This was the only novel written by the famous British screenwriter, director and producer, SIDNEY GILLIAT. Originally titled CATCH AS CATCH CAN, the book was unfinished and unedited at the time of his death although plans were being made for its publication on completion. It was recently edited and completed at the invitation of SIDNEY GILLIAT'S daughter, the writer JOANNA RUSSELL, by the novelist and playwright TERENCE BRADY. The title was also recently altered to OFF THE RAILS to prevent confusion with similarly entitled works.

Did you ever wonder what would happen if you discovered that your dog could talk? Or maybe even sing? As well? Struggling actor Stephen McCann, finding himself picked up by a hairy stray in the local supermarket, also discovers his new four-footed friend while not capable of lucid speech is incredibly and amazingly able to sing - and not only sing well but in tune, too - which all seems more than a little odd to Stephen, but then so too is the simply drop dead and beautiful Estelle, a young woman who enters his life coincidentally enough the same time as the strangely talented dog does. Are...

Philip Bartels, an old friend of Peter Harding's, calls him out of the blue for advice about his marriage, a call that unwittingly sets them both out on a fateful journey, for the shy and respectable Philip - Barty to his friends - has met and fallen in love with the tempestuous Lorna but finds himself unable to leave his dull but loving wife. Peter offers some advice but after he too has met the passionate Lorna he also finds himself in love and begins to manipulate events in order to satisfy his own desires, finally with devastating and fateful results. The play is based on one of thriller...

Tired of city life, the Slatterys suddenly decide to leave town and take to the hills - or rather more to move to the West Country, a move finally decided upon when Joe Slattery finds his business partner has absconded with all the funds. The Slatterys search for and finally find a house set in the middle of all but nowhere-land and this the first book in the series charts the ups and downs of what often proves to be a traumatic, dramatic and comic change of life for Maisie Slattery, a painter who earns her living from child portraiture, her husband Joe, a classic car collector and salesman...

Violet Talland is trying to bring up her six year old daughter Matilda under difficult circumstances with an absent, uncaring husband and an overly possessive mother in law who is determined to end Violet's marriage and regain possession of both her son and control over her granddaughter. Warned by her sister in law Jane of the Talland family's intentions Violet flees to Ireland on Jane's advice where she and Matilda find sanctuary in Parknaveen, a small beauty spot in South West Cork. Here Matilda grows up in peace and happiness while Violet finds love with Joseph, the owner of the hotel...