Alan McDonald – författare

A BBC Radio 4 crime drama about a Merseyside mum-turned-private eyeSingle mum Rosie Monaghan is 39 and redundant. Wondering what to do with the rest of her life – and with two kids to support – she decides to start a new career as a private detective.In Series 1 she begins her first investigation, involving a mystery client and a seemingly innocent death that no one else thinks is murder. But being a private eye proves trickier than she thought. The job itself is fraught with problems (how do you tail someone without them noticing?), and the demands of love, children and her bank manager are all jostling for her attention. Can she solve the case and confront the murderer? And will the guilty be brought to justice?Series 2 finds Rosie back in business, with a rent-free corner of an office, and an ‘anything investigated’ ad in the paper. Among the cases that come her way are a mysterious briefcase full of cash, a missing wife whose husband is ‘one card short of a full deck’, and a series of racial attacks on a corner shop.Written by Alan McDonald, this intriguing crime series stars Paula Wilcox (Upstart Crow, Mount Pleasant) as Rosie.CastRosie Monagahan – Paula Wilcox Margie – Elizabeth EstensenJerry – Christopher BramwellBob – Dominic GrounsellCarol – Helen RobertsMike – Steve HodsonMartin Bullivant – Paul BarberAndrew Stephenson – Kim WallBill Jones/Deputy Chief Constable – Dominic LettsElsie/Dorothy – Pauline YatesDetective Sergeant Murdoch – Gareth ArmstrongHickey – Michael OnslowHelen Thackray – Rachel AtkinsJames MacLeish – James TelferOld woman – Diana PayanGraham – David ThorpeAuntie – Jillie MeersPaddy/Daz – Peter KennyDebbie – Barbara DryhurstBarbara Rowan/Jessica – Elaine ClaxtonJoe Geoghegan/Gregson/Derek – Gavin MuirDan McGuinness/Billy – Tom BevanMr Khadur– Lyndam GregoryMrs Khadur – Nina WadiaGricewell – Don McCorkindalePlanner – Don WarringtonPeggy – Margaret JohnGinny – Tina GrayWPC/Chantal – Deborah BerlinMiranda – Tara DominickBren – Siriol JenkinsNat – Paul PantingWith Federay Holmes, Matthew Morgan, Nicholas Murchie, Teresa Gallagher, Vivienne Rochester, James Taylor, Malcolm Ward, Suzannah Corbett and Dominic TraynorWritten by Alan McDonaldDirected by Tracey NealeMusic composed by Peter HowellSeries 1:Ep 1: Down These Mean Streets Ep 2: Following From In Front Ep 3: Back Against the Wall Ep 4: If Looks Could Kill Ep 5: Count Your Blessings Ep 6: In DreamsSeries 2:Ep 1: Starting Over Ep 2: Softies Ep 3: The Front Man Ep 4: Massaging the Truth

Since CORONAVIRUS reached our shores, we''ve had a year like no other, one which has changed our society and lives. There have been highs and lows, serious events, poignancy and absurdity.

This book chronicles the unfolding of the Pandemic with comment and poems, mostly Limericks.

Some are amusing, some thought provoking, some downright hilarious, and some which will jog your memory.

Read from start to finish, or dip in, month by month, it will make you smile, laugh, think and remember.

"I absolutely loved Rhymes and Reason. I laughed, and cried (almost). A brilliant diary of a bizarre year, a book of surreal memories in an extremely novel and interesting format"

Barbara Earl

"A very witty little book, had me smiling and positively chuckling."

Catherine Buckley