Best Selling Books by Sam Lloyd

"On May 29th, 1936, at the age of 27, Lloyd Hunnicutt graduated from Cavalry School in Fort Riley, Kansas, as a Second Lieutenant in the 124th Unit of the Texas Natonal Guard . . . . received his first promotion on November 18, 1940. Nineteen months later, he went to war in the South Pacific with the 112th Cavalry."--from the Introduction "A good old-fashioned siege of homesickness wouldn''t be so bad--but these constantly recurring twinges of emptiness that occur when something unconsciously reminds me of you are a little hard to take. I don''t see now how I even had the nerve to get on the train at Fort Clark. I know now why American soldiers always win their battles--they fight hard so they can get home to their wives and families. I think our greatest hardship is that there is no one near who loves us and to whom we can turn for comfort. Each of us must stand on his own feet at all times. But that is enough of that. Remember that without your love I would have no incentive for anything ever again."--Lloyd Hunnicutt, 1942, somewhere in the South Pacific In 1942 Captain Lloyd Hunnicutt shipped out for the Pacific. He left behind, in Fort Worth, Texas, his beloved and pregnant wife, Virginia. Captain Hunnicutt went first to the island of New Caledonia, a relatively safe and malaria-free island, and then to the jungles of New Guinea, where his men were bombarded by the Japanese and threatened by malaria. Dearest Virginia presents a selection of the letters he wrote his wife, sometimes two a day. Captain Hunnicutt could not tell Virginia where he was, but the letters reflect his experiences in the Pacific--his efforts to keep busy on ship, the importance he placed on reading, the pleasures of fresh food as opposed to C-rations. But above all, these are love letters, filled with longing and loneliness, philosophical musings on marriage and fidelity, and humor. Reflecting the feelings of service men and women everywhere in all wars, these letters are as poignant and relevant today as they were sixty years ago. Of his concern for his wife''s pregnancy, he wrote, "I don''t want you scared by an automobile or anything this late--the baby might have a voice like a Chevrolet horn!" The baby was a girl, named Gayle, who moved to England and became a well-known actress. Clearing out her parents'' home when her mother moved to an assisted living facility, she found the letters from her father, stashed them away for later, and eventually spent months sorting, choosing, and condensing them to produce this book. Unfortunately, Captain Hunnicutt was required for security reasons to destroy any letters he received, so none of Virginia''s correspondence survives. Gayle Hunnicutt contributed a lengthy memoir, rich with her memories of her parents and a childhood in Fort Worth. First published in England by Kyle Cathie Ltd: Publishers--2004.

For readers of CJ Tudor and Jane Harper comes a heart-stopping new thriller from the bestselling author of The Memory Wood and The Rising Tide. I watch them because I think they need help. Mercy Lake likes to fix things. To fix people. Trapped inside during daylight hours, hostage to her phobias, she uses the cover of night to watch the people in her town. And if someone needs her help, she steps in—secretly and with compassion. When Mercy meets Louis, her lonely, unusual life is suddenly filled with excitement. Because Louis likes intervening in other people''s lives too, only he prefers a more direct—even violent—approach. As they grow closer, Mercy is enchanted but frightened by his actions. How many lines is he willing to cross? And how much is he prepared to risk? And then there''s Nadia. Nadia knows she''s being watched, even if the police think differently. But with her own secrets to protect, she''s not going to wait around for the watcher to make their move. She''s going to stop them dead.

Listen ... can you hear it? There''s a creepy noise ... ''Welcome!'' smiles Mr Bones. ''Meet the spooky girls and boys.'' At Skeleton School they howl in assembly, fly broomsticks in the library and learn how to float through walls! Join in the fun with this comic caper from a bestselling author/illustrator of Calm Down, Boris, Mr Pusskins and First Day at Bug School – it''s perfect for back to school and Halloween. This eBook comes with a gloriously entertaining audio accompaniment, read by CBeebies star Justin Fletcher.

A reassuring story to soothe anxiety about starting school. It''s your first day at Bug School, but don''t be scared or shy. You''ll have the BEST TIME EVER! So wave mummy and daddy bye bye. Welcome to Bug School! Don''t be nervous on your first day – it''s lots of fun. Learn to creep with the spiders, sing with the crickets, count spots with the ladybirds and hop, skip and jump in P.E. with the fleas! A rhythmic, bright celebration of school, starring some very cute bugs indeed!

Meet this little boy and his pussycat called Ginger. He''s got a bedtime secret. He''s the mighty MIDNIGHT NINJA! Everyone is tucked up in bed, except for Midnight Ninja and his sidekick Ginger. The ninja emergency bell has rung and they''re off on a secret mission. There''s no time for these heroes to sleep until they''ve solved the mystery of the missing socks. Even reluctant sleepers will enjoy bedtime with this action-packed adventure showing that heroes need their sleep too. Bedtime reading fun from the bestselling author/illustrator of Calm Down, Boris, Mr Pusskins and First Day at Bug School.

Although he sometimes mistakes lighted candles on a birthday cake for a house fire, the residents of Whoops-a-Daisy World can always count on their strong and brave Fire Chief Rhino whenever a blaze threatens.

A fast-paced, action-packed, good-versus-evil adventure introducing a dynamic new picture book character.

Two monkeys on neighboring islands want to get together for banana milkshakes, but first they must figure out how to avoid the hungry sharks that live in the water between them.

THE MUST-READ RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK. Chilling, moving and unputdownable, The Memory Wood is a thriller like no other. ''Beautifully told, with two superbly drawn young protagonists, Lloyd is a rare new thriller talent'' Daily Mail ''Superbly creepy, with an unexpected twist'' Guardian ''Brilliant writing, a terrifying story, and characters so real it feels like you know them. If you enjoy dark, twisty thrillers that stay with you, read this book'' Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely Wife ************* Elijah has lived in the Memory Wood for as long as he can remember. It''s the only home he''s ever known. Elissa has only just arrived. And she''ll do everything she can to escape. When Elijah stumbles across thirteen-year-old Elissa, in the woods where her abductor is hiding her, he refuses to alert the police. Because in his twelve years, Elijah has never had a proper friend. And he doesn''t want Elissa to leave. Besides, Elijah knows how this can end. After all, Elissa isn''t the first girl he''s found inside the Memory Wood. As her abductor''s behaviour grows more erratic, chess prodigy Elissa realises that outwitting strange, lonely Elijah is her only hope of survival. Their cat-and-mouse game of deception and betrayal will determine both their fates, and whether either of them will ever leave the Memory Wood . . . ************* Praise for Sam Lloyd: ''An intense, atmospheric, and truly original thriller'' Shari Lapena, author of The Couple Next Door ''Remarkable. Stunning prose and compulsive reading. It''s undoubtedly the best thriller I''ve read in a long, long time'' Lesley Kara, author of The Rumour ''I haven''t read anything quite this exciting since Room. You think all the stories have been told, then something like this comes along'' Emma Curtis, author of The Night You Left Readers love The Memory Wood ''A very clever psychological thriller. Dark, creepy and intense.'' ***** ''Deliciously dark... fresh and imaginative.'' ***** ''The twists and turns in The Memory Wood will astound. This book is undoubtedly the best I''ve read this year.'' ***** Richard and Judy Book Club Pick, Winter 2020

Grandma gives Fred treats before the dog show thinking they would give him some spunk, but during the show he suddenly finds himself with a strong urge to fart. On board pages.

Two monkeys on neighboring islands want to get together for banana milkshakes, but first they must figure out how to avoid the threatening sharks that live between their two homes.

Fire is a natural part of the Australian bush. This is a story about that relationship – fire that breathes life back into nature. Alight shares the story of Australian native plants and animals during a planned fire. Discover how the fire helps Christmas Bells grow new flowers and Wallum Banksia to open its woody seed capsules. Follow Antechinus and a tiny Wallum Sedge Frog as they face the danger of the fire – and the challenges that come after. See how the bush recovers and flourishes after the fire, all under the watch of Old Eucalypt. With engaging text by Sam Lloyd, and stunning illustrations by Samantha Metcalfe, Alight is a gentle exploration of the importance and benefits of healthy fire in the bush. Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6 to 9.

Mr Pusskins just has to get his paws on the Best-Looking-Pet prize. Nothing will stop him. Not even the mean, double-crossing poodle, Madame Fifi Fou-Fou.

There’s something inside Mummy’s tummy. I don’t know what it could be. Perhaps it’s a buzzing flea or a chimpanzee? It’s getting bigger every day and Mummy won’t tell me. But you can lift the flaps to see! A wonderful and fun story for young children about a new addition to the family from much-loved author and illustrator Sam Lloyd.

Life for Pusskins is dreamy, until the day his owner Emily comes home with a Very Special Present, a kitten! Even though Little Whiskers is small and looks awfully angelic, she is not. She is a tiny package of peskiness. And the worst thing? It''s always Mr Pusskins who gets the blame! So how will Mr Pusskins deal with this naughty nuisance?

Meet Boris - he''s a very loving little monster! Orange, hairy and over-enthusiastic, Boris means well, but always ends up getting carried away and spoiling things.

No todos los monstruos son horribles... Boris es un monstruo adorable que sólo quiere que lo quieran, pero es muy, muy grande, ¡y da demasiados besos, y hace muchas cosquillas! ¡Aunque ser grande besucón y hacer cosquillas a veces va de maravilla! Los niños se divertirán en grande con el títere que se incluye en el libro. Para niños y niñas a partir de 2 años. Disponible en catalán, para comprarlo haz clic aquí.

HOW DID IT COME TO THIS? The news doesn''t strike cleanly, like a guillotine''s blade. Nothing so merciful. This news is a slovenly traveller, dragging its feet, gradually revealing its horrors. And it announces itself first with violence - the urgent hammering of fists on the front door. Life can change in a heartbeat. Lucy has everything she could wish for- a beautiful home high on the clifftops, a devoted husband and two beloved children. Then one morning, time stops. Their family yacht is recovered, abandoned far out at sea. Lucy''s husband is nowhere to be found and as the seconds tick by, she begins to wonder - what if he was the one who took the boat? And if so, where is he now? As a once-in-a-generation storm frustrates the rescue operation, Lucy pieces together what happened onboard. And then she makes a fresh discovery. One that plunges her into a nightmare more shocking than any she could ever have imagined . . .

Spooky school is open, welcome everyone! Here you''ll learn to scare and creep while having lots of fun. Welcome to Spooky School! It''s the scariest school around, where all the creepiest creatures come to dust off their skills and become the best they can be. Join your friends and learn how to fly like a wicked witch on a broomstick, howl like a werewolf and jiggle like a skeleton to all the best Halloween tunes. The friends you make will stay with you forever - because sometimes scaring is caring! Packed with Halloween delights from creepy spiders to stomping monsters, this brilliantly spooky and accessible board book is perfect for Halloween!

"Hot dog, hairy dog, dirty dog--find out the opposites of these and more inside ..."--Cover back. On board pages.

Dr. Meow’s Big Emergency is the first in a series of books which all take place in the friendly Whoops-a-Daisy World. In this exciting adventure, Tom Cat has hurt his leg, and Doctor Meow must help him right away. Doctor Meow and her helpers are good neighbors, and good friends, too! Sam Lloyd’s humorous, brightly colored art is thoroughly kid-friendly, and will appeal to fans of Richard Scarry. Each book will feature a different character, but all of the characters reappear throughout the series, so kids can return to their favorite friends in various books. Stay tuned for the second installment from Whoops-a-Daisy World, Chief Rhino to the Rescue!

It''s bedtime, but Spud can''t sleep. His alien friends are in a real mess and they need his help to get ready for bed. So Spud jumps on to his rocket and zooms into space...What a hero!

Boris is babysitting for monster baby. The problem is, he really isn''t very good at it. Can you help Boris look after monster baby?

Gracie wakes up in a huge grump. Can a new friend help turn her day around?

This lift-the-flap book is a fresh and funny take on the potty-training book from the amazing picture-book illustrator Sam Lloyd. Little Moo Monster is growing up and no longer happy to be in a diaper. Moo wants to be more grown up than his baby sister. So the lovable monster discards his diaper and suddenly there''s poop everywhere! Mom gets a potty, and Moo practices sitting on it until, finally...success! Moo can progress to grown-up underpants that he can pull up and down--which means he can go to the Monster Pant Party with all his little potty-trained friends. With flaps to lift and clever paper engineering, plus great illustrations and laugh-out-loud humor, Sam Lloyd''s book will be the perfect potty-training tool for all toddlers and their parents.

There''s an emergency phone-call at Kiss-it-Better Hospital. It''s Tom Cat . . . he''s hurt his leg! Can Doctor Miaow and Ambulance Driver Woof please come straightaway? Of course they can! Doctor Miaow and Ambulance Driver Woof are always there to help others and save the day, and children are invited to follow the gentle, reassuring drama of the exciting, yet caring world of Kiss-it-Better Hospital.

Elissa är tretton år när hon kidnappas. Mitt på dagen blir hon inkastad i en bil, nedsövd och bortförd. När hon vaknar ligger hon fastkedjad i en håla under jorden, djupt inne i skogen. Hon har ingen aning om vem hennes kidnappare är, men hans beteende blir allt mer oförutsägbart. Elijah är en pojke som har ägnat hela sitt liv åt att utforska varje del av skogen, och det är så han hittar Elissa. Elissa inser att den märkliga Elijah är hennes enda chans att komma undan med livet i behåll. Men Elijah vägrar att ringa polisen. Han är glad över att äntligen ha fått en vän. Och han vet hur det här kan sluta. Elissa är inte den första flickan han har hittat fången i skogen. Flickan i skogen är en internationellt omtalad psykologisk thriller med nervkittlande vändningar. "Denna thriller är en riktig rysare, intelligent och smidig, och sten läggs till sten för att göra bilden hel och lösningen möjlig. Det är begåvat skrivet, och ett imponerande intrigbygge." BTJ "Otroligt spännande, med en oväntad twist." The Guardian "Lloyd är en unik ny talang inom thrillergenren." The Daily Mail

Inghilterra, Hampshire. Elijah ha dodici anni, non è mai andato a scuola e vive in un cottage insieme alla famiglia all’interno di una grossa proprietà terriera. Elissa ha tredici anni, una vita normale ed è una promessa degli scacchi. Proprio durante un torneo del suo gioco preferito viene rapita e portata in un nascondiglio in un bosco. Elijah ha sempre vissuto vicino al “bosco dei ricordi”. Per lui si tratta della sua unica casa. Elissa, invece, ci è appena arrivata, ed è disposta a tutto pur di fuggire. Quando Elijah si imbatte nella ragazza, imprigionata nelle profondità del bosco in cui il suo rapitore la tiene segregata, si rifiuta di avvisare la polizia. Questo perché in tutta la sua vita il ragazzo non ha mai avuto un vero amico, e non vuole perderla. Già, perché Elijah sa bene come può finire questa storia, del resto Elissa non è la prima ragazza che incrocia nel bosco... Man mano che il comportamento del suo sadico rapitore diventa sempre più singolare e imprevedibile, Elissa giunge alla conclusione che raggirare lo strano e solitario Elijah sia la sua unica possibilità di salvezza. Sarà la loro particolare sfida tra gatto e topo, colma di inganni e tradimenti, a decidere il destino di entrambi. Un thriller originale, intenso, mozzafiato, in cui l''orrore incontra la dimensione affascinante delle fiabe. Un gioco di potere sotterraneo costruito con grande abilità, che dà vita a una lettura appassionante e piena di suspense. Sam Lloyd è cresciuto nell’Hampshire, inventando storie e creando un suo mondo tra i boschi vicino casa. Questo è il suo esordio.

Un thriller atmosférico e inquietante sobre la parte más oscura del alma humana. En el día más importante de su aún breve vida, Elissa es secuestrada. Horas después, despierta en un lugar que no conoce, atada a un poste metálico. Mientras su raptor la apabulla con extrañas preguntas, la situación de la niña parece complicarse... hasta que Elijah, de diez años, la encuentra. Elijah sabe que debería contar lo que ha visto, pero su instinto le advierte de que, si lo hace, perderá todo lo que tiene. Al fin y al cabo, Elissa no es la primera niña a la que descubre en el Bosque de la Memoria. Elissa sabe que debe actuar. Solamente convenciendo a Elijah para que la ayude tendrá alguna oportunidad de sobrevivir. Pero intentar manipularlo es peligroso, pues es mucho más listo de lo que parece. Empieza entones un juego mortal de engaño y traición llevará al límite a todos quienes entren en él. Perder es impensable. Y para ganar hay que actuar de forma implacable.

Czasami życie zmienia się w mgnieniu oka... Niezwykle wciągający i mrożący krew w żyłach thriller. Lucy ma wszystko, czego może zapragnąć: piękny dom nad urwiskiem, satysfakcjonującą pracę i wspaniałą rodzinę. Pewnego ranka czas staje jednak w miejscu. Rodzinny jacht zostaje znaleziony na morzu. A Lucy nie wie, gdzie podział się jej mąż z dziećmi... Czy to możliwe, że byli na pokładzie? Akcję ratunkową zakłóca sztorm, jaki zdarza się raz na sto lat. Kobieta próbuje zdobyć informacje o tym, co się wydarzyło. Nagle odkrywa coś, co wiedzie ją ku niewyobrażalnemu koszmarowi. Zabójczo błyskotliwa lektura. Sunday Times Lloyd ma wyjątkowy talent do tworzenia pomysłowych thrillerów. Daily Mail Mroczna, mrożąca krew w żyłach i oryginalna powieść. Pełna wciągających zwrotów akcji, które prowadzą do szokującego finału. Daily Express Sam Lloyd wychował się w hrabstwie Hampshire, gdzie narodziła się jego miłość do opowiadania historii. Obecnie mieszka w Surrey z żoną, trzema synami i psem, który lubi wyć. Jego debiutancki thriller Schronisko (2020, W.A.B. 2021) zebrał entuzjastyczne recenzje i ukazał się w kilkunastu wersjach językowych. Przypływ (2021) to druga książka autora.

Een adembenemende thriller over een ontvoerd meisje, de jongen die haar kan redden en hun huiveringwekkende kat-en-muisspel vol bedrog en verraad. Voor de liefhebbers van Stephen King en C.J. Tudor. ‘Als je pas net bent aangekomen, waarom wil je dan al weg?’ Elissa, een dertienjarig schaaktalent, is aangekomen in het Geheugenwoud op de belangrijkste dag van haar leven. Ze deed mee aan een nationaal schaakkampioenschap toen ze werd ontvoerd. Ze werd wakker in een ondergrondse cel. Elijah woont al naast het Geheugenwoud zolang hij zich kan herinneren. Hij is pas twaalf, maar heeft zijn hele leven in het bos gespeeld en kent er elke centimeter. En dan vindt hij Elissa. Als hij opduikt in haar cel, neemt Elissa aan dat Elijah haar zal helpen te ontsnappen of naar de politie zal gaan. Maar Elijah wil niet dat Elissa weggaat, bang als hij is om haar vriendschap te verliezen. Het gedrag van haar ontvoerder wordt steeds onvoorspelbaarder en algauw zijn Elijahs bezoekjes Elissa’s enige vorm van verlichting. Elissa realiseert zich dat de vreemde, eenzame jongen haar enige kans op overleving is. Ze speelt een dodelijk kat-en-muisspel om hem over te halen haar te helpen en hun vriendschap zal hun beider lot bepalen...

...und auch so bitterkalt. Auf dem Weg zum Jugendschachturnier wird die 13-jährige Elissa entführt. Als sie erwacht, liegt sie in einem dunklen Keller. Ihre Situation scheint aussichtslos - bis Elijah ihr Verlies entdeckt und sie heimlich zu besuchen beginnt. Elijah ist ein Einzelgänger, der mit seinen Eltern in einer abgeschiedenen Hütte im Wald lebt. Er kennt keine Handys und kein Internet, aber er weiß, es ist nicht richtig, dass Elissa gefangen gehalten wird; er weiß, er sollte jemandem davon erzählen. Aber er weiß auch, dass sein Leben aus den Fugen geraten wird, wenn die Wahrheit ans Licht kommt. Denn Elissa ist nicht die erste, die in den Mädchenwald gebracht wurde. Während draußen die Polizistin DI MacCullagh alle Hebel in Bewegung setzt, um das Mädchen zu finden, erkennt Elissa, dass ihr nur mit Elijahs Hilfe die Flucht gelingen kann. Doch der Junge ist sehr viel cleverer, als er zu sein vorgibt. Und er hat längst begonnen, das Spiel nach seinen Regeln zu spielen...