Nicki's book blog

  The Family at No. 12 by Anita Waller- psychological thriller  Wow! Sit down and hold on for the ride! Jeanette lives alone looking after dogs in her kennels. She has never been married and lived with her mother until she quite recently died. One day a man comes in to enquire about booking his dog in and Jeanette's life changes dramatically. Years later a child is found who has never experienced life outside her room or even conversation. There is then a search of the house and what transpires is quite shocking as to what has gone on behind closed doors. After the child is adopted into a loving family, will she adapt to her new life or are there other things going on?  Oh wow! Another one of Anita’s books that I didn't want to put down. I felt for Marta and her existence. Anyone who knows of someone brought up without love knows what lifelong damage this can do. This is very sensitively  and cleverly written, key sentences giving the reader scope for their own imagination of

  The Dentist- Tim Sullivan- crime This is the first in the DS Cross series and each stands alone ( I read the Politician first which led me to wanting to read the others). Cross is rather an enigma. He is highly successful at solving crimes but equally unsuccessful at social interaction to the point when someone smiles he has to remember what this means and try to remember how to act or speak accordingly. He is a sticker for perfection, every I and T, and is rather a Sherlock on spotting small details. A homeless man has been found dead. Sadly something due to resources the police wouldn’t investigate unless necessary. Cross is sure it is murder as the man was found with tins of cider in his hand. Sure enough the post mortem shows a broken hyoid- so begins a case.  I love Cross. He’s one of those avuncular characters that once you are in his mindset, he is fascinating. Someone so astute in a very different way to how most of us are wired- which is what gets the back up of most of his

  The Politician- Tim Cross- Crime (DS Cross#4-will  standalone) This is my first experience with DS George Cross and what a wonderful character. He often “ says it as it is' ' and conviviality is something for others to say. George has Aspergers which means he sees things differently to others and can't settle until the truth is found- which has made him a highly, if slightly unpopular detective with those that don’t understand him.  A woman is found dead in her home but the murder somehow doesnt appear quite right. Many think that this is a burglary gone wrong but George spots inconsistencies. The woman is high profile across social media, she was the local mayor and many have made disparaging comments through the platforms to her. Who would want her dead and why take jewellery and leave other items? I haven't read the others in the series which didn't matter a jot, other than I've realised I've missed out on some cracking reads (now added to the TBR pile!

  THE SOHO KILLER by Biba Pearce- crime  DI Rob Miller has been called to a case where a man has been left in a garden area in Soho. He has drawn a crowd due to what he is, or rather isn't wearing. When the team visits his husband they find he isn't into BDSM which is the gear he was wearing and led rather a quiet life. Rob’s wife Jo works for MI5 and when one of their own is killed in a very similar M.O, the secret service wants to take over. Who is killing these men, why the gear and what is their motive? I really enjoy this series (they do stand alone). Biba has a skill of drawing the reader in very quickly and a wonderful depth of characters that bring them alive. There is a subplot or two which enhances this without in any way taking away from the main plotline, to me this gives the characters that extra depth, that added bit of real life to make them even more believable. A brilliant read and a wonderful main plot line that kept me turning the pages faster and faster. A b

For Richer, For Deader by Helen Golden- Cozy murder mystery                Lady Grace has received two threatening notes both attached to dead animals. Lady Beatrice, who solved the last crime in the area, wants to involve the police and do some detective work herself. Lady Grace, expecting guests shortly before her daughter's wedding, wants none of it but does agree it can't be left alone. Things take a turn for the worse and DCI Fitzwilliam is not best pleased as Bea is involving herself, something she denies as she is just “ good at talking and listening”. Bea has a new friend however the society pages are making it out to be far more. Someone even knows what clothes she is wearing- who is the snoop and the leak and who is threatening the wedding? I enjoy this type of reading. Despite being a murder mystery, its a lighthearted fun book where no-one takes themselves too seriously, being a good mashup of drama and humour.. Bea is a very likeable character and Perry is a good s

  Stone Cold Killing by D.E. White- Crime (Det Dove Milson#4)  DC Milson and partner are driving towards a road accident when they see a baby in a carrier in the middle of the road. As they go to investigate, shots are fired. Very soon afterwards there is a 999 call to a woman fairly close by who has been fatally stabbed in her caravan. Surely this isn't a coincidence? There are drugs found in the car and the victim is an elderly woman. How on earth can they be connected? Dove is also having her own private issues-she has seen messages she wishes she hadn't on the phone of her fiancé Quinn. I love this series (they will happily stand alone) and the author's style of writing. I'm quickly into the heart of the drama and ensconced between the pages. Dove is a very realistic likeable character- tenacious with a sense of humour and a very determined streak. The personal subplot works very well with the main plot line and to me gives the characters a wonderful depth of realit

  The Wrong Ghost by Victoria Connelly- Women’s fiction This is a wonderful novella easily read in an evening or over a coffee or two that tells the story of Bea who has recently become a widow. She lives in her husband George’s ancestral home with her four year old daughter. One day she is wistfully thinking of George and one way and another finds herself a ghost friend. This tells her story.  I loved this. It made me smile and it brought a tear or two (in a good way). One of those stories you remember years later and perhaps makes you reflect on life a little. I loved George and Bea and this is a cleverly thought out story that I didn't want to end. A big 5* from me.  For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog ---------------------------------------------                                                    The Wrong Ghost When Beatrice Beaumont loses her husband, George, she finds herself raising their young daughter alone in the ancestral home, Ketton Hall, deep

  Mad Honey- Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan-Literary Fiction  One of my books of the year 10 * if I could. A book quite unlike anything else- in such a good way. Olivia has inherited her mothers house and her fathers bees. Bees, for anyone who knows them, can tell us so much about life- they are truly fascinating creatures. In this story, Olivia tells part of it through them. Her eighteen year old son Asher, has been seeing Lily for a few months. When a surprise goes wrong and they don’t speak for a few days everyone thinks it's teenage angst. Olivia has had her own issues with Asher's father from whom she is now divorced. When Olivia gets a call from the police station, things have drastically changed and maybe even their whole lives. In the blurb this book is described as compelling and wow! It most certainly is. There’s something not only about the plot but the style of writing that keeps the pages turning so very easily. I quickly took to Olivia and her predicame

  The Orphans of Berlin by Jina Bacarr -WW2 hist. fiction It's 1942 and some of Berlin's Jews have come to France, only now it is occupied and they are being rounded up . This is based on the true story of the kinder transport. The Landau girls have fled, only someone has given them away and the two youngest are taken away. Rachel, the eldest, was out at the time meeting her resistance friend. She quickly decides there is only one option- to find her friend who is in Paris that helped them get away in the first place. Kay is a debutante- or at least her mother would like her to be. She is an American heiress but hates the circles she “ should” move in and prefers to do her own thing- something more mentally challenging. The two women join together to try and save Rachel's sisters and do what they can for the war effort. I quickly got into this and liked both Rachel and Kay- both feisty, determined, tenacious women putting themselves at risk for others. We get the background

  The Cellar by John Nicholl- psychological thriller/crime A clever, thrilling, quite raw in parts and gritty crime/psychological read not for the faint- hearted (think Fred West/captive type). Marcus Gove is quite clever, and thinks himself almost god-like in his abilities. He sets his sights on his victims and then takes his pleasure back at his remote country house well away from anyone or anything.  He has his sights set on Lucy, whose part time occupation is painting and he has devised a way of asking her to paint his cellar studio. Lucy, having tolerated a lazy boyfriend and making a new start, sees the lucrative opportunity and despite her family thinking it's too good to be true she wants to go through with it.      Laura the detective is on holiday taking a much needed break so when the case breaks someone else has to take over until she receives a less than friendly call. Who is Moloch and why is he doing this? OMG! A book I didn't want to put down. I've said “raw