Nicki's book blog

  Sickness on the Island by Stewart Giles- crime There’s some strange illness on the island, witnessed first hand by DI O’Reilly when he is in a restaurant. A man seemingly the worse for wear drops down dead. That same evening several other people suffered the same fate. Was it a heart attack? O’Reilly doesn't think so due to the look on the man's face and his sweaty pallor. There has been a spate of break ins which are also odd as they were very organised and a speedy in-and-out, but nothing apparently taken. What is going on and why? Oh boy! Another one of Stewart’s books that I don’t want to put down and wouldn't if real life didn't get in the way. Its tense, its gripping and tantalises the reader. The characters, as ever, are wonderful and there is O’Reilly. A keen detective determined to see justice done with his own way of doing things and humour along with some home life thrown in for good measure- a balance Stewart gets very right. The only down side for me is ...

  A Heart of Darkness by JR Sinclair-Crime   When a significant MP drops dead at a college dinner it looks like a heart attack. DI Joseph Stone’s daughter Ellie was there and noticed a couple of things that may pertain to this not being from natural causes. Joseph has to be careful due to a conflict of interest, but has his own suspicions as there is a link to past cases and possibly even involvement of the Night Watchman. What is going on and why on the political forum? Wow! This is a clever and well crafted plot as with all Jr Sinclair’s books. I love the balance of Joseph’s work and home life- his interactions with Dylan and their love of different foods and drinks (which inspired me to get some!) and how Dylan seamlessly helps with his love of research. There are  the inevitable twists and turns again beautifully crafted which keeps the reader on their toes and the pages turning ever faster. I could read the whole thing in one go given the time easily as it’s so compe...

  The Stonemasons Song by Tony J Forder- Crime 8th Dec  Bliss is back! Yay! Ex DI Bliss is now working both a cold case unit and is occasional SIO with the MCU, albeit now as a civilian. After over 40 years in the force you would think he had seen it all, but the occasional thing still takes him by surprise. A body is found near a concrete road support, the odd thing being that the long lead victim has a chisel sticking out of his head. This makes Jimmy think back to an old case where a compass was used, the link to him being the Mason’s. Could someone either be in this organisation or want to point the finger at them? The cold case unit is working on another victim who travelled from Wisbech to London unexpectedly and ended up dead. How and why? Tony’s books take me to another world. Not only is there a cracking plot or two but there is the most meticulous research , this time into the world of the Masons which I found most interesting and where the “Stonemasons song” takes i...

  The Book Club Killer by Ross Greenwood-Crime DCI Barton is thinking of retiring. Meanwhile he needs to do something about his health. He is way overweight and his wife has been nagging him to go to the GP’s as soon as. Mortis, their forensic pathologist is also retiring but not before he lets Barton know that a suspected heart attack is far from it- the man did not die at his own hand. A reminder to Barton of his own health and also that he likes puzzles. The man belongs to a group of former employees known as the Tax Titans as they were all accountants, only a few are still working, the rest are retired however a couple have died. They all  meet up occasionally as a book club. Who would want them dead and why? I love Ross’s books because they are so easy to get into. It's a great plot and as ever one well crafted. I like Barton and his no nonsense approach with a steely tenacity to see justice done. His wife has a wonderful sense of humour which lightens things very well. A...

  Old girls Go Greek by Maddie Please- women's fiction Meg has recently found a new friend and joined a painting class. When an opportunity to go to Greece presents itself , she decides to take the plunge and go. A painting trip turns into a relaxing place she is finding herself in. After her divorce she struggled to be comfortable in her own skin- something the sunshine, friends and doing different things are now bringing to her. She also meets Will and thinks he is vaguely familiar but he is very reserved and although pleasant says little about himself. Greece may well have a lot to answer for one way or another! This is a delight of a read. I'm reading it just as the weather here (UK) is dipping into autumn temperatures and it's wonderful to be immersed in the warmth of a well written read. It's one surrounded by humour and friendship and what that can bring. A zest for life and saying “yes” to new adventures. Perspective doesn't just apply to painting but to lif...

  The Murder at Worlds End by Ross Montgomery - Crime Stephen Pike arrives at Tithe Hall to take up a new position which he desperately needs- he is destitute and has somewhat of a history. On arrival he finds no such position but fortuitously they need more staff, especially as they are shutting out the world for safety due to the passing of the comet. This is 1910 and the rich out power the scientists in what they believe and what they would have their household believe. However the woman who wrote the letter getting Stephen employment, Decima, has her own thoughts and plans. When there is a murder the night of the comet when everyone has been locked in their rooms, the two try to discover who the culprit is.  This is my first foray into Mr Montgomery’s work and won't be the last- I loved it. It grabbed me from the outset. The characters are so well described that they come to life between the pages and the plot, a locked room (literally!) is a clever one and well thought ou...

  Silent Night By Anita Waller- crime Following the traditional Christmas eve midnight mass, the vicar is locking up when he hears what he thinks is a muffled scream and then footsteps. What on earth? He carefully goes around the churchyard and finds a young woman dead- a woman who was at the mass, but a stranger to the church and congregation. Who would do this and why? As ever Anita drew me in very quickly with a clever premise and an early twist- I’m not giving anything away. But wow! I liked the characters which come to life with Anita’s brilliant and endearing style of writing. I didn't know who the perpetrator was, although I had a suspicion but kept doubting it with the twists and turns of the plot. Was I right? No and it kept me second guessing- something I like- to me the skill of a brilliant author.  A cozy type mystery I more than thoroughly enjoyed and kept the grey matter activated in a very good way. An author I don’t have to read the blurb for- I know I’ll more ...

  The Surgeon by John Nicholl-psychological thriller A surgeon is in prison. He has killed before but not the murder he was put away for. DI Laura Keesey believes the evidence is stacked against him but can't let it go- partly fuelled by a journalist who is insisting on his innocence and partly on her gut instinct that something is very wrong about him. When the real killer is discovered, the surgeon is released- determined to seek revenge on those who put him away. One of his victims survived and she and Laura are on his target list. Can he get away with yet more undiscovered crimes? Once again, John takes hold of the reader early doors and doesn't let go- just how I like it. It is rather a dark read in parts and the descriptions are done very well to put the reader in the heart of the plot. I’ve always liked Laura and this didn't disappoint. She is a caring, well rounded DI seeking justice and one very determined tenacious lady. A read possibly not for the faint hearted b...

  The Christmas Market Murder by Peter Boland-cozy crime We are back with the ladies from the charity shop detective agency, the ones who work at “ Dogs Need Nice Homes” shop in Southbourne. In the run up to  Christmas a small market has been installed to attract more business as in the year there has been “ The Southbourne stalker” someone who has been following people, hitting them over the head and then robbing them, so people have been more wary of going out. When one of the market traders is found dead, it looks like suicide. However two parties want more information and the ladies are in a perfect position to do this. Was it murder and if so how was it done in a locked shed? I can't say how much I enjoy these books. My only gripe is that I finish them too quickly as they are so captivating. There’s a brilliant sense of humour running through them with some cracking one liners and names that make me laugh out loud. It's an uplifting read (despite being a murder investiga...

  The Approval of Sheep by Karen Storey- general fiction/humour/satire What a wonderful, very different read! One of my books of the year. One I’m going to bleat about (and perhaps use every sheep pun I can think of!)  Gordon is about to be made redundant when he has an idea. His company owns a hotel, however there is a covenant on it which allows a certain farmer to run sheep through it. Something that wasn't sold when the land to build the hotel was. Anyone who has come across old covenants may know they can be tricky to remove and Gordon wants to try, as doing so may give him the chance of a directors position in six months time. He heads to Wales to try and broker a deal with the farmer and gets far more than he bargained for. Oh what a fabulous premise- one ewe won't want to miss! I loved Gordon and his caring nature and how he took to life in Wales learning about sheep and becoming bucolic. There are twists and turns which almost make it a mystery with Gordon as the dete...

  The Old Gals' Bucket List by Karen King- women’s fiction A delightful read I raced through.  Patti and Sandra were friends many years ago. Sandra is now on her own following the loss of her husband and her son is rather protective. When he announces he is moving with work and she should move with them, her world is sent into a tailspin. She loves seeing her son and her grandchildren but doesn’t want to move from the home she loves and certainly not into a retirement complex- she is not 92! Patti comes to the rescue. She too is on her own and has just overcome a battle of a different type and is determined to live life to the full. Between them they decide to create and tick off a bucket list and record it all on Instagram. One life, live it! What a  joy of a read and a reminder to all of us that we have but one life. Grab opportunities whilst you can and never say never. Who knows what you can do if you say yes. A positive mindset is a healthy way to be. I loved the lad...