Marcus Gove has his sight set on artist Lucy. Will detective Ray Lewis find Lucy in time?

I cannot praise this book enough , I utterly devored it!
With short sharp chapters the descriptions are so realistic and at times blood curdling. It's definitely not for the faint hearted but if you like a dark and disturbing thriller then this is the perfect book for you. The characters are real and the author delves into the mind of the criminal, it's insane.

I was glued to the pages of this until the end at times I could feel the chills in my bones from this addictive physcological thriller.

Five years earlier, Marcus Grove, senior nurse was dismissed from his job for having an overly familiar relationship with a patient, a serial killer diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

He’s long since gone on a killing spree escalating from years to weeks between his killings. His newest target is a young woman named Lucy, anaward-winning artist and lecturer who lives with her boyfriend Andrew Baker.

While on a phone call to her mom, Myra, Lucy tells her mom that she received a letter from a man named Moloch, offering her huge amount of money, to paint a large original oil painting of his home and extensive grounds. He’s even offers to put Lucy up at his home as his guest while she complete the painting.

He then suggest they meet a cafe which she goes to meet him against her mother’s judgment.

After learning that the person who wrote the letter didn’t leave a phone number or any other way of contacting him, Myra becomes suspicious and asks Lucy’s elder sister, Cerys to keep an eye on Lucy.

When Lucy hears the amount of money her potential client offers her, she’s tempted to take on the project. But Moloch insists she has to stay immediately.

With bills mounting and a boyfriend who’s been out of job for a while Lucy almost agrees to his offer backs out.

Soon after Lucy goes missing. Whereabout unknown.

The Cellar is a dark psychological thriller that will keep you engaged. I enjoyed this book. Would recommend

Thank you to Jack Nicholl, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc of this book

"Three People. Nineteen days. Who will live and who will die?"

Holy guacamole! What have I just read? I thought "The Doctor" (by the same author) was disturbing, but this one...hell, this one takes the cake! It has to be the darkest and most disturbing thriller I've read. So disturbing it's chilling. And yet, I enjoyed every minute of it. John Nicholl has a unique way of writing, bringing his own experiences as a police officer and child protection worker to life through fiction. He has the canny ability of climbing inside a villain's mind to bring us each dark and disturbing detail to life. I only discovered him a few short months ago with "The Doctor" and then the subsequent follow-up books but he has fast become one of my favourite authors. I just know I am going to be in for one hell of a ride and an addictive read whenever I pick up one of his books.

The title THE CELLAR immediately conjures up images we can only imagine...but get ready for a thriller that will blow your mind! If you thought the Doctor was deranged...then meet Marcus Gove.

A former nurse at a high-security psychiatric unit for the criminally insane, Marcus Gove worked with some of the most depraved minds the prison system had no place for. As a protege to one of the patients interred there, Marcus Gove had found his niche. And then as luck would have it, he won the lottery. So he packed in his job, moved to the beautiful West Wales where he bought a secluded Georgian mansion and kitted out with all the tools of his new trade where he could act out his depraved fantasies. His new workplace - the cellar.

Over time, Marcus abducted women from the streets - nameless, faceless women whom no one would miss - and brought them here to the cellar where he shackled them, tortured them and then murdered them with each new fantasy.

And then he saw lovely Lucy.

Talented artist and art lecturer, Lucy Williams is the daughter of local MP Graham Williams. She has just ended a long relationship with partner Andy and her mother is battling cancer. She has also caught the eye of Marcus Gove. So when Lucy receives a letter offering her an opportunity of a lifetime...one that she is eager to accept as it will help build a name for herself. However her mother and sister believe this offer is fraught with too many unknowns and is ultimately too good to be true. Despite this, Lucy meets with the mysterious Moloch to discuss the planned commission.

Having reached the pinnacle of his own art, Marcus feels it is now time to take a protege just as he learned under his own mentor five years before. Lucy is perfect for the role he has in mind...she is destined to be his soulmate. But first, he must reign her in and educate her in her new way of life...working alongside him...as they explore their art together. Now at this psycho’s mercy, Lucy can only hope that she will survive her tormentor before he kills her too.

Thus begins a race against time for the police as they try to discover what exactly happened to Lucy and why she suddenly disappeared. Will they arrive in time to save her? Or will she remain missing forever, like Gove's previous victims?

I honestly have no words to describe this book...except that it is dark, disturbing and incredibly chilling. As I said at the start, I thought "The Doctor" was all that...but this is so much more!

It is, at times, hard to read and it is most definitely NOT for the faint-hearted. You will definitely need a strong stomach for this one. But there is one scene at the end that even I found cringeworthy...not in a bad way, but in an uncomfortable-because-I-can-just-picture-it kind of way. Because seriously, Nicholl pulls no punches in his descriptions and you are literally transported to that cellar and are living the nightmare alongside Lucy, as well as Gove's other victims. It is graphic, but not gory, though it is enough to give you a picture of what is exactly happening. And here I am reading it before bed!

It goes without saying that John Nicholl is now one of my favourite authors. I love how he tells the story from the villain's POV, as well as the victim's, so you can get an insight into their way of thinking, no matter how distorted, deluded or disturbed it may be. And Gove is clearly off his rocker! But boy, does Nicholl portray him well.

Overall, THE CELLAR is a fast paced addictive read that is compelling and page-turning throughout. And once you are in the cellar, there is no getting out...at least, not until it's finished!

Another 5 star read by John Nicholl!

I would like to thank #JohnNicholl, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheCellar in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Nurse. Protege. Murderer: Marcus Grove has been all these things. He's reached the pinnacle of his art and now it's time for him to take a protege. Lovely Lucy is perfect for the role, or will she be.

Artist. teacher. Daughter: Lucy Williams is just like everyone else. She' had some success as an artist, not so much in love, but she's getting by. But soon she's going to become something else if she wants to be a survivor.

Detective. Ex-husband. Underdog: Ray Lewis's career isn't heading anywhere. But he's a solid detective and he's determined to find Lucy no matter what the upper brass throw at him.

This can be quite a violent read so not everyone will like it. It can also be quite grotesque. Marcus Grove is a despicable character. Lucy is lovely and determined to survive her situation. Ray Lewis brings some much-needed humor to this dark read. The story is told from multiple points of view. The plotline is descriptively written. John Nicholl brings his knowledge of his former careers as a police officer and child protection social worker to the pages, thus making his books feel more realistic. He has also quickly become one of my favourite authors. I was holding my breath while on the edge of my seat reading this book. You can feel the fear dripping from the pages. This is a page turning psychological thriller and I could not put it down. I thought The Doctor by John Nicholl was going to be my favourite book of the year, but this book tops that one. If I could, I would give this book even more stars. Definitely not for the faint hearted.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #JohnNicholl for my ARC of #TheCellar in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Cellar. This is a wild ride. Brace yourself for a horror and gorey tale not for the weak of heart. The author holds nothing back and I held my breath many times while reading. A serial killer watches and waits for his prey. And he has a target. A beautiful woman who has no idea she’s being watched but soon all nightmares come true. Can she be saved.
Very scary. 4 stars

The opening chapter indicates the depravity and terror of this serial killer. This multi-viewpoint novel leads the reader into a dark and disturbing world where survival has a terrible cost. The reader gains an omnipotent view of the detective investigation, the victim and her family, and the serial killer's twisted fantasies. The latter is hard to read, and I skipped the particularly gory inhumane parts. Graphic violence is part of this story, so it is a mature adult read. Carefully curated suspense is enhanced because the reader knows who the killer is. It has a believable ethos with good characterisation and plot twists.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The Cellar by John Nicholl.
Nurse. Protégé. Murderer.
Marcus Gove has been all these things. He’s reached the pinnacle of his art and now it’s time for him to take a protégé. Lovely Lucy is perfect for the role, or she will be . . .
Artist. Teacher. Daughter. Lucy Williams is just like everyone else. She’s had some success as an artist, not so much success in love, but she’s getting by. But soon she’s going to have to become something else if she wants to be a survivor. Detective. Ex-husband. Underdog. Ray Lewis’s career isn’t heading anywhere. But he’s a solid detective and he’s determined to find Lucy no matter what the upper brass throw at him. Three people. Nineteen days. Who will live and who will die?
Brilliant read. Twisty. Gripping read. 5*.

Lucy is an artists d college lecturer and gets an unusual approach towards a commission to do a mural at someone’s house for a lot of money. Unfortunately she cannot start immediately due to work commitments so has to decline the commission unless the client can wait a few weeks.

Unfortunately the client cannot wait and is a serial killer and wants her to join him and be his partner in crime so he kidnaps her. Will the police and her family find her before it is too late and she becomes his latest victim.

This book is a bit gory in places.

I have read one other book by this author - although I do have a few more on my tbr - so I knew what I was getting myself into with this book. It's brutal and pulls no punches but the tone is exactly right for the story being told, not included for shock tactic, although shocking it most definitely is.
We have three main characters - all completely different but all perfectly created and described. Lucy is an artist who is invited to accept a rather strange commission from our second MC, Marcus Grove. I will leave you to meet him in all his "glory" as the author intends. And then we have Detective Ray Lewis who has something to prove and little time to do it before his boss returns from holidays.
The story told herein is dark and disturbing, and all sorts of depraved. But also scarily credible. Marcus as a character is so well created as to be wholly believable. Which makes what happens to Lucy all the more worrying.
As well as being a cracking story, the delivery of that story is also well done. Pacing is on the whole quite fast and matches the narrative well all the way through. Description is limited to complementing the story and is never included for waffle or padding. It is definitely not distracting. And the ending, when it came, was both shocking and satisfying and left me breathless.
All in all, for me a cracking book and a reminder to bump the author's books up my TBR... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

The book was so dark and horrifying. I read it at night and had to sleep with the lights on

It was very believable. The character Marcus Gove portrayal was so grafic. I hated this evil monster and wanted to see a most horrible ending of athis monster!

Beatifully written. Warning very grafic.

Recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Boldwood Books), and the author (John Nicholl), for granting me an advance copy of the book in return for my honest opinions.

You can pretty much guarantee a book by this author is going to a bit on the gruesome side and yes this is pretty gory but as long as that isn’t an issue for you this a well written and plotted story. The opening chapter will grab you and drag you into what is a dark dark story with a really evil character in Marcus Gove.

Briefly, Gove is a psychopath who has won the lottery and lives on his own in a remote house. It is here in his cellar he kills and mutilates his victims for his own gratification. Lucy Williams is a young upcoming artist making her way in the artistic world. She has just dumped her boy friend but has discovered she is pregnant. She has also caught the attention of Gove. DS Ray Lewis is put in charge of Lucy’s disappearance. Despite his boss insisting it isn’t a priority he is dogged and determined in finding the truth.

Honestly I thought I was pretty unshockable but this book shocked me. Dark and disturbing this is a brutal read and not for the faint hearted but a fast paced and really good thriller.
4.5⭐️

The Cellar by John Nicholl is gripping novel that grabs you on the first page and takes you on a thrilling ride.
Lucy is the unknowing object of someone’s affection. This man has a whole fantasy that he makes Lucy part of. Is she willing to do what it takes to survive.
Nicholl does a great job of writing psychological thrillers. Highly recommend to anyone that likes these types of books.

3.5 stars
This is a good psychological thriller.
Lucy is sent a mysterious letter asking her to meet to discuss some art work. Lucy is intrigued despite the warnings from her Mum and sister.
She meets Moloch and tells him she can’t start the work for another week or so and then waits to hear from him.
Little does she know that it’s his plan to have her in his cellar whether she comes willingly or not.
The kidnapper is a very sick and twisted man and at times it’s uncomfortable reading.
A good thriller.
Thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this gruesome book

oh my goodness me this is a hard book to read with the depravities and the horror that this man inflicted on his victims...he shows no mercy, he is their god...and they must worship him

when gove sees lucy he knows she is the one... and he has to have her

but lucy is different from his other victims for one...lucy is in his home town and is high profile where as the others were bottom of the pile and not missed

a strong stomach is needed whilst reading this one.. its hard to read at times...

Dr. Sally Barton was task with overseeing the interview for Marcus Gov The head nurse who worked in the psychiatric ward for the criminally insane. He recently became too friendly and verged on obsessed with the serial killer who killed prostitutes because he deemed them unfit for society, but the display he put on during the interview prove to her that he was unfit to be a nurse if he hadn’t quit due to winning the lottery she would’ve definitely recommended firing him. Five years later he’s living in Wales and has become a torcher Killer. Despite the fact that usually kills prostitutes he has recently become obsessed with Lucy Williams a local artist and a teacher at the arts school he tried to hire her to do a mural for him but their days didn’t match up she knew him ass Tallech. When he showed up outside the community Center where she taught local people it was raining and she thought nothing of getting inside the van to talk to him. When no one sees her her dead who is a p.m. for the local area go to the head of the police department for help they immediately start an inquiry at first detective Ray Lewis gets the case but because of the animosity between him and detective inspector holiday he zoom calls lower back from her holiday with Janet and little Ed and leaves or no other choice but to come back and take the lead on the case. Can they find Lucy before anything devastating happens? Her mom already got clumps of her hair in the mail and the letter written in blood cannot get any worse? This book was so good and although nothing in my review is a spoiler there’s still so much to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it it is a smart clever mystery that is so worth a look. I received this book from Net Gally and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate most of my review.

The one thing that you can be guaranteed, in a novel by John Nicholl, is that it will be dark, explicit in many scenes, disturbing but very readable and compulsive. This is no exception. Dealing with an abduction along with other murders, it features Lucy whose life depends on her answers to the monster who has taken her from her family. He is evil personified and I am sure that what Lucy does at the end, many women would love to do to certain men - read it to find out!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
This is a clever dark, psychological thriller that author John Nicholl's excels at.
Marcus Gove is an extremely evil person who sadly believes he is a genius, an artist and also above the law.
Lucy is an artist and unfortunately for her the person that Marcus has chosen for his next victim.
The book opens with a wonderful chapter and the story line just gets better and better.
Can Lucy survive the cellar, will Marcus slip up. This story will keep you in the edge of your seat to the very last page.

Creepy, disturbing, love books so sinister makes you cringe and want to vomit as well.
If you love all these in a book.this one will be right up your alley.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

The darkest and most disturbing thriller I think I’ve ever read, and I loved every single moment of it! I’ve read many books by John Nicholl and I just live his style of writing. I love the fact that he brings his past experiences as a police officer and as a child protection social worker making his books feel so much more realistic. John Nicholl is fast becoming a favourite author of mine as I know I’m always in for a good read when I see his name on the front of a book.

Marcus Gove is a nurse who won the lottery, quit his job and followed his fantasies where he abducted women off the street, tortured them and then murdered them in the most brutal of ways.

Give has his eye on Lucy Willis, the daughter of a local MP and an art lecturer. He is fascinated by her work and uses this to his advantage to lure her into his trap. Marcus offers Lucy a lot of money to come and work for him decorating his cellar with her art work, the only catch is she has to drop everything and go with him right away.

Lucy’s mum and sister believe this is to good to be true and Lucy declines his offer at first saying she has commitments but Gove has other ideas, he is desperate to capture Lucy and have her all to himself . He hopes that she will become his soul mate and will share his experiences with her, but Lucy soon learns that no matter how hard she tries she will never be good enough for Gove., and soon she falls victim to his methods of torture.

With the police hunting for Lucy will they arrive in time to save her or will she remain missing for ever like Goves last victims.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review. I can honestly say I enjoyed every word of this book and the ending was just the icing on the cake. A great read and probably my book of the year!

I liked the first book I read by John Nicholl so I requested this book. The first line on the blurb says "Dark, disturbing and gripping. This is not for the faint of heart." and I'm sold.

I understood what the author wants the reader to feel. It has to have some shocking factor. However; I felt he was just trying too hard - the unnecessary words and actions, similes that miss the mark, flowery language with no purpose, humour that lacks the wit. I can go on but you get the gist. I'm a big fan of Gory, Dark Thrillers, but this one just felt flat to me.

I still enjoyed reading it though. Hence, the 3 stars.

Thanks NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book.
TBP on 7th Nov.