Nicki's book blog

Abel’s Revenge- Ross Greenwood- 5*  Oh wow! I wasn’t prepared for that. Another wonderfully described book from the master of words. This begins telling two stories. One is from Abel’s point of view- his childhood and his demons and how he deals with them and his dark past. The other is of a couple trudging through the treacle that is their relationship, possibly the end of it,  and dealing with their young children . When one party doesn’t pull his weight at home- in fact Olivia may as well be dealing with another child. Ross has a way with words (He was my author of the year for 2017) that beautifully describes each scenario. Caring and tender when it needs to be and then gritty and raw to flip the coin. Enough action to draw you in and characters that you take to- or not in one case! You wonder where the two are going to meet - just having that feeling that they might. Jamie Lawson wasn’t wrong when he said “I wasn’t expecting that”. I won’t give anything away …..I’ll just s

The Good Samaritan- John Marrs 5* Laura volunteers at the  “End of the Line” helpline for people in distress-those with emotional, sexual, physical or mental issues. Those that sometimes have no one else to talk to, or in some cases no hope of where else to go other than to think about a way out. Laura, however, has her own agenda- to make them do as she wants. She chooses her victims according to a strict criteria , the rest of the time she comes across as the caring person who listens.  Laura has had her own issues to deal with- illness, childhood trauma and her marriage is not quite as it should be. Ryan has lost his wife. In the blink of an eye he went from being happily married husband and expectant father to widower and he can’t understand why. He won’t accept that Charlotte just “did it”. This is an unsettling book to read. Laura is not a woman you would want to meet, let alone cross. Dark and twisted doesn’t cover it . You just get the feeling that some

The Child Next Door- Shalini Boland- 5* Psychological thriller Kirstie Rawlings has a sixth month old daughter. When rushing upstairs having heard wails over the child monitor, Daisy is fast asleep and she realises that she is hearing things from another house- but whose? No one else around there has a child of that age. She becomes convinced that someone is trying to steal Daisy despite her husbands reassurances and is constantly checking the doors and windows. Their neighbour Martin, who lives alone,  is strange to say the least and Kirsty wonders why he has built a basement in to his house. When visiting she saw bags from a childrens store by the door to the basement and she has received messages basically saying “keep your nose out” which she feels are from Martin disguising his voice. She is tired, insecure and anxious and can’t help thinking that she and Daisy are in danger. Shalini has done it again- produced a book that I just want to devour in

Sweet home Summer- Michelle Vernal- 4*   Isla is back home in New Zealand having left her job and taken time in California on the way. She is living with her grandmother which does them both a favour as the elderly lady fell a while ago and no one was around. At times Isla remembers her past life and loves and time at a sanctuary along the way. Her old flame Ben has a new girlfriend and she thinks about what could have been. She begins to put down roots and life begins to flourish. (I did have to look up what a Neenish slice was, mind!). A story of life, of chances and of making the most of what we have around us and maybe don’t always appreciate. I took to Isla although it did take me a few chapters to get into this book. Once I did it was a cozy read with a smile along the way that I thoroughly enjoyed. For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1 Sweet Home Summer W

Checking out- Nick Spalding 5* Nathan has a headache- one that won’t go away. When his words are not quite what he expected and no alcohol is involved, he decides he needs to see a doctor. It turns out that he has an almost unpronounceable brain tumour and may have anything from six minutes or 6 months or maybe even longer to live - or not. This is about how this affects his relationships with those around him- as well as of course how others deal with him- one refusing to believe his diagnosis- as well as how he is dealing with things himself. I didn’t quite know what to expect from this book in that it’s a sensitive subject- and found that it is very well dealt with indeed. A book that makes you think about life and how fragile we can be, whilst at the same time dealing with things with a smile and seizing the moment. Some very philosophical words, and so very true. Very well written, very enjoyable and one I would recommend. Carpe Diem and One life-

The Stranger- Kate Riordan-  4* Think Brideshead but land girls (or women) working in a garden during the wartime in a country manor.  Three strangers brought together- but are they? One has been near there years ago for a holiday where she met what she thought at the time, her first love. She is now a married woman but thinks seeing him can’t hurt- can it? The youngest of the group who is not their of her own accord  and the third, well, this is mostly about her. A woman who worms her way to friendship for her own ends, who turns away others but longs to be liked. She delves and she pries but what secrets is she really keeping herself?Partially written as a diary, this is the story of the three women mostly prior to the “event”- the timeline counts down as the book proceeds.  This is a beautifully described piece set in Cornwall and you can picture the sea and the lighthouse as backdrops to the characters. A twist I was not expecting brought the book to

Midday- David Lyons-4* Vincent and Ryan lead a happy life- so they think about each other. Vincent is in charge of four banks in Dublin although originally his heart was far from going into the financial sector. Ryan, his partner, was in PR but left after Vincent encouraged him to do what he had always wanted to- write a book. However for the last 19 months he has sat and done nothing. Jack (JR) has lost his wife who was the daughter of one of Dublin’s gangland bosses whom no-one messed with. Darragh has dreams of owning a penthouse similar to the one Vincent and Ryan live in. The easiest way of achieving this is to get Vincent to take two million euros from each of banks once morning and arrive back by midday- or Ryan will be shot. This is a very interesting premise and I like how it has been tackled. Each short snappy  chapter is by one of the four main characters and gives a backstory to each of them so that you get to know them a little. Jack and D

Low Lake- Gretta Mulrooney 4* Two years ago a woman drowned after suffering an epileptic fit whilst at a lake side. She had been close to drowning as a child and hence had a fear and stayed away from water.  Her close friend Jack doesn't believe that it was an accident although the police came up with very little at the time. Tyrone Swift is a private investigator and finds out more than the police ever did. This is a book with wonderful descriptions- of people and places and scenes. Of a complex family structure with a web in amongst it of secrets. A tale of murder and intrigue, of friendships and relationships. Whom you can trust and whom you can’t. A good length novel , a good value read. Number five in the Tyrone Swift series(but happily stands alone) For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part 2 - 3.5* Hattie’s husband Gary is dead. And a ghost to boot. He is able to talk and appear to her but not at will- it just seems to happen. He now has a new little friend , Marty who arrives with his toy Grump(love it!). Their spirit guide is Clarence ( remember It’s a Wonderful Life?). This is a wonderful, lighthearted quick read to sit with a coffee and enjoy. For me, I wish it was one book rather than three so that I could continue the enjoyment uninterrupted. Hattie is not done yet! For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

Murder by Fire- Faith Martin-4* A lonely religious man is found dead in his garden in the middle of what looks like a bonfire. Although many disagreed with his lifestyle and harsh words, there is no-one who disliked him so much as to go as far as murder. What is going on? DI Hillary Greene and her team are back in another wonderful tale. I feel that I almost know these people and really wouldn’t be that surprised if I bumped into them in the street. They come across so well with rounded characters and backgrounds that they live on the pages. Faith makes every story page turnable with interesting plots and characters that you always know that you are in for a comfortable read. Oh the end! I won’t spoil anything but I very much look forward to the next in the series. For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

Doll Face - Dylan H Jones- 4* A woman is found murdered and eviscerated- a message having been placed in a body part adds to the macabra nature of the killer. She was Skyping her friend a short time beforehand. Could this give clues to the killers identity- and why is something just not quite right. DI Manx again has his work cut out to solve the crime and his team around him each with their own issues. A good solid storyline and I like that there is some back story to some of the main characters. This is the second in the DI Manx series but would happily stand alone. THen again why miss out on another brilliant read( ANglesey Blue being the first one) A well written gritty tale to keep you turning the pages and wonder who the perpetrator is and why. For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

The Rise of Eris- Nesly Clerge-5*   Wow! This is one of those reads that I really didn't want to put down. I empathised with the main character and when her turn came for revenge, I stood back and admired her determination and tenacity. Kathryn Eris Barnes is a child. An eight year old child in a home that we cringe to read about. A Mother beaten by her lover and nothing in privacy. Kathryn  sees everything and has to fend for herself. She is gifted in geometry as well as other things that she hasn’t yet discovered, but at home has to hide her books and barricades herself in her room in case “he” comes in and does unspeakable things. Eventually she finds herself, after being maligned all her life so far , surrounded by equally talented women. Women who not only empathise but have the means to do change things and the way of the world. A gritty tale for the first part which may be hard to read for some, but stick with it and I am fairly sure that you will smile

The Pact- S. E Lynes- 5** 5** Do not, I repeat do not, read this book unless you want to disappear in to the pages and not emerge until the end. I found myself turning faster and faster as I had to find out what was going on. Rosie feels like she is underwater. Her mother Toni has a pact with her sister Bridget about something that happened to them 30 years beforehand. Rosie is remembering parts of her life to date as she floats around the seabed in her opalescent world. She was a budding actress in her local drama group and then following a play an agent approached her. She was a typical teenager, “like” being every other word and a world of snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. When a friend of a friend “likes” her her world begins to change. Oh what a clever idea and so very well done. I really didn’t see the who’s or where’s (as it should be). I think this should be on the school curriculum in secondary schools. They know all about it but this would