Bøker av Jennie Dodd

The Resurrection Men draws inspiration from the notorious legend of Edinburgh's infamous body snatchers, Burke and Hare. Set in the 1800s, this compelling tale serves as a sharp social critique, vividly portraying the poverty and deprivation endured by the lower classes. The novel exposes the callous exploitation by the upper echelons of society, highlighting how wealthy employers often neglected the welfare of their workers. Particularly, it sheds light on the appalling conditions faced by young children forced to work in the mines, where danger to life and limb was a daily reality.This powerful, grim historical novel employs gallows humour to bring its characters and their struggles to life. As the story unfolds, it raises profound questions: Can desperate circumstances fundamentally change a person's behaviour? When subjected to extreme poverty, are all humans capable of heinous acts, regardless of their inherent nature? Above all, The Resurrection Men is a poignant love story that will captivate the imagination of any reader, leaving them both moved and reflective.

In this sequel to Ride the Wind, we return to the outback of Western Australia and the unexpected reappearance of the wicked fairy, Alba. Once again, she will attempt to destroy the sisters, their horses, and the magic kingdom itself. Like the original story, this is a tale based on Aboriginal mythology. It combines elements of magical fantasy with factual details regarding the beliefs and culture of Australia's indigenous people and their use and protection of the natural flora and fauna of their beautiful land. The storyline raises issues concerning the historic mistreatment of Aboriginal people during the British Empire's colonial years. However, readers will find this an absorbing and uplifting novel, as they follow their favourite characters on a journey of discovery. The sisters are maturing into exceptional young women/riders, and Enzo is no longer a mere puppy and shows his true nature as he plays his part in family life. The Shaman and the fairies will be called upon to defeat Alba's evil schemes, but will their endeavours be triumphant this time? New, powerful magic will be required, and success or failure will hang in the balance.

This novel is a powerful, grim, historical fantasy story, based around the slave trade of the 17th and 18th centuries and its repercussions on a family whose wealth is built on it. The first part of the story introduces the present-day 10th Lord of Eastlyn, Robert Montague, and his family, who continue to endure the consequences of a voodoo hex placed upon them centuries before. The second part describes the 1st Lord of Eastlyn, George Montague, a wealthy but cruel and callous slave trader, and the enslavement of an Amazonian warrior named Nabila. Much of the novel's strength is rooted in its foregrounding, which depicts man's inhumanity to man and the vile and heinous nature of slavery. The final part shows the effect the curse has had on the Montague family and describes the actions and courage of young cousins who set out to free themselves from the voodoo hex placed upon them. The twists and turns that take place as a result are comprehensive and will provide entertaining relief for the reader following this tale of human suffering and vindication.

Set in Western Australia this tale of jealousy and revenge sees teenage sisters embark on a perilous ride through the outback. They must rely on the courage and devotion of their horses, Star, a black Arabian and Galaxy, a white Andalusian stallion to save them. A magic kingdom secretly existing deep in the bush harbours a bitter love triangle. The wicked fairy, Alba, will use all her dark arts to rid herself of her rival and the girls and their horses will be caught up in the crossfire. Only by seeking the help of an ancient Koori shaman can they hope to survive. The plot is exciting and contains almost every element any young girl would love, including fairies, horses, animals of every description, as well as magic, romance, and adventure in a world where girls are the ones who make the difference rather than ubiquitous boy heroes. The stories are a mix of reality and pure imagination, drawing on aboriginal mythology and traditional storytelling. They combine magical fantasy and adventure with historic evidence and theories based on modern-day fact and up-to-date research. In addition, factual details regarding the natural flora and fauna of this beautiful part of the world, make this a truly educational, exciting, and immersive read.

Description The 'Grim Reaper' is a story based partly on true events. However, all the characters and all the institutions mentioned are entirely imaginary and any resemblance to persons living or dead or actual events are purely coincidental. The reader will enter an unfolding tragedy about a loving couple who will experience the misery mental health problems can bring to a relationship and to families. This is a chilling tale about the awful experiences of a middle-aged woman called Ruth and her husband, Robert. The 'Grim Reaper' of the title is the demonic and malevolent being who torments Ruth and tries to take her for his own by getting her to kill herself. Robert - her life-long love- and to a lesser extent, her son, Sean, try to help her overcome her problems. The story poses many as yet unanswered questions. Can external forces of evil beyond our control affect and impact on our lives? Is it right that in the present day under the UK's mental health act, patients can lose all their legal rights and all their human rights? Is it right that the forced administering of psychotropic drugs (known as the 'chemical cosh) is still going on in the UK's mental hospitals and that this remains a closely guarded and very dark secret?About the AuthorJennie Dodd was born in 1950 in the picturesque market town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Educated at the Wakeman Grammar Technical School she developed a love of art and English literature and excelled in sport. In 1968 she entered Glamorgan College of Education where she studied advanced main physical education and subsidiary art and English for three years. She began her teaching career at the Bryntirion Comprehensive School in Bridgend, Glamorgan in 1971. She retired from teaching in 2010 and now devotes her time to writing. Jennie currently lives in Shropshire with her husband, Russell, and son, Alexander.