In various European countries such as France, Italy, and the Netherlands, lawmakers have adopted legislation in order to deal with the consequences of the economic crisis. These laws contain provisions aimed at speeding up administrative decision making and judicial proceedings which have an impact on various provisions of general administrative law. Alongside the aim of facing the economic crisis, these measures aim to make administrative law more up-to-date and ensure it meets the needs of contemporary society.However, acceleration measures concerning decision-making and judicial proceedings may clash with the need to preserve the quality of these proceedings. On the one hand, swift procedures can be considered to be one aspect of high-quality decision making. On the other hand, other aspects of quality such as public participation and the thorough consideration of all relevant aspects and interests, may be at risk when the speed of decision-making is the only focus of reforms.Quality and Speed in Administrative Decision-Making: Tension or Balance? presents six national perspectives on these issues, together with a comparative overview comparing and contrasting national approaches with regards to finding a balance between the pace of proceedings and the quality of administrative and judicial decisions.The book will be of interest to academics of European and comparative administrative law, as well as policy-makers at the national and European level.

On a damp October day, a body is found in an abandoned hospital, too burnt to be identified, but Detective Alex King knows that every victim is someone's daughter or son. Pushing aside her own troubles, Alex puts everything into finding the killer, but when someone else is found dead, she begins to suspect that the body in the hospital was just the first of many. Just as Alex uncovers a heartbreaking link between the victims, she finds her own safety under threat. Is this a figure from her past hell-bent on revenge, or could the murderer be even nearer than she thinks? Alex is running out of time. Can she catch the killer before they take another life, or will they get to her first? A completely unputdownable detective thriller that will keep you up all night. Readers of Robert Bryndza, Karin Slaughter and Angela Marsons will love this. What readers are saying about Nobody's Child: 'Bam! Straight out of the starting gate this had me totally hooked... Fast paced all the way through, hit after hit of tension, excitement and horror... I don't hesitate in giving this 5 stars, it had me captivated and on the edge-of-my-seat.' Bonnie's Book Talk 'Cor! Talk about a gripping crime story! WOO! What a corker!... had me on the edge-of-my-seat... left me utterly reeling!... That ending nearly broke me... insanely compelling and addictive.' Novel Deelights, 5 stars 'I loved the twists and turns in this book and the different story lines playing out at the same time which kept up the interest. I loved that the chapters were short which kept me saying "just one more" way into the night! A great read!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'The legend at the top of the book says unputdownable, so did it live up to the gumph? Oh yes. What a great story.' Nigel Adams Bookworm, 5 stars 'I was hooked from page one!!... It's a race to solve... plenty of twists!!!... Can't wait for the next one!! Can't recommend it highly enough.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'A flawless thriller which will have you hanging off every page, how do you do it Victoria?... it's an absolute must to read.' Sweet Little Book Blog, 5 stars 'WOW!... another brilliant investigation from Alex, Chloe and the team. I hope this series continues for a long time to come.' Have Books Will Read, 5 stars

The first major survey of the occult collection of artworks, letters, objects and ephemera in the Tate Archive and collection. Revealing over 150 esoteric and mystical pieces, some never before seen, this book gives a new understanding to the artists in the Tate collection and the history and practice of the occult. A lavishly illustrated magical volume acts a potent talisman connecting the two worlds of Tate - the seen public collection and the unseen secrets lurking in the archive. The pages of this book explore the hidden artworks and ephemera left behind by artists, and shed new light on our understanding of the art historical canon. It offers an in-depth exploration of the occult and its relationship to art and culture including witchcraft, alchemy, secret societies, folklore and pagan rituals, demonology, spells and magic, psychic energies, astrology and tarot. Expect to find the unexpected in the works and lives of artists such as Ithell Colquhoun, Paul Nash, Barbara Hepworth, Cecil Collins, John William Waterhouse, Alan Davie, Joe Tilson, Henry Moore, Eileen Agar, William Blake, Leonora Carrington and Pamela Colman Smith. For the first time, the clandestine, magical works of the Tate archive are revealed with archivist Victoria Jenkins exploring relationships between art and the occult, and how both can act as a form of resistance to challenging environments. This book challenges perceptions and illuminates the surprising breadth and extraordinary ways in which artists interpret not just the physical world around them but also the supernatural, to make the unseen, seen. If you think you know Tate artists, it's time to think again.

Early one icy winter morning, Detective Alex King is called to a murder scene at a local park. The river is running high, and in the water lies the body of a woman, her wrists tied, and all her fingernails missing. The victim, beautiful, young Lola Evans, had a troubled past, but Alex's team can't find a reason why anyone would want to kill her. The pressure to solve the case keeps mounting, but all their leads run dry. Then, another body is found in the water. A disturbing clue suggests how the girls are connected. But who would target such vulnerable girls, and does this mean another life is at risk? Just when Alex thinks she has cracked the case, she realises one of her own team is in terrible danger. Alex is caught in a race against time to reach the next victim before it's too late... and some of her team must face terrifying truths from their own lives if they're to have a chance of catching the killer. Utterly nail-biting and compelling with a jaw-dropping twist, The Girls in the Water is perfect for fans of Robert Bryndza, Val McDermid, and Mark Billingham.

Planning a wedding is a hard enough task, especially if you have no direction or idea of where to begin. Inspiration, however, can be found anywhere- including birthstones. Inside are ideas spawned from each birthstone: locations, color schemes, accessories, and even wedding gowns. Whether you already have ideas and plans or are starting from scratch, the proposed suggestions can help you begin or refine your wedding development. Let this book inspire you to create a wedding of your dream.

One hot summer night, a young woman falls from a rooftop to her death. Detective Alex King is called to the quiet terraced street. The victim, Keira North, was twenty, happy and carefree. It seems like an accident, but there's broken glass on the carpet, and witnesses overheard an argument. Could someone have wanted her dead? Keira's friends don't seem as helpful as Alex would expect and the post-mortem reveals that Keira was hiding a secret: she was five months pregnant. Alex's team soon finds that all of Keira's closest friends have secrets that someone might kill to keep. As Alex realises Keira might be just the first victim on a list, her leads take her a bit too close to home. With her own demons to fight, can Alex catch the killer, before someone else dies? The First One to Die is a heart-stopping and shocking detective thriller that will have you gripped until the very last page. Perfect for fans of Patricia Gibney, Angela Marsons, and Val McDermid.