Nicki's book blog

Murder in the Mansion- Faith Martin- 4*   A middle aged woman is murdered at her door. She is going through an acrimonious divorce but it doesn’t look like the husband was anywhere near. Who else would want her dead and why? Meanwhile a sniper is picking of Police as they arrive for work and shooting from a nearby rooftop. Which station will be next and could an innocent umbrella save some lives? DI Hillary Greene has her hands full. Faith has a knack of writing characters so you take the them easily (or not!) and with snippets of background in each book providing an interesting background story. Hillary is a likeable figure- a strong female lead who has gained the respect of her team by doing things herself, including getting shot. A brilliant plot, an excellent story and a cliffhanger to lead us into the next book very nicely done. For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

Before I found you- Daisy White- 4* Some friends returning home after a night out find a young girl on the beach shouting at at the waves  “Come back” but there is no-one that they can see. They rescue her as she is in danger of being swept away however she won’t say another word.  Ruby works in a hairdressers with her best friend Mary whom she also shares a bedsit with along with Mary’s baby. A woman comes in who has been in prison for 10 years. Her daughter disappeared and although a body was never found, bloodstained clothing was and she was charged accordingly. Now she wants Ruby to try and find her daughter and who set her up. Set in the 1960’s this brings a refreshing change to the world of mobiles and internet access. When phone boxes were used and if you wanted to know anything then it was either a friend of a friend or the library. A network of friends and acquaintances prove invaluable to Ruby’s investigation bureau. A well written b

Forget her Name- Jane Holland 4* A chilling psychological thriller that plays with your mind. Catherine is volunteering in a food bank when she receives a parcel. It contains her dead sisters snow globe from when they were children however there is something inside it. Things soon get worse and she has to tell her fiance Dominic whom to date she has only told certain things about Rachel- the dead sister - as the rest is too horrific for her to even think about and she doesn’t want to put him off before the wedding. This is so well written that it grabs you from the start. A rather sinister plot that gave me the creeps a little in parts but kept me reading wanting to find out more. I read this in two sittings- it gripped me so much I couldn’t put it down. I won’t give anything away other than to say expect the unexpected. Expect your mind to be confused and go around in circles.You think you have it sussed and then another twist and turn. One you will be thinking abou

Crossed out- Malcolm Hollingdrake- 4* It’s a bit like a gruesome treasure hunt in Harrogate. Small crosses each with a fishing type line attached to a bag of dyed hair keep being found. Then bones are discovered when a house almost falls into a sinkhole. DCI Bennett and his team have got their hands full. Three people who are on the missing list have a connection via DNA to the bags found.  Cyril is a very likeable character and Malcolm always gives enough background to provide extra interest without distracting from the main plot. we learn a little more about Cyril’ life in each book and this one gives a big insight into one of his troubles. The more I read about Cyril the more I think he would be a good neighbour or friend.  A very well written book with a little something for every crime book reader. A touch of humour and an excellent plot make for an easy enjoyable read. A book to leave you with a smile. For more reviews please see my blog http://ni

Tell me I’m Wrong- Adam Croft-5*   Riley loves football. He wants to play for Crystal Palace as he likes their kit. One day after playing with his friends he is taking the path back home, being careful to stay away from the water as his Mum has always told him to, when everything goes black. Meanwhile, Megan is trying to bond with her baby Evie. Chris her husband likes fishing and whilst doing so decides that he should do more to help.He has a secret but thinks that no-one knows.  Chapters are written voiced by the different characters mostly in the first person, which made me take to them quickly and easily. The chapters are short and punchy which keeps the flow. There is of course a twist or two, one of which I didn’t see coming and then…. I won’t give anything away other than to say an excellent ending which for me is very important as so many are left on a cliff with no real answers. A very well written engaging tale. This is my first book by Adam and it won

A Cold Cold heart- John Nichol- 5* Oh Wow! Where do I start? What a ride! A book that draws you in from the word go and doesn’t let go until the very end. I normally enjoy reading in small doses, say over a coffee for 30 minutes or so. This one I couldn’t even get the coffee- I really didn’t want to put it down . John has a talent, a really wonderful talent. Characters that come to life and a storyline that takes you in it’s grip (every pun intended- read it and you will know what I mean). A series of murders, a background story of one of the main characters and a brilliant conclusion. A crime book with a psychological twist. Dear John…. when is your next one out please? A big 5* from me. For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

Dark Angel- Helen Durrant 4* A young woman falls into a ditch trying to get away from her boyfriend at a festival. She gets up to find that next to her isn’t rubbish but a body. Meanwhile two small time thieves are given a tip of about a house to “visit”. They have bitten off more than they can chew and quickly turn up dead. One of them sent a picture of drugs to the police as “insurance” just before they met their untimely end. Why? A haulage firm is transporting more than they should however neither the police or customs have any idea of how it is being done. A cleverly thought out plot with enough turns to keep the flow. Characters which you easily take to and become alive through excellent descriptions and enough backstory to keep you interested without it taking over- which can be a fine balance. I like enough to give them life but not too much to distract from  the main theme. Helen always does this extremely well. This is the fourth in a series but would stan

Fear- Dirk Kurbjuweit 3* Randolph lives in a flat with his wife and children. In the basement flat lives Dieter  Tiberius who is rather strange.A good choice of name for the perpetrator(The Roman  emperor Tiberius being known for sexual perversion ).He starts out being friendly to  the family and then begins stalking them, creeping around the garden when  Randolph is away. This is told from Randolph’s point of view as a story to his wife,  and also gives quite a bit of his background. It starts from the end (if that makes  sense) and then works it way towards that explaining what occurred to bring that  end about. When the law of the land is unable to help you are forced to make your  own decisions. This is well written albeit a slightly “weird” novel. Almost a  biography with a twist (loosely based on a true experience by the author) For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

The Abandoned-Sharon Thompson Peggy runs a whorehouse. She used to find homes for unwanted children until she was caught. She also does abortions on the side. One day something happens to one of her customers when things are kicking off with one of her girls and things very quickly have to change. This is quite a “wordy” read with vivid excellent descriptions. It did take me awhile to get into it. Whilst reading i kept wondering what time period it was set in as other than the mention of a radio and a car it could have been anywhere from Victorian times to modern day although it reads as an historical novel. The rise of women and the change in how they are treated by men. An unusual read.

Cargo- J.C Macek-4*   Anthony wakes to find himself in a metal shipping container. He struggles to remember how he got there but remembers having a drink in  a bar and then everything going black. There is a phone taped to the wall. Through this he receives a message telling him he has twenty four hours to raise $10 million or both he and his wife will die. He is given evidence of her capture and torture and if he contacts any authorities then again they will both die. The air in the container will last 24 hours. This is a very clever premise. Anthony’s thoughts and actions whilst incarcerated are very interesting along with his past. His misdemeanours, his love for his wife and how things will change once he gets out are powerfully portrayed. A very different story, well told.

What she Left- Rosie Fiore 5* Author Bio – Rosie Fiore was born and grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. She studied drama at the University of the Witwatersrand and has worked as a writer for theatre, television, magazines, advertising, comedy and the corporate market.  Her first two novels, This Year's Black and Lame Angel were published by Struik in South Africa. This Year's Black was longlisted for the South African Sunday Times Literary Award and has subsequently been re-released as an e-book. Babies in Waiting, Wonder Women and Holly at Christmas were published by Quercus. She is the author of After Isabella, also published by Allen & Unwin. Rosie’s next book, The After Wife (written as Cass Hunter), will be published by Trapeze in 2018 , and in translation is seven countries around the world. Rosie lives in London with her husband and two sons. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rosiefiorewriter/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rosiefiore

Calling Major Tom-David M. Barnett- 4* Tom Major is in space going to Mars and is grumpy to say the least.  Back on earth Gladys is getting confused. She can remember what her husband made for dinner 30 years ago but not where her phone is. This was just an extract but gave a wonderful flavour of the full book. Written with humour and a little pathos, it is one of those easily read books that will lift you and gives evocative characters that you remember. It’s quirky, slightly nonsensical but wonderfully enjoyable. A book to look forward to.

Killer Lies- Chris Collett-5* A body is found at the rear of a car. The passengers inside looking like they are awaiting the return of the driver-only they too have both been shot. Tom is attending the local carol service in the cathedral when on their way there is an explosion. He is getting anonymous notes which imply, to him, that he could be the target. In all those dignitaries? Maybe he is just being paranoid. As ever this grips you from the start and draws you in. Chris has the talent of bringing characters to life and a plot to keep you turning the pages. A background thread personal to Mariner brings the real Tom even more to life as does his relationship with his girlfriend and the trial and tribulations of normal life. A fairly complicated plot with twists and turns (nothing too difficult to follow) which kept me interested right to the very end. I really enjoyed this and look forward to the next instalment.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz- Heather Morris-5** One of those books that will stay with me forever. Lale has volunteered to go and work for the Germans so as to save the rest of his family. Those who don’t “give” one son will be sent to the concentration camps This is the story of Lale’s journey through Auschwitz /Birkenau and of his presence of mind to live and to help others. This could be a work of fiction- it isn’t. Lale lived and saw so much that man should never have to see let alone think about. This, to me, should be compulsory school reading, so that the atrocities are never allowed to happen again, and that we all understand why so that man can live alongside man in harmony. This is captivatingly written and you take not only to Lale but to some of the others, some of whom only “live” for a few pages but represent so many innocent lives. A poignant, brilliantly told tale that I can’t recommend highly enough. I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a film