Friday 30 August 2019


The Vicarage Murder- Faith Martin- Crime

Please note this book was first published as “AN UNHOLY MESS” under Faith Martin’s
pen name JOYCE CATO.
Monica is married to the local vicar. This is her second marriage her first husband having
died and so she and her daughter moved to the countryside to be with Graham Noble.
They live in a large house that has been converted recently to flats, some of which are
still being finished. Monica has organised a garden party as a get- to -know -you to let
the residents mingle in a relaxed atmosphere. What transpires is not at all relaxing.
Many of the guests have secrets and plans. Who would want Margaret dead, even if
she was one to look down her nose at you? Monica is well situated both in terms of
personality and placement to catch snippets of interesting information which lead
her to the truth. Faith again has developed wonderful characters and a plot that
very quickly envelopes you. There is a warmth in these pages. Characters you can
imagine in your minds eye and some that bring a smile. A very clever plot and
several suspicious characters each in their own way, keep the grey matter
active. I really enjoyed this- thank you Faith.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

The Vicarage Murder (Monica Noble #1) by Faith Martin Discover a new series of murder mysteries set in an idyllic English village. From million-selling author Faith Martin.   Meet Monica Noble: the vicar’s wife with a taste for solving crimes.   Please note this book was first published as “AN UNHOLY MESS” under Faith Martin’s pen name JOYCE CATO.   IN A QUIET COTSWOLD VILLAGE ALL HELL IS ABOUT TO BREAK LOOSE Monica Noble is throwing a party to welcome the village’s new residents. The guests include Margaret and her cheating husband Sean, who’s a celebrity chef. Also on the list are an Oxford university professor, a 40-something divorcee, and the owner of a chain of gyms.   Then as the drinks are flowing, a shotgun blast rings out. One of the guests is found dead.   DCI Dury and Sergeant Jim Greer are soon on the scene and discover that the victim had many enemies. Almost all the guests harbour secrets and motives for murder. Even Monica’s daughter comes under suspicion.   When another villager is strangled to death nearly a week later, the stakes are raised.   Can Monica help the local detectives save her daughter and solve the murders before anyone else pays the ultimate price?   This is the first of a series of enjoyable murder mysteries with great characters and baffling crimes which will keep you gripped till the final page.   Perfect for fans of classic whodunits by authors like Agatha Christie, LJ Ross, TE Kinsey, and J.R. Ellis.   MONICA NOBLE was widowed young, leaving her to raise her feisty daughter on her own. That is, until she met and fell in love with Graham Noble, a country vicar (pastor), who enticed her to leave her high-flying job in advertising in the city and move to the Cotswold countryside. There she found bucolic life very pleasant indeed — until murder started to rear its ugly head. And she discovered, to everyone's surprise, that she had a flair for solving the most unholy of crimes.   FAITH MARTIN is the best-selling author of the DETECTIVE HILLARY GREENE and JENNY STARLING mysteries, which have topped the global best-seller charts.   More MONICA NOBLE mysteries coming soon. Join the Joffe Books mailing list to be the first to hear about the next in the series.   JENNY STARLING MYSTERIES Book 1: THE BIRTHDAY MYSTERY Book 2: THE WINTER MYSTERY Book 3: THE RIVERBOAT MYSTERY Book 4: THE CASTLE MYSTERY Book 5: THE OXFORD MYSTERY Book 6: THE TEATIME MYSTERY Book 7: THE COUNTRY INN MYSTERY
FAITH MARTIN Faith Martin was born in Oxford, and has spent all her life within twenty miles of the university city, even working at Somerville College for five years before turning to writing full-time. The author of the popular DI Hillary Greene novels, she also writes more classic-style 'whodunits' under the pen name Joyce Cato, but began her writing career as Maxine Barry, winning an award for penning romance novels! A popular writer for over 25 years, she has had nearly 50 novels published so far. Her hobbies include walking her now ageing dog, wildlife-watching, reading and (reluctantly) gardening.  

Friday 23 August 2019



The Summer of Going Topless by Liz Davies -romcom and a whole lot more

Candice is single and has been for a while. Her husband left her for another woman
a good while back and she is beginning to realise that some of the things he did whilst
they were together she now needs to tackle on her own- like getting a new car. Her
old one was hanging together by a thread (almost literally) and when she is lent a
car by the garage she falls in love with “jelly bean” as she quickly christened it and
starts to discover that she has been living in an isolated world since they split-. She
has been living in the shadow of her marriage and is no longer a wife or a mother
as her boys have both flown the nest and are independent.  She slowly and nervously
spreads her wings and discovers that there is a world out there waiting to be grasped
with both hands. I think many divorced women will find themselves nodding in
agreement at Candice’s life. I for one have been there. Living and working and not
much else and then realising that the world doesn’t come to you- you have to grasp
it with arms wide open and see not only what is on the horizon but beyond. In
the words of a certain song- “open your eyes,you might just get a big surprise” .
“Life was far too short not to seize it by the scruff of its neck and squeeze every
second of joy and love out of it” . My sentiments exactly . I loved this, a real
heartwarming uplifting read with a message and a smile. 
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

The Summer of Going Topless Candice Summerville is invisible. No one seems to notice her - not really. Heck, she often
doesn’t notice herself, except for her monthly scrutiny in the mirror to check on her body’s
steady slide towards middle age. But when her ancient, practical estate car is consigned to the scrap heap, Candice falls in
love with a cute, purple convertible, and from that moment on her life begins to take on a
whole new meaning. Strangers wave at her and people stop to talk, and suddenly she isn’t
invisible any longer. Life seems to be looking up, especially when she meets silver fox and handy-man, Paul.
There’s just one fly in the ointment, one thing she that has her second-guessing herself. Is it the car that Paul sees - or is it her? Purchase Links: UK -  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07V72XKWP  US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V72XKWP
Author Bio – Liz Davies writes feel-good, light-hearted stories with a hefty dose of romance, a
smattering of humour, and a great deal of love. She’s married to her best friend, has one grown-up daughter, and when she isn’t
scribbling away in the notepad she carries with her everywhere (just in case inspiration
strikes), you’ll find her searching for that perfect pair of shoes. She loves to cook but isn’t
very good at it, and loves to eat - she’s much better at that! Liz also enjoys walking
(preferably on the flat), cycling (also on the flat), and lots of sitting around in the garden
on warm, sunny days. She currently lives with her family in Wales, but would ideally love to buy a camper van
and travel the world in it.  Social Media Links: Twitter https://twitter.com/lizdaviesauthor



Thursday 22 August 2019



IF ONLY I COULD TELL YOU Hannah Beckerman - Womens fiction/Psychological

Paperback released today ****************
Oh boy! Hold on tight- a book that will spin you around and not put you down until the very
end.Two sisters separated by a secret thirty years beforehand which only they know. Jess
and Lily are now adults with children of their own.The cousins have never met and don’t
even know of the others existence. They haven’t spoken since whatever it was happened
and one shut the other out physically and verbally.. Their mother Audrey now has a
terminal diagnosis and is living with Jess and her daughter and wants to find out why
they are estranged before anything happens to her. They lead very different lives.
Jess is a single mum and struggles day to day despite having a good job in TV.
Lily is a successful marketing executive and is married to a millionaire businessman
and has all the trappings that it brings- however her marriage is not on the best of
footings. Jess regularly thinks back to when they were children and when she was
shut out of a room and her sister telling her she mustn’t go in despite having just
come out of it herself.Wow! Where do I begin? I took to Jess and Audrey,
Lily somehow having that air about her and not being so likeable especially how
she was with the other characters. A very cleverly crafted novel. I won’t spoil
anything just prepare for the unexpected. A brilliantly written, well thought out
novel that I will remember for a very long time. Stunning just doesn’t cover it.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

Amazon Top 1000 reviewer.


40698027


A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World-Scifi/dystopian/post apocalyptic

****Paperback just released***********
Griz (so called as he was a grisly child and it stuck) lives in the “after”. After is the world
after most of the population have died and only a few remain who are able to have children
. Think Life of Pi meets Waterworld (Mel Gibson). Where civilisation as we know it no
longer exists and those surviving have to cobble together things to either make or
repair what little they have. There are no factories, no food, no medicines. Primitive
basics in a crumbling world. Most live on islands as the sea is the safest place as his
family found when they had a visitor to their island. Brand stole one of Griz’s dogs
along with food and other items and drugged the family. Griz having a bad tooth didn’t
eat so much, made the discovery and gave chase in his boat.this is the story of the
chase and his discoveries in a world he knows little about. There are some
philosophical lines in such as “dreams are rather like small jellyfish, they slip through
your fingers not knowing if they were really true or you dreamed that you dreamed
them”.. I liked Griz and his steely determination both to survive and to try and
find his dog (Would anyone not do the same?). I won’t give anything away but
there are a couple of surprises along the way. A beautifully described read and
one to perhaps make us think about life and treasure the things we maybe
take for granted, If you liked Life of Pi , you may love this.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World is the most moving story you'll read this year. Perfect for readers of Life of Pi, The Girl with all the Gifts or Station Eleven - Griz's tale mixes sadness and hope in one unforgettable character's quest amid the remnants of our fragile civilisation.

Epic in scope, enthralling, and full of human warmth (M. R. Carey, author of The Girl With All the Gifts)



Epic in scope, enthralling, and full of human warmth'
M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with all the Gifts
'You'll remember A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World long after you finish reading'
Peng Shepherd, author of The Book Of M
'Truly engrossing . . . brings hope and humanity to a cold and scary world'
Keith Stuart, author of A Boy Made of Blocks
'This un-put-down-able story has everything-a well-imagined post-apocalyptic world, great characters, incredible suspense, and, of course, the fierce love of some very good dogs'
Kirkus (starred review)
'A story that is as heart-warming as it is heart-breaking'
Fantasy Hive

A BOY AND HIS DOG AT THE END OF THE WORLD
C. A. Fletcher

Publishing 22nd August 2019 in paperback, £8.99

My name's Griz. I've never been to school, I've never had friends, in my whole life I've not met enough people to play a game of football. My parents told me how crowded the world used to be, before all the people went away, but we were never lonely on our remote island. We had each other, and our dogs.

Then the thief came.

He told stories of the deserted towns and cities beyond our horizons. I liked him - until I woke to find he had stolen my dog. So I chased him out into the ruins of the world.

I just want to get my dog back, but I found more than I ever imagined was possible. More about how the world ended. More about what my family's real story is. More about what really matters.


A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World is the most moving story you'll read this year. Perfect for readers of Life of Pi, The Girl with all the Gifts or Station Eleven - Griz's tale mixes sadness and hope in one unforgettable character's quest amid the remnants of our fragile civilisation.


C. A. Fletcher has children and dogs. He lives in Scotland and writes for a living.


Wednesday 21 August 2019


The Fault

The Fault by Kitty Sewell-psychological thriller
Sebastian is a structural engineer. He is renowned for designing the near impossible.
His girlfriend Eva is a diver and they have recently moved in together. Sebastian wanted
them to get married as they were in Dubai and cohabitation is illegal. Eva doesn’t want
to and we know there is a reason but not what- a past relationship is hinted at but
nothing more. Eva is troubled by something or someone in her past and wants to tell
Sebastian but hasn't yet found the right moment. Sebastian’s sister Mimi lives with them
and they are now in Gibraltar, Sebastian touting for a new project. Mimi has developed
a relationship with  the man who has the flat below them. As he is in his forties and
she is not quite eighteen, Sebastian is very wary and protective whereas Eva sees it for
what it is- a blossoming friendship. Sebastian himself has his secrets. Mimi couldn’t go
to Japan with him as for some reason he wasn’t allowed to be her guardian, again
something in the past is hinted at. It took me a little while to get into this book but
once I did I was hooked. There are wonderful descriptions of Gibraltar and of the
rock and tunnels and their history, something I knew little about. Each chapter is
by one of the three main characters- Eva, Sebastian or Mimi giving their aspect
of the story. Oh boy! One to throw you around and leave you with your head
spinning.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter @nickisbookblog

Book Blurb: Chilling thriller set on Gibraltar - at the heart of The Rock are secret tunnels, hard to
navigate and even harder to escape. Sebastian is a civil engineering prodigy and his
latest project is his most ambitious to date: to build a new city on the sheerest face
of The Rock. His fiancee, Eva, a diver, is entranced by the penisula's hidden depths
and concerned that her lover doesn't push himself beyond human limits in his
desire to see his dream realised. Mimi, still in her teens, is desperate to spread
her wings and chafing at the limits placed on her movements by her overprotective
older brother. When Mimi gets into a relationship with a neighbour intent on
fighting the new development, Sebastian's precarious mental health spirals out of
control putting them all in danger. When Mimi is lost amidst their twists and turns
the race is on to find her before the water rises. About Kitty Sewell: Kitty Sewell was born in Sweden, and has had four successive nationalities, living in the
Canary Islands, Central and South America, Canada, England, Wales and Spain where she
now lives in the mountains of Andalucía. She is a successful sculptor, and bestselling
author. Her books have been translated into 15 languages and she has been short-listed
for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award, the Wales Book of the Year, Winner of the
“People’s Choice” BBC Radio Wales Prize, and the Bertelsmann Book Clubs International
Book of the Month. She also writes as Kitty Harri. With Honno she has published Ice
Trap (2005, later bought by Simon & Schuster) and Hector’s Talent for Miracles (2007)
as Kitty Harri. Social Media: Website: https://kittysewell.com/ Purchase Links: Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fault-Kitty-Sewell/dp/1909983993/ref=sr_1_
1?crid=3RKRQCAYH95SW&keywords=the+fault+kitty+sewell&qid=1565083205&s=
gateway&sprefix=the+fault+kitty+%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-1 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Fault-Kitty-Sewell-ebook/dp/B07TGKJV5S/ref=sr
_1_1?crid=1WHHZ2BAKDLEX&keywords=the+fault+kitty+sewell&qid=1565083546&s=
gateway&sprefix=the+fault+kitty+%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-1 Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-fault/kitty-sewell/9781909983991 Hive: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Kitty-Sewell/The-Fault/23651304 Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Fault-Kitty-Sewell/9781909983991 Publishing Information: Published in paperback and ebook formats by Honno Press on 18th July 2019


Monday 19 August 2019



A Cruel Deception by Kim Booth - True crime
This is the musings of a retired police detective set in the 1970-mid 1980’s.
The main part of the story is about a couple who were duped into lending
money to a woman purporting to be the illegitimate child of the Duchess of
Argyll who needed the money before a large inheritance was sorted out.
When DC Booth begins to investigate so well has the woman prepared her
victims that she has warned them that “the police are likely to visit and it is
just the wrath of the family trying to set things against her”. The rest of the
story is about getting the couple to believe that she is a con artist and the
investigation in order to press charges, interspersed with other interesting
tales that PC Booth came across during the period or to demonstrate the
criminal minds of the time. I think this book would appeal to an older age
group who remember the period- a time of less mobility and certainly no
mobile phones. Some facts are repeated which labours the story a little.
An interesting tale of times gone by and how things were in a bygone
age. not so very long ago. 
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog


Book Description:

'No one knows this horrifying true crime case better than the detective who cracked it. Kim Booth will take you on an unforgettable journey into lies, deceit, cunning and malice.' Nick Louth
For Joan and Ted Warner, an innocent and trusting couple, a chance encounter with Barbara Hendry, a cunning con-woman who turned their settled lives into a living nightmare
The Warners were not victims of a remote scam, carried out over the internet by fraudsters from afar. For six years, faking a friendship face-to-face, this plausible woman carried off the impersonation of a member of the nobility fallen on hard times, manipulating the emotions of her victims, deceitfully draining them of every penny they had set aside for their retirement, and plunging them into debt.
Hendrys intention was to slip away, having sucked the Warners dry of all their hard-earned savings. But for some dogged investigative work by a determined detective she would have succeeded- and remained free to prey on other vulnerable victims.
Follow this journey of fraud and depravity in the company of the one man who knows the full story - the British detective who cracked the case and brought Barbara Hendry to justice.
A Cruel Deception is an insightful and gripping work of true crime, which illustrates the depth of wickedness and the possibility that we can all be deceived.
The author retired from the Lincolnshire Police as Detective Inspector in charge of the Lincolnshire Police Economic Crime Unit. He now provides anti-fraud advice and fraud investigation on a consultancy basis together with assisting authors with police procedural issues and story lines.

Author Bio:

Prior to joining the police I had numerous jobs, Worked in a chicken factory for next to nothing, In a Bakery, Royal Mail as a Postman, With my dad who was a civil engineer construction roads and sewerage works and finally in a hotel. Had dealings with the CID and thought “I can do that” and joined the police with the sole intention of being a CID man! Joined Lincolnshire Police in July 1975.  
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Walked the streets in uniform for 18 months sorting yobbos out then given a car and latched onto drink drivers for a year then went into the CID at Louth in Lincolnshire for a year or so then Skegness for a summer season. Stayed in the CID for twelve years at various location including regional Crime Squad now National Crime Agency conducting static and mobile surveillance nationally dealing with murders extortions Kidnaps and the like then promoted to Uniform Sergeant for two years then back in the CID in the drug squad for four years as a Detective Sergeant, The next move was Detective Sergeant Special Branch dealing with all terrorist matter including surveillance, regional risk assessments on Economic Key points ie Oil and gas terminals, National Infrastructure Gas Electricity and Water and all Military establishments, threat assessments on high profile individuals such a Judges MP’s and witness protection subjects etc. Worked with the Security Services ie MI5 and MI6 and was a member of Home Office National Anti- Terrorism Exercise Programme setting up terrorist exercises both in the UK and abroad to test response of the local enforcement agencies. Promoted to Detective Inspector within Special Branch with 14 staff. Stayed there for five years then moved to Uniform Inspector in charge of the Lincolnshire Police Control room 36 staff dealing and resourcing whatever came in authorised to deploy firearms officers to incidents. Two years in there (more than enough!) the moved to be in charge of the Economic and Hi Tech Crime Unit dealing with all frauds , Internet Crime together with the Paedophile Unit and Proceeds of Crime Unit 27 staff, Stayed there for four years, retired on the Friday and started work the following Monday being the Senior Investigating Officer in charge of a $300 million fraud investigation involving 3300 investors worldwide, worked with colleagues in New Zealand, Japan, America, Hong Kong, Bahamas and Canada, The case concluded in 2010 I retired again! Went fitting UPVC windows with a mate. Did that for 9 months, wrote a book on fraud, did some qualifications at Uni then came to work for TUI (Thomson and First Choice)as a Corporate Security Manager investigating fraud within the travel industry, Hobbies- Property restoration, DIY and motor cycling. That’s a quick snap shot!

Three children, eldest son is a Police Officer in Lincolnshire. Middle daughter is a first aid trainer and the MK 3 model daughter is a primary school teacher. Met the wife on the docks at Boston Lincolnshire (where she was working as Policewoman I should add!)

Somethings you didn’t know?

(1)Whilst engaged in a terrorist incident and working in COBRA under Whitehall fell asleep on the Home Secretary’s bed! It was a 48 hour shift!

(2) Was engaged for two years putting MI5 and MI6 operatives through police interviews to test their legends (cover stories) under pressure, prior to deployment in foreign countries.

(3) Investigated 23 murders including two serial murderers, nine extortions and Kidnaps involving Sainburys, Imperial Tobacco and Mars and investigated and detected the only murder by postal IED (improvised Explosive Device) in the UK to date and a drugs related “contract killing”

4) As a Uniformed Inspector in the force control room covering Lincolnshire was authorised to deploy firearms officers to incidents but was considered not to be psychologically suitable to hold a Police Firearms permit to possess a firearm! Been a standing joke for years!!!

After retirement for the third time decided to write a few book of my experiences including a crime fiction loosely based on previous events (W.I.P.)

And the rest as they say is history!


The Note

The Note- Andrew Barrett- 5* A short story written in the first person by CSI Eddie Collins. Eddie is the sort of bloke who calls a s...