by Ted Tayler
The Final Straw
An only child, unloved and unwanted by his parents, Colin Bailey is a bitter, emotionally damaged young man. He’s hell-bent on exacting revenge on anyone who has stopped him becoming the person he believes he was destined to be. What sets Colin apart is his intellect and meticulous planning. Detective Phil Hounsell pursues his man relentlessly while trying to avoid the small town in which he works sliding further and further into the grip of two rival gangs.
A devastating event in Colin’s life provides the final straw that herald’s a bloodbath. Can Phil prevent it happening or will he too be a victim? This tale of revenge spans two decades, yet the police are chasing shadows; it builds in pace and tension to a thrilling climax against the backdrop of a quiet West Country town.
Unfinished Business
The sequel to the award-winning ‘The Final Straw’ sees Colin Bailey return to the UK after a decade abroad. With a new name and a new face, he still has scores to settle. His meticulous planning takes him ingeniously across Scotland and the North of England ticking names off his list with the police completely baffled.
DCI Phil Hounsell pitted his wits against Colin before and so he is sent to Durham where he teams up with super intelligent young DS Zara Wheeler; together they track their man to Manchester and then eventually south to Bath. The final scenes take place on the streets of the Roman city; Phil Hounsell’s family is threatened. In a dramatic conclusion reminiscent of Holmes and Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls, the two men struggle above the foaming waters of the historic Pulteney Weir.
A Sting In The Tale
A collection of twelve short stories, each with an unexpected twist at the end. Love stories, ghost stories, and tales of revenge sprinkled with a touch of humour.
There is something for everyone, young or old; from the elderly bookshop owner with an unusual talent and his summer of love with a young schoolteacher. To the haunting account of the journey on the last bus back to town from the heart of the countryside. Each story has characters and situations you will recognise. But will you identify the 'sting in the tale' before you turn that final page?
The Olympus Project
Rescued by strangers from a watery grave and given a new identity.
The Phoenix is a stone-cold killer.
An ideal fit for the Olympus Project, a secret organisation fighting injustice.
With hard, fast action and a cast of characters you can reach out and touch, this is the thriller series for which you’ve been searching.
Gold, Silver, and Bombs
The eyes of the world are on London 2012.
British security services anticipate an organised terror attack.
Safety is paramount. What if the real danger comes from a lone wolf?
You won’t want to miss the page-turning intensity of the second story in this gripping series.
Nothing Is Ever Forever
The action never slows. The tension never slackens.
The Phoenix stares death in the face once more.
Detectives Hounsell and Wheeler return.
The past threatens to catch up with Phoenix.
What will the future hold for the Project? What dramas lie ahead? After all, nothing is ever forever.
Something Wicked Draws Near
Newly-weds Phoenix and Athena battle The Grid and its leader Hugo Hanigan.
Olympus seeks fresh faces to join the Gods and provide finance for its missions.
Grid gang leader, Tommy O’Riordan, is convicted of murder.
Hugo Hanigan immediately takes bloody revenge.
A nostalgic trip to Dublin for Hugo Hanigan brings the curtain down on this part of The Grid’s story. It continues in the eighth book ‘Evil Always Finds A Way’.
Evil Always Finds A Way
The drama unfolds over forty days and forty nights across the UK.
The Grid’s story continues as death becomes a constant companion to Phoenix and his colleagues.
Can Olympus halt the reign of terror perpetrated by The Grid?
When this story reaches its conclusion one thing is certain, what follows next promises to be even more exciting and unpredictable.
Revenge Comes In Many Colours
Justice and revenge are to the fore.
A senior Grid members meeting has a dramatic conclusion.
Colleen O’Riordan strengthens her grip in the capital.
Who is her secret assassin?
What does the future hold for Hugo Hanigan?
The excitement never lets up as the vigilante organisation battles organised crime.
Step by step, the Olympus story moves closer to its final instalments.
Three Weeks In September
The Grid becomes all-powerful under its new leadership. The UK is on the brink.
An onslaught from organised crime combined with attacks by Islamist extremists takes its toll.
Can Olympus stem the tide without revealing its hand?
These are some of the story threads in this tenth Phoenix book. The pace is relentless. There are enough passion, excitement and tragedy to last a lifetime. All squeezed into three weeks.
A Frequent Peal Of Bells
The Islamist terror attacks resume.
The Grid wields its power with sustained bursts of criminal activity.
Government resources are stretched to breaking point as austerity cuts hamper their response.
Packed with current issues of political and economic concern this eleventh book retains the intensely realistic feel of the whole Phoenix Series.
Larcombe Manor
A vote of confidence at Westminster. Which way will it go? Will the government fall?
Could the forces of evil take advantage of the vacuum in the lead-up to a General Election?
Can Olympus continue to thwart the ambitions of the all-powerful Grid?
Will the authorities uncover the truth behind the Olympus Project?
Can the Larcombe families survive the troubled waters that lay ahead?
“He who does not punish evil commands it to be done.” (Leonardo Da Vinci)
“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” (Benjamin Franklin)
“When unpalatable decisions are not taken, evil smiles and continues to flourish.” (The Phoenix)
These are the unanswered questions. Many dangers face the Olympus agents before the climactic conclusion of this final book in The Phoenix Series. It will be as unpredictable as the others. Strap yourselves in. It’s going to be a ride to remember.
About The Author
Ted Tayler was born in Corsham, Wiltshire in 1945. When he was five years old his family moved five miles up the road to Melksham. He’s lived there ever since. Ted’s been married to Lynne since 1971. They have 3 children in their mid-thirties and 4 grandchildren. Let Ted take up his story: -
“I grew up with reading and writing all around me. My mother loved books and I had two aunts who taught English. There was no escape. I put it all on hold after I left school because of my music and work until I wrote my book of memories about my life in bands which was published in 2011. At the end of 2012, I wondered if I could write fiction!
I think of myself as a storyteller; I hope that with each successive book I get better at it. What I’ve been told is that the reader feels as if we’re sat across the table from one another and I’m just chatting with them.
As for the thriller series featuring The Phoenix; well, life is all about balance, isn’t it? Good and evil, love and loss, laughter and tears. The Phoenix believes that criminals should pay for their crimes; the system often fails to deliver the correct punishment. The Olympus agents can help him redress the balance. There are stories left to tell.”
Acknowledgements
The love and support of my family, without them, this would have been impossible.
The Phoenix Club
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Thanks again for reading. Until the next time.
