Nicki's book blog

  THE CONSPIRACY-by Jack Probyn- Crime thriller                            Jake has just joined MCU with his friend Danika from another force, both as temporary detective constables. When a shout comes in for a robbery with malice, Jake is called out and Danika left in the office finding information. To Jake’s horror the robbery rings huge bells of a few years before when he was taken hostage whilst in a bank and only the ring leader was caught. The witness's descriptions tie up with his memories of a notorious gang in devil masks. This time, having a new leader things are taking a different turn - someone has been shot and there is a collar bomb device where only finding the keys will release the victim. Can Jake and Danika and the team sort this out before it's too late? I loved this and found myself racing through it- a sure sign of a well written book with a tension throughout to find out more. I liked...

The Island- C.L Taylor- Y.A fiction       Six teenagers on a small Thai island with a guide, what could possibly go wrong? The group have known each other since they were born- their mothers were in the same antenatal group and have pretty much holidayed with each other for all of their seventeen years. Only two have paired off and there is one brother and sister. When the guide collapses and after having discussed their phobias the night before, things start happening and Danny is convinced that there is someone else on the island and making their nightmares come true. Who could it be and why do such a thing? This is a very clever plot which I tremendously enjoyed (as ever with Cally’s books). I do hope that this is read by a wide young adult audience as it may help tackle what is still a silence over mental health issues and the more people that are aware the more can be helped. I won't give anything away other than to say a brave subject handled incredibly w...

  There's Only One Danny Garvey by David F Ross- sports fiction         A book for football fans in particular Scottish ones but with so much more than just about a game of two halves. Danny was a star player (hence the title) back in the day. He even made up a story about Alex Fergusson coming to pick him. Now he is the manager of the struggling local team Barshaw bridge FC who have sponsorship from the local carpet firm (Piles better being their motto which is plastered all over the ground) and he has a few meagre expenses for players. Bottom of the league doesn't cover it.His brother Raymond is in prison having lived on the darker side of the tracks to Danny however he also has his past and his secrets. We are now in the late 1990’s and Danny's limelight was back when he was a teenager. Danny tells his story of how to got to where he is now with a tinge of sadness and regret. I know two things about football- nothing and Gary Linekar (as he advertised cr...

  The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse- Charlie Mackesy Im late to the party with this one and treated myself after receiving a book voucher. What had I been waiting for? Oh how I wish I had bought this sooner! For me, Its THE book to get me through lockdown and so, so much more. A look at life in sometimes the simplest of ways that can give us the most joy and to ask simple quetions to make us pause and think. Theres a wistfulness about this yet so very clever and several smiles (a mole  who loves cake!) A book to treasure, a book to give someone who may need that long distance  hug to know that you care. Or even better as Charlie himself says, be kind to  yourself- so I was and fell head over heels in love with this. A treasure, a true pleasure and one very very special book 10* if I could 

  Girl A- Abigail Dean-psychological thriller “Girl A,' she said. ‘The girl who escaped. If anyone was going to make it, it was going to be you.’ A family of seven children- all but one are tied and neglected. Girl A, Lex, manages eventually to escape and raise the alarm. we then get two storylines- of the children as adults and of their life before the neglect. This isn't an easy read i n places as you can imagine and anyone who has suffered abuse of neglect may find this triggers memories.. Once discovered the children were adopted individually by various families. The father had killed himself at the time of the discovery and the mother was imprisoned. She has now died and they have come together to sort out her will and the old house.Lex and Evie the youngest want to make the house something for the community and finally to do some good after the horrors that went on there. A harsh, stark, well written and vividly described tale of hardship but also of determination...

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean- Suspense Thriller   A stunning read, a difficult read at times but one to remember. Jane is held captive in a remote farmhouse. She has four things that are her own- a photograph, an identity card (that shows that Jane isn't her real name), a book and her sister's letters. Both of them came over to England with the promise of a better life and enough wages that they would be able to send some home. It cost them each eighteen thousand pounds to come over- which must be paid back to the traffickers who manhandled them over here. They were promised to be working in a shop (they’re not), they were “guaranteed” to be together and they’re not. Jane’s sister is allowed to write but Jane can't write back. Lenn has very strict rules. If she kills him her sister will be deported, the same if she escapes. His friend Frank at the next farm would see to it so she is trapped where she has been for the last five years. This isn’t an easy read- i...

  Deadly Whispers in Lower Dimblebrook by Julie Butterfield- Cozy Mystery Izzie is relatively new to Lower Dimblebrook and has made a friend in Fiona through going to a Zumba class.  They have arranged to meet for lunch, but when in the local shop, Izzie hears the village gossip say that Fiona has just been found dead, being found in a nearby car park where she was apparently meeting her lover. Izzie is outraged and won’t believe a word of it. Fiona can't be dead- they were meeting for lunch and no way is she having an affair- she dearly loves her husband having given up so much to be with him and live with not only him but his mother also in the big house. After a visit from DI Wainwright who pretty much says the same thing Izzie sets out to defend her friend and scotch the rumours- and discovers more than she anticipated. Is it coincidence that Anthony Lambourne has lost two wives or is more going on in the big house?  I really enjoyed reading this- it's a fun rea...

  Looking for Leo- J.A Baker psychological thriller  A little boy, Leo, has gone missing. He is safe and being looked after “until his mother finishes work”. Lynda has started a new art class at the local community centre with her friend and during the class can't help but feel that the instructor is familiar- possibly someone she had to testify against over twenty years ago. Ashton is new to doing this and would love to get into the world of art but his background prevents him from going down the traditional route. Sarah is a bored housewife who is now distrusting her husband Malcolm. He once had an affair and they “lived to tell the tale” but now he seems distant and she can’t help but feel as if something else is going on. Emily is a single mum to Joel and has just met a new man Mo. The women meet up to get to know each other for coffee and inevitably end up discussing the disappearance and the coincidence of Ashton being back in the village. I enjoyed this- there is so...

  The Silver Rose Dating Agency by Angelena Boden- Women sleuths/Cozy mystery   (First published as “ Love Bytes Back- Edna Reid Investigates”)  Hope Valley in Derbyshire is a pretty area frequented by visitors for most of the year. The residents are used to this and make the most of it with cafes and such like. Lonely widow Kitty joins the Silver Rose dating agency to find companionship and hopefully love and finds Harvey. Her friend Edna, the former cafe owner is rather more sceptical and has read about internet scams and takes it upon herself to find out more- as Harvey is now taking more and more money from Kitty who refuses to believe that he isn't genuine. Meanwhile there are some strange goings on- satanic type graffiti by the church and hoodies with pentagrams on. This is t he second in a series (the first book-Edna’s death cafe was a brilliant read) but will happily stand alone. A read to make you smile and to enjoy life whilst taking care out there- eve...