Nicki's book blog

  The Electrician by Stewart Giles- Crime  There's been a major power cut in the York area which everyone hates and then Jason Smith gets a call. A man has been stapled to the distribution board in the garage of his house after he was killed. This happened whilst his family were away. How did the killer know all the timings? When there are other victims it's clear that this is rather more than a gruesome killing. Who is doing this and why? This is one of a series but will stand alone (then again why miss out on all of the others? All 5* from me) Oh wow! This one takes things to a whole new level. It's rather macabre in places and the inside of such a person's head is a scary place to be. My own heart figuratively stopped towards the end, I won’t spoil anything. Stewart, you have a skill, a rare talent for putting the reader at the heart of things, so much so its as if the characters are old friends. Please keep doing what you are doing. It's brilliant. A heart stopp

  A Festive Juxtaposition by Paul R. Stanton- holiday fiction A stunningly beautifully written book that grabbed me from the outset. “The gentle snowflakes flurried, eddied and whirled, dancing in their oddly curious coruscation, before finally descending to earth where their individuality was lost amongst their earlier brethren” Wow- magical!  This is a book with a winter/seasonal theme that is truly enchanting, set on Christmas eve in the city of London. The main character is the Devil and he doesn’t behave quite as one would expect, I can't give too much away for fear of spoiling it. Each chapter Nick meets new people so is almost a story each time. This blew me away, I'll try and explain. There are subliminal messages in each story, and maybe ones that touch each reader- they certainly did me and then that ending… got it, wow! It's a story of hope and enlightenment, of being kind and how the little things can make a world of difference to someone.  This has to be one o

  The Bag of Secrets By Joy Ellis- Crime When the body of a homeless woman is found, the police can't make it a priority as they have their hands full with the living and assign it to a rather arrogant DC who has much to learn, both in life and the job. Matt and Liz are handed a bag belonging to Molly, the deceased and it appears she may have been hiding something and they get the green light to investigate further. She wasn't who she first appeared to be and another homeless man knows there is another clue if only he can find it. There is also a teenager missing, one who has gone AWOL before but this time there’s something rather more about it. There’s a clue of “ The Bunker” and it's hard to find out exactly what this is as it's a well kept secret and those in the know are under pressure for it to remain so. What on earth is going on in the fens and why? I love this series (they do stand alone). There’s a wonderful camaraderie between Matt and Liz, and of course Rory

  The Ravenswood Murders by Helen Durrant- Crime (Detective Rossi book 2) (stand alone book) When a young woman's body is found in a shallow grave, there is little the police have to go on other than she is the fourth girl to be found in a certain way. On the strength of her previous case, Detective Alice Rossi is brought in. This means that there are more hurdles than just a case where others have failed, she has a new team to contend with as well. When there is a faint link to a mill where the father of a recently missing girl visited the day she went missing, are things starting to fall into place? Alice is thinking about moving and retiring as she has served her time, however her love of the job and sympathy for the victims keeps her doing what she does best- finding the bad guys.  Another brilliant, entertaining read from the master of crime that is Helen Durrant. Alice is a very likeable character and I’m hoping she won’t retire any time soon! It's a very well thought out

  Murder in a Country Village by F.L. Everett- Crime Edie, who works on a newspaper, sets off for a walk with her friend Ethel. It's 1941 and they are glad the blitz is over and they have a little freedom. Currently Edie is the obituarist, but is inquisitive by nature and good with people and so would love to be a crime writer.  Being Edie things are never straight forward and they spot a body on their walk and so she wants to find out more.  It’s someone known to Ethel as the woman who is petitioning for peace and her and her friends are unpopular in the village. It also appears that two evacuees have gone walkabout from the same village. The conscripted local bobby appears to be as much use as a chocolate fireguard and so Edie begins to investigate what on earth is going on and why? This is a cozy type crime and one to get immersed in the WW2 world of Edie York. There are plenty of red herrings and dubious suspects to keep the reader engrossed and guessing right the way through.

  All In Monte Carlo by Anna Shilling-contemporary fiction  A fun read about the jet set of Monte Carlo. How the other half live! Monte Carlo is full of people wanting to impress in every way possible. £30,000 for a bottle of brandy isn't unheard of in this tongue in cheek tale. Think “ the real housewives of Monte Carlo” but not! There is betrayal and subterfuge, and beneath the banner of a book club there is plotting going on as a small group of women have had enough. However planning doesn’t stay on course and the women have to think on their feet- something they aren't quite used to. A book to be taken lightly and one with a smile but apparently based on true events! . Of the ups and downs of the millionaire lifestyle. This would make a good holiday read, one to bring a laugh. A book that is slightly bonkers, possibly how not to be aspirational and that money doesn't make anyone happy but may provide the ways and means. A different, crazy read. For more reviews please

  The Old Ducks Hen Do by Maddie Please- women’s fiction A wonderful tonic of a read with lots of smiles! Denny has been invited to a hen do- a few days away in Spain with her sister and a couple of friends known as the Old Ducks. All are ladies in their prime and have been around the block a few times. Denny has remained single and is now happily retired, or at least she thinks she is. She realises she needs something more in life than just doing as she pleases getting up late. There’s a focus or hobby or activity missing as she wants to make the most of her life and there is no time like the present. On arrival, she hears a voice from the next door villa she recognises from almost forty years ago- a man she went out with. What are the chances? He broke her heart as he didn't stay in touch, despite Denny writing. No, she really can't fancy him now can she? Life is for living, but does that include a man in her life after all these years? This is one of those reads where you ca

  MURDER MOST COLD by Victoria Dowd- crime  (book 5 in the Smart women series) (standalone book) Ursula has just been proposed to by her boyfriend Spear and her family can't wait to get the celebrations started. Her family, for anyone who knows them will testify to, are rather an unusual lot. They tend to have an attraction for murder. The group travel to Lapland for their festivities on the edge of a lake, now frozen and soon things take a turn away from weddings to survival when one by one people are murdered. Ursula's mother Pandora is quite something- far from the loving mother you might imagine, but still Ursula can't help but have a soft spot for her. When Ursula sees a face under the ice, her future collapses around her. Who is doing this and why? Although one of the series, this happily stands alone ( I haven’t read all of the others). It's a cozy crime style read with a smile. Some of the characters are larger than life and those of a certain age will understa