A Meow-vellous, Hiss-terical Cat and Dog Tail with Oodles of Cat-itude. Paw-some Larry is Top Cat at Number 10 – that was until his boss, the Prime Minister, got a dog called Dilyn. A rat-iculous puppy who chases his tail, guzzles sausage-strings and chews things. How paw-thetic!

It was the brazen cheek of the huge rat running across the front of No 10 on a live TV news broadcast that galvanised the government into action. Meetings were held at the highest level and, barely a week later, on 15 February 2011, Larry the tabby cat arrived in Downing Street to make his mark as the new rodent bouncer in residence. A secret source quickly made contact and has been working closely with Larry ever since to get the full story - in diary form - of his first 100 days in the job. In a swift-moving narrative that pits Larry against the evil King Rat and his legion of cheese-eaters, our hero still finds time to spill the beans on what life with Sam and Dave is really like. With the economy in crisis and anarchy on the streets of London, Larry has to use all his smarts to outwit the enemy and earn his keep. Gaining privileged access to Sam Cam's iPad he uses Google Maps to surpass the rats' knowledge of the local area. With a Royal Wedding on the horizon and a revolving door of visiting dignitaries to contend with, Larry is able to take a wry look at the machinations of coalition power that lurk behind the big black door.

The current feline tenant of 10 Downing Street, Larry, has captured the nation's hearts with his public appearances and witty Twitter feed. Larry the Chief Mouser comes from a long line of cats in UK government. For over 200 years this government has used cats to rid their buildings of mice. For a long time the animals remained unofficial, but then in the 1930s government departments started to apply to the treasury for a feline upkeep allowance. The cats thus became ‘official’ members of government and, as it turned out, well loved. There are many funny stories linked to these cats: Home Office cat ‘Peter the Great’ became a celebrity in 1958 when the public issued concerns that he wasn’t being paid enough; Peter’s successor, unusually a female Manx cat, was considered to have a ‘diplomatic background’ and thus gained a pay rise! More recent cats include Chief Mouser Larry, who appeared at David Cameron’s resignation speech, and the Foreign Office cat Palmerston, who has a substantial Twitter following. Including letters and memos held by The National Archives, plus photographs of the cats themselves, this book takes a fresh approach to what goes on at Whitehall.

Follows the escapades of self-centered Rat and kindly (but dumb) Pig and their pals, with commentary from the author.

Around the world there are thousands of pet statues and memorials with fascinating stories behind them. Some reveal insights into our social history, such as the little brown dog in Battersea that was a focus of suffragette riots. Others have wonderfully quirky origins, like the twenty-three cats of York: sculptures added to buildings designed by a cat-loving architect. Many more reveal tales of courage, loyalty, myth, and legend. From Egyptian cat goddesses and the heroic dogs of war, to search-and-rescue canines on 9/11 and Tombili the Turkish moggy who became an Internet sensation, this book brings together a selection of the most surprising, amusing and illuminating stories, complete with dozens of full-colour photographs. Anyone with an appreciation of pets, the varied roles they play in our lives, and the ways in which our relationships with them have evolved over time, should find much of interest in this book. Should you spot some pet statues or memorials of your own, please do let the author know via the book’s website: www.monumentaltales.org.uk.

James Knight is a third generation trust officer, trying to succeed in the family business. His grandparents, who adhered to strict moral values, raised him, and James hopes to apply their values to his work. Many of his co-workers consider him a boy scout, always trying to do the right thing, but his values are shaken by his new job. Horrible controversies surround the trust customers and employees of his large metropolitan bank. While working for his alcoholic supervisor, James stumbles upon massive cases of fraud. He takes it upon himself--with the help of a retired private eye--to work with authorities and bring his boss and co-conspirators to justice. However, good old boy James isnt quite ready for the dangerous game hes playing. His life is threatened just as he meets the woman of his dreams. Now, he must shield himself, his reputation, and the woman he loves while dismantling a huge financial institution. To free himself of scandal, he must hold tight to his values, which soon turn out to be the best inheritance his grandparents could have left.