Nicki's book blog

  Something More To Say by Tony J Forder- Crime Jimmy is now a civilian- something he’s not been for around forty years and it’s feeling rather strange. He is now working heading up a cold case unit, solving previously unsolved crimes. The one they are working on is of a shooting in a graveyard where there was nothing to go on other than a bullet found in a gate post. No witnesses, no likely suspects, nothing. He is also asked to be SIO for a double murder that looks like it’s drug related. Two young boys have been killed and there is a potential drug war with three OCG vying for position as top dog. A figure from Jimmy's past makes an appearance and not in a good way, wanting a favour on one of his cases. Can Jimmy and the teams solve both cases without stepping over some rather fine lines? I love Tony’s books. Despite the subject matter they are a very comfortable read with an old friend, one that wraps themselves around you like a hug, that said there are some dark and heinous c

  Into the Storm by Cecelia Ahern -mystery/thrillers It's rather disconcerting when you are driving home and the rain is of biblical proportions when you see a man standing in the middle of the road near something. Enya, A GP, gets out and discovers a boy lying on the road and the other man Oscar saying he didn't hit him, he found him like it and has called the emergency services. Enya has her own issues. Since moving into her now deceased mother-in-law's home. Enya’s marriage hasn't been great. Her son has become very detached and when he’s home from school he escapes to his room without interaction. When she leaves and takes up a new rural practice things aren’t as straightforward as she first thought. There is a tree with rags on, blocking the light and when Enya tries to have it taken down things turn for the worse. Enya has her own secrets as does Margaret who is looking after the property Enya is in and they become friends. What really happened on the night of the

  A Random Kill by Andrew Barrett - Crime This is a new series from Andy and only a couple of chapters in and I'm  already hooked on Regan. She is a no nonsense, no filter type sergeant who dives in and doesn't let go. For anyone who knows Andy’s work will know of Eddie (who makes the occasional appearance in this), Regan could well be his sister from another mother, ‘nuff said. Oh boy, was I looking forward to diving into this one.  A woman has been found shot dead. Her son is missing who was with her in his pushchair. Her partner at first appears clean but is soon found to be lurking in the criminal shadows of a potential OCG.  Regan has been moved to MCU. She hates dead bodies and doesn't know why the move came about- until she clocks it- her ex, a DCI arranged it purposefully. She goes back to her maiden name, her parents were huge fans of a certain 70’s crime programme right down to signed prints. To prove her worth in her new position, and to earn the respect of her

  The Absurd Life of Barry White by Rob Harris I was recommended this by a friend (thanks Trish!) and very glad I was. It's a wonderful book that brings a smile and a dose of life in all its facets. Barry is lazy, overweight and drinks far far more in a night than he should in a month. His mother has facilitated this by spoiling him for all his 44 years and it takes a few short sharp shocks for him to realise he is still in essence a child, having everything done for him. He gambles obsessively and hardly ever wins… until he does and this is the catalyst for his life changes. I smiled and I winced and I felt for Barry in many ways. His heart was always in the right place and this makes for a very entertaining read. A person we could all learn lessons from. Be kind, be thoughtful, and be selfless. A light brilliantly entertaining read with wonderful characters, I more than thoroughly enjoyed. _______________

  A Death Of Fresh Air by Helen Golden - cozy mystery Bea and Perry have a knack of finding dead people and when one is found in a stud wall of a restaurant that is about to open in three weeks, they decide they need to get things moving. The restaurant belongs to Perry’s partner and the person is thought to be the previous owner who took off rather unexpectedly a while back. Can the case be sorted and the work get done before the grand opening? I love this series, it's like sitting down with old friends that make me smile. It's brilliantly written and is a wonderful comfortable read as you would expect from the talented Helen. A great mystery with twists and turns, a little romance and lots of drama all well thought out. A thoroughly entertaining read, can't wait for the next one.  For more reviews please follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @nickisbookblog ---------------------------------------------------------- A Death Of Fresh Air In a charming seaside town, secrets don

  THE NANNY’S SECRET by E.V. Seymour -psychological thriller A family has a secret, one that someone wants to get revenge for and an outsider is curious as to what is going on. A book of secrets and lies and a tension that nicely builds through the pages. Told through different points of view, but mainly from Rose the outsider, married to one of the children, this takes the reader into the heart of the drama. Alice is the nanny who has inveigled herself into the position wanting revenge. Melissa, one of the daughters of Benedict and Celeste who harbour the secret and who knows something of what happened years ago that is locked away.  A twisty read and a tension that turned the pages nicely, one I didn't want to put down. This is very well written in a comfortable manner that puts the reader right in the centre of things using the different perspectives. I liked Rose and felt for her being around so much angst one way and another. A clever, gritty, gripping story I thoroughly enjoy

  Friends of Dorothy by Sandi Toksvig- general fiction   One of my books of the year- one of the best books I’ve ever read. When you move into a new home, you don’t expect to find the previous owner Dorothy, happily sitting on a sofa in one of the rooms engaging you in conversation and ending up helping you.  Stevie and her wife Amber both work in the emergency services and are excited to own their first home. Dorothy has a wit, a heart and a life well lived and the couple soon find that she becomes part of their “ logical not biological” family. (what a wonderful phrase). This is the story of the three of them getting to know one another in ways they never imagined. Oh be still my beating heart. I can't say how much I enjoyed this- but I'm going to try! I didn’t realise that the title of this book is a euphemism (look it up) that perhaps originated from the wizard of Oz. This is a treasure of a read and I quickly found myself enveloped in the pages wanting more and more. Dorot