chataine Renée finds ample opportunity to wreak mischief with their five-year-old twin daughters, as well as with her husband, the Counselor Carmine, who is desperately trying to stay sober. For Carmine knows something about the portal that no one else has guessed. Road of Vanishing is the fourth book of the Latter Annals of Lystra, which begin with Nicole of Prie Mer. Book Five in the series is Dead Man's Token.

Under Ares' command, Lystra has successfully defended her capital from invasion by a Qarqarian usurper who wants the legitimate heir, whom Ares is sheltering, dead. But this defense has come at the heartbreaking cost of many casualties among Ares' youngest soldiers. In apparent gratitude, the ruler of neighboring Calle Valley invites Ares to inspect the ships confiscated from the enemy, now harbored at Prie Mer. So Ares accepts, bringing his young wife Nicole, a native of Prie Mer. Once there, they discover that their host intends to keep them prisoners, for if he can do away with Ares, then that will end the line of Roman. But Ares and Nicole are harboring their own secret hope, based on a promise thousands of years old. The Latter Annals of Lystra begins with Nicole of Prie Mer and continues in Ares of Westford and Prisoners of Hope. The next book in the series is Road of Vanishing.