Nicki's book blog

  THE NIGHT THIEF (Jackman & Evans #8) by Joy Ellis - Crime Rowan and Marie have rather a strange case on their hands. A man is slipping through small open windows “ visiting” women and leaving without a trace. They think this sounds like their old friend Ratty who appears to have rather a compulsion for this sort of thing. Then things take a turn for the worse when an woman is found dead at the bottom of her stairs and Rattu swears blind that he would never touch anyone but it also appears that pictures from each house are being taken. There have been reports of a man hanging around school gates. Could the two be linked and if so how? I love Joy’s books and I'm always amazed at how someone can plan out such intricate, interwoven plots with twists and turns , subplots and even maybe a red herring or two and make it all come together so seamlessly in a wonderful entertaining read. True brilliance! They are so cleverly thought out and put together with characters that I can...

  Cut Throat (Detective Nash#13)- Bill Kitson- Crime   A man was convicted of murder. When being chased to be arrested he fell over an incline and had severe injuries including to his head. He suffered amnesia and hence couldn't deny what had allegedly happened. The police pursued him despite his injuries and he was incarcerated. Years later he has escaped prison and wants to prove his innocence but who is going to believe him? Once he escapes, similar murders are being committed and it appears to DI Nash and his team that someone is framing Craig French but why? This is a new series to me as well as a new author so happily stands alone. I loved this and raced through it -to me always a good sign. There is a warmth of character and a very different well thought out plot- one that kept me not only interested but the grey matter active which I love.  A brilliantly entertaining read and I very much look forward to the next in the series. For more reviews p...

  The Cold Killer by Ross Greenwood- crime thriller  A stunning captivating read. An elderly man dies in prison allegedly from natural causes. He was due to be released a couple of weeks later along with others who were at the same crime- they abducted a child and released her unharmed the following morning. All were part of an online chatroom that was on the wrong side of the law which was being monitored.  A subject sensitively dealt with and there is no detail at all as to what happened with the children. DI Barton has to interview the inmates as part of procedure and then when the house of the deceased is broken into there appears to be more going on. When body parts are then found- there is a violent killer on the loose but quite why no-one knows.  I enjoyed this. The first part didn't have the usual pace of Ross’s usual books but is still compelling, as we are introduced to the characters and I liked that each prison interview was paragraphed separately ra...

  Remember Me? by Amanda Rigby-psychological thriller Paul is working at a private school and his girlfriend is expecting their first baby. When he sees on social media that his ex-fiance is back in town he is aghast. She left him standing just before their wedding for a new job in Australia, a long way from Leicestershire , however he knows that she not only didn't take the job but cant be back in the country as it was he who buried her. When his girlfriend Jenna loses a necklace and receives notes, there could only be one person responsible. But how? OMG!! Where do I start? Once in I felt spun around, thrown around rather fast and catapulted all at the same time! What A rollercoaster! A true psychological thriller where there is an air of mystery from the beginning and that chill and tension of something not quite right- just how I like a book to grab me and draw me in. Several twists and turns so you really don’t know who, why or how- brilliant. I understand that this is a ...

  The New Wife by Sue Watson -psychological thriller Sam has just married Lauren. They have known each other since they were small and their parents are best friends. Sam’s mother Georgie is single and always has been whilst Tim and Helen have always been there for her. Tim works as a detective chief inspector and is a rock for both women. When Lauren is found dead at the foot of the spiral staircase of their new home everyone understandably is devastated. Even more so when the police decide it wasn't an accident. they have only been married a few short weeks- who on earth would want Lauren dead? Is the friend with a troubled past anything to do with this and if so why? Argh!!! OMG! One I wanted to race through and find out the whys and wherefores- to me the sign of an excellent writer. To give that tension and mystery whilst holding the reader captivated is a true skill in my book (every pun intended!) I loved this- there were twists and turns, suspects and not (as in ...

  Sisters Behaving Badly by Maddie Plea se- womens humorous fiction Sisters Kitty and Jenny haven't seen eye to eye for many years but used to be close. Kitty has had three husbands and is now single, Jenny still has a very controlling Paul at her side. They have been left a property in France by an Aunt who was in the process of doing it up. The pair take themselves to France to complete the renovations ready for it to be sold- or at least that's the plan and maybe even rekindle their relationship at the same time. There is a “wild” chicken (I had to laugh-I rescue hens and threatening they are not!) along with Hector the donkey and animals that Jenny can't stand! I quickly got into this- there are two wonderful very different characters. Kitty is “ what you see is what you get” type of person and wants to live life to the fullest. Jenny is more reserved and appears to have relied on Paul for every decision for fear of her own being wrong and not to his liking (coe...

  A BRUTAL SEASON-Judi Daykin- crime thriller (Detective Sara Hirst Book 3) Loved this. A young woman is found murdered in Cromer, a Norfolk seaside town. She was the carnival queen and a popular choice so who would want her dead and why? One of the carnival organisers is married to a bully and it appears his son is following suit, with little respect for others. Detective Sara Hirst and the serious crime team have tangled webs to work through but are there any links to the murder?  I quickly got into this and it is a new series as well as a new author for me which is brilliant as this shows the books stand alone very well. There is a warmth of character and excellent storytelling along with a tension running through as there should be in a good, well planned crime novel. A brilliantly entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed and very much look forward to the next in the series. Stunning.  For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or f...