Nicki's book blog

Suspicion- Leigh Russell- Psychological thriller Louise’s husband is a newly appointed headmaster at a prestigious boarding school. She has given up her own teaching job to support him and develop the school, a role which is expected of the headmaster’s wife. On doing an interview for a local magazine feature the journalist contact Louise again as she has something to tell her. On meeting Louise is horrified to hear Rosie say that she should be aware that her husband is having an affair with his secretary and Rosie has pictures to prove it. Sue is a keen worker and spends much time with her boss so Louise doesn’t take this news lightly. She wants to stop the affair and tries to do so using her IT knowledge with a little cyber bullying. What it leads to is more than she ever could have imagined. Oh boy!! I was on the edge of my seat with this. You know a book is well written when you start to feel anxious for one of the characters as they are up to someth...

The Witness by Kevin Marsh-Crime/psychological Josie is on one of her early morning sessions painting as she stays with an Aunt up in Scotland. As she finishes up she hears a scream. Thinking it could be a bird of some description as she is away from anywhere, she carries on. When it repeats and she is then left in no doubt that someone is in trouble she takes a few steps to find out the source of the noise. She sees a woman being abused by a man and then shot , just across the riverbank from where she is standing. He turns and sees her and she flees for her own safety. Running but not really knowing where she is, she ends up at a dead end with only the river behind her. He is not far behind and she plunges into the icy water. She is swept along despite being a strong swimmer and manages to survive. A short while later things begin to happen and Josie realises that falling in the water was not the end of the incident, only the beginning of a trail of horri...

Chocolates by Eva: This is the first time I have reviewed anything other than a book on here. I couldn't resist this as what goes better with books than a real homemade chocolate? Malin Bloom makes her own and they really are something special. I say this as a new lover of chocolate ( its's a long story) and have recently had my eyes opened to chocolate in several ways. These are not your everyday box of chocs. They are for that special gift or treat.. or maybe just for yourself to have and why not?      They arrived well packaged and come in a simple box with ribbon and gift tag. I liked the simplicity of the packaging as this is more about the contents and anything jazzy would take away from that. The chocolates them selves are a perfect size. You may take a bite or two or just pop them in whole. For me I like to see what is in the middle! I tasted these blind ( not knowing the flavour) and each one was so smooth and chocolatey without being sickly or too rich. ...

Where the Dead Fall- MJ Lee -Crime One to get into very quickly- and stay there! DI Thomas Ridpath is on his way to see his daughter on her 10th birthday when a naked man steps across his path on the motorway. He manages to stop, only for the man to look towards the hard shoulder and then run into the path of any oncoming truck. On the verge is a man with a gun and by the time he re-looks across there is no trace of him. One major traffic jam and unhappy bosses who can’t find any trace of the man and wonder if Thomas was making it up, maybe a side effect of the drugs he is taking. He is now working for the Coroners office as part of his return to work following illness. He feels rather pulled betwixt and between from his old post and colleagues that want him back and his new position, albeit temporary which he is enjoying. I like Thomas, he comes across as a loyal tenacious man whom you would want on your side. MJ Lee always gives a strong story...

Rosie and Ruby - Patricia Dixon- **COVER REVEAL ********* Ruby lives one-step away from poverty on a rundown, crime infested estate in Manchester, with Stella, her feckless, self centred a mother. In the quiet suburbs of Cheshire Rosie, Ruby’s cousin, leads a charmed, middle class existence but feels suffocated by her domineering mother Doreen. Although Stella and Doreen have little in common, they share the inability to show the love and loyalty that their daughters deserve. Meanwhile, Olivia, a member of the elite Cheshire set, is aloof and distant, rattling around in her sprawling mansion, attending charity functions and hosting infamous bridge nights. Her errant son Marcus lives his life in the fast lane, maximising the perks of the family firm whilst enjoying his jet setting bachelor existence, well away from the watchful eyes of his disapproving mother. But when Ruby meets Marcus her life begins to crumble and one by one the secrets she has kept are exposed. Can ...

The Cleansing- J.A Baker -Crime/psychological Ray has recently split with his girlfriend and decided to move away to have a fresh start. He moves into a village and tries to talk to people and make friends. However he finds that they are all suspicious of him. Once he finds out why he takes baby steps and they begin to accept him. There have been several incidents in the usually very quiet village and they are getting worse, When an old man is attacked, the locals are beginning to worry. One who first talked to Ray was the local young barmaid Lily. After a while and talking to others he finds out her father is “ a nasty piece of work” and no-one will say much more. Ray keeps receiving messages from his ex girlfriends mother, Delores. He has blocked her number however she is very persistent in contacting him and we don’t quite know why. There is one villager who has a record and a reputation, and the rest of the villagers believe all the nasty going...

HOUND by Ken Ogilvie-Crime DC Rebecca Bradley is new to being a detective and in some ways she is still earning her stripes. When a woman escapes from prison, Rebecca is alerted for more than one reason. Jackie Caldwell is out to get Rebecca as well as her close friend Hound. Rebecca’s father and grandfather had dealings with Jackie in the past which eventually got her caught and she is out for revenge and is not a woman to mess with. Hound is a giant of a man who dotes on Rebecca and will do anything to protect her. With Jackie loose and on the rampage they are both in danger. I like to know a little more about the main detective characters as to me it gives the reader more depth and the character more life. We learn about Rebecca from diary entries at the beginning of some of the chapters. We also know that for many years she has been wanting to find out more about her mother’s death and who killed her as the case is still open. Hound comes across as...