Espionage, betrayal, terrorism, corruption and murder. All the ingredients of a Le Carre novel, only it's real' Matthew Hall Despite this, John refused to give up, and after almost four decades he has finally fulfilled that promise. This book is an extremely moving and eye-opening account of his long, and often dangerous, quest to not only discover the truth behind his friend’s death and bring her killers to justice, but also in the process expose the despicable behaviour and decisions of a self-serving government, who cared – and continue to care – more about their own agenda than the wellbeing of those who serve them.

What an amazing man, former police officer himself suffer unknowingly for years from PTSD but making these highly dangerous trips to gather evidence in what was considered a war zone. On 17 April 1984, as demonstrators gathered outside the Libyan embassy in London, two gunmen lay in wait inside. At 10.18 a.m. automatic gunfire rained down on the protestors and WPC Yvonne Fletcher fell, mortally wounded. No Ordinary Day is more than a history book, as it gives the reader a greater insight into those involved, those whose hands were clean, those whose hands were tied and unable to perform their duty, those whose hands were indeed dirty, those who deserved to be punished.Many will recall the shooting of Yvonne Fletcher as one of the greatest tragedies in UK policing history. It was followed by the longest siege and one of the greatest mysteries: why were her killers allowed to go free? way of knowing they were about to become part of one of the greatest tragedies in British policing history. At 10.17 am automatic gunfire Leprosy was definitely a strong point of awareness in this book, but also the poverty and street life that seems so abundant in this part of India. Valli was alone in the world without family, however, she was not alone on the streets. The streets were full of people without homes, food, or money.

I found myself cheering for Valli as she survived another day and made use of what she found. Early on she learned the lesson of using what she needed and then passing it on to others. I like that she did this with both tangible (a blanket) as well as intangible items (a hug). Having students think of things they could pass on to others would be a natural extension to this story. A beautifully written story about the life a poor girl in India. Even though the book was short, I felt like I knew Valli. Highly recommended with young readers, I will definitely be saving this one for when my kids are a bit older. It has been listed for or won the following awards:

Summary

This week I read two Deborah Ellis titles in preparation for the Global Fair. I began with "No Ordinary Day" and quite honestly had a hard time getting through the first chapter because I couldn't quite find the rhythm of the story, and because the imagery was so disturbing to me. This feeling of unease soon passed as I continued on and finished this book in one sitting. I was so moved by the strength, courage, and ingenuity of the main character, Valli, as she made her way through life in India, and I realized that the disturbing imagery was only an aide for me to appreciate the story. th April 1984 was no ordinary day. It was a day that changed the future of UK policing, and not for the better. Having read this book, you will understand how UK policing arrived at the place it finds itself today. And only by understanding history will those charged with re-building our police service recognise the mistakes made and have the knowledge to ensure they are not repeated.

On April 17th, 1984, during an anti-Gaddafi demonstration outside the Libyan embassy in London, a burst of automatic gunfire suddenly rained down upon the crowd. Among the eleven wounded protesters was a female police officer, WPC Yvonne Fletcher, who later died in hospital. Whilst No Ordinary Day remains a heartbreaking true story with the twisting and turning plot of an international political thriller. it opens your eyes to the fact that, if those 'interfering suits' were doing all that then, they are surely still doing it today. As his friend lay dying, PC John Murray made her a promise that he would not rest until those responsible had been brought to justice. Thirty-seven years would pass before he was able to fulfil that undertaking. Espionage, betrayal, terrorism, and corruption aren't half of it. The truth behind the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher may open some wounds, but at least it names and shames some individuals. When I first outlined the story to Broo Doherty, my literary agent, I saw her jaw visibly drop as I outlined the secrets I had discovered and the reality of what had been going on behind the scenes in the UK of the 1980s and 90s, and how the aftermath of the Libyan Embassy siege had, effectively changed our Secret Services and shaped the future of UK policing for the next four decades. We realised this was a significant story that would need to be handled by a publisher with the skill to do so. Tentative enquiries with publishers soon produced a result, but it was not the one expected. An executive producer from TV production company was interested. He asked for a copy of the manuscript, it was sent, and within a short time the TV/Film rights were sold, even before the book rights. Not long after that, I was introduced to Duncan Proudfoot from Ad Lib publishers and we knew then we had found the right home for the book.

LoveReading Says

From 1st July 2021, VAT will be applicable to those EU countries where VAT is applied to books - this additional charge will be collected by Fed Ex (or the Royal Mail) at the time of delivery. Shipments to the USA & Canada: As Yvonne Fletcher lay dying, her colleague and close friend PC John Murray cradled her in his arms. Before she lost consciousness, he promised her he would not rest until those responsible for her murder had been brought to justice. I have never heard of or come across this type of commitment before. The vast majority of what he has done, only a few knew about until recently. I cannot recall from the book if it explained how he, John, funded the vast majority of this, never complaining, but just believing that it was his duty to honour his promise to Yvonne. As far as I am concerned the person making that comment, a MP, after the 2013 debate in parliament organised by Daniel Kawczynski needs to make a public apology for that comment. If that is his view on police officers then the question needs to be asked whether he is fit to stand as an MP

Matt Johnson has written about a deeply sad subject that became so complicated and he has kept the pace and the detail involved succinct and flowing at the same time.John Murray, cradling Yvonne in his arms, refusing to leave her alone whilst in an active shooter zone just shows from the outset his true courage and bravery. John made Yvonne a promise that today 39 years later he still works on tirelessly, that he would find and bring to justice those responsible. Retired police officer John Murray worked closely with Yvonne Fletcher and held her as she lay dying. For 37 years he has campaigned and fought resolutely to bring her killer to justice. No Ordinary Day pulls no punches as it gets deep into the heart of the matter. It leaves no stone unturned as it digs into the dirt and dirty laundry of the politics and the people involved in the cover-up of the case.