Joy Ellis's Secrets on the Fens presents a chilling and suspenseful narrative that unfolds against the backdrop of the haunting Lincolnshire Fens. With a gripping storyline that revolves around a series of meticulously staged murders, the novel immerses readers in a world of twisted secrets and the relentless pursuit of a calculating serial killer.

Detective Nikki Galena, a determined and resilient protagonist, leads the charge in unraveling the complex web of deception and betrayal that shrouds the seemingly idyllic countryside. Ellis's vivid descriptions and atmospheric prose create a palpable sense of unease, heightening the tension and suspense as Nikki and her team race against time to stop the killer before more lives are claimed.

The author's adept portrayal of the Fens' enigmatic beauty and treacherous terrain adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, painting a vivid picture of the challenges faced by the Fenland Constabulary as they navigate the intricate maze of misty lanes and remote villages. The intricate character dynamics and the intricately woven plot twists keep readers engaged and guessing until the final revelation.

While the novel successfully maintains a gripping pace and a suspenseful plot, a slight deduction from a perfect rating is attributed to certain pacing elements that could have been further streamlined to ensure a seamless narrative flow. Additionally, some aspects of character development could have been more pronounced to deepen the emotional resonance of the team's collective struggles and triumphs.

In conclusion, Secrets on the Fens is a must-read for fans of atmospheric suspense and intricate investigative narratives. Joy Ellis's masterful storytelling and the richly developed setting create an immersive reading experience that lingers long after the final page. With its gripping suspense and well-crafted plot, Secrets on the Fens is a testament to the author's skill in crafting an enthralling narrative that captivates and entices readers into a world of dark secrets and chilling revelations.

Book 12 in the DI Nikki Galena series. Another great addition to the series, I just don’t know how Joy Ellis manages to come up with such great original storylines over and over again ! Brilliant !!

This was one of my favorite books of the series, and I felt like Joseph really came to life here. It’s a twisting tale, and one that leaves you guessing as to where it will end. There is a very real creepiness to the couples who are posed and left dead, and as usual, the author’s description of the fens only adds to the mood and the mystery of the book. Highly recommend it!

Another fantastic addition to the Nikki galena series. Liked the way it picked up some old threads from previous novels and brought them to a satisfactory conclusion

This is one author I just love to read her books. So when Joy Ellis a new book out, I had to put the kettle on and make a pot of tea, find a quiet corner and open my kindle and enjoy Joys next book called Secrets on the Fens. This is the WoW twelfth book in the superb Detective Nikki Galena series and I have just loved every book within this series.

A beautiful moonlit night, two bodies are discovered lying entwined on a blanket together on a blanket in the woods. A beautiful scene as the young man is clutching a red rose and it appears to be a lover's suicide pact...........Just like a scene out of Romeo and Juliet.

Detective Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter are called to the scene and when they look closer to the scene they discover they were murdered somewhere else and bought to the woods..........But Why? Why were they murdered and bought here?

Another young couple are found dead, They are beautifully posed like lovers just like Romeo and Juliet, Detective Nikki Galena knows they have a twisted serial killer on their hands.

Who are the nest victims?

Can Detective Nikki Galena and and DS Joseph Easter catch this serial killer before they kill again?

WoW, This book was amazing with loads of great twists and turns throughout. Another great read.

I highly recommend all Joy's books they have all been a wonderful read.

Big thank you to netgalley and Joffre Books for an advance copy of this book.

With thanks to the author, Joffe books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This was my first foray into the works of Joy Ellis, and I must say I did enjoy it! This is book 12 of a series and, while the story does quite often refer to events in previous books, I feel the author explained those references in sufficient detail so that they didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this one.

The story itself is constructed very skilfully, with two young people (labelled as Romeo and Juliet until they are identified) found dead in an apparent suicide pact, that very soon is found to be a murder. This is quickly followed by the discovery of another young couple, at a crime scene labelled as the Tunnel of Love. I will admit that these names had me expecting a Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits reference in the investigation, but that didn’t materialise! While all of this is going on, the side-story of Eve & Wendy investigating the disappearance of a 19th century artist was also intriguing in its own right, and I appreciated how the author brought both investigations to their conclusions.

The dialogue between Nikki, Joseph and her team was crisp and exciting as they worked through the case, while the banter between Nikki and Rory on the back of his frequent Shakespearean references was a lot of fun.

Big thumbs up from me, especially as I now have another author and eleven other books to add to my ever-growing TBR pile!

I started reading this book and found that it was not for me. I didn't want to review a book that I didn't finish.

Thank you to Joy Ellis, Joffe Books, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Secrets on the Fens is a murder mystery that takes place in an area of England known as the Lincolnshire Fens. It is book number 12 in the Nikki Galena series but is its own story that can be read without having read any others in the series. A glossary is provided for readers of the United States to help with the differences in English terminology.
The general plot was intriguing but too many characters and storylines made it difficult to finish. It didn't take long for me to lose interest in the details and just want to know the general who and why surrounding the murders. If you are going to read this book I recommend taking notes or making a diagram of characters as they are introduced.

Thank you to Joy Ellis, Joffe books and Netgalley for the ARC, in exchange for an honest opinion.

Secrets on the Fens is the 12th book in the DI Nikki Galena series, but it can be read as a standalone without missing too much. In this mystery, we follow Nikki, Joseph, and the rest of the investigators as the bodies of two young people are found, posed lying together on a blanket in the woods. As the team works to find out who “Romeo and Juliet” are and what happened to them, two more bodies are discovered in a similar fashion. Is a serial killer on the loose in the Fens and who is the next target?

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the cast of characters, each fully developed and interesting. I will say that Eve and Wendy were probably my favorite. I loved their spunk and can-do attitude, and their side mystery was almost more interesting than the main story. I love art history, though, so the fact that they were investigating the disappearance of an artist from a hundred years ago definitely was a point in their favor.

The plot was a little easy to figure out, but it was still well written and kept me entertained. I loved how all of the different threads came together to solve this case. I’m very interested in picking up more from Ellis in the future.

This is the12th in Joy Ellis's police procedural series starring Detective Inspector Nikki Galena in England's Lincolnshire Fens. Nikki, a no-nonsense copper with a heart of gold, is woken in the early hours to be told of a 'Romeo and Juliet strange' murder scene in Saltmere woods.

A similar murder follows and the detectives learn that two of the victims were offspring of rival gang families, and that another young man (mentored by both Nikki and Joseph) has gone missing.

Suspense escalates, yet the curtain finally comes down, and the episode ends on a high note.

Unfortunately this story did not pull me in as much as I was hoping. I liked the atmosphere and the murder was intriguing, but it felt slow in some areas. Part of this could have been the format that I was reading it in, as the pages seemed crowed and it was difficult for me to read.

I liked Joy Eliss' mysteries and enjoyed this one.
It's entertaining and gripping, solid mystery that kept me guessing and well thought characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Joy Ellis has really mastered the art of weaving together often gruesome murders with the personal lives of her investigators. Along with some light relief from Nikki's mother and her friends who manage to get into all manner of bother this makes for a really enjoyable read. That is not to say that the story does not contain all the elements of a truly great police procedural. There is plenty of tension and some truly heartstopping moments. All in all, a really good read.

Di Galena and DS Easter are on a new case that could go in so many ways. They have four young goth people dead and not a clue who did it. Then Micky Leonard is taken and they really have to work doubly hard to save his life so he does not wind up like the others.
Eve and Wendy have a little mystery of their own going. Can they solve their puzzle and not have Nikki find out what they have been up to while she was so busy with her own problems?
In the end it was so different from where they started that it is hard to believe. That is what a good mystery is all about, isn't it?

Being born and raised in the Fens and hearing nothing but good stuff about Joy Ellus on the UK crime book club on Facebook I decided to give this a try. Couldn't get into it so gave up.

This is the 12th book in the series. It can be read as a stand alone or in order which is my preference. Having said that, this is my first book to read in the series. I liked this book and the interaction of the characters. I loved the relationship between Nikki Galena and her mother Eve. Looking forward to reading more of the series.

A really good, solid murder mystery detective story. This was the first time I had read DI Nikki Galena, and although this book is 12 in a series, it wasn't necessary to have read the rest. That said, there were references to events and relationships in the past which would perhaps give more of the back story if you read the series from the beginning. If they are as good as this one, that should be a treasure trove! The main characters are well drawn and likeable and there is a good sense of place around the Lincolshire Fens. Teenagers are found dead and the detectives have to navigate family relationships, neighbourhood feuds and teenage landscapes to try and find out who took the lives of these young people. There were quite a lot of characters to keep tabs on and there was also a second, related, mystery running in parallel which Nikki's mother and friends have to solve. The two plots do cross over slightly and perhaps help Nikki to think around her case in a different way. I enjoyed this story, there were good twists and it was all solved and tied up neatly in the end. I would look into the rest of the series and would certainly recommend this one!

A Nikki Galena & DS Joseph Easter her sidekick also lover practically living together and is supposedly a secret, yeah, everybody knows, and this time a couple found entwined together and the man clutching a rose aptly named by the force as Romeo & Juliet, how did the die or was it suicide/murder, and who are they.? The usual police work follows as most people know who's who in the fens especially if you have been born there, but soon after another couple were found this time on a love boat again the same questions, this one Nikki's mother found as her and her friend were on a different trip when some kids needed help. Nikki's mother appeared in a p; previous novel and is trying to be a Miss Marple and to my mind does not do these books justice more of a nuisance, and it fills the book up with rubbish. This one was not overly long would have been even shorter if the author had dropped the mother out of it. I don't like giving negative reviews but feel this author is trying too hard and keeps pushing out novels that don't really have any substance.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for a review copy

No 12 in the Nicki Galena/Joseph Easter series and getting better all the time. Young couples being murdered, goths, families at odds - nothing is ever as it seems. Add in Nikki's mother's little side jaunt to the Lake District and we have a rip roaring tale of murder and red herrings. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was good detective story and series which is well told and engaging after 22 books . I really enjoyed this one and the characters are engaging and likeable.