Books You'll Never Want to End!
After retiring from his career as a doctor, David Allaun has begun a fresh journey as an author.
Novels crafted for perceptive readers, his writing explores robust themes, offering narratives that depict the challenges faced by both ordinary individuals and also those in extraordinary circumstances, as they navigate the complexities of life.
"No Offence" is a compelling love story that explores the intricacies of devotion, loss, and the subtleties of human morality. The story revolves around Frank Wilkinson, a retired hospital doctor, who grapples with the aftermath of a trip to Switzerland with his wife, Margaret. When Frank returns alone, he finds himself thrust into a disconcerting realm that is filled with suspicion and accusation.
Indicted with 'intentionally encouraging or assisting the suicide of another,' Frank becomes the central figure in a gripping legal drama that unfolds with intensity. As readers explore the intricacies of the legal system, they observe the fierce scrutiny that unfolds Frank's life.
In an eerily empty house, haunted by memories of the past, Frank immerses himself in the remnants of Margaret's life. The boundaries between life and death blur he maneuvres through the complex maze of his wife's troubled past, peeling back delicate layers of their shared existence.
Available from Amazon Books. A sample (the opening pages) is one click away. (David's advice: take a peek for nothing.)
No one can juggle a ball like Romany soccer prodigy, Emile Zodd.
Raised as a child performer in a travelling circus, honed under the big top, his extraordinary skills transcend the boundaries of the ring.
On a football pitch, with his unique talents, Emile can do magic.
When tragedy strikes a line of caravans in Kosovo and it is seen worldwide on CNN, Emile catches the eye of media mogul Ronald Callaghan.
Eager to assemble a super-team, Callaghan orchestrates Emile's rescue, promising liberation from the harshness of his life.
However, the allure of glitz and fame comes at a cost; when Emile is coerced into throwing a crucial soccer game, pressure mounts.
Little does Callaghan know; Emile possesses a secret weapon rooted in his Romani heritage — the ability to cast a spell.
The 'Gypsy Rover' finds himself entangled in a web of mystery when a replica of the Jules Rimet Cup and a lifeless body are found in a pool of blood… could this be one of Emile’s magical wishes?
Available from Amazon Books. A sample (the opening pages) is one click away. (David's advice: take a peek for nothing.)
First published in 2007 — and unashamedly written in the style of the late Tom Sharp — this farcical novel is still available from the publisher: Lulu Books. It is somewhat dated and this site is not promoting its sale.
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Step into the chaotic world of George High, a very junior manager in a branch of a high street bank that is doomed to closure, as his life veers comically out of control. The narrative invites readers on a wry journey.
George's troubles begin with his extravagant wife, Penny, who believes that - technically anyway - her husband is a banker, and everyone knows that bankers are filthy rich. Her spending habits rival those of the Kardashians, pushing George to the brink of bankruptcy. To make matters worse, their debt is secured by a loan from George's own branch, a loan intended for a home extension that exists only in their dreams. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, George stumbles upon a potential lifeline: a high-flying job opportunity in the City that promises to rescue him from the clutches of the debt collectors. However, there's a catch: a pre-employment medical examination threatens to derail his plans, with his cholesterol levels being the only obstacle standing between him and financial salvation. Desperate for a solution, George turns to a self-help book that unveils 'The Wonderful World of Beans'. Beans contain lectins; lectins can lower cholesterol! Convinced that beans, with their magical properties, hold the key to his success, George embarks on a diet that consists almost exclusively of beans. Consuming beans to the virtual exclusion of all other food, he makes another discovery: a raised cholesterol may be a problem but the consequence of eating nothing but beans is a much bigger problem – unfortunately, one that his self-help book does not address. He soon finds that such a drastic dietary change is far more catastrophic than he could have imagined.
As he confronts the absurdities of his predicament, readers are treated to a hilarious and heartwarming tale of one man's quest for financial stability and personal redemption, a sidesplitting romp through the pitfalls of modern life peppered with laugh-out-loud moments and unforgettable characters.
Like most doctors, Max Turner knows that life’s not fair.
Duped by a treacherous colleague, a good turn has brought his world crashing down. Now, all he wants is to get his life back.
In happier times, Max had married Kathryn: an accomplished musician. She had enjoyed some success in jazz until a terrorist incident derailed a promising career. Nowadays, she teaches in a sink school, while Max has been consigned to working in a grim practice in a crime-ridden district.
To add to their woes, Max’s mother has dementia but is adament that she will not to go into care.
Respite comes at occasional weekends when they are able to escape to the small boat that they keep in North Wales. Like many spare time sailors, Max fantasises about sailing away and leaving their cares behind.
Unexpectedly, the old lady dies and Max is her only relative.
Perhaps the dream is within their grasp?
Tipped off about a “bargain” boat, Max is seduced. If something looks too good to be true, it usually is… Max and Kathryn find themselves alone on the high seas in serious danger.
At the helm of his boat, Max is the Master — judge and jury too if push came to shove.
Used to life and death, until now, he has never needed to be the Executioner.
When the dream is at stake, does Max have what it takes?
Available from Amazon Books. A sample (the opening pages) is one click away. (David's advice: take a peek for nothing.)
About David
David Allaun attended the University of Manchester, where he qualified as a doctor. After working as a hospital anaesthetist, he went into general practice, finding it more congenial to be spending his time with people who were awake.
After working in a number of places, he eventually settled in a long-established family practice in Eccles, Salford, where he spent about 30 years. His work was varied, and during this time, for 18 years David was the doctor for the famous assault course in "televisions toughest quiz", 'The Krypton Factor'. He was also in front of the camera in a number of different programmes.
At weekends, he sailed a small boat in North Wales. At the start of satellite broadcasting, every weekday for a whole year, he co-presented "a problem shared", with Claire Rayner, on Sky One, where he was referred to as "the lovely Doctor David"! Whatever... 160 half-hour programmes and nobody noticed. (Did anyone have a dish in 1989?)
In 2000, when having one of the biggest patient lists in the National Health Service became too much of a strain, he quit and became a writer. Later, he returned to medicine and became the assistant doctor in the smallest practice in Britain: the Isle of Coll in the Hebrides, (population 150 at the time), and he also spent some years cruising the world as a ship's doctor. After an unfortunate set of circumstances whilst involved in saving a man's life aboard one of these vessels, he quit doctoring altogether, having reached an age at which he felt he was ready to hang up his stethoscope.
Nowadays, still close to Manchester, he lives quietly with his wife, Susanna (formerly a tv / film make-up designer) who now designs silver jewellery.