Nicki's book blog

  Golden Girls On The Run by Judy Leigh- women’s fiction Sadie and Bronagh have entered a charity bake off at the local pub, but when things take a turn for the worse they end up on the run. They first go to Dublin having taken a grandson’s Ferrari and then decide to go and see a relative in Devon- one who is almost famous for bake off’s. What transpires is an adventure for two octogenarians with a zest for life. This is a wonderful uplifting read, one of sheer escapism that brings a smile throughout. The ladies balance each other well and being sisters know each other inside out. A cheerful plot with lots going on around baking, animals and life, all with a sense of humour. Another fabulous read from Judy I most thoroughly enjoyed.  ----------------- Golden Girls on the Run Age is just a number. Trouble is a lifestyle. When octogenarian sisters-in-law Sadie and Bronagh find themselves at the centre of a scandalous (and slightly explosive) bake-off fiasco, there’s only one thi...

  A Christmas Caroline by KL Crear- women’s fiction Caroline is frugal to say the least. A tin of cheap soup lasts her 3 days and her reading matter is 20p a bundle and a year out of date. Although she has a bank account she has money stuffed into the mattress and other places in the house “ just in case”. Caroline is only mid thirties and sadly doesn't see the enjoyment life can bring. She’s got into her own ways and nothing can seemingly bring her out of it, until she has nighttime visitors- past, present and future which put things in no uncertain terms for her life.  This is a wonderful read based loosely on a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens but with a modern twist and humour. Done with empathy and to remind us all of being less selfish and to think of others, and also to remember to enjoy ourselves whilst we can, you never know what is around the corner. A wonderful read I highly recommend. Perfect Christmas reading.  -------------------------- A Christmas Caroli...

  The Garden of Shared Stories by Clare Swatman-women’s fiction Oh wow! What a clever premise- one that made me want to read on and on. Emma lost her husband Greg a couple of years ago and feeling rather melancholy steps into the bandstand in the park for a sit down. She sees Nick and they start to chat, and discovers he lost his wife Dawn a while back.  They meet each evening after work and discover things about each other until Emma brings out her phone and Nick doesn’t recognise it as one. They discover they are living in different years. Nick is in 1999, Emma in 2025 what the heck?  This is another one of Clare’s books that blew me away. She is one of the few authors where I don't have to read the premise before saying yes to reading it. It’s a mind blowing premise, cleverly thought out and crafted with very likeable endearing characters and I couldn't see how this was going to be resolved. A book I loved and didn't want to put down- I don’t say that easily. It was a ...

  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...