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The Alibi
How far would you go to protect what you love?
He’s handsome, charming, and the city’s beloved Lord Mayor. He’s also a cheating husband. But is he a killer?
When a surfer discovers the gruesome remains of council staffer Lauren Ellis in sand dunes just metres from Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley’s beachside home, rumours of his close relationship with the victim quickly begin to circulate.
Andrew’s secret affair with local newspaper reporter Elle Nolan is proof he can be an unfaithful husband – but is he also guilty of murder?
As the search for answers continues, Andrew refuses to tell police where he was the night of Lauren’s death.
When Andrew reaches out to Elle from police lock-up begging her to provide an alibi for the night in question, she quickly realises that instead of just reporting the story, she’s about to become irrevocably entangled in it.
A thought-provoking and page-turning thriller from the International Best-Selling Author of domestic thriller series The Secrets We Keep and The Truth We Tell that will make you question – how far would I go to save what I love ?
He’s handsome, charming, and the city’s beloved Lord Mayor. He’s also a cheating husband. But is he a killer?
When a surfer discovers the gruesome remains of council staffer Lauren Ellis in sand dunes just metres from Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley’s beachside home, rumours of his close relationship with the victim quickly begin to circulate.
Andrew’s secret affair with local newspaper reporter Elle Nolan is proof he can be an unfaithful husband – but is he also guilty of murder?
As the search for answers continues, Andrew refuses to tell police where he was the night of Lauren’s death.
When Andrew reaches out to Elle from police lock-up begging her to provide an alibi for the night in question, she quickly realises that instead of just reporting the story, she’s about to become irrevocably entangled in it.
A thought-provoking and page-turning thriller from the International Best-Selling Author of domestic thriller series The Secrets We Keep and The Truth We Tell that will make you question – how far would I go to save what I love ?
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2023
9 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Lee Taylor
5 books137 followersNikki Lee Taylor is a long-time newspaper journalist turned fiction writer. She is also a dreamer, a doer, a storyteller, a coffee lover, and fur mum to two golden retrievers Max and Sam.
She spends most of her time staring into space, walking between worlds, and creating out-loud character dialogue that sounds a lot like talking to herself in the shower. She stays up late plotting and planning the lives of characters yet to be created and starts every day embraced by the warmth of a good coffee.
She is a courageous booktrovert who lives life with one foot in NSW, Australia and the other in a world that exists only in her head.
She spends most of her time staring into space, walking between worlds, and creating out-loud character dialogue that sounds a lot like talking to herself in the shower. She stays up late plotting and planning the lives of characters yet to be created and starts every day embraced by the warmth of a good coffee.
She is a courageous booktrovert who lives life with one foot in NSW, Australia and the other in a world that exists only in her head.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 12, 2023
Thank you to BookSirens for a digital copy of Nikki Lee Taylor's whodunit The Alibi, out now on Kindle and in paperback.
A body has been found in the dunes close to Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley's house, and when it is identified, it turns out to be a colleague who he sometimes worked closely with. We switch between the points of view of five different people to see the entire story unfold. The police think Andrew did it and are trying to prove that. Others can't believe he would ever do something like that, but he won't tell the police where he was. He needs an alibi, but how will he get one, and will it keep him out of prison?
The writing flowed well, and had me intrigued. The plot was relatively gripping, I wasn't sure what Andrew had to do with it, but I was sure he did. Characters were well-developed with backstories to explain how they got to where they are. There were red herrings throughout; a false confession, suspicious text messages. The ending was a twist that I didn't anticipate. Switching between so many people sometimes became a little much, but the chapters always stated who the narrator was.
All in all, this was a great mystery revolving around murder, political issues, and nature conservation. If you enjoy Cheryl Bradshaw or Christina Dodd, then you will enjoy The Alibi.
A body has been found in the dunes close to Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley's house, and when it is identified, it turns out to be a colleague who he sometimes worked closely with. We switch between the points of view of five different people to see the entire story unfold. The police think Andrew did it and are trying to prove that. Others can't believe he would ever do something like that, but he won't tell the police where he was. He needs an alibi, but how will he get one, and will it keep him out of prison?
The writing flowed well, and had me intrigued. The plot was relatively gripping, I wasn't sure what Andrew had to do with it, but I was sure he did. Characters were well-developed with backstories to explain how they got to where they are. There were red herrings throughout; a false confession, suspicious text messages. The ending was a twist that I didn't anticipate. Switching between so many people sometimes became a little much, but the chapters always stated who the narrator was.
All in all, this was a great mystery revolving around murder, political issues, and nature conservation. If you enjoy Cheryl Bradshaw or Christina Dodd, then you will enjoy The Alibi.
January 2, 2024
“All units. Human remains found in the south dunes of Stockton Beach.”
I want to start this review off by saying that I have never read a book with FIVE POVs – you’d think it would be confusing – but it was magnificent. 10/10 recommend.
Elle Nolan
“I was a binge eater. And it sucked.”
Elle is filling in as lead crime reporter at the Tribune when body parts surface on the beach. Stress surrounds her throughout the case and her vice is food. I love how the author brought binge eating, purging, and the guilt that comes along with it, to light. I haven’t read many thrillers that bring this sort of awareness with the twists and turns. It was thoughtful but impactful.
Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley
“I was a liar and a fraud and soon everyone would know.”
Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley of Newcastle is a family man. He and his wife, Stella, and their two boys: Jackson and Levi are the picture-perfect family. Lord Mayor loves his town and wants to protect it at all costs. But how far is too far? The author wrote this character perfectly to fit the role – juuust the right amount of cocky, narcissistic, gaslight-y behavior wrapped into a seemingly put together, “has it all” politician.
Stella Ashley
“Once upon a time, I told myself Andrew wasn’t the type to deliberately hurt a woman. Now I wondered, what if I was wrong?”
Mrs. Lord Mayor Ashley is nothing without the clout of her husband. Should she stay, should she go? What will the consequences be either way? The doubt that was written into this character helped in keeping you guessing through the entire read. Whether you were doubting Stella, or the circumstances that surrounded her.
Senior Sergeant Lucy Dickson a.k.a. “Dicks”
“It was bad enough that what I did was interfering with my personal life, but now it might be the loophole that allowed a man to get away with murder.”
Lucy Dickson is Senior Sergeant at Newcastle PD, and oh, the web she weaves... Dicks is either investigating by the book (much to her supervisor’s dismay), or playing by her own rules to tempt fate. Despite the PD drama, I loved learning about her home life and the Lucy that lives behind the badge.
Lauren Ellis
“I think they were looking to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.”
29-year-old Newcastle City Council employee, is identified through her washed up body parts on Stockton Beach. Being heavily involved in conservation and environmental initiatives, she’s the perfect target for a crime of this nature. The way that the author kept you guessing until the very end..! Amazing. I was shook.
“For Stella, …
For Lucy, …
And for me…”
LOVE the trauma bonding.. beautiful ending.
*I received an advance review copy through Book Sirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I want to start this review off by saying that I have never read a book with FIVE POVs – you’d think it would be confusing – but it was magnificent. 10/10 recommend.
Elle Nolan
“I was a binge eater. And it sucked.”
Elle is filling in as lead crime reporter at the Tribune when body parts surface on the beach. Stress surrounds her throughout the case and her vice is food. I love how the author brought binge eating, purging, and the guilt that comes along with it, to light. I haven’t read many thrillers that bring this sort of awareness with the twists and turns. It was thoughtful but impactful.
Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley
“I was a liar and a fraud and soon everyone would know.”
Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley of Newcastle is a family man. He and his wife, Stella, and their two boys: Jackson and Levi are the picture-perfect family. Lord Mayor loves his town and wants to protect it at all costs. But how far is too far? The author wrote this character perfectly to fit the role – juuust the right amount of cocky, narcissistic, gaslight-y behavior wrapped into a seemingly put together, “has it all” politician.
Stella Ashley
“Once upon a time, I told myself Andrew wasn’t the type to deliberately hurt a woman. Now I wondered, what if I was wrong?”
Mrs. Lord Mayor Ashley is nothing without the clout of her husband. Should she stay, should she go? What will the consequences be either way? The doubt that was written into this character helped in keeping you guessing through the entire read. Whether you were doubting Stella, or the circumstances that surrounded her.
Senior Sergeant Lucy Dickson a.k.a. “Dicks”
“It was bad enough that what I did was interfering with my personal life, but now it might be the loophole that allowed a man to get away with murder.”
Lucy Dickson is Senior Sergeant at Newcastle PD, and oh, the web she weaves... Dicks is either investigating by the book (much to her supervisor’s dismay), or playing by her own rules to tempt fate. Despite the PD drama, I loved learning about her home life and the Lucy that lives behind the badge.
Lauren Ellis
“I think they were looking to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.”
29-year-old Newcastle City Council employee, is identified through her washed up body parts on Stockton Beach. Being heavily involved in conservation and environmental initiatives, she’s the perfect target for a crime of this nature. The way that the author kept you guessing until the very end..! Amazing. I was shook.
“For Stella, …
For Lucy, …
And for me…”
LOVE the trauma bonding.. beautiful ending.
*I received an advance review copy through Book Sirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 17, 2023
The premise was really good and I liked the setting. It was an addictive read and I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved the ending, there were lots of twists and turns.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 12, 2023
Bad choices… they always come back to haunt you.
Unfortunately, everyone makes them.
This book is all about bad choices and where those choices lead. Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley is passionate about his town, but the choices he makes and the affairs he has while trying to protect that town end up hurting his family and others. Fortunately, Lucy Dickson is not about to let him Ashley get away with his crimes and her investigation inadvertently leads her to the real criminal - someone everyone thinks they can trust and someone the reader doesn’t even consider a suspect.
I really enjoyed the mystery element of this novel and found myself caught up in the “who dunnit” element, but it was slow at times. In particular, there was a great deal of emphasis on the setting and the Gemini Bird, an endangered species that happened to be found there. I couldn’t get into this part of the plot line and, unfortunately, it occupied quite a bit of the plot.
The ending was also disappointing. There is an interesting twist, but also some unanswered questions. For instance, what happened to Ashley? It’s sweet how everyone trauma bonds… but also sort of a cop out because this sort of ending doesn’t require all the ends to be tied.
All in all, this was an intriguing book with the potential to be riveting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Unfortunately, everyone makes them.
This book is all about bad choices and where those choices lead. Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley is passionate about his town, but the choices he makes and the affairs he has while trying to protect that town end up hurting his family and others. Fortunately, Lucy Dickson is not about to let him Ashley get away with his crimes and her investigation inadvertently leads her to the real criminal - someone everyone thinks they can trust and someone the reader doesn’t even consider a suspect.
I really enjoyed the mystery element of this novel and found myself caught up in the “who dunnit” element, but it was slow at times. In particular, there was a great deal of emphasis on the setting and the Gemini Bird, an endangered species that happened to be found there. I couldn’t get into this part of the plot line and, unfortunately, it occupied quite a bit of the plot.
The ending was also disappointing. There is an interesting twist, but also some unanswered questions. For instance, what happened to Ashley? It’s sweet how everyone trauma bonds… but also sort of a cop out because this sort of ending doesn’t require all the ends to be tied.
All in all, this was an intriguing book with the potential to be riveting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 19, 2025
The body of Lauren Ellis is found in Stockton sand dunes, nor far from Lord Mayor Andrew Ashley's family home. When news breaks of a "very close" relationship between the two, the community speculates, but surely the charming and wholesome mayor isn't capable of murder. If he is innocent, then why does he not tell the police where he was at the time!?
Local newspaper reporter and mistress of Lord Mayor Ashley, Elle Nolan just wants to report crime. Instead, she writes about the council, which led to her affair with the mayor. When Andrew asks Elle to be his alibi for the night of the incident, she realises that her life will never be the same again.
The Alibi is an interesting and gripping crime fiction that I devoured. I loved the history and facts about Newcastle that I learned along the way, and I enjoyed the mention of so many key landmarks in the area. The final twist was very surprising but made total sense. It's worth the read!
Local newspaper reporter and mistress of Lord Mayor Ashley, Elle Nolan just wants to report crime. Instead, she writes about the council, which led to her affair with the mayor. When Andrew asks Elle to be his alibi for the night of the incident, she realises that her life will never be the same again.
The Alibi is an interesting and gripping crime fiction that I devoured. I loved the history and facts about Newcastle that I learned along the way, and I enjoyed the mention of so many key landmarks in the area. The final twist was very surprising but made total sense. It's worth the read!
June 5, 2023
I usually find an abundance of characters in a book overwhelming and hard to follow, but this is the first time I felt like every character made the story more interesting.
Told through alternate chapters, with the chapter title being the character narrative. I enjoyed the story and was actually surprised in the end, by who was the murderer.
A fast paced story with interesting characters who fans of murder, mystery and political power would enjoy reading. I definitely will read more books by this author.
I did find some grammatical errors, but chalked it up to reading an advance copy. It would have been a 5 star review, but the ending left me with a few questions that I felt should have been addressed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Told through alternate chapters, with the chapter title being the character narrative. I enjoyed the story and was actually surprised in the end, by who was the murderer.
A fast paced story with interesting characters who fans of murder, mystery and political power would enjoy reading. I definitely will read more books by this author.
I did find some grammatical errors, but chalked it up to reading an advance copy. It would have been a 5 star review, but the ending left me with a few questions that I felt should have been addressed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
June 8, 2023
Elle Nolan is a reporter, keen to get on the crime circuit and make her writer father proud of her. She gets drawn into a murder investigation, and makes a mistake, which leaves her worrying about her choices in love and life. How far will she go to feel better about herself.
An interesting read, I liked Elle but felt frustrated with her at times, particularly over some of her choices that mixed work with her personal life. This is written from several points of view - as well as Elle, we have Lucy, the police officer investigating a murder; Andrew, the mayor who is manipulating people for his own good; Stella, Andrews wife, who thinks she knows everything that Andrew is up to and finally Lauren. It’s an interesting story, some really good twists, and an ending I didn’t guess. Recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
An interesting read, I liked Elle but felt frustrated with her at times, particularly over some of her choices that mixed work with her personal life. This is written from several points of view - as well as Elle, we have Lucy, the police officer investigating a murder; Andrew, the mayor who is manipulating people for his own good; Stella, Andrews wife, who thinks she knows everything that Andrew is up to and finally Lauren. It’s an interesting story, some really good twists, and an ending I didn’t guess. Recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
June 21, 2023
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really liked reading The Alibi by Nikki Lee Taylor. It was quite intriguing. The suspense is on during the whole book and I must admit I didn't foresee it ending the way it did.
The author did a really great job throwing us, as readers, off of the real suspect until the very end, when he's revealed—which I thoroughly enjoyed!
The characters were also well-written and easy to understand/connect to, which made it easier to quickly get absorbed in the story.
The only thing that I hope improves is the typos. They weren't a lot that they hindered my reading experience, but enough to notice.
I really liked reading The Alibi by Nikki Lee Taylor. It was quite intriguing. The suspense is on during the whole book and I must admit I didn't foresee it ending the way it did.
The author did a really great job throwing us, as readers, off of the real suspect until the very end, when he's revealed—which I thoroughly enjoyed!
The characters were also well-written and easy to understand/connect to, which made it easier to quickly get absorbed in the story.
The only thing that I hope improves is the typos. They weren't a lot that they hindered my reading experience, but enough to notice.
July 13, 2023
I loved this book, which stage by stage revealed the story of a murder. A pacy story which revealed itself rather like the layers of an onion. It all hinged on the Mayor and whether he committed a murder, as he refused to say where he was.
Some great characters were introduced in the story and some great passages of dialogue too. Some people who felt they were looking on the story from the outside soon found themselves on centre stage. I loved the ending to the story.
This was my first book by this author but if won’t be my last, and I found I didn’t want to put the book down as I needed to know what had happened. Happy to strongly recommend this story to others.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Some great characters were introduced in the story and some great passages of dialogue too. Some people who felt they were looking on the story from the outside soon found themselves on centre stage. I loved the ending to the story.
This was my first book by this author but if won’t be my last, and I found I didn’t want to put the book down as I needed to know what had happened. Happy to strongly recommend this story to others.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 12, 2023
3.75⭐️
I had this on my kindle for a while and have been meaning to pick it up. I decided to finally read it on holiday and it was a perfect holiday read.
I enjoy it when chapters are headed with the name of whose POV it is from. It makes it easier to follow along. Initially I did have to pause to remember who the character was because there were a few, but never for long. The author managed to connect the characters and not have any unnecessary to the story. I found the story to be engaging and it kept me entertained.
It was a faced paced read with murder, mystery and some twists and turns. I will definitely read more by this author and recommend this one.
Thank you to @nikki.leetaylor for reaching out and providing a gifted copy for an honest review.
I had this on my kindle for a while and have been meaning to pick it up. I decided to finally read it on holiday and it was a perfect holiday read.
I enjoy it when chapters are headed with the name of whose POV it is from. It makes it easier to follow along. Initially I did have to pause to remember who the character was because there were a few, but never for long. The author managed to connect the characters and not have any unnecessary to the story. I found the story to be engaging and it kept me entertained.
It was a faced paced read with murder, mystery and some twists and turns. I will definitely read more by this author and recommend this one.
Thank you to @nikki.leetaylor for reaching out and providing a gifted copy for an honest review.
August 11, 2023
I received an ARC from BookSiren & the Author. Thank you for the opportunity to read & review The Alibi, which is out now on Kindle and in paperback.
This review is my opinion and in no way swayed by outside sources.
I enjoyed this read. It was a fast-paced book with short chapters (my favorite)! The story line is easy to follow, although, I believe there is some ‘fluff’ that could have been left out. I love this was a multi-POV book and each chapter was a different character. It really helped pull the story together.
My biggest critique is that there are quite a few typos that were not caught before it went to publishing.
This review is my opinion and in no way swayed by outside sources.
I enjoyed this read. It was a fast-paced book with short chapters (my favorite)! The story line is easy to follow, although, I believe there is some ‘fluff’ that could have been left out. I love this was a multi-POV book and each chapter was a different character. It really helped pull the story together.
My biggest critique is that there are quite a few typos that were not caught before it went to publishing.
June 8, 2023
This was an interesting book, but I’m not 100% sure how much I enjoyed reading it. There are four main characters and each chapter tells part of their story from their point of view and it took me quite a while to remember who was who. Reading it felt like a bit of a chore quite often and I kept thinking that I felt like I was just wading through filler words. There was a good twist in the end that I did not see coming and that was worth the fourth star for me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 19, 2023
I enjoyed this story and the short punchy chapters about a woman whose body washes up on the beach. The media goes in to a frenzy over who killed her and why, and the chief suspect is the Lord Mayor.
Charming and sneaky the attractive Lord Mayor gets a woman with an eating disorder to lie for him, providing him with an alibi, but this comes back to slap him in the face when his son confesses to the crime.
The only weakness for me was the ending, tied together in a neat bow. 4 stars
I received an advance copy of this book and am submitting this review voluntary.
Charming and sneaky the attractive Lord Mayor gets a woman with an eating disorder to lie for him, providing him with an alibi, but this comes back to slap him in the face when his son confesses to the crime.
The only weakness for me was the ending, tied together in a neat bow. 4 stars
I received an advance copy of this book and am submitting this review voluntary.
June 13, 2023
This book was intriguing, with a plot that held my interest and kept me guessing. The characters (four main ones) were well-defined and each necessary to the overall story. The author told the story from each different point of view, which I appreciate in a book that is a combination of varying characters. Excellent psychological thriller!
I received an ARC of this book. My review and my decision to post one, is entirely of my own choosing and content.
I received an ARC of this book. My review and my decision to post one, is entirely of my own choosing and content.
July 13, 2023
I'm not usually a big fan of stories that switch points of view because it can be confusing, but it worked well in this book. The characters were interesting, if not particularly likeable. All had faults and weaknesses.
I think the storyline is good and I didn't guess the killer.
It was great to read a book set in Australia!
I would like to read more from this author.
I received an advance copy of this book Book Sirens. This is my honest review.
I think the storyline is good and I didn't guess the killer.
It was great to read a book set in Australia!
I would like to read more from this author.
I received an advance copy of this book Book Sirens. This is my honest review.
July 31, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story is through the point of view of a few characters, I had to flip back a couple times to clear things up. I am not a fan of long paragraphs but I understand why they are used. Once I really got reading I found the book so hard to put down. The alibi caught me off guard a bit.
I can see myself reading other books written by this author.
The story is through the point of view of a few characters, I had to flip back a couple times to clear things up. I am not a fan of long paragraphs but I understand why they are used. Once I really got reading I found the book so hard to put down. The alibi caught me off guard a bit.
I can see myself reading other books written by this author.
June 14, 2023
This was an enjoyable and well written whodunit that I would recommend for fans of murder mysteries that take place in small Australian beachside communities. Throughout the book I couldn't stop thinking, how good looking could the Lord Mayor possibly be?!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#BookSirens
#BookLovers
#Bookworm
#ARC
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#BookSirens
#BookLovers
#Bookworm
#ARC
July 11, 2023
This was a really good thriller. I really enjoyed all the characters. The plot was original and the surprise ending shocked me! It was a mix of politics, corruption, and a cheating husband that took 4 strangers and intersected their lives in an unexpected and inextricable way. I highly recommend this book!
July 11, 2023
A complex, suspenseful plot with tension so thick that it felt palpable. Wonderful characters with depth and substance. I was immediately drawn in and held captive from beginning to end.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
July 21, 2023
Very interesting read! My only slight struggle was that a lot of characters were introduced very quickly, and it took awhile for me to get the hang of who everyone was. That may just be a personal thing, and not necessarily an issue for everyone. It definitely kept me wanting to read more and more! I enjoyed the twists, and enjoyed the book as a whole!
July 24, 2023
I really enjoyed Interesting backstory and development of characters in this multiple point of view murder mystery. Plenty of red herrings and twists, to keep you guessing. Seems a lot of people had own motives. The mystery flowed along at a good pace with interesting well developed characters. *I was given a copy via BookSirens and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
August 11, 2023
I thought this was written well. The storyline was captivating and I found myself continuing to reach for it to read more. I thought the plot moved quickly without feeling like it was it was missing substance. There were a few type-o’s, but overall I really enjoyed reading this.
I received this book for free from BookSiren. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received this book for free from BookSiren. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 6, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. It had me thinking it was so many characters along the way. This is an absolutely fantastic Thriller, 100% worth a read.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 28, 2023
I liked this story. The characters were interesting. I enjoyed seeing the story's action from their point of views. It was an interesting way to write the thriller by allowing the reader into the characters' minds.
I was entertained by this thriller because the storyline was well made. It was not boring. It kept me hooked into the last moment.
I received a complimentary copy of this story and I freely left this review.
I was entertained by this thriller because the storyline was well made. It was not boring. It kept me hooked into the last moment.
I received a complimentary copy of this story and I freely left this review.
June 14, 2023
Really good book! Held my interest all the way through, and the characters were well-developed. I look forward to more from this author. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC.
May 31, 2025
Long winded
The book felt like it could have been cut in half and still gotten the point across. In addition the twist felt disjointed, like there was no flow. Overall dissapt.
The book felt like it could have been cut in half and still gotten the point across. In addition the twist felt disjointed, like there was no flow. Overall dissapt.
July 29, 2023
What a blast ... A great story that kept me up all night. Murder, misdirection, romance, and family upheaval bring this novel together brilliantly. The descriptions of Newcastle, Stockton and surrounding areas is wonderful. Twists and turns lead to a surprising finale. Highly recommended novel worthy of five stars.
October 1, 2023
I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book and my thanks to the team of BookSirens and the author for the copy.
All views expressed in this review are my own and based on my reading of this book. Some of the initial comments were made as I progressed in this book and I have not tried editing them as it expresses my contiguous thoughts as I proceeded with the story.
The book blurb showed a good premise for a murder thriller which hooked me. This is in sync with my exploring new authors and books within the thriller format and is my first book by the author.
The rating is closer to 3.5 stars but with higher returns of recollection with the story hence rated at 4 stars.
When I started reading the book I was in for a pleasant surprise, the chapter names were all in the names of the principal characters from the story and the chapter were written from the point of view of that character. While it was interesting, down the road it became a bit tedious to keep track but helped me in keeping abreast with the storyline. Casual readers may find this a bit inconveniencing. The book gives more than enough thrill for readers.
One of our principal characters is the Lord Mayor of the city is a fresh politician but old time hunk and popular amongst the ladies. He is adamant on preventing commercial utilization of beaches and that has been his war cry for his position. Body parts turn up in the beach and the mystery starts. The story has many components with the principal being development, commercialization, the Mayors roving eye and the murder that has happened.
Hiding parts of information leads to deeper investigation by the police. We have a police officer who also has a soft heart for the community and this has put her and her boss in a spot of bother with IA. We have the local upcoming journalist in love with the Mayor and a senior journalist wanting center stage. The Mayor's family relationships are also transactional and strained.
All the above make for a potpourri of a story and with most of the characters fleshed out a bit and their interactions and transactions spelled out makes for a deeper understanding of the story and provides it with nuances and levels beyond the simple murder mystery that it ultimately is.
I liked the way Nikki Taylor, the author, has harnessed the use of multiple points of view to give the reader a complex picture to chew and also the story which had a reasonable mystery and also gave the reader a chance to know who the possible killer would be despite the red herrings which would befuddle most readers. Also appreciable is the fact that Nikki was able to juggle so many characters simultaneously and being able to do reasonable justice for all of them. I also felt that the character wise points of views was interesting as I like a bit of challenge while reading a book in the thriller genre, something that helps push my mind. The story showcases murder but keeps most of the crime off screen so would be palatable to most readers.
What I felt could have been improved was a bit of more editing in the story. The story line dragged about on and on about the endangered species in the book and which could have been trimmed. The background of Elle Nolan the upcoming journalist and her famous father is also dragged a bit too much unless this is characterization to expand this into a series starring her or the troika of heroines in this book. The ending was also predictable and abrupt. the multiple points of view through the characters while novel is also a bit tedious and could put off casual readers.
I would recommend this book to readers.
All views expressed in this review are my own and based on my reading of this book. Some of the initial comments were made as I progressed in this book and I have not tried editing them as it expresses my contiguous thoughts as I proceeded with the story.
The book blurb showed a good premise for a murder thriller which hooked me. This is in sync with my exploring new authors and books within the thriller format and is my first book by the author.
The rating is closer to 3.5 stars but with higher returns of recollection with the story hence rated at 4 stars.
When I started reading the book I was in for a pleasant surprise, the chapter names were all in the names of the principal characters from the story and the chapter were written from the point of view of that character. While it was interesting, down the road it became a bit tedious to keep track but helped me in keeping abreast with the storyline. Casual readers may find this a bit inconveniencing. The book gives more than enough thrill for readers.
One of our principal characters is the Lord Mayor of the city is a fresh politician but old time hunk and popular amongst the ladies. He is adamant on preventing commercial utilization of beaches and that has been his war cry for his position. Body parts turn up in the beach and the mystery starts. The story has many components with the principal being development, commercialization, the Mayors roving eye and the murder that has happened.
Hiding parts of information leads to deeper investigation by the police. We have a police officer who also has a soft heart for the community and this has put her and her boss in a spot of bother with IA. We have the local upcoming journalist in love with the Mayor and a senior journalist wanting center stage. The Mayor's family relationships are also transactional and strained.
All the above make for a potpourri of a story and with most of the characters fleshed out a bit and their interactions and transactions spelled out makes for a deeper understanding of the story and provides it with nuances and levels beyond the simple murder mystery that it ultimately is.
I liked the way Nikki Taylor, the author, has harnessed the use of multiple points of view to give the reader a complex picture to chew and also the story which had a reasonable mystery and also gave the reader a chance to know who the possible killer would be despite the red herrings which would befuddle most readers. Also appreciable is the fact that Nikki was able to juggle so many characters simultaneously and being able to do reasonable justice for all of them. I also felt that the character wise points of views was interesting as I like a bit of challenge while reading a book in the thriller genre, something that helps push my mind. The story showcases murder but keeps most of the crime off screen so would be palatable to most readers.
What I felt could have been improved was a bit of more editing in the story. The story line dragged about on and on about the endangered species in the book and which could have been trimmed. The background of Elle Nolan the upcoming journalist and her famous father is also dragged a bit too much unless this is characterization to expand this into a series starring her or the troika of heroines in this book. The ending was also predictable and abrupt. the multiple points of view through the characters while novel is also a bit tedious and could put off casual readers.
I would recommend this book to readers.
July 11, 2023
I’ve read this book for free via Booksirens. This story is well written. The author is great at building the suspense. The story feels realistic, it touches on some real life issues that readers can recognize. At the same time there were some issues with realism, like the confidentiality of conversations. We read the story through several character’s eyes, but we never read the same part double, this really helps with keeping the story moving along nicely. If you enjoy who dunnits, this is a book for you.
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