Nicki's book blog

The Bad Sister - Anne Penketh 3*   A man is found dead in his car. When D.I Clayton appears on the scene he is stunned to find that the victim is his sister’s husband- a sister whom he has not seen for 20 years. Meanwhile there has been an arson attack on a shop and three people have died in the ensuing fire in the flat above. This is looking like a racially motivated crime.. I like books where the main character has some background and we get enough of Clayton to keep the reader interested and know what he is likely to be thinking given his experiences.  An interesting premise, an enjoyable read.I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Good me Bad me- Ali Land- 5* Milly has had something happen to her and has several weeks to be prepared for court. She is living with her psychologist Mike and his family  to try and coax what has happened out of her. His daughter however has other plans.Milly hears the voice of her mother in her head, the things she has said and the things she has done. This is a rather dark tale. Nothing to put you off your dinner but enough to get your mind whirring and to keep you on the edge of your seat. For anyone who has been through any sort of abuse this could be a challenge of a read. For others- be aware of what others might have gone through or might still be enduring. A brilliantly written book, one where I kept turning and turning- it drew me in from the start. One stunning read.I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Deadly Lies- Chris Collett- 4*   A man is found with a needle in his arm and a note by his side. Tom Mariner is not far away and so goes to investigate. To his surprise it is someone he saw in the pub earlier that evening. Something doesn’t quite ring true about suicide and so begins an interesting investigation. Mariner is a likeable character who comes across as tenacious along with a little humour. I normally like some background to the main characters but with this there was enough to be relevant but not too much to distract. I found myself racing through this to find out what had happened- always a sign of a  good book. A clever plot, excellent characters and that “je ne sais quoi” that keeps you turning the pages.  I look forward to more from Mariner and Chris. A very enjoyable, entertaining read. I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased

The Foster Child Jenny Blackhurst-4* Imogen, following the death of her estranged mother, has moved back to her old house with her husband and started new employment monitoring foster children. She left her old position in child psychology under a cloud- but we don’t know quite why. On the way to their new life they have a close encounter with one of the children she is later set to monitor- Ellie. Ellie was the only survivor of a house fire that killed the rest of her family and has already has a reputation around the village as someone rather strange. This is a well written book that you quickly get into. What happened to Imogen and why the intrigue around Ellie? Short snappy chapters keep you turning the pages to find out that little snippet more of the jigsaw. A fast paced novel that keeps you turning. I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased

The Surrogate-Louise Jensen 4.5 *   4.5* Kat had a best friend for most of her childhood until something threw them apart. A chance meeting (or is it?) and some heavy disappointments bring Lisa back to the forefront of Kat’s life. Kat is desperate for a baby but can’t conceive herself and so is looking at other ways. Her lifelong friend might just have the perfect solution. If things are too good to be true????This is one of those books where you think you can see where things are going, and then they don’t. Kat is a likeable character with something in her past that is deep seated in her memory and affects her in different ways. A story that has twists and turns along the way with a gripping plot. If you like psychological thrillers then this is a recommended read- to keep you reading and guessing as the true story unfolds. Chapters are “Now” and “Then” so that we get the unfolding of what has gone before. An interesting concept and a brilliant plot.I voluntarily chose to read t

Lies that poison- Amanda Fleet-5*   Tom has just moved into a new cottage and is having some building work done to complete his cookery school. His neighbours are Alys and Hannah who don’t have a good word to say about each other- Hannah constantly says Alys poisons people- “just look in her garden”. Hannah being elderly sometimes lives in a world of her own. She also calls Tom “Edward” and accuses him of a murder that happened before he was even born. Tom finds he wants to get to the bottom of this to restore the peace. Carys finds out that her boyfriend Rob is selling cut drugs which are making users ill and goes to report him. A brilliant story that I didn’t want to put down. I would have read the whole thing in one sitting if I could. Excellent believable characters (I really liked Tom) and a plot that you think you know what’s happening but…..I won’t spoil it. I very much look forward to more from this author. I don’t give 5* very easily and this one deserves it in spades.

Blackberry Picking at Jasmine cottage- Zara Stoneley 4* Lucy is doing a temporary stint when she falls in love with the village and for the local vet. She looks at making things permanent by selling her own home and buying one there. School, as ever, is chaotic as is life. Charlie, the vet, has a daughter- or he thinks she is who is with him for 6 months whilst her mother “finds herself” abroad and dodges her responsibilities. Can Charlie get a grasp on family life and how will this affect Lucy? A lighthearted , uplifting enjoyable look at village life with a little humour and a little romance. Would make an excellent Christmas gift as the latter part of the book is set in the festive season.I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Justifiable Madness- AB Morgan- 5* A man is found at a railway station naked handing out prayers to the commuters in an unknown language. He is soon taken to the local psychiatric ward where he is sectioned and detained whilst appearing mute. One of the nurses thinks there is something more about him but can’t quite put her finger on what. One of the consultants , Dr Sharman , says he has seen the man before but won’t say anything more. The consultant is a bully to the staff and generally unliked by everyone he comes into contact with and is called “Charming Sharman” tongue in cheek. A very different story, a very unusual plot. Characters, especially Mark and Monica who come to life through the pages and you are willing for the right thing to happen. This is sensitively written in dealing with psychological issues whilst maintaining enough “what if’s” to keep the reader compelled. A very interesting premise and a highly enjoyable read.I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all

Cold Blood- Robert Bryndza- 5* Two bodies are found dismembered in suitcases washed on the river shore, the contents being more than meets the eye.  Erika has declined a promotion as she likes to keep on the streets in the thick of things. Things get a little thicker than she expected and she is home on enforced rest. I love Erika’s character. She comes to life through the pages as if you know her as a neighbour.  A strong character who pulls no punches but also has a warm side and a sense of humour. Robert has the skill to do this in spades and with an excellent plot line, this makes for a gripping read. A plot that keeps you engaged until the very end.  One of those where you don’t realise how long you have been reading as the pages turn so very easily. A well deserved 5* I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Missing- Charlie Gallagher- 5 * A man is about to jump off a bridge and commit suicide. In the town centre, a vehicle is being ploughed through the busy high street coming to rest in a cafe. The two incidents are linked and Sergeant Shaun Carter is the thread between the two- or so he thinks until the kidnapped persons are released and not who he thought they were. Shaun turns to George to help him out as George has had his own issues in the past as is an experienced Sergeant. This story gripped me from the start and I liked George who came out as a trustworthy, reliable chap with a sense of humour. A couple of gory scenes but otherwise a brilliant , cleverly written, easy read that I didn’t want to put down. I look forward to more from this author.I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

The Kindred Killers -Graham Smith- 4* Jake has had a rough night on the town when his friend and sometimes business partner Alfonse contacts him to say that his 2 cousins and their 2 children are missing and are then found brutally assassinated. A crime which may have racial undertones. Jake occasionally helps Alfonse run a private investigation business in a town where the detectives are not too smart due to political wrangles. Jakes main income is through being a bouncer so he can hold his own in a fight. Jake has his own style and although a bit of a rogue he comes across as a very likeable one. This was one of those stories that although not easy to read in parts, had me gripped. Racial gruesome crimes don’t make for comfortable reading however although there are descriptions of what has happened, nothing is too descriptive, just enough for the imagination. A well written highly enjoyable read. I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own a

Little boy Found- LK Fox 4* Nick is late taking Gabriel to school. Having seen Gabriel to the gates he jumps in his car and bumps another one. The driver doesn’t get out and so Ben quickly takes pictures. When he gets home he enlarges the pictures and sees Gabriel in the back seat. Ella has a crush on the lead singer of a band. When she wins a raffle to meet him backstage, things are not what she dreamed they would be. This is an unusual book. I won’t say too much as I don’t want to give anything away but prepare for twists and turns when you least expect them. Well described characters that are likable from the start. How do the two main ones connect?A cleverly thought out interesting premise.

Her Dark Path - Ken Ogilvie-3* A woman was murdered a year ago , case unsolved. A new detective is in town and the case reminds her of the murder of her mother. Could the two be related or is she clutching at straws? This is quite a complex story to keep you on your toes with twists and turns along the way. You think the case is almost solved and another spanner is thrown into the works. I liked the main character, her tenacity and the short diary extract at the start of each chapter giving us a glimpse of Rebecca’s past. A book to enjoy and keep the grey matter active. I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

The Break- Marian Keyes  4* Amy’s husband Hugh has announced that he is “taking a break”- from their marriage and travelling for 6 months. To say she is stunned is an underestimation. His children can contact him but Amy “only in emergencies”. He says he loves them all and that he is definitely coming back. What he has not thought about is that by definition it is also a break for Amy. This is the story of the time that Hugh is away. How Amy copes and how the children each in their own way react. Well written and an interesting premise however for me there was almost something missing on the first part of the book.  Something I can’t quite put my finger on. Did it engage me? Yes to an extent, however it took a while to get into. By ¾ of the way through I was more engaged. I won’t give anything away but enough changed in the story to keep me there. By the end I loved it. Like a good wine it matured along the way. A book to make you think of what we have and don’t always apprecia

The Gift 2* -Margaret McHayzer This is a well written book with an excellent plot. So why two stars? When books are part of a series you expect a thread to link them and characters etc to follow through. A series, however is not a book chopped into two or three parts, to me, to make the reader buy the rest. I was so surprised at the end of this. I say “end” lightly. It was as if a chapter had been torn in two. No conclusions, no closure, in fact I was surprised that there were no more pages. I loved the story, I loved the characters but a non ending overshadowed it all. A real disappointment.