Nicki's book blog

Enemy at the Window- AJ Waines-Psychological thriller   Sophie finds herself in hospital. She has sketchy memories of what happened but can remember arguing with her husband about him having an affair and the kitchen being as if someone had split red paint. She soon discovers that she is in a secure psychiatric unit having stabbed her husband, fortunately he survived. Daniel has not been having an affair however Sophie claimed to have found several lots of “evidence” including some photographs,  none of which anyone else ever saw. Before a few months ago she was a calm, collected fun loving person who wouldn’t hurt a fly, so to go to a violent person wielding a knife is totally out of character. Being at home alone with their young son Ben, Daniel starts to discover some anomalies, especially when Ben keeps giggling facing the window. What on earth is happening and why? Oooh!! One of those reads where I wanted just another chapter, and then ano...

A Feast of Serendib  Mary Anne Mohanraj (recipe book)   This is wonderful cookbook of recipes from Sri Lanka. A country I loved when visiting and the food is delicious so this was a perfect match when I was asked to review it. the books is divided into sections from appetisers and snacks , eggs poultry and meat, vegetable, accompaniments, grains, drinks and sweets. There is a nice personal introduction of how the book came into being and tips such as not buying shredded coconut in the baking aisle (more than likely it will be sweetened). There are menu suggestions from a brunch with friends to a royal feast (which will feed two hundred or so). The recipes are easily set out with a highlighted list of ingredients. My only criticism (and this may have been done for a reason) is that the recipes are in imperial units and I prefer for accuracy to work with metric. Easily converted so not too much of an issue especially with savouries. Cakes ...

Now You See Me- Chris George-psychological thriller Robin is an author. His wife Samantha disappeared three years ago and he has never given up hope of finding her. He receives a strange phone call from someone called Matthew who is in New Hall prison. What Matthew says piques Robins interest when he mentions Samantha. Matthew is awaiting trial as a few months ago he was taking five people and a dog through Standedge tunnel on a boat. Two hours and a few minutes later only Matthew, who was unconscious ,and the dog emerge. How on earth did he get rid of 5 bodies in a canal tunnel? If he didn’t do it then who did and what happened? No bodies have yet been found.If robin helps Matthew he promises he will tell him what he knows about Sam. Ooooh!! This is one of those books that grabs you from the get go and tangles you up not wanting to let go. I immediately took to Robin and his determination and tenacity not only to find out what happened to Samantha...

His Guilty Secret- Helene Fermont- Women’s Literary fiction “ Oh what a tangled we weave” Patricia Beaumont received news that her husband Jacques has died. Jacques worked for an airline as a Captain and hence was away often.. What has surprised her as much as the news of his death is that he was found in a hotel room where he had checked in under a different name. He was close to his sister and Patricia suspects that Coco knows more about him than she is letting on. Coco has her own issues with alcohol and drugs as well as a partnr whom she is splitting from..Patricia and Jasmine are sisters but have not been in touch with each other having fallen out years before. In France a woman lives with her husband and son Pierre. Little does her husband know that he is not Pierre’s father. This is a book about life and its ups and downs and the secrets some keep that not only injure the guilty but also the innocent. I wanted to know more although I had a fe...

The Death of Jessica Ripley- Andrew Barrett-Crime/CSI A woman is confronted by her ex husband who is holding a knife to himself threatening to use it unless he sees his child. Jessica tackles him and is sent down, her child being taken into foster care but she didn’t kill him. Twelve years later she wants to see her son and goes by the book in order to do so. A book that has its own rules written by her probation officer. On seeing an old colleague she learns that the man that put her away has conveniently been killed. She wants revenge for the years she has missed- an innocent person sent to prison. Meanwhile Eddie has a new colleague of his own, one who is rather raw around the edges and doesn’t always get Eddie’s unique sense of humour.His father has a new love in his life- one Eddie can’t stand. As ever Eddie is up to his neck in work and trouble of one ilk or another albeit on the right side of the law. When the murders begin and someone has stolen h...