Nicki's book blog

  Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood- crime thriller DI Ashley Knight has a conundrum. There are four people missing, which is nothing out of the ordinary, however as there has been a trafficking gang operating things could be escalating. When a body is found near a lighthouse of a young woman, it looks like the gang however things don't add up one way or another. When the NCA steps in, the team knows that this is part of something a whole lot bigger than they could have imagined. This is part of a series but happily stands alone ( other than a few minor threads), that said why miss out on other fantastic reads? (all 5* from me) I really enjoy this series. It’s one that is easy to get into and a comfortable read despite the subject matter (nothing gory). The characters are wonderful and realistic and Ross has that skill of enveloping the reader within the pages easily and agreeably. I really like Ashley and her style- one of seeing justice done with a big heart  or tough ...

  The Seven O'clock Club by Amelia Ireland - General Fiction  Four clients, four very different stories. Genevieve is a psychologist and is trying out a new therapy by having four carefully chosen people together in sessions who will hopefully help one another. Freya, Callum, Victoria and Mischa all have gone through bereavement in differing ways. Callum is a famous singer and appears to have a wonderful life, but he’s finding it empty and lonely. Mischa lost her mother to Alzheimer's, and blames herself for what happened. Victoria also lost her mother but as they were estranged she didn't feel anything until she read a letter her mother had left her. Freya had an idyllic childhood but being an adult isn't so great in her world.  This starts with each one trying to recall a happy childhood memory- something not everyone can do so easily and reminds us that everyone is different and we don’t always know what they are going through and the challenges some of us face. It...

  If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge- women’s fiction Violet works at a book publisher and loves her job. She has been messed about by boyfriend Lenny and is gutted when she finds out the truth about him. Finding a new flatmate in Bella gives her a new start in more ways than she ever realised, something that resonated with me and I’m sure will with other readers.  Sometimes the worst things perhaps bring out the best in us if that makes sense? A fresh start, a new look, the little things that make us feel different and better even if only to ourselves. Samantha has a truly wonderful talent for putting things into a story that say so much more than the words on the page, that the reader can clearly see if they want to. Parts of the story go back to Violet's school days and her life with her mother and Uncle, who she was very close to, which gives a background as to why Violet is now, at the beginning of the book.  There are not many books where I finish and have to...

  The Widow’s Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby- cosy crime   A new author to me and a book I devoured!  Ginny has not long been widowed and has moved to a village where she has taken a job helping in the library. Louisa, the librarian, is rather a harridan as Ginny quickly finds out on her first day. On her second day there is a queue outside the library and rather a kerfuffle- the door is locked and no sign of Louisa. On being told where the spare key is, but no one dares go in for fear of Louisa’s reputation and treatment of many of the locals, Ginny braves it only to find Louisa dead. A group of widows soon make themselves known to Ginny and before she knows it they are investigating the crime. Who killed Louisa and why? I so loved this, it's a wonderful, comfortable, easy read with a smile. There is far more than the crime going on, as in any village,and also those who know everyone else's business one way or another which makes for good opportunities for the amateur d...