Nicki's book blog

  You Are Here by David Nicholls- General Fiction From the author of “ One Day” is a very different new novel. I read One Day when it first came out and have recently watched the new series of it, so seeing this I was drawn like a moth to a flame. It’s brilliantly written and cleverly draws the reader in and has maps of the walk along the way. Beautifully described it tells of a group on a walking holiday and mostly about Marnie and Michael. Most have done little walking and even being out in the countryside is a new experience being embraced. It's more about people and personalities than anything else and what drives people or indeed quite the opposite. It's a brilliant observation of human life and as the blurb says about finding the way home- in more ways than one. A compelling, warm, more than thoroughly enjoyable read. One that stands out from the crowd and one I hope becomes a TV programme/film. Stunning, brilliant.  For more reviews please follow me on Twitter (X) or T...

Murder on the Clyde by Daniel Sellers- Crime DCI Lola Harris is concerned. There is talk of a man pushing people into the Clyde after hitting them on the head and now with a possible witness, the higher-ups don’t appear to want this investigated. Why on earth not? It potentially would solve eight murders which occurred over several years. She is meant to be investigating a possible fraud where a witness was run over- several times. What is going on in the city and why the possible cover up? I really enjoy this series- they do stand alone quite happily so no worries if you haven't yet found the first two. Lola is a determined tenacious woman seeking justice for the victims and their families, politics be gone. I thoroughly enjoyed this and found myself reading that “ one more chapter”, to me the sign of a good read. A very solid four stars and I look forward to the next in the series. For more reviews please follow me on Twitter(X) or Threads @nickisbookblog ------------------------...

  LOOKING GOOD DEAD by Stephen Puleston- Crime A woman is found murdered in her exclusive clothes shop, Looking Good, dressed in clothes from a bygone era which she was fond of. She has a string of businesses, so the police wonder if this and money could perhaps be the motive. Inspector Drake and team are on the case and when another body is found in clothing of the same era something strange is going on. Alternate chapters tell of the perpetrator making his plans.  This is part of a series but happily stands alone - I hadn’t read all of the others (but may well do in the future). I liked Drake who came across well and found myself turning the pages very easily as this is well written and captivating. There are lots of twists and turns keeping the reader invested right the way through. A well thought out plot and clever writing make this an enjoyable, entertaining read.  For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog ------------------------------...

  The Writer by Miranda Smith-psychological thriller Becca is trying to be a writer but struggling. She has written one book which so far has been rejected and now appears to have writer's block. She is encouraged by her writing group to do short stories to “clear the palette” and slowly begins to write long into the night after having a nightmare. For the last ten years she has been occasionally receiving black hearts with short rather threatening messages on them, she knows not from whom and hence the police can't do anything. Ten years ago, she and a friend were unwittingly caught up in a crime that happened to another close friend. Becca then discovers that local crimes are reflecting her work and the crime of the past. Could someone in the group be behind this and if so why? This was a read that bloomed as I read it. A nice steady beginning and then the pace accelerated. There are lots of twists and turns which kept me wondering right the way through and I couldn't wai...

  Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh- Crime/ Mystery We are back in Cornwall with Morwenna and her friends. This is the second in the series but happily stands alone. There’s a play in town and when the unpopular director, owner and lead is killed on stage for real there are plenty of suspects, but there is one who knows Morwenna will be using her detective skills to discover the real perpetrator. The police have said it's a natural death from a heart attack but Morwenna is sure that there is more to it and the more she finds out the more someone is threatening her- but who? This is one of those reads that you can happily sit by the fire and snuggle down with. One that puts the reader in the heart of the action and in Cornwall, and occasionally in the sea as Morwenna swims. There’s a great cast of characters who make you feel at home and mentions of scones and jam and toasted teacakes after a bracing swim. This is another of Judy’s wonderful reads that is more than thoroughly en...

  My Perfect Marriafge by A.J. Campbell-psychological thriller Ashleigh and her family are at the lavish birthday party of their friends Lucy and Lee’s daughter who is friends with their son. Lucy and Lee were childhood friends of Lucy’s husband Danny so when there is a noise and a shout, no one is more surprised than Ashleigh to find her husband holding a hammer, covered in blood and standing over a body. What on earth has happened? Danny wouldn't hurt anyone…. Would he? OMG! A brilliantly written book that had me racing through it. It's incredibly well crafted, with short snappy chapters each one making the reader want more. There are umpteen twists and turns, each leading to different possible scenarios as to what happened and why. I felt for Ashleigh and her predicament and how she wants to protect her family. It’s an edge of your seat read, one that had my heart racing. Loved it. For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog ----------------------...

  The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson- Women's Fiction Shelley wakes up to find herself in hospital, in intensive care so she knows things are fairly bad. No-one will talk to her about what happened and she asks if there have been any visitors as it transpires that she has been there a few days. As she begins to think about things she is taken back to her childhood and alternating chapters tell about Shelley growing up and about some of her past. There’s a shadow to both parts, something recurring which Shelley can't quite piece together as yet but as she does she starts to see a pattern. What really happened and will Shelley be able to remember? I love Laura’s books. She has the fantastic skill of writing a character so that the reader quickly feels in on the story and invested in the person and situation they find themselves in. I had to stop several times and take a breath as it was poignant, reminding me of different times in my own life and feeling for Shel...