Nicki's book blog

  Danger on the Island by Stewart Giles- Crime DI Liam O’Reilly is called after the death of one of a group of tombstoners- something he’s never heard of before. He’s rather sore and in pain as only a month ago he had a motorbike accident and badly broke his leg. He can’t stay sitting for love nor money so is better off at work. When the woman's body is recovered, her friends say there was something strange about her when she jumped. Those recovering the remains also find another body impaled on the rocks- someone has pretty much placed her there wanting her to be found. What on earth is going on?  Oh boy! Another instant page turner of a read from the brilliant author that is Stewart Giles. It's a very clever, well thought out and executed (every pun intended!) plotline. There's something special when an author gets the reader invested and so liking the characters, that there's that reader's dilemma: The one where you want to know what happens but don’t want the bo

  Dead Pretty by Joy Wood- psychological thriller  In 1977, a group of trainee nurses began work at Harlow Wood orthopaedic hospital and started getting to know one another. When one disappears, could it be it was all too much and they have fled home? When it is found she has really disappeared her friends are more than worried as it's so unlike her. When another one goes missing there is something far more sinister going on and who on earth is doing this?. Occasional chapters give the perpetrators point of view which adds to the tension in this well written thriller. The reader is led to believe who the perpetrator is- or is it just me that thought that? I was initially drawn to this as I remember Harlow Wood from when I was a child. It’s cleverly written and gives some of the lives of the new intake as things take a chilling turn around them. This is my first book by this author and one I most certainly will look out for in the future- I thoroughly really enjoyed reading this. It

  THE MARLOW MURDERS Biba Pearce - Crime   A woman is found dead, as ever, by a dog walker. A week or so beforehand her hat from her fancy dress outfit and phone were found under a bench. It appeared she had been to a charity Christmas party and never made it home. Detective Rob Miller is called back to work after having time off, following his wife having a horrendous attack in their home. His whole team were suspended pending investigation, when a consultant they were using turned rogue so now they are still trying to pick up the pieces. When someone else is killed with a potential link to the first murder, it can’t be coincidence, Marlow surely can’t have two murderers at the same time?  This is a wonderful read and one I really enjoyed. There is great characterisation and a well thought out plot that keeps the pages turning easily. Although book seven in a series this does stand alone- I haven’t read all of the others. It’s very well written and very engaging, with the odd smile he

  The Lodge by Sue Watson- psychological thriller A read where the tension is palpable right the way through. Imagine your worst scenario and add in the people who have made your life difficult to say the least. Nightmare:  Fiona has been invited by her ex- mother in law Angela to spend a few days for what could be “ her last birthday” (she won’t say why) in a lodge in Cornwall in the depths of winter. The other guests are Fiona's two teenage children , Sam and Georgia, her ex husband Scott, his new wife Danni and their young baby. There is also Jenna, a young woman invited by Angela to be their chef for the weekend. Fiona is wary of Danni as she stole her husband in broad daylight at the school they both work at. She has also just come out of a short but rather chilling relationship with someone who won’t leave her alone. Danni has her own bones about Fiona and Jenna who also used to work at the school but had to leave through serious accusations made by Danni. To add to things th

  What Dies Inside Us by Tony J Forder-Crime   It's Jimmy’s last week before he retires and an ex-serviceman says he saw a murder. When the emergency services arrive there is no sign of a body but a few days later the man who saw the body is murdered. The potential victim is part of a business syndicate, owning several businesses and it appears that the others have something to hide. Is there a crime when there isn’t a body or is the man just missing? Elsewhere there’s a young girl who has been admitted to hospital with an overdose. It suspiciously looks like where she lives with her sister and mother the house has been cuckooed. Did someone give her the pills as she appears incapable of getting them herself and is more going on than the mother is letting on especially when the hospital finds something unexpected? Jimmy’s final two cases before he retires are puzzling to say the least. Oh boy! I can't say how much I love this series and Bliss. He’s such a good bloke, I wish I

  STORM ON THE LEVELS (Detective Kate Hamblin #12) by David Hodges- crime (Standalone books) Wow! A book once started I really didn’t want to put down. Six people, once friends who shared a house at university, meet up at a hotel for a weekend stay five years later. They all hold a secret from their last night at uni.  One of them disappeared after a night at the pub, one who never normally joined in so they all spiked his drink as a laugh. They thought he may have gone down the river path on his way home and drowned. When at the hotel they find out that one of the group had already died a couple of weeks beforehand, also drowned. The weather is closing in as it's snowing heavily and the hotel is in a dip, where mobile signals are sporadic. Nearby, detectives Kate and Hayden are also on their way back from a couple of days away when their car breaks down. They decide to walk and find themselves at the hotel. It's a strange place to say the least as it's being sold so there

  Fatal Lies by Anita Waller- crime Oh I treasure reading Anita’s books. There is always a warmth and comfort between the pages (despite being a crime book) which draws you in like a comfy armchair beside a wonderful open fire. There are very likeable characters which quickly grow on the reader and a carefully thought out plot which keeps the pages turning. These are the sort of books where I begin thinking “ I’ll just read for an hour or so” and then find myself 30% in and not wanting to put it down. Real life gets pushed aside! This time the Forrester Detective agency is getting sorted out after the deaths of the original owners. Matt, the son, is now in charge with his business partner Steve and Carol their own Mary Poppins has magically appeared, much to their relief. Matt was a DI and is married to a DS- Karen providing him with appropriate information where he can maybe help. When a burglary is committed a walk around the block soon finds some of the takings however the homeowner

  The Twins by NJ Moss- psychological thriller A clever premise that hooked me from the start. Identical twins who swap places having only just discovered each other exist after being adopted at birth. Lorna has an abusive husband which somehow the other one Sadie, has found out about and leads Lorna to think she can sort things out and give her a break from the abuse. Lorna in turn goes from a luxurious house to a grotty flat where Sadie lives and it looks like Sadie has been using drugs and has far more going on than she let on. Each sister has a notebook of things they should know about the other's life. The trouble is not all of it is true- both of them have their own reason for the swap. Who are the real enemies and can they keep their individual identities a secret? OMG! As with all Nathan’s books, there’s a tension, an unease from very early on which draws the reader in. A premise that had my head spinning to begin with (it’s easy to follow- each chapter is headed with the

  Charlotte's Snowman By Lainey Dee (Childrens aged 3-8 yrs) Children love building snowmen. When they add a nose, eyes, and mouth to their snowman, they get a magical feeling that their snowman has his own personality.  And… sometimes snowmen do come alive! Charlotte wakes up and sees that it’s snowing… it’s snowing and it’s snowing. She runs outside to build a snowman. She fixes a carrot for the snowman’s nose, a stick for his mouth, and two stones for his eyes. But the snowman has many demands, so Charlotte has to part with her gloves, scarf and hat; so her snowman wouldn’t feel cold. But the sun comes up all of a sudden, and Charlotte cannot find her snowman anymore. She is sad. Then, she learns that her snowman hasn’t disappeared completely, but is hiding in the ground, waiting to emerge next winter. A great book for those children who miss their much loved snowman when winter is over Purchase Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charlottes-Snowman-Lainey-Dee-ebook/dp/B08P1P97F1 htt