Status Quo were one of the most successful, influential and innovative bands of the 1970s. During the first half of the decade, they wrote, recorded and performed a stream of inventive and highly complex rock compositions, developed 12 bar forms and techniques in new and fascinating ways, and affected important musical and cultural trends. But, despite global success on stage and in the charts, they were maligned by the UK music press, who often referred to them as lamebrained three-chord wonders, and shunned by the superstar Disk Jockeys of the era, who refused to promote their music. As a result, Status Quo remain one of the most misunderstood and underrated bands in the history of popular music. Cope redresses that misconception through a detailed study of the band's music and live performances, related musical and cultural subtopics and interviews with key band members. The band is reinstated as a serious, artistic and creative phenomenon of the 1970s scene and shown to be vital contributors to the evolution of rock.

Status Quo were one of the most successful, influential and innovative bands of the 1970s. During the first half of the decade, they wrote, recorded and performed a stream of inventive and highly complex rock compositions, developed 12 bar forms and techniques in new and fascinating ways, and affected important musical and cultural trends. But, despite global success on stage and in the charts, they were maligned by the UK music press, who often referred to them as lamebrained three-chord wonders, and shunned by the superstar Disk Jockeys of the era, who refused to promote their music. As a result, Status Quo remain one of the most misunderstood and underrated bands in the history of popular music. Cope redresses that misconception through a detailed study of the band's music and live performances, related musical and cultural subtopics and interviews with key band members. The band is reinstated as a serious, artistic and creative phenomenon of the 1970s scene and shown to be vital contributors to the evolution of rock.

From the award-winning author of the Spy Dog series comes a wildly funny tale in HarperCollins' Awesome Animals series - the funniest fiction, starring the wildest of wildlife from leading authors. The Hole-in-the-Tree gang are not happy when they find another group of raccoons raiding their favourite food stores. The town isn't big enough for the both of them but can Quickpaw Cassidy and friends come up with a plan to drive the raiders out? A brilliant adventure packed with laugh-out-loud-action.

Spy Dog LARA is in for the ride of her life! When Ben wins a competition to name a new rollercoaster, the Cook family head off to Enchanted Towers for the grand opening. LARA (that's Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal to you) and her pups Spud and Star are looking forward to water rides, ghost trains - and candyfloss! At the park, Princess Pretty and her Troll Prince join the Cooks to welcome pop-star Summer Rayne to open the new ride. But a pick-pocket is on the loose and Lara is determined to catch the thief before the grand opening. It's time to buckle-up for a hair-raising Spy Dog adventure!

Book five of the Spy Pups' adventures also featuring Spy Dog, Lara - now a number-one bestselling series. SPUD - he's scatty and accident prone - but good with the gadgets . . . STAR - she's super smart and ready to pounce Together they're SPY PUPS, following hot in the paw prints of mum LARA (that's Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal to you). The training never stops, even where you're a qualified Spy Pup! Spud and Star are off to an outdoor survival camp where it's all hard work and no play . . . But there's something fishy going on in the lake that needs further investigating. Can the pups learn their new skills in time to sniff out another adventure? 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times SPY DOG - winner of the Richard and Judy 7+ developing reader category, and the Red House Children's Book Award.

Lara, or GM451 as she is known by the government, is a highly trained special agent, bred by the British Secret Service for use on dangerous missions around the world. But her last mission went wrong and now she is being hunted down by an evil drugs baron, Mr Big. Lara must go undercover as a normal dog, 'choose' a family to look after her and await her retrieval by the Secret Service. But can she keep her true identity a secret? Can she thwart the plans of Mr Big? And can she bear to return to government service, after weeks of cosy domestic bliss? After an exciting struggle, Mr. Big is captured and Lara finds a way to stay with her family. But her spying days aren't over completely...

Spy Cat: Safari is the third thrilling adventure in Andrew Cope's brilliant Spy Cat series. The purrrfect spy is a pet with cat-titude. Exotic animals are being kidnapped from around the world and all clues lead to the mysterious Lord Large in his country manor house. Lara and the Spy Pups are sent to investigate but they get caught by an awfully furrrrmiliar bad guy. Now it's all up to agent 009, otherwise known as Shakespeare the cat. Can he rescue the animals, including the Spy Dogs, and save the day? 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Spy Dog - another book in the Spy Pets world - was the winner of the Richard and Judy 7+ developing reader award, and the Red House Children's Book Award.

SPUD - he's scatty and accident prone - but good with the gadgets . . . STAR - she's super smart and ready to pounce Together they're SPY PUPS, following hot in the paw prints of mum LARA (that's Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal to you). Every time the circus is in town, sparkling jewels worth millions of pounds go missing! The Spy Pups must embark on an exciting new adventure - join the circus and catch the robbers! Soon Spud and Star are performing new tricks and sniffing out the villains. But can the pups stop them before they tread the tightrope and vanish with the loot?

Spy Dog Teacher's Pet by Andrew Cope is part of the brilliant Spy Dog series about the loveable Lara - Spy Dog extroadinaire! HERE COMES LARA - THE SPY DOG WHO GROWLS IN THE FACE OF DANGER! Sophie's new teacher is having some bad luck - first his house is broken into, and then the school! But this is a robbery with a difference - the thieves don't steal anything! Super Spy Dog LARA has an A* in catching criminals . . . Can she solve the mystery of the break-ins before the baddies strike again? With pups Spud and Star by her side, it's LARA to the rescue . . . ***Fun, exciting books for boys and girls aged 7+*** 'We love Lara! ****' - Kraze Club 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Andrew Cope was born in Derby in 1966. He is a teacher, writer and a huge fan of Derby County football club. He really does have a dog called Lara who has one sticky-up ear and came from the RSPCA, but he's not sure if she is actually a highly trained secret agent. Andrew lives with his wife and two children. This is his first book.

Spy Dog Unleashed by Andrew Cope is part of the brilliant Spy Dog series about the loveable Lara - Spy Dog extroadinaire! MEET SPY DOG! LARA is her name (that's Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal to you) AKA Agent GM451. She waterskis . . . She plays cricket . . . She catches robbers on the run! The dastardly Mr Big has escaped from prison. Not only does he want to frame super Spy Dog Lara and land her in big trouble, he's got his evil eye on the Millennium Diamond. It's the world's most precious jewel and it's about to go walkies. Spy Dog to the rescue! ***Fun, exciting books for boys and girls aged 7+*** 'We love Lara! ****' - Kraze Club 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Andrew Cope was born in Derby in 1966. He is a teacher, writer and a huge fan of Derby County football club. He really does have a dog called Lara who has one sticky-up ear and came from the RSPCA, but he's not sure if she is actually a highly trained secret agent. Andrew lives with his wife and two children. This is his first book.

Spy Pups Danger Island by Andrew Cope is the awesome follow-on series to bestselling Spy Dogs! SPUD he's scatty and accident-prone - but good with the gadgets... STAR she's super-smart and ready to pounce . . . Together they're SPY PUPS, following hot in the paw prints of mum, LARA (that's Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal to you). Beaches up and down Britain are in terrible danger. A greedy trickster is polluting the seas - soon there'll be nowhere safe to swim. But, when SPUD discovers a mysterious underground secret, only he and STAR can save the day - and the seaside! ***Fun, exciting books for boys and girls aged 7+*** 'We love Lara! ****' - Kraze Club 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Andrew Cope was born in Derby in 1966. He is a teacher, writer and a huge fan of Derby County football club. He really does have a dog called Lara who has one sticky-up ear and came from the RSPCA, but he's not sure if she is actually a highly trained secret agent. Andrew lives with his wife and two children. This is his first book.

Spy Cat: Blackout! is the awesome second book in Andrew Cope's brilliant new Spy Cat series! The purrrfect spy is prowling a neighbourhood near you. Shakespeare, the Spy Cat, is standing in for Lara and her Spy Pups once again. This time evil oldies are intent on destroying the internet and returning Britain to 'the good old days' where life was slower and young people respected their elders. Can Spy Cat stop their plot to shoot down satellites from the top of The Shard? Andrew Cope is the bestselling and award-winning author of SPY DOG and SPY PUPS. He lives with his wife and two children in a small town near Derby. He really does have a dog called Lara, who has one sticky-up ear and came from the RSPCA. He suspects she could be a secret agent but she hides her identity well. Lara most definitely knows a Spy Cat or two in the neighbourhood.

Book 9 in the Spy Dog adventures - now a number 1 bestselling series! Spy Dog, aka LARA, isn't the only Mummy around . . . National security is under threat! The evil Mr Big has escaped from prison AGAIN and he's on a mission to steal Egypt's most valuable treasure, The Nile Ruby. The Prime Minister knows only one agent can stop this evil criminial mastermind - SPY DOG! But can LARA learn some new tricks in time to find the ruby, protect her Pups and get Mr Big back in jail where he belongs? Praise for SPY DOG: 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times SPY DOG - winner of the Richard and Judy 7+ developing reader category, and the Red House Children's Book Award.

Spy Dog: Brainwashed is the eighth book in the Spy Dog adventures - now a number 1 bestselling series! Perfect for readers of 7+ and young animal fans. Criminals daren't step a paw out of line when Lara, the spy dog, is around. Grrrr.... Lara decides to go to a new gym with Mr and Mrs Cook - she has a bit of a pooch paunch to shift. But she makes a shocking discovery! Harriet Hawk, the evil gym owner, is brainwashing everyone into becoming an army of criminals, robbing banks and raiding jewellers all over the country. But there's an even more dastardly masterplan afoot - to use the hypnotised grownups to kidnap the country's school children! Lara and the pups must stop her and save a brainwashed Mr and Mrs Cook - and unsuspecting Sophie, Ben and Oliie - before it's too late! Praise for SPY DOG: 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Andy Cope is the bestselling author of SPY DOG and SPY PUPS the hilarious and rip-roaring adventures of the governments most secret canine agents. SPY DOG was the winner of the Richard and Judy 7+ developing reader category, and the Red House Children's Book Award.

She drives cars. She's a PlayStation champ. She's got a black belt in karate . . . She's AGENT GM451 (or LARA to you - Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal). A gang of villainous head teachers are plotting to make their school the very best. They're creating a secret formula, and the final ingredient is the brain of a child. They'll stop at nothing (even BANNING playtime) to get what they want. Can anyone stop their dastardly plot? Canine super spy Lara sniffs out her most dangerous mission yet - when adventure comes calling, what's a Spy Dog supposed to do? Readers aged 7+ will love this fast-paced adventure with its witty illustrations!

Book 11 in the Spy Dog adventures - now a number 1 bestselling series! It's raining chickens! An unusual storm cloud has been hovering over Brickfield town and LARA knows that something isn't quite right about it - it smells, sort of . . . chickeny. The people of Brickfield are becoming strangely grumpy so LARA, Spy Dog extraordinaire, must investigate. If the town doesn't see sunshine soon the consequences could be dogastrophic! SPY DOG - winner of the Richard and Judy 7+ developing reader category, and the Red House Children's Book Award.

Spy Pups Treasure Quest by Andrew Cope is part of the awesome follow-on series to bestselling Spy Dogs! SPUD he's scatty and accident-prone - but good with the gadgets... STAR she's super-smart and ready to pounce . . . Together they're SPY PUPS, following hot in the paw prints of mum, LARA (that's Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal to you). In their first mission, SPUD and STAR are staying at Aunt Aggie's Smugglers' Cottage, with its creaky floorboards, dark hidden tunnels - and an ancient castle with a legend of hidden gold nearby! Soon the Spy Pups are sniffing out an underground adventure - but can they reach the treasure in time? ***Fun, exciting books for boys and girls aged 7+*** 'We love Lara! ****' - Kraze Club 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Andrew Cope was born in Derby in 1966. He is a teacher, writer and a huge fan of Derby County football club. He really does have a dog called Lara who has one sticky-up ear and came from the RSPCA, but he's not sure if she is actually a highly trained secret agent. Andrew lives with his wife and two children. This is his first book.

The FINAL adventure for Lara the Spy Dog! Mr Big is on the loose. He's planning a final crime that will make him the most famous criminal alive: blowing up every prison in the country! Lara and her spy team have their noses to the ground and know something evil is coming. Lara follows the clues to London and Big Ben's clock tower, where the explosives are set. With help from the spy pups and spy cat, can she stop Mr Big once and for all...before the clock strikes midnight?

Spy Dog: Secret Santa is the perfect Christmas gift for young readers of 7+. All the brilliant breathless action adventure of Lara, the world's only spy dog, and her pups-in-training with a fantastically festive twist! From Andy Cope, author of the bestselling Spy Dog, Spy Pups and the brand new Spy Cat! LARA is a SPY DOG for life, not just for Christmas . . . But this December LARA (that's Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal to you) and her pups Spud and Star are hot on the trail of an evil computer hacker. Stanley Strange plans to hijack Christmas! Can the super spies catch Stanley before he goes crackers and makes an explosive getaway? Praise for Andy Cope: 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Andy Cope is the author of the bestselling and multi-award-winning Spy Dog and Spy Pups series and now Spy Cat. Spy Dog was the winner of the Richard and Judy 7+ developing reader category as well as the prestigious Red House Children's Book Award.

Spy Pups Prison Break by Andrew Cope is part of the awesome follow-on series to bestselling Spy Dogs! SPUD he's scatty and accident-prone - but good with the gadgets... STAR she's super-smart and ready to pounce . . . Together they're SPY PUPS, following hot in the paw prints of mum, LARA (that's Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal to you). SPUD and STAR are on a daredevil rescue mission to save Lara from the evil Mr Big! He's been in prison plotting his revenge and, unless the pups can outwit him, Lara is in deadly danger. Can the Spy Pups jump into action and save the day - and their mum? ***Fun, exciting books for boys and girls aged 7+*** 'We love Lara! ****' - Kraze Club 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Andrew Cope was born in Derby in 1966. He is a teacher, writer and a huge fan of Derby County football club. He really does have a dog called Lara who has one sticky-up ear and came from the RSPCA, but he's not sure if she is actually a highly trained secret agent. Andrew lives with his wife and two children. This is his first book.

Spy Dog: Rocket Rider by Andrew Cope is part of the brilliant Spy Dog series about the loveable Lara - Spy Dog extroadinaire! ONCE A SPY DOG, ALWAYS A SPY DOG. LARA (that's Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal to you) may have retired from the Secret Service but she can still sniff out danger . . . On the trail of her long-lost dad, Lara discovers a team of rocket-building scientists - evil ones. Their leader is a nasty criminal who wants to cause trouble in space and only Lara can stop him. A Spy Dog never lets a mission go unsolved - an out-of-this-world adventure is about to take off! ***Fun, exciting books for boys and girls aged 7+*** 'We love Lara! ****' - Kraze Club 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Andrew Cope was born in Derby in 1966. He is a teacher, writer and a huge fan of Derby County football club. He really does have a dog called Lara who has one sticky-up ear and came from the RSPCA, but he's not sure if she is actually a highly trained secret agent. Andrew lives with his wife and two children. This is his first book.

Spy Dog: Captured! by Andrew Cope is part of the brilliant Spy Dog series about the loveable Lara - Spy Dog extroadinaire! NEVER MIND JAMES BOND, LARA, THE WORLD'S ONE AND ONLY SPY DOG, IS BACK! AGENT'S ID: LARA - Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal. Also known as the Cook family's favourite mongrel SKILLS: Goal-keeping legend, language skills including Advanced Cat and Basic Dolphin, ace surfer and champion juggler EQUIPMENT: Two new secret weapons! LATEST MISSION: Even in retirement, Lara's sharp spy instincts always give her a nose for mystery. There's more to the Cooks' holiday island than meets the eye, and it's down to Lara to sniff it out . . . *Please note this book was previously published as Spy Dog 2.* ***Fun, exciting books for boys and girls aged 7+*** 'We love Lara! ****' - Kraze Club 'An imaginative, creative feast' - Radio Times Andrew Cope was born in Derby in 1966. He is a teacher, writer and a huge fan of Derby County football club. He really does have a dog called Lara who has one sticky-up ear and came from the RSPCA, but he's not sure if she is actually a highly trained secret agent. Andrew lives with his wife and two children. This is his first book.