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Member Reviews
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Joy Ellis never disappoints.... I’ve been waiting to read this book after devouring the others in this series last year! Fast paced as always with an interesting, gripping storyline! I love Nicki and Joseph and really want them to get married..... let’s hope the next book is out soon!!!
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DI Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter are back with a puzzling case - 4 young people are dead, posed as lovers. At first they were thought to have committed suicide, but they were murdered and it takes quite a while before they are identified. They were Goths and we get some interesting views of the Goths' beliefs and lifestyles.
We also spend time with Nikki's mother, Eve, and her friend Wendy, who are investigating the cold case of the disappearance of a painter. That part of the book was very enjoyable; I like those two feisty women a lot.
Another exciting read in this series, this is a cracking good story - recommended!
Thank you Netgalley, Joffe Books and Joy Ellis for the eARC.
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I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Secrets on the Fens, the twelfth novel to feature DI Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter, set in the fictional Fenland town of Greenborough.
When the bodies of a young couple are found in Saltern Woods it is initially assumed to be suicide but when the team look closer they think from the posing of the bodies that they have been killed elsewhere and then brought to the woods. With identification proving elusive they are nicknamed Romeo and Juliet and then another couple are found in a similarly mystifying pose.
I thoroughly enjoyed Secrets on the Fens which has an intriguing plot and likeable characters. It hooked me from the start with the picture of Romeo and Juliet, beautifully posed in idyllic surroundings and yet, undeniably murdered. Why? It takes a while and a lot of detective work to get there but it’s a rewarding journey. This novel is big on victimology with the team reasoning that the motive will be found in their lifestyle and history. It is reveal after reveal and I found myself burning up the pages getting to know the victims and watching the investigation progress. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt, but that’s the nature of investigations, one piece of information lets everything fall into place.
In the meantime Nikki’s mother, Eve Anderson and her friend, Wendy Avery, only have a minor role to play in the investigation, choosing instead to gallivant off to the Lake District to investigate the disappearance of Victorian painter, Robert Richmond in a thread carried over from the previous novel. It’s a distraction from the main event, but nice to see capable pensioners in a novel.
Secrets on the Fens is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
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I do love this series for light hearted crime capers!I
I'd love to meet a real person who speaks the way these characters do!
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Another great read!
Nice to be reunited with Nikki Galena and the team.
The story starts with the discovery of two dead teenagers. Was it related to warring crime families? Nikki and her team work hard to try and make connections with more murders along the way as well as an abduction.
Meanwhile, her mother and friend also take on an adventure of their own putting themselves in danger.
A cracking read with all the different bits tied up at the end.
Thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to the next!
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Thoroughly enjoyed this latest book from Joy Ellis featuring Detective Nicki Galena and DS Joseph Easter investigating the death of two youngsters made to look like they are lovers, and subsequently the discovery of two further bodies. Would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery that keeps you guessing til the end.
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Joy Ellis is one of my favourite contemporary mystery writers. I love the way characters from her other series will turn up to help out. She didn't let me down this time either. When four young people are killed and their bodies staged for finding, the question is why? One couple are placed as Romeo and Juliet - each of them from rival dodgy businessmen - were they really a couple?
Loved it - a sympathetic look at goths - DI Galena's mum and friends are in it, of course. Fast moving and a good story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
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Detective Nikki Galena Book Twelve.
Full of secrets, Dynamic read, Chilling, will keep you hooked, So enjoyable, A slap bang wallop right till the end.
D I Nikki Galena gets a call from Sergeant Danny Crier to get to Saltmere Woods, a Romeo and Juliet strange? male and female death, suicide, star crossed lovers, murder victims, Goths she is on her way. D S Joseph Easter is alerted and its a big secret how these two can keep it from the team, it would change everything in their Jobs the longer its kept quiet and living close to each other is a big bonus.
Getting back to the bodies there are many clues noticed with a possibility of poisoning and been brought to their resting place in the woods, its definitely a Shakespeare. identities are unknown for a long time in for the team, and strange how now the mucky battered kid that these two rescued Mickey Leonard is missing, is there a connection? another two bodies are then found in a boat called the tunnel of love and none of these are couples so what is going on.
Once again this author has gripped me into a fantastic read, I could not put this book down, So many things are happening to entertain readers its a must read for all.
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Gruesome Discoveries....
The twelfth DI Nikki Galena mystery finds the team with a dark case on their hands when it becomes clear that a serial killer may be on the loose and a series of apparent suicide pacts are in fact a series of gruesome murders. Tense, engaging suspense with credible characters. A worthy addition to the series.
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Love a good Joy Ellis and this did not disappoint, it was a fantastic book that I read in one sitting. Very tense and dark in places and there were a few oh wow moments. Really well written, it kept my interest from page one and spat me out after about 5 hours wanting the next instalment. Very well deserving of five stars.
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Another great mystery novel by author Joy Ellis about female D.I. Nikki Galena and her work/partner Joseph Easter. The team are on the hunt for a mysterious suspect who is killing young couples and leaving them staged as tragic figures (Romeo and Juliet for instance). The investigation is especially difficult for Nikki whose young daughter died a few years back.
After a second couple is found dead the team begins to investigate the "goth" community with the help of two young goths Winter and Nova. Is the fact that their are 'Goth" tied to their deaths? Have the young couples seen or heard something about drug culture in their community? Suspense keeps the fast pace of the book and their are plenty of twists and turns as the detectives investigate different suspects. I would highly recommend this novel.
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Oh goodness, I don't know how Joy Ellis does it. Another brilliant plot and the character development is amazing. This series is tense and thrilling, while never becoming unbelievable. I loved the side story featuring Nikki's mother too. A five star read, as are all the books in this series.