Nicki's book blog

  Three Sisters by O.J  Mullen-psychological thriller When a woman is fatally injured in a car accident and the driver walks away free, one of her sisters doesn’t think this is fair and sets out for revenge. The driver is a successful head of a large brand about to go global and he has it all in the eyes of some- the big house and the lifestyle, little realising that Lewis spends every waking minute thinking about what happened. Sam is determined that the balance should be put right, whilst the other sister Alex is clinging on to her marriage for dear life.   Chapters are written from various characters' points of view, often in the same chapter which is something new for me and took a little getting used to. It’s a descriptive book and in parts a gritty read that is well executed so the reader is at the heart of the unfolding drama. This took me a while to get into due to the multifaceted approach. A captivating rollercoaster of a  read, with unexpected twists in a rather unique s

  The Crossed Keys by Phillip Jordan- Crime When disturbed men want revenge for what happened to them as children back in the days of a more than volatile Northern Ireland, the police have more than just one trail to follow.  Companies used as fronts for illegal operations are nothing new,  but when this could affect an ongoing court case things have to be sorted out justly and pronto. Detective Inspector Veronica Taylor and team are dealing with more than their fair share of trouble, starting with vandalism against a developer and leading into so much more.  This is one of a series but happily stands alone. A book of brilliant descriptions putting the reader at the heart of the action,  and at times reflecting on young lives that really didn't stand a chance even if they survived.  Although this is fiction we now know some of the depraved conditions in real life and the abuse that some suffered without modern day regulations in the homes for "troubled boys' ' and the

  The Silent Friend by Alison Stockham-psychological thriller Louise has just moved into her new flat when she hears a disturbance across the street. A police car has arrived and taken what looks like the husband away. Soon after she gets a knock at the door and there stands Isobel, the man's wife, welcoming her to the neighbourhood but in need of some company. Louise and Isobel soon strike up a friendship and Louise learns that Carl, Izzy’s husband, has been arrested for burglary with actual bodily harm, something Izzy’s says he would never do. She is convinced of his innocence and expects him to soon be home. Carl worked with an accomplice who distracted the elderly whilst he rummaged around for what he could take. Little does Izzy know that the last accomplice was rather closer to home than she would ever imagine..  Wow! I raced through this and was surprised early on by the twist .(I’m not giving anything away). It's a very clever concept, perfectly executed and even 50% of

  Coffins & Confetti (A Celebrant’s Memoir Of Life, Loss & Love) by Ruth Graham-Authentic Experience Memoir A cracker of a read with lots of real laughs out loud and cringes/wow's (!) along the way. A book as the title says about the life of a celebrant but so very much more. Ruth has had a few jobs in her time and as a celebrant found the experiences many of them gave her useful in this job where not everything goes smoothly. We all imagine funerals, especially, and usually weddings, to be where families put their differences aside. Not always so and sometimes Ruth is in the firing line from both sides as to what should or shouldn't be said. How hard can it be for the celebrant to perform the service? As Ruth tells us sometimes nigh on impossible when you can't do right from wrong. It’s also in part, Ruth's story of her life mostly after she met her partner Russ and a little of beforehand and her numerous jobs, all relevant to her current position. There are so

  The Nurse by Valerie Keogh- psychological thriller  When Lissa was small a girl at school annoyed her and bullied her along with several others. One day, having meticulously planned this, Lissa fell and fatally injured the bully. The look on her victim's face she never forgot. As an adult of 16 she finds her father had led a duplicitous life and when he suddenly died, left her and her mother in more than just financial difficulties. Lissa has plans for her and her mother who now requires twenty four hour care and her fathers will has strings for someone else, someone who Lissa feels if not there, life would be a whole lot easier.  A dramatic, rather chilling, intense read at times- but wow, one where the tension was on a knife edge. Down one star as to me rather a rushed, choppy ending, that said for the rest of the book I was on the edge of my seat. There’s a drama, a tension to this that very much kept me engrossed. When you are in the hands of someone else, be careful who thos

  The Lonely Hearts Beach Club by Amy Miller - Contemporary Literature    A year ago Hattie lost her husband Jesse when he swam out to save a struggling surfer. Since then she hasn't been able to pick herself up and just wants to be alone. Her daughter Olivia has done her best to keep her mother company and whilst keeping treasured memories of Jesse alive, feels her mother should look after herself a little more. As Hattie and Jesse's business was renting out deckchairs, Olivia placed an ad in the local beach cafe for someone to rent out one deckchair to talk to her mother for an hour. What transpires is a viral post and Hattie looks likely to withdraw even further. Whilst looking after her mother and daughter Beau, Olivia has been neglecting herself whilst keeping a secret she hopes will never be revealed or meet the man who was a part of it. A part of her life she would rather forget due to the trauma it caused her. I loved this. There’s a couple of plot lines- Olivia’s bac

  None Of This is True by Lisa Jewell- psychological thriller Oh wow! A book where I couldn't quite put my finger on what the tension was but boy oh boy was it there! Alix is a journalist who does true life podcasts and lives with her rather unreliable husband and two small children. Josie is the same age and lives with her husband whom she met when she was fourteen (and he was forty one) and one of her grown up children. The two meet on their 45th birthdays, and find they were born in the same hospital. Josie approaches Alix with a view to doing a podcast about her life as she says it is about to change and she has a lot to tell. Alix is intrigued. Alternate chapters tell part of the podcast and one of the neighbours telling of a crime. Josie's life has been complex to say the least and anyone Alix asks about her family doesn't shed a good light on them. When Alix realises there is far more going on than Josie is letting on, she realises her family may be in danger. The c

  Us Two by Janet Hoggarth-women’s fiction Florence and Rowena have been friends forever until they drifted apart through life changes. Florence now lives with her parents despite being in her thirties and has so much clobber there which needs to be sorted out. They have given her an ultimatum- they are moving house and downsizing so there won’t be room for all of her stuff or even her. Things have to change. Years ago Flo had an English teacher whom she admired. Years later she saw this teacher in a new light as she was giving palm readings having found a new interest in clairvoyance. When Flo gets left a campervan in a will she thinks she will do it up, sell it and set off for Costa Rica- the land of her dreams. Rowena meanwhile has been having a fling with whom she now knows is a married man. When she falls pregnant her life changes. Maybe the two friends can come back and support each other?  This is a wonderful easy read and a life lesson with a smile with those ups and downs of l

  Cold Murder by Jeanette Taylor Ford- Crime  A wonderful easy read I loved from cover to cover. A body has been found by a dog walker who recognises who it is- it's one of their neighbours. Further investigation finds that the close the people live on know each other rather better than most. The victim was a misogynistic bully whom no-one really liked. Could they perhaps have got together to get rid of him? When there are apparent links to a previous murder DS Della and team have to put on more than their thinking caps. This is one of those reads that I found quickly enveloped me. I wanted to read “ just one more chapter” and another and another. There’s nothing complicated or gory- just a very pleasant detective story despite being a crime book. I quickly liked Della and her dogged tenacity and determination whilst maintaining a caring, compassionate side. This is the first in the DS Della Downs series and I would happily read more (they aren't written yet!) In fact sign me u

THE RIVER'S EDGE by Joy Ellis- crime (Jackman & Evans book 10) There’s a film crew in the fens making a crime programme. The person who was their police advisor comes to DI Jackman terrified for his life. He knows something is going on but not what and he’s receiving threats so he is going to disappear for his own safety. Marie Evans gets a call out just after she and her partner have found the perfect house to live in. The call out is for a body washed up, a rather handsome one for Rory the pathologist to deal with. There’s something almost too perfect about the victim, as if he could be an actor or model. When another similar type of body is found it's clear there’s something strange going on. The “joy” of reading Joy’s books is hard to put into words (but I’ll try!). An excellent plot and very likeable main characters which to me give the reader almost a sense of belonging. That might sound strange but having read all of this series I feel I “ know” Jackman and Evans as

  American Black Widow By Gregg Olson- The shocking true story of a preacher's wife turned killer (Dangerous Women - True Crime Stories) A chilling true story of a female murd erer who began to be investigated when authorities discovered she had been widowed twice over.  Sharon Nelson had a childhood enveloped by overbearing religious parents who almost forbade the modern world of the time (1970’s). She grew up with a reputation, one of a woman on a manhunt and a potential danger to any married man. Her first husband was a minister who wasn’t so angelic himself, however Sharon had him wrapped around her little finger and she was charming the congregation with more than smiles and cakes. An affair leads to both parties' marriages breaking down and the couple themselves get married. Is it an accident when Perry then dies as it was so convenient for Sharon? It was ruled so until Sharon’s next husband was found mysteriously killed in an arson attack on their home which is where the