Life, Slightly

 

Life, Slightly- Nigel Jay Cooper- Contemporary Fiction

Oh wow! A stunning read that may just make you stop and think. Jackie is talking to Gavin, getting him to open up to her about his life as he’s rather melancholy. Gavin thinks Jackie is a stranger, only she knows more about him than he realises. Gavin is married and has an eight year old son. When they were all at school Gavin had a close friend Steve and discovered something he wasn't aware of. Something he has tried to deny ever since but it hasn't gone away which is causing him angst. 

There's something special about this book, something I can't quite put my finger on. I liked Gavin and felt for his predicament. It's about life with all its ups and downs and the secrets we keep, sometimes without realising why. Relationships and the complexity therein and being true to ourselves as well as to others. There are plenty of wise words in this book, ones that made me stop, pause the reading and read again to sink in- to me a voice of experience in life and a reflection. It's a heartwarming read and one that grabbed my heart and left me with a smile- not only at the ending but about life itself. The past is just that, tomorrow isn't a given. Today is the present- treat it well. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Beachy Head

 

BEACHY  HEAD by Adam Lyndon- Crime

DC Barnes is back after his suspension and there is a surprise or two of the promotion kind for him, much to his amazement. Could this be a poison chalice? He is given a case where a man was hit, went to hospital seemingly ok and then died. Was it manslaughter? In another case where he is to appear at court there is a breakout which is odd as the defendant had a high chance of being acquitted. Why would he break out and did he have help? 

These are enjoyable, steady reads where Barnes is a slightly larger than life character and we get much insight into his thought processes. He’s a likeable guy and one you would want on your side and gives the reader the occasional smile. The plot is easy to follow and takes the inevitable twists and turns which kept me between the pages. Its an in depth police procedural which is a wonderful easy read. Highly recommended 

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BLURB

 

MEET DETECTIVE RUTHERFORD BARNES IN THIS BRILLIANT NEW CRIME SERIES FROM A SERVING POLICE OFFICER.

Discover an absolutely gripping crime thriller with a massive twist.

Just before midnight. Mandy is woken by a frantic knocking at the door. It’s her ex-husband. Drunk. Again. At that moment, James, her new partner returns home from work. Mandy hears raised voices. Then a dull, smacking sound. Followed by a sickening crunch . . .

DC Barnes is back on the job after an eighteen-month suspension. He’s offered a case no one else wants — and he’s in no position to refuse. A one-punch homicide. The suspect, Mandy’s new partner James, is an honest, upright citizen. A firefighter. A pillar of the community. The victim, Mandy’s ex, was an aggressive alcoholic.

James’s acquittal is a sure thing. No jury will convict him.

So why does James suddenly abscond from court before the jury reach their verdict?

The following day a body is found at the foot of Beachy Head. The injuries sustained reveal this was no suicide.

And Barnes’s no-win case has become something deeper and darker than anyone could have imagined.

Perfect for fans of Joy Ellis, Helen H. Durrant, Bill Kitson, Michael Hambling, Peter James, Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean, J.D. Kirk, Rachel Abbott, Elly Griffiths, J.M. Dalgliesh or Patricia Gibney.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ADAM LYNDON:

 “Packed full of unexpected twists and turns.” Sheila M.

 “Pulled me in and held me to the end.” Dawn T.

 “Cracking good police story. Complex and twisty.” Joan

 “Very good and gripping.” Kay C.

 “Some really convoluted twists and turns. I loved it.” Rob

 “Excellent sense of place, strong characterisation . . . authentic and detailed police procedure, and a thrilling denouement” Oliver T.

 “A real page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” Mike B.

THE DETECTIVE

DC Rutherford Barnes is young, goodlooking and ambitious — perhaps too ambitious for his own good. His all-consuming desire for promotion makes him vulnerable to temptation. His happy marriage to nursery school teacher Eve is marred only by the couple’s inability to conceive, leading Barnes to throw himself headlong into his work.

THE SETTING

Set against the picturesque landscape of the South Downs, the Sussex seaside town of Eastbourne is packed with tourists during the summer — but it can seem pretty dismal during the winter months. Only fifty-odd miles from London, the town is not immune to the violence which occasionally spills over from the city. Pockets of deprivation and criminality exist alongside reminders of Eastbourne’s more genteel past in the grand Victorian hotels that line the seafront, the pier and the bandstand. The town also boasts one of Britain’s best-known — and most infamous — beauty spots, Beachy Head.

THE AUTHOR

Adam Lyndon has been a serving UK police officer for more than twenty years, working across a range of disciplines including uniformed ops, firearms command and as a detective in CID and specialist investigations.

ALSO BY ADAM LYNDON

DETECTIVE RUTHERFORD BARNES MYSTERIES

Book 1: DEVIL’S CHIMNEY

Book 2: BEACHY HEAD

AUTHOR BIO

ADAM LYNDON

Adam was born and raised in Sussex. He has been a police officer for twenty years both in the UK and in New Zealand, working across a range of disciplines including uniformed ops, firearms command and as a detective in CID and specialist investigations.

He went around the world a couple of times, living in New Zealand for a year before realising home was where all the stories were. Adam writes gritty, Eastbourne-based police-procedurals with hard-edged authenticity, forming a daisy chain along the south coast alongside the likes of Graham Hurley and Peter James. He has been married for twenty years and has four children. His ambition, as his children keep reminding him, is to own a dog. 

BOOKS BY ADAM LYNDON

DETECTIVE RUTHERFORD BARNES MYSTERIES:

• DEVIL’S CHIMNEY

• BEACHY HEAD

In The Mood

 In the Mood by M W Arnold -Historical crime/Mystery (Broken Wings#4)

We are back with the ladies of the Air Transport Auxiliary and one has gone missing whilst in heavy rain and possibly under fire. There's a mystery to unravel and still the war persists. There’s someone new and rather odd at the ladies' favourite chippy and mystery notes are being received and even a threat to Bobby the dog.When gunshots are fired toward the ladies things have to step up rather quickly.  Who is after them and why?

I love this series. There's a bit of everything in there- mystery, drama, humour, wonderful characters and a plot line that keeps the reader enthralled all the way through. Mick really has the talent for putting his meticulous research onto the pages and keeping the characters alive around cleverly thought out plots. This is the 4th in the series and whilst would possibly stand along things would make much more sense if read in order- and why miss out on 3 other brilliant reads? (all 5* from me) 

A wonderful evocative read with a little something for everyone.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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In the Mood – Broken Wings book 3

During a hectic couple of weeks in February 1944, the girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club must face devastating personal loss amongst their number. A member of an illegal faction blackmails Betty, whilst a mystery at Mary's ancestral home threatens to cause more trouble than anyone thought possible. In the midst of what should be the happiest of times, the portents seem to be catching up and little is what it seems to be. Can the girls find the strength to battle forces both internal and external, yet still maintain their dignity and friendship?.

Purchase Links UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mood-Broken-Wings-Book-ebook/dp/B0B669NQ12 US - https://www.amazon.com/Mood-Broken-Wings-Book-ebook/dp/B0B669NQ12

A word about the author… Mick is a hopeless romantic who was born in England and spent fifteen years roaming around the world in the pay of HM Queen Elizabeth II in the Royal Air Force before putting down roots and realizing how much he missed the travel. He’s replaced it somewhat with his writing, including reviewing books and supporting fellow saga and romance authors in promoting their novels. He’s the proud keeper of two Romanian Were Cats bent on world domination, is mad on the music of the Beach Boys, and enjoys the theatre and humoring his Manchester United-supporting wife. Finally, and most importantly, Mick is a full member of the Romantic Novelists Association. In the Mood is the fourth novel in his Broken Wings series and he is very proud to be a part of the Vintage Rose Garden at The Wild Rose Press.

Social media links –

https://www.facebook.com/MWArnoldAuthor Twitter – Mick859 Instagram – Mick859 YouTube Channel –tinyurl.com/cymt5zea

Lost Luggage

 

Lost Luggage by Samantha Tonge- literary fiction

A real charm of a read. Dolly and her sister Greta used to buy suitcases at auction each Christmas- ones who had not been claimed for over six months. Occasionally they would find some nice clothes and bits, at other times just a load of dirty washing. Since Greta died Dolly hasn't been herself, but now her neighbour Leroy who she gets on well with is leaving for Jamaica and Dolly feels a little left out. She bids for a steamer trunk as it looks different. On arriving home she leaves opening it until Christmas day as was her and Greta’s tradition. When she does she gets rather more than she bargained for and wants to find the owner to return some of the goods. When she finds a notebook of “ firsts” the trunk opens the door to things she would never have dreamed of. She is  egged on by Flo, her young neighbour of eleven, who has promised to widen her own horizons by going to guides as long as Dolly continues with the firsts.

This is one of those reads that quickly enveloped me and I quickly took to both Dolly and Flo. There’s a skill of writing characters where the reader becomes not only absorbed but invested in what's happening and this shines through the pages. Larger than life characters bring a smile sometimes hiding the sadness of their lives and this book has both the ups and downs of life in all its forms.One Life- live it. A treasure of a read and one I didn't want to end.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Lost Luggage Brand new from the bestselling author of Under One Roof. One lost suitcase. Two strangers. And a notebook that will change lives. For almost fifty years, sisters Dolly and Greta have lived together – getting each other through the good times and the bad.

Except this year, Greta isn’t there and Dolly is feeling lost and alone. In memory of her sister, Dolly heads to the lost luggage auction where she and Greta go each Christmas. But her bid reveals a gift she never imagined. Amongst the clothes is the notebook of a reclusive woman who has hardly been outside for an entire year, but who isn’t ready to give up on life. The notebook’s contents resonate with Dolly. With the support of her neighbours, retired Leroy and eleven year old Flo, Dolly decides to take on the year of firsts Phoebe had planned. But, can you have a year of firsts when you’re seventy-two? And is Dolly ready to discover the notebook’s secrets, or are some secrets better left lost at the airport? Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3bgCnBC

Author Bio – Samantha Tonge is the bestselling and award-winning author of over 15 romantic fiction titles published by HQ, and most recently Aria. Her first book for Boldwood, Under One Roof, was published in February 2022 and her move to Boldwood marks a broadening of her writing into multi-generational woman’s fiction. She lives in Manchester with her family. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaTongeAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamTongeWriter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthatongeauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SamanthaTongeNews Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/samantha-tonge

The Father

 

The Father by John Nicholl crime thriller

Anthony is now an adult but was sent for “ therapy” to the infamous Dr Galbraith as a child. This has haunted him his whole life and his marriage is now tenuous as well as his heavy drinking- anything to take his head away from the terrible memories. To try and put this to bed, Tony is writing a book about it all and he is interviewing those who knew Dr Galbraith and those around him such as his mother who instigated the treatment believing she was doing the best for her son after her marriage breakdown. What transpires is that Tony's memory was not always accurate- both to the good and the bad.

I’ve always enjoyed John’s books. Yes they are sometimes a little dark but knowing his background (both in the police and child protection social worker) I know that although fiction there's a depth of knowledge and maybe even some truth (albeit changed/enlarged)  in what he writes (John does mention based on true events). Although a subject that many may not want to read about, this is, as ever, handled very sensitively and there aren't the details or horrible scenes which you might imagine in such a book. This is the third in the Dr Galbraith series and would probably stand alone, however to understand more of his capabilities, perhaps read the others first. A different read, most certainly one to remember- and to remember that although fiction the truth is often stranger. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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The Father What you don’t know can hurt you. Thirty years ago Anthony Mailer was a seven-year-old boy trapped in Dr Galbraith’s basement. Now he’s a journalist, a husband and a father. But no matter how far he’s come, at times he’s still that scared little boy. In order to save his marriage, he has to stop hiding from what happened and deal with it once and for all. But digging into the past holds dangers Anthony never imagined . . . A note from the author: While fictional, this book was inspired by true events. It draws on the author’s experiences as a police officer and child protection social worker. The story contains content that some readers may find upsetting. It is dedicated to survivors everywhere. Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3tSBPZb

Author Bio – John Nicholl is the bestselling author of numerous psychological thrillers and detective series, previously published by Bloodhound, and inspired by his real-life experience as an ex-police officer and child protection social worker. Boldwood will be publishing the next title in his Galbraith series and a new psychological thriller in autumn 2022, and will be reissuing his bestselling backlist from May 2022. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnNichollAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicholl06 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnichollauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JohnNichollNews Bookbub profile:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/john-nicholl