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Dr Sian Love Mystery #1
Dead Flowers
She doesn’t trust the police. She used to be one of them.
Hardened by ten years on the murder squad, DNA analyst Doctor Sian Love has seen it all. So when she finds human remains in the basement of her new home, she knows the drill.
Except this time it’s different. This time, it’s personal...
A page-turning cold case investigation, Dead Flowers is an intriguing, multi-layered story perfect for fans of Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories and British crime dramas like Line of Duty and Unforgotten.
Shortlisted for the UEA Crime Fiction Award 2019
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Praise for Nicola Monaghan's previous works
'A gripping, mile-a-minute British debut. Enthralling' - Kirkus Reviews
'Monaghan's convincing characters swing unpredictably between terrifying and tender, and the often violent encounters usually have a bleakly funny edge' - Independent
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2019
11 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Monaghan
32 books59 followersNicola Monaghan won a Betty Trask Award, the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award and the Waverton Good Read for her first novel, The Killing Jar. Her latest book is The Troll: The Boy with the Sliver of Ice in his Heart and is the first in a trilogy. She also wrote The Night Lingers and other stories, Starfishing and The Okinawa Dragon and has been published widely in newspapers, magazines and anthologies. She writes for screen too and is working on her first feature. She teaches Creative Writing at De Montfort University, as well as online at Udemy.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
August 21, 2019
Nicola Monaghan's Dead Flowers is a marvellous crime novel, revolving around a cold case that goes back 40 years in the past, with a narrative that goes back and forth in time. Set in Nottingham, Dr Sian Love is 46 years old, a DNA analyst, once a high flying DCI on the murder squad, having quit after being disillusioned about the corruption, sexism and racism in the police. Sian has inherited the Loggerheads pub from her Uncle Rob, and is moving in with her ex-police alsation, Elvis, a cadaver dog. Elvis is instrumental in Sian's macabre discovery of two dead bodies in the cellar, getting injured in the process. She is reluctant to get the police involved but her partner, DI Kris Payne calls it in, triggering an intense media focus, and with the police crawling everywhere, Sian is forced to leave her new home.
Sian is reluctant to leave the case solely in police hands, she knows from personal experience that she cannot rely on them to conduct a competent and thorough inquiry, and she doesn't want to see her Uncle Rob carrying the can for the murders, even if he is dead, utterly convinced of his innocence. She is less than happy to see the detested corrupt Detective Superintendent Dominic Wilkinson lead the police case, and concerned over the involvement of DI Jon Breen, as the family liasion officer, a man she does not trust. However, Sian barely trusts herself and has issues trusting anyone, including Kris, responsible for dealing with her troublesome ex-boyfriend, Gary Bolton, a man she is still afraid of. The case goes back in time to the chaotic times in the Loggerheads pub history, to Angela's abusive marriage, the development of her relationship with Harry Kenzie, and her sister, Marilyn's with Bobby O'Quaid, the bartender. Harry has dreams of owning Loggerheads, for which he needs the support of the enigmatic Pat Walsh, with high hopes for his band, Midnight Roses being bigger than The Beatles.
Sian finds herself in danger in a case that is personal, that uncovers long buried family secrets and tragedy. Monaghan writes a twisted, multilayered and well plotted atmospheric story, with a terrific central protagonist in the flawed and emotionally damaged Sian Love. Many of the chapters are songtitles, the novel is character driven, laced with dark edgy violence and menace, with plenty of suspense and tension. The historical parts of the novel captures the social expectations and attitudes towards women of the late sixties and early seventies. A great crime read that I adored and which I recommend to crime fiction fans. Many thanks to Verve and Oldcastle Books for an ARC.
Sian is reluctant to leave the case solely in police hands, she knows from personal experience that she cannot rely on them to conduct a competent and thorough inquiry, and she doesn't want to see her Uncle Rob carrying the can for the murders, even if he is dead, utterly convinced of his innocence. She is less than happy to see the detested corrupt Detective Superintendent Dominic Wilkinson lead the police case, and concerned over the involvement of DI Jon Breen, as the family liasion officer, a man she does not trust. However, Sian barely trusts herself and has issues trusting anyone, including Kris, responsible for dealing with her troublesome ex-boyfriend, Gary Bolton, a man she is still afraid of. The case goes back in time to the chaotic times in the Loggerheads pub history, to Angela's abusive marriage, the development of her relationship with Harry Kenzie, and her sister, Marilyn's with Bobby O'Quaid, the bartender. Harry has dreams of owning Loggerheads, for which he needs the support of the enigmatic Pat Walsh, with high hopes for his band, Midnight Roses being bigger than The Beatles.
Sian finds herself in danger in a case that is personal, that uncovers long buried family secrets and tragedy. Monaghan writes a twisted, multilayered and well plotted atmospheric story, with a terrific central protagonist in the flawed and emotionally damaged Sian Love. Many of the chapters are songtitles, the novel is character driven, laced with dark edgy violence and menace, with plenty of suspense and tension. The historical parts of the novel captures the social expectations and attitudes towards women of the late sixties and early seventies. A great crime read that I adored and which I recommend to crime fiction fans. Many thanks to Verve and Oldcastle Books for an ARC.
September 23, 2019
Departed
Dead Flowers is an accomplished crime mystery with a central character that sets a unique course for a plot and disturbing family secrets. The story is told in two alternating time threads between the early 1970s and 2017. The attention to historic detail in the settings is very well captured and gives it a nostalgic dimension without trying too hard and overwhelming the story.
Dr Sian Love is a forensic scientist, having previously worked as a DCI with the Nottingham police, which she resigned from due to sexism, racism and corruption. Sian, along with her retired police cadaver dog, Elvis, has just moved into the Loggerheads Pub which she inherited from her Uncle Rob. It doesn’t take long before Elvis has zoned in on something suspicious behind a wall in the cellar. After tearing open a hidden door, Sian, find the remains of two dead bodies which have been sealed up for over four decades. Against Sian’s frustration, her partner DI Kris Payne, calls the discovery into the local police, which in itself opens up issues for Sian having to deal with Detective Superintendent Dominic Wilkinson as he leads the investigation and whom Sian holds responsible for the treatment she received while she worked in the force.
Sian doesn’t have faith in the police force’s integrity and is determined to ensure that her uncle Rob is not held responsible for the murders of the two victims. This causes friction from all sides and it becomes particularly acute with personal and family ties being stretched, twisted and broken. Her relationship with Kris is also put under pressure as she struggles with trust and commitment issues.
While the police investigation, and Sian’s own dangerous research, occupies one-time thread, we are taken on an enthralling journey with a number of fascinating characters from 1970 through to 1971. The relationships, plans and ambitions of the group are not always held equally valuable and the tensions are wonderfully developed. We can only but guess that two of them are the bodies found forty-six years later, but this mulita-layered plot will keep surprises and the suspense taut until the end.
Within many of the scenes the accompaniment of musical references filter through on the edges – a song played on a jukebox, the backdrop of a pop group, or the title of the chapters identifying various pop songs from 1971, for example All I Have to Do Is Dream or Can’t Help Falling In Love Oh, I could go on! Great idea for feeding an atmosphere, and with a particular fondness for Elvis I enjoyed it. If Nicola Monaghan states she doesn’t like Elvis Presley, I’ll be shocked.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the little nostalgic glimpses back in time, which for the cast of characters held engrossing actions and secrets with deadly consequences. Sian doggedly unravels the past exposing herself to a danger that will resurface the more she digs. The characters carry this story and how they interact with their own hopes and desires is brilliantly told.
I would highly recommend reading this book and I'd like to thank Verve Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
Dead Flowers is an accomplished crime mystery with a central character that sets a unique course for a plot and disturbing family secrets. The story is told in two alternating time threads between the early 1970s and 2017. The attention to historic detail in the settings is very well captured and gives it a nostalgic dimension without trying too hard and overwhelming the story.
Dr Sian Love is a forensic scientist, having previously worked as a DCI with the Nottingham police, which she resigned from due to sexism, racism and corruption. Sian, along with her retired police cadaver dog, Elvis, has just moved into the Loggerheads Pub which she inherited from her Uncle Rob. It doesn’t take long before Elvis has zoned in on something suspicious behind a wall in the cellar. After tearing open a hidden door, Sian, find the remains of two dead bodies which have been sealed up for over four decades. Against Sian’s frustration, her partner DI Kris Payne, calls the discovery into the local police, which in itself opens up issues for Sian having to deal with Detective Superintendent Dominic Wilkinson as he leads the investigation and whom Sian holds responsible for the treatment she received while she worked in the force.
Sian doesn’t have faith in the police force’s integrity and is determined to ensure that her uncle Rob is not held responsible for the murders of the two victims. This causes friction from all sides and it becomes particularly acute with personal and family ties being stretched, twisted and broken. Her relationship with Kris is also put under pressure as she struggles with trust and commitment issues.
While the police investigation, and Sian’s own dangerous research, occupies one-time thread, we are taken on an enthralling journey with a number of fascinating characters from 1970 through to 1971. The relationships, plans and ambitions of the group are not always held equally valuable and the tensions are wonderfully developed. We can only but guess that two of them are the bodies found forty-six years later, but this mulita-layered plot will keep surprises and the suspense taut until the end.
Within many of the scenes the accompaniment of musical references filter through on the edges – a song played on a jukebox, the backdrop of a pop group, or the title of the chapters identifying various pop songs from 1971, for example All I Have to Do Is Dream or Can’t Help Falling In Love Oh, I could go on! Great idea for feeding an atmosphere, and with a particular fondness for Elvis I enjoyed it. If Nicola Monaghan states she doesn’t like Elvis Presley, I’ll be shocked.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the little nostalgic glimpses back in time, which for the cast of characters held engrossing actions and secrets with deadly consequences. Sian doggedly unravels the past exposing herself to a danger that will resurface the more she digs. The characters carry this story and how they interact with their own hopes and desires is brilliantly told.
I would highly recommend reading this book and I'd like to thank Verve Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
October 1, 2019
*4.5* Stars. This is a gripping, multi-layered mystery involving murder, family secrets, tragedy and a search for one’s identity. A feeling of menace permeates throughout. The author seamlessly blends the story of an aspiring rock band in the early 1970s into a present-time search for the truth. There is a vivid sense of time and place established by old familiar song titles, and dialogue containing regional colloquialisms.
In the past timeline, we meet a rock band, The Midnight Roses, performing and living at a local pub, The Loggerheads. There is Harry MacKenzie, the bandleader. He hopes to own the pub with the support of the powerful and mysterious Pat Walsh. He believes the band is destined to become bigger than the Beatles. Lead singer is Angela, afraid of an abusive husband and entering a relationship with Harry. Angela enhances the band with a gorgeous singing voice. Her beautiful and flirtatious sister, Marilyn, is jealous of Angela’s role as lead singer but lacks her innate singing ability. She marries Bobby Q, a bartender and fellow band member. It is a time of tension and chaos within the group.
In present time, Dr. Sian Love works as a DNA analyst. She was once a prominent DCI on the local Newcastle murder squad. She quit after becoming disillusioned from witnessing their rush to close cases, their corruption, incompetence, brutality, sexism and racism. Sian appears to be a flawed, bitter woman. She is slightly paranoid, impulsive, and has difficulty trusting people. She is in a relationship with DI Kris Payne, who is very supportive of her but is annoyed that she takes dangerous chances and not playing by the rules. He comes across as a kindly, dedicated police officer and described as looking like Idris Elba, so what’s not to love?
Sian has moved into the Loggerheads, having inherited it from her Uncle Rob. Her trained ex-cadaver dog, Elvis, alerts her to the ghastly discovery of two dead bodies hidden in the cellar. It is evident that they had been murdered and there for many years. She injured herself while examining the corpses, and calls on Kris for help. She does not want the police involved as considers them incompetent and does not trust them to investigate. Her greatest fear is that her deceased Uncle Rob will be blamed for the murders. Kris calls the police and reports the grisly discovery because he feels it is the correct procedure.
Much to her displeasure and alarm, Sian learns that the corrupt Superintendent Dominic Wilson is heading this cold case. She despised him when she was a police officer. She is also suspicious of the smooth-talking DI Bremen, chosen in the family liaison role.
Against Kris’s advice, she takes steps to identify the bodies, placing herself in danger from law enforcers and criminals. While doing so she makes startling discoveries which reveal long-held family secrets and tragedy. A background of menace and shattering revelations finally comes to light. Recommended for those who enjoy British crime stories and intense family mysteries.
In the past timeline, we meet a rock band, The Midnight Roses, performing and living at a local pub, The Loggerheads. There is Harry MacKenzie, the bandleader. He hopes to own the pub with the support of the powerful and mysterious Pat Walsh. He believes the band is destined to become bigger than the Beatles. Lead singer is Angela, afraid of an abusive husband and entering a relationship with Harry. Angela enhances the band with a gorgeous singing voice. Her beautiful and flirtatious sister, Marilyn, is jealous of Angela’s role as lead singer but lacks her innate singing ability. She marries Bobby Q, a bartender and fellow band member. It is a time of tension and chaos within the group.
In present time, Dr. Sian Love works as a DNA analyst. She was once a prominent DCI on the local Newcastle murder squad. She quit after becoming disillusioned from witnessing their rush to close cases, their corruption, incompetence, brutality, sexism and racism. Sian appears to be a flawed, bitter woman. She is slightly paranoid, impulsive, and has difficulty trusting people. She is in a relationship with DI Kris Payne, who is very supportive of her but is annoyed that she takes dangerous chances and not playing by the rules. He comes across as a kindly, dedicated police officer and described as looking like Idris Elba, so what’s not to love?
Sian has moved into the Loggerheads, having inherited it from her Uncle Rob. Her trained ex-cadaver dog, Elvis, alerts her to the ghastly discovery of two dead bodies hidden in the cellar. It is evident that they had been murdered and there for many years. She injured herself while examining the corpses, and calls on Kris for help. She does not want the police involved as considers them incompetent and does not trust them to investigate. Her greatest fear is that her deceased Uncle Rob will be blamed for the murders. Kris calls the police and reports the grisly discovery because he feels it is the correct procedure.
Much to her displeasure and alarm, Sian learns that the corrupt Superintendent Dominic Wilson is heading this cold case. She despised him when she was a police officer. She is also suspicious of the smooth-talking DI Bremen, chosen in the family liaison role.
Against Kris’s advice, she takes steps to identify the bodies, placing herself in danger from law enforcers and criminals. While doing so she makes startling discoveries which reveal long-held family secrets and tragedy. A background of menace and shattering revelations finally comes to light. Recommended for those who enjoy British crime stories and intense family mysteries.
September 5, 2019
I think this is probably one of the best crime novels I’ve read this year. The central character is ex DCI now Dr Sian Love who inherits an old pub The Loggerheads in Nottingham from her uncle Rob. She makes a grizzly discovery there and what follows is a twisty, rollercoaster of a read as Sian tries to establish the truth about what she’s found and about herself. The storyline goes backwards and forwards fluidly from October 1967 to 2017 at no point did the different time frames feel anything other than organic. It is an extremely well written gritty book with the occasional flash of dry or black humour which I appreciate. I love that every chapter from the earlier period has an appropriate song title!
The characters from the earlier period are really interesting and well crafted. Harry seems charming initially but he’s determined and ruthless and will get what he wants by any means necessary. Bobby Q is much more likeable although he seems malleable and lurking darkly in the background is the menacing presence of Pat Walsh. The female characters of Angela and Marilyn are good and products of their time. From 2017, I really like the principal character of Sian and hope that she appears in future books. She’s feisty, dogged, brave and still haunted by her past but trying hard to trust again, in particular her Idris Elba lookalike partner Kris. The police characters are also good although you are not sure whether you can trust them. The dog Elvis is fabulous and he plays a key role.
I love the setting, the old pub is a great backdrop as is the town where I was born, in ‘bread and lard island’ otherwise known as West Bridgford! I was transported back to Nottinum, with the ‘ey ooop me duck’ and ‘yer bogger’ and at one point when Forest are mentioned I was back on the terraces cheering my team on heartily - we were successful then!!!! . The historical setting is fabulous and the author captures that so well. At times we feel tangible tension, then menace, then the confusion that Sian must feel as her life turns upside down. On a couple of occasions I think my jaw might have dropped as the climax of the book approaches and I like a book where you don’t see an end coming and the surprises keep on coming. This is so well written I couldn’t put it down and definitely want to read more by Nicola Monaghan.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oldcastle Books for the ARC
The characters from the earlier period are really interesting and well crafted. Harry seems charming initially but he’s determined and ruthless and will get what he wants by any means necessary. Bobby Q is much more likeable although he seems malleable and lurking darkly in the background is the menacing presence of Pat Walsh. The female characters of Angela and Marilyn are good and products of their time. From 2017, I really like the principal character of Sian and hope that she appears in future books. She’s feisty, dogged, brave and still haunted by her past but trying hard to trust again, in particular her Idris Elba lookalike partner Kris. The police characters are also good although you are not sure whether you can trust them. The dog Elvis is fabulous and he plays a key role.
I love the setting, the old pub is a great backdrop as is the town where I was born, in ‘bread and lard island’ otherwise known as West Bridgford! I was transported back to Nottinum, with the ‘ey ooop me duck’ and ‘yer bogger’ and at one point when Forest are mentioned I was back on the terraces cheering my team on heartily - we were successful then!!!! . The historical setting is fabulous and the author captures that so well. At times we feel tangible tension, then menace, then the confusion that Sian must feel as her life turns upside down. On a couple of occasions I think my jaw might have dropped as the climax of the book approaches and I like a book where you don’t see an end coming and the surprises keep on coming. This is so well written I couldn’t put it down and definitely want to read more by Nicola Monaghan.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oldcastle Books for the ARC
August 31, 2019
Although I am not familiar with the author, I am a huge fan of British crime thrillers, and I always gravitate in their general direction. I'm not sure what it is but British crime thrillers and/or mysteries are just so much better and hugely intriguing. Maybe it's the setting, the history, the characters - I don't know. But if it's British, chances are I'm going to read it!
So without knowing anything about or by the author I wasn't sure what to expect when beginning DEAD FLOWERS...but what I got was a riveting thriller that had me captivated throughout. The concept, the narrative, the plot - it was all very cleverly layered with dark secrets and timely twists to make this a wonderfully gripping read.
The idea of the central character being a DNA analyst is a novel concept, though I'm not sure when she trained up in that area since she was a police officer prior, rising to the rank of DCI. That part was a little bit vague, but a minor aside. However, the over descriptive narrative involving the DNA testing, I must say had me thoroughly confused as it was way too scientific for my right-brain. I felt that much of that process could have been eliminated without confusing the reader or sending them to sleep in those couple of chapters with maybe just a slight reference to the procedure instead of the in-depth approach.
DEAD FLOWERS opens directly in 1967 Nottingham. The setting - the Loggerheads pub (love the name!). Here, we meet some interesting characters who will go on to be the cornerstone of the story that is yet to come as we the scene is masterfully set. There's Harry MacKenzie (Mac), a Scot who has dreams of being bigger than The Beatles but somewhat of a big mouth; his best mate, Bobby Q, an almost silent partner; Angela, who is seeking an escape from an abusive marriage and has the voice of an angel; Marilyn, Angela's sister who may not have the voice but certainly has the looks; and big Pat Walsh, who "wasn't a man you talked about". Harry also had dreams of owning the Loggerheads and set about buying it from Big Pat where he, Bobby and the two sisters set themselves up in a band called Midnight Roses, playing both covers and originals, hoping that one day they would be famous.
Fast forward fifty years and it's 2017. Sian Love, ex-DCI now doctor specialising in DNA analysis, has recently inherited her uncle's old pub - the former Loggerheads - surprising both her and her family. She was quite fond of her uncle and he would often regale her with his tales - one about his wife that she was never quite sure was truth or fiction. Because for as long as she'd known him he had never been married. And the story often changed so she wasn't sure what to believe.
Now she is moving into Loggerheads (as she still refers to it) with her German shepherd Elvis, an ex-cadaver dog, when she makes a gruesome discovery. The skeletal remains of two bodies, one partially mummified, secreted behind a door that has been plastered over in the cellar, injuring herself in the process. As an ex-copper familiar with the corruption in the local nick, she doesn't trust the police and is reluctant to get them involved but her Idris Elba-lookalike boyfriend Kris, who is also a DI, insists on doing so and calls it in.
But before they arrive, sporting her broken ankle complete with cast, Sian sneaks into the cellar to seize a tissue sample from the mummified remains to run her own tests. She's not sure what it will reveal but she doesn't trust the police to conduct a thorough investigation. She is even less confident in their ability to cast a wider net which would then inevitably result in the blame being placed on her uncle Rob for the murders, of which she is convinced of his innocence.
When she discovers that Detective Superintendent Dominic Wilkinson is the acting SIO on the case, she is less than happy. She's worked with Walker; she knows his style. Suspecting he is in the pocket of many a criminal, Walker is corrupt and she detests him. So when her Family Liaison Officer is revealed to be a Detective Inspector, Sian grows even more suspicious knowing full well that it is outside the remit of a DI to act as an FLO.
Sian doesn't know who she can trust. She barely trusts herself and struggles to do so with Kris and she knows she can't trust the police to do their job! So it's left to her to run the tissue sample she obtained to see what answers they may reveal. But is she prepared for the truth of those answers?
More than once Sian finds herself in danger as she is followed late at night, fearing for her life, in a case that turns out to be personal, uncovering the long buried family secrets and tragedy of the past. The deeper she digs, the more questions she finds. Just who was buried in that cellar? And why?
DEAD FLOWERS is a cleverly written multi-layered mystery that is atmospheric throughout. As the story unravels between the past and the present, there is something of a dark edge laced with menace which just exudes the right amount of suspense and tension.
The musical references in the chapter titles were a nice touch as a sign of the times - late sixties and early seventies - but in some aspects I didn't feel they reflected the content they titled. I won't give an example as that would just create a spoiler. But it was still a fitting nod to the past.
I cannot say I liked Sian a whole lot, especially to begin with. I found her a little closed off, detached, stubborn and somewhat unlikable at first. I know she has trust issues and I get that. But she did grow on me so she wasn't all bad. Elvis, however, was a star! (Thank you, Nicola Monaghan, for NOT hurting him!) Truly, he is...playing a key role!
I love the dual timeline feature, as it brings both stories together in a penultimate climax at the end. But just when you think you have it all figured out, there's another twist or two thrown our way, leaving readers gobsmacked.
I'm not sure where the reference to DEAD FLOWERS comes from; it's not from any song I know. I guess it could be kind of fitting "flowers" for the "dead"...maybe?
In any case, DEAD FLOWERS is a riveting thriller that weaves both the past and present together in a tapestry like no other, revealing the picture in its entirety with a final twist.
Recommended for those who love their crime fiction dark and thrilling, DEAD FLOWERS is a gripping read.
I would like to thank #NicolaMonaghan, #NetGalley#Verve for an ARC of #DeadFlowers in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
So without knowing anything about or by the author I wasn't sure what to expect when beginning DEAD FLOWERS...but what I got was a riveting thriller that had me captivated throughout. The concept, the narrative, the plot - it was all very cleverly layered with dark secrets and timely twists to make this a wonderfully gripping read.
The idea of the central character being a DNA analyst is a novel concept, though I'm not sure when she trained up in that area since she was a police officer prior, rising to the rank of DCI. That part was a little bit vague, but a minor aside. However, the over descriptive narrative involving the DNA testing, I must say had me thoroughly confused as it was way too scientific for my right-brain. I felt that much of that process could have been eliminated without confusing the reader or sending them to sleep in those couple of chapters with maybe just a slight reference to the procedure instead of the in-depth approach.
DEAD FLOWERS opens directly in 1967 Nottingham. The setting - the Loggerheads pub (love the name!). Here, we meet some interesting characters who will go on to be the cornerstone of the story that is yet to come as we the scene is masterfully set. There's Harry MacKenzie (Mac), a Scot who has dreams of being bigger than The Beatles but somewhat of a big mouth; his best mate, Bobby Q, an almost silent partner; Angela, who is seeking an escape from an abusive marriage and has the voice of an angel; Marilyn, Angela's sister who may not have the voice but certainly has the looks; and big Pat Walsh, who "wasn't a man you talked about". Harry also had dreams of owning the Loggerheads and set about buying it from Big Pat where he, Bobby and the two sisters set themselves up in a band called Midnight Roses, playing both covers and originals, hoping that one day they would be famous.
Fast forward fifty years and it's 2017. Sian Love, ex-DCI now doctor specialising in DNA analysis, has recently inherited her uncle's old pub - the former Loggerheads - surprising both her and her family. She was quite fond of her uncle and he would often regale her with his tales - one about his wife that she was never quite sure was truth or fiction. Because for as long as she'd known him he had never been married. And the story often changed so she wasn't sure what to believe.
Now she is moving into Loggerheads (as she still refers to it) with her German shepherd Elvis, an ex-cadaver dog, when she makes a gruesome discovery. The skeletal remains of two bodies, one partially mummified, secreted behind a door that has been plastered over in the cellar, injuring herself in the process. As an ex-copper familiar with the corruption in the local nick, she doesn't trust the police and is reluctant to get them involved but her Idris Elba-lookalike boyfriend Kris, who is also a DI, insists on doing so and calls it in.
But before they arrive, sporting her broken ankle complete with cast, Sian sneaks into the cellar to seize a tissue sample from the mummified remains to run her own tests. She's not sure what it will reveal but she doesn't trust the police to conduct a thorough investigation. She is even less confident in their ability to cast a wider net which would then inevitably result in the blame being placed on her uncle Rob for the murders, of which she is convinced of his innocence.
When she discovers that Detective Superintendent Dominic Wilkinson is the acting SIO on the case, she is less than happy. She's worked with Walker; she knows his style. Suspecting he is in the pocket of many a criminal, Walker is corrupt and she detests him. So when her Family Liaison Officer is revealed to be a Detective Inspector, Sian grows even more suspicious knowing full well that it is outside the remit of a DI to act as an FLO.
Sian doesn't know who she can trust. She barely trusts herself and struggles to do so with Kris and she knows she can't trust the police to do their job! So it's left to her to run the tissue sample she obtained to see what answers they may reveal. But is she prepared for the truth of those answers?
More than once Sian finds herself in danger as she is followed late at night, fearing for her life, in a case that turns out to be personal, uncovering the long buried family secrets and tragedy of the past. The deeper she digs, the more questions she finds. Just who was buried in that cellar? And why?
DEAD FLOWERS is a cleverly written multi-layered mystery that is atmospheric throughout. As the story unravels between the past and the present, there is something of a dark edge laced with menace which just exudes the right amount of suspense and tension.
The musical references in the chapter titles were a nice touch as a sign of the times - late sixties and early seventies - but in some aspects I didn't feel they reflected the content they titled. I won't give an example as that would just create a spoiler. But it was still a fitting nod to the past.
I cannot say I liked Sian a whole lot, especially to begin with. I found her a little closed off, detached, stubborn and somewhat unlikable at first. I know she has trust issues and I get that. But she did grow on me so she wasn't all bad. Elvis, however, was a star! (Thank you, Nicola Monaghan, for NOT hurting him!) Truly, he is...playing a key role!
I love the dual timeline feature, as it brings both stories together in a penultimate climax at the end. But just when you think you have it all figured out, there's another twist or two thrown our way, leaving readers gobsmacked.
I'm not sure where the reference to DEAD FLOWERS comes from; it's not from any song I know. I guess it could be kind of fitting "flowers" for the "dead"...maybe?
In any case, DEAD FLOWERS is a riveting thriller that weaves both the past and present together in a tapestry like no other, revealing the picture in its entirety with a final twist.
Recommended for those who love their crime fiction dark and thrilling, DEAD FLOWERS is a gripping read.
I would like to thank #NicolaMonaghan, #NetGalley#Verve for an ARC of #DeadFlowers in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Read
August 30, 2019So, I won't rate this book since I wrote it and might be slightly biased! This is my latest novel, published by the very brilliant people at Verve. It's out on 5th September 2019. The main character, Sian Love, is one of my own favourites of those I've created. She has a lot going on - I won't spoiler the book for you by saying what - but she certainly has her own challenges to face.
An ex police officer, she now works as a forensics analyst. She also has a hero German Shepherd called Elvis who she adopted when he retired from the police force.
I hope you enjoy meeting Sian, Elvis and the rest, and find the book a thoughtful page turner.
ADDENDUM: I just wanted to add a note here to thank all the thoughtful and wonderful reviewers for your kind words about my book. Reading them just now has made my day! <3
An ex police officer, she now works as a forensics analyst. She also has a hero German Shepherd called Elvis who she adopted when he retired from the police force.
I hope you enjoy meeting Sian, Elvis and the rest, and find the book a thoughtful page turner.
ADDENDUM: I just wanted to add a note here to thank all the thoughtful and wonderful reviewers for your kind words about my book. Reading them just now has made my day! <3
August 28, 2019
This got steadily better - 4.5 for sure.
In full
I loved the 1967 opening chapter of this book. It had humour, darkness and interesting characters - good start. From this point we come right up to date (2017) and meet Sian Love, ex DCI and now a Doctor specialising in DNA analysis. She is moving into her uncle's old pub (which features in the opening chapter). It was left to her in his will which surprised the family. The setting (and some of the language) is Nottingham which gave it a Northern bite which I liked. Many of the chapters are musical references which looked interesting.
The book continues with parts set in the 1970s and the rest with Sian in 2017. Almost the first things she discovers about her uncle's pub is that there are bodies in the cellar. She doesn't trust the police any more and it is just possible that this concerns her family. If she investigates will that cause problems with the police and just what might she find out?
I found the atmosphere authentic in both the eras covered by this story. The dialogue felt well crafted and is colloquial at times. The characters in this were definitely good enough. Sian herself was excellent and I found her convincing. More minor characters were good too and I did like the character of Big Pat (Walsh). The first thing people said about him was he "wasn't a man you talked about".... Nice!
For me this book started well and generally got steadily better. I was increasingly drawn into this tale of death in the 70s and life in the present day. This is one of those slightly unusual books where I can honestly say I liked the ending and hadn't seen some of it coming. If I have a minor quibble the musical references in the chapters didn't seem to lead anywhere particular. There is a group involved in the early part of the story but this device didn't go anywhere interesting to me.
I would certainly recommend this to people who want a good UK crime read. It's not quite in the league of Joseph Knox or AA Dhand but it does get close for me. This is not quite so dark nor as violent (quite) as their books but that is no bad thing. Definitely 4.5/5 and I really would like to read another book with Sian as the central character - I hope there is one.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
https://viewson.org.uk/thriller/dead-...
In full
I loved the 1967 opening chapter of this book. It had humour, darkness and interesting characters - good start. From this point we come right up to date (2017) and meet Sian Love, ex DCI and now a Doctor specialising in DNA analysis. She is moving into her uncle's old pub (which features in the opening chapter). It was left to her in his will which surprised the family. The setting (and some of the language) is Nottingham which gave it a Northern bite which I liked. Many of the chapters are musical references which looked interesting.
The book continues with parts set in the 1970s and the rest with Sian in 2017. Almost the first things she discovers about her uncle's pub is that there are bodies in the cellar. She doesn't trust the police any more and it is just possible that this concerns her family. If she investigates will that cause problems with the police and just what might she find out?
I found the atmosphere authentic in both the eras covered by this story. The dialogue felt well crafted and is colloquial at times. The characters in this were definitely good enough. Sian herself was excellent and I found her convincing. More minor characters were good too and I did like the character of Big Pat (Walsh). The first thing people said about him was he "wasn't a man you talked about".... Nice!
For me this book started well and generally got steadily better. I was increasingly drawn into this tale of death in the 70s and life in the present day. This is one of those slightly unusual books where I can honestly say I liked the ending and hadn't seen some of it coming. If I have a minor quibble the musical references in the chapters didn't seem to lead anywhere particular. There is a group involved in the early part of the story but this device didn't go anywhere interesting to me.
I would certainly recommend this to people who want a good UK crime read. It's not quite in the league of Joseph Knox or AA Dhand but it does get close for me. This is not quite so dark nor as violent (quite) as their books but that is no bad thing. Definitely 4.5/5 and I really would like to read another book with Sian as the central character - I hope there is one.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
https://viewson.org.uk/thriller/dead-...
September 26, 2019
Like the author’s debut novel The Killing Jar, Dead Flowers is set in Nottingham, predominantly in a pub called the Loggerheads. The realistic detail about locations in the city and its environs, and the use of local dialect and figures of speech give the book a real sense of place. Alternating between events in the 1970s and the present day, the discovery of human remains in the cellar of the pub that ex-police officer and DNA expert, Sian Love, has inherited from her uncle, is the starting point for a story of family secrets, betrayal and revenge.
I’ll confess I didn’t immediately fall in love (pardon the pun) with Sian as a character. I found her rather prickly, stubbornly independent and unduly dismissive of others’ abilities, especially her former colleagues. However, I found my opinion changing as the book progressed and the reader learns more about her past. What’s not in doubt is her technical capability as a DNA profiler. (Incidentally, there’s some fascinating and clearly well-researched detail about the process). Ironically, it’s Sian’s knowledge of DNA which leads her to the inescapable truth that not everything she thought she knew about her own personal history can be relied upon.
There are some distinctly unpleasant male characters in the book, both in the past and present timelines. The exceptions are the long-suffering Kris, Sian’s brother Tom and her dog, Elvis. Although, arguably, the latter is responsible for setting in motion a chain of events that will have repercussions for his mistress.
The author creates some tense scenes, including one very spooky episode which you’ll no doubt recognize if you read the book. There are also some quirky touches like the use of song titles as chapter headings for the scenes set in the past. I’m not sure I could work out if they were designed to have any particular relevance to events described but they certainly helped ground the narrative in the period (for those of us old enough to remember it).
Dead Flowers demonstrates the author’s ability to handle a complex plot and dual timeline with assurance. The reader will want to keep their eyes open for clues – or are they just red herrings cleverly intended to wrong foot? There’s plenty to keep the reader guessing right up until the final reveal making Nicola Monaghan an author for crime fiction fans to look out for in future. And just maybe this isn’t the last case Dr. Sian Love will be involved in?
I’ll confess I didn’t immediately fall in love (pardon the pun) with Sian as a character. I found her rather prickly, stubbornly independent and unduly dismissive of others’ abilities, especially her former colleagues. However, I found my opinion changing as the book progressed and the reader learns more about her past. What’s not in doubt is her technical capability as a DNA profiler. (Incidentally, there’s some fascinating and clearly well-researched detail about the process). Ironically, it’s Sian’s knowledge of DNA which leads her to the inescapable truth that not everything she thought she knew about her own personal history can be relied upon.
There are some distinctly unpleasant male characters in the book, both in the past and present timelines. The exceptions are the long-suffering Kris, Sian’s brother Tom and her dog, Elvis. Although, arguably, the latter is responsible for setting in motion a chain of events that will have repercussions for his mistress.
The author creates some tense scenes, including one very spooky episode which you’ll no doubt recognize if you read the book. There are also some quirky touches like the use of song titles as chapter headings for the scenes set in the past. I’m not sure I could work out if they were designed to have any particular relevance to events described but they certainly helped ground the narrative in the period (for those of us old enough to remember it).
Dead Flowers demonstrates the author’s ability to handle a complex plot and dual timeline with assurance. The reader will want to keep their eyes open for clues – or are they just red herrings cleverly intended to wrong foot? There’s plenty to keep the reader guessing right up until the final reveal making Nicola Monaghan an author for crime fiction fans to look out for in future. And just maybe this isn’t the last case Dr. Sian Love will be involved in?
January 26, 2020
This is a great crime story with a dual timeline centred around The Loggerheads pub in Nottingham in the 1970's and in 2017.
The main character, Sian is an ex-police officer who inherits the pub and unearths two bodies in the cellar.
Who are they and how do they relate to her and her family?
It's an enticing combination of murder mystery and family drama.
It took me a while to warm to Sian as she has had a lot of problems and is very rebellious because of it...but once I stopped shouting at her for being so careless (in my head haha) then I enjoyed the story a lot more.
I would like to read more about Sian's future now that we know her past - I hope this will be a series.
The main character, Sian is an ex-police officer who inherits the pub and unearths two bodies in the cellar.
Who are they and how do they relate to her and her family?
It's an enticing combination of murder mystery and family drama.
It took me a while to warm to Sian as she has had a lot of problems and is very rebellious because of it...but once I stopped shouting at her for being so careless (in my head haha) then I enjoyed the story a lot more.
I would like to read more about Sian's future now that we know her past - I hope this will be a series.
August 9, 2023
Since her debut novel The Killing Jar Nicola Monaghan has been exploring a variety of genres, including supernatural fiction as Niki Valentine. With Dead Flowers she returns to her home setting, Nottingham, with a murder mystery with a two-track time frame set in an old and now closed pub, the Loggerheads. (It was a real pub, dating from the 18th century.) In the 1970s it had a thriving working-class trade. In the novel, it has been inherited from her uncle by Sian, a former police detective and forensic chemist. Apparently, she left the force under somewhat of a cloud, having been involved with a local gangster. Her current boyfriend Kit is an officer and she also has a pet dog named Elvis, who develops a strong interest in a closed off section of the basement, which is sinister because Elvis is a former police cadaver dog.
The 1970s backstory features two sisters, Angela and Marilyn, who are regulars at the Loggerheads and encounter a couple of men, Harry, a Scot, and Bobby Quaid, who calls himself Bobby Q. Angela has separated from her jealous abusive husband Jack, who followed her and attacks her in the pub toilet, where Harry comes to the rescue and gives Jack a very thorough beating. Later the four travel to Gretna Greene, the closest town over the border of Scotland where eloping English couples traditionally marry with no waiting. That Angela is still legally married to Jack doesn’t bother Harry at all and later proves useful when they get the opportunity to manage The Loggerheads.
In the 2018 story Sian discovers two closely entwined bodies in the basement and cannot leave the investigation to the police. Instead she take DNA evidence which could be from either. Intending to use her own DVA as a baseline, she makes the extraordinary discovery that she must be closely related to one of them.
Though I found it confusing to manage the two time sequences, especially because it is only in the latter parts of the story that we begin to see how they are related (quite literally related at Sian discovers she is of uncertain parentage (perhaps the oldest plot device in literature, going back to the Oedipus story), I greatly enjoyed the portrayal of Nottingham traditional culture. The pub scenes in the early ’70s struck me as convincing, even if in those days I did my pub crawling further south. Not only was one expected to take a turn buying a round, but to offer cigarettes to everyone at the table.
Altho’ I personally prefer simpler plots occurring in the same time zone, I found Sian an appealing principal character and the setting and descriptions believable. I’d learned from Starfishing, the best story set in the financial sector I’ve read, that Nicole Monaghan excels in conveying technical details clearly, and with The Loggerheads you’ll feel like a forensic chemist before you’re finished. For sheer variety of invention, Nicole Monaghan is unsurpassed, both for setting and characterisation.
The 1970s backstory features two sisters, Angela and Marilyn, who are regulars at the Loggerheads and encounter a couple of men, Harry, a Scot, and Bobby Quaid, who calls himself Bobby Q. Angela has separated from her jealous abusive husband Jack, who followed her and attacks her in the pub toilet, where Harry comes to the rescue and gives Jack a very thorough beating. Later the four travel to Gretna Greene, the closest town over the border of Scotland where eloping English couples traditionally marry with no waiting. That Angela is still legally married to Jack doesn’t bother Harry at all and later proves useful when they get the opportunity to manage The Loggerheads.
In the 2018 story Sian discovers two closely entwined bodies in the basement and cannot leave the investigation to the police. Instead she take DNA evidence which could be from either. Intending to use her own DVA as a baseline, she makes the extraordinary discovery that she must be closely related to one of them.
Though I found it confusing to manage the two time sequences, especially because it is only in the latter parts of the story that we begin to see how they are related (quite literally related at Sian discovers she is of uncertain parentage (perhaps the oldest plot device in literature, going back to the Oedipus story), I greatly enjoyed the portrayal of Nottingham traditional culture. The pub scenes in the early ’70s struck me as convincing, even if in those days I did my pub crawling further south. Not only was one expected to take a turn buying a round, but to offer cigarettes to everyone at the table.
Altho’ I personally prefer simpler plots occurring in the same time zone, I found Sian an appealing principal character and the setting and descriptions believable. I’d learned from Starfishing, the best story set in the financial sector I’ve read, that Nicole Monaghan excels in conveying technical details clearly, and with The Loggerheads you’ll feel like a forensic chemist before you’re finished. For sheer variety of invention, Nicole Monaghan is unsurpassed, both for setting and characterisation.
October 1, 2019
Well, this one was not bad. It was quite entertaining. Not badly written but I didn’t feel the thrill. The writing is very simple and easy to follow. Interesting characters and good story line. The chapters are short, which makes this book a fast read. Unfortunately it is forgettable. But I would read the other books by this author.
September 30, 2019
A very clever plot involving DNA investigation of cold cases. Dr. Sian Love, a former forensic police investigator, inherits an old pub from her uncle. While moving in she discovers two bodies in a walled room in part of the basement. She decides to investigate on her own by taking some DNA samples since she does not trust the police. The plot alternates between the present day events and those from the original events that led to the two bodies being deposited in the basement.
The story flows well and the description into the development of the DNA samples is quite interesting and so is the story of the antecedent events. The character of Sian is well developed and so are some of the other characters. The problem is the ending in which the author fails to give you sufficient background for some of the surprises she springs on you.
The story flows well and the description into the development of the DNA samples is quite interesting and so is the story of the antecedent events. The character of Sian is well developed and so are some of the other characters. The problem is the ending in which the author fails to give you sufficient background for some of the surprises she springs on you.
Read
June 4, 2021I saw on the cover that this book was part of a series and I assumed that I was starting midway through the series as there were several references to things which I had happened in the past. I felt that the way these events were referred to, briefly and not explained in detail, suggested that people reading the books in order would already know what had happened. I was therefore surprised to learn that this was in fact the first book in the series.
I enjoyed the way the story was written, going between two periods of time. However, I found Dr Sian Love to be a little too flawed and dramatic as a heroine. I couldn't identify with her or really appreciate why she was behaving the way she was, but perhaps this is because I'm very boring.
There were a lot of twists and turns at the end which made me keep reading quickly.
I enjoyed the way the story was written, going between two periods of time. However, I found Dr Sian Love to be a little too flawed and dramatic as a heroine. I couldn't identify with her or really appreciate why she was behaving the way she was, but perhaps this is because I'm very boring.
There were a lot of twists and turns at the end which made me keep reading quickly.
January 11, 2022
This outstanding mystery never loses tension throughout the book right until the last page. The characters, accents and settings are so realistic that you feel transported into the book. Very highly recommended.
October 5, 2019
Once a copper, always a copper! Sian Love may have left the murder squad and carved herself a new career in DNA analysis but her investigative instinct is still going strong!
When I picked up Dead Flowers, I didn’t realise it was set in Nottingham, the city of my birth and early years. I love Nottingham almost as much as I love my home city of Leeds. I spent many Saturdays shopping in this fabulous city so a lot of the street names were familiar to me even if the specific locations weren’t. This meant I could follow Sian and the 1970s cohort around Robin Hood’s city.
I loved the time-jumping every few chapters between present and the 1970s. It gave me plenty of opportunity for me to try and work out who the unfortunate individuals in Sian’s basement are and who killed them and why.
I devoured Dead Flowers in less than a day, glued to my kindle curled up on the sofa. With each chapter more questions were raised in my mind than were answered!! I really enjoyed Ms Monaghan’s writing style, building the tension and intrigue chapter by chapter. She’s definitely an author going on my watchlist! I hope this is the start of a new series to follow!
When I picked up Dead Flowers, I didn’t realise it was set in Nottingham, the city of my birth and early years. I love Nottingham almost as much as I love my home city of Leeds. I spent many Saturdays shopping in this fabulous city so a lot of the street names were familiar to me even if the specific locations weren’t. This meant I could follow Sian and the 1970s cohort around Robin Hood’s city.
I loved the time-jumping every few chapters between present and the 1970s. It gave me plenty of opportunity for me to try and work out who the unfortunate individuals in Sian’s basement are and who killed them and why.
I devoured Dead Flowers in less than a day, glued to my kindle curled up on the sofa. With each chapter more questions were raised in my mind than were answered!! I really enjoyed Ms Monaghan’s writing style, building the tension and intrigue chapter by chapter. She’s definitely an author going on my watchlist! I hope this is the start of a new series to follow!
August 30, 2019
My favourite book of 2019!!
I devoid this book I honestly couldn't put it down, it had me gripped until the end, an easy five stars.
Dr Sian Love a DNA analysis (former DCI) uncovers human remains in the cellar of her Uncles pub which she has recently inherited, which has her asking questions how well did she really know her Uncle or her family come to that??
Not trusting of her former 'corrupt' colleagues she decides to take matters into her own hands by starting her own investigation, never imagining the secrets and truths she would unearth along the way.
Set in Nottingham the chapters switch between the past '1967' and the present '2017' with countless twists and turns along the way, great central characters (especially Elvis) a fast paced whodunit crime mystery.
A new favourite author for me!!
I devoid this book I honestly couldn't put it down, it had me gripped until the end, an easy five stars.
Dr Sian Love a DNA analysis (former DCI) uncovers human remains in the cellar of her Uncles pub which she has recently inherited, which has her asking questions how well did she really know her Uncle or her family come to that??
Not trusting of her former 'corrupt' colleagues she decides to take matters into her own hands by starting her own investigation, never imagining the secrets and truths she would unearth along the way.
Set in Nottingham the chapters switch between the past '1967' and the present '2017' with countless twists and turns along the way, great central characters (especially Elvis) a fast paced whodunit crime mystery.
A new favourite author for me!!
July 31, 2019
Interesting read. I like that the main character is slightly flawed, makes her different from other books I have read. Good storyline as she unpacks what she has discovered. Look forward to a follow on
September 13, 2019
A great crime read which is interwoven with malice and dark, edgy violence. The historical setting is wonderful and is so well-captured and portrayed by Nicola Monaghan. The concept, the narrative and the plot were all very cleverly layered with dark secrets and timely twists to make this a wonderfully gripping read. Atmospheric throughout, the multi-layered story moves seamlessly between past and present, emanating a perfect level of suspense and tension.
I cannot say I was particularly fond of Sian Love, who is an ex DCI and now a Doctor specialising in DNA analysis. Initially, I found her somewhat aloof and detached, but she ingratiated herself with me as the story progressed and I knew she had trust issues going on.
The dual time-line worked well, connecting both stories in a penultimate finale. But just when I thought I had everything fathomed, there was another twist thrown into the mix, leaving me flabbergasted.
Dead Flowers is exceptionally well written and I couldn’t put it down. I want to read more by Nicola Monaghan, for sure. I have no hesitation in recommending Dead Flowers to those who are passionate about their crime fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Verve Books via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I cannot say I was particularly fond of Sian Love, who is an ex DCI and now a Doctor specialising in DNA analysis. Initially, I found her somewhat aloof and detached, but she ingratiated herself with me as the story progressed and I knew she had trust issues going on.
The dual time-line worked well, connecting both stories in a penultimate finale. But just when I thought I had everything fathomed, there was another twist thrown into the mix, leaving me flabbergasted.
Dead Flowers is exceptionally well written and I couldn’t put it down. I want to read more by Nicola Monaghan, for sure. I have no hesitation in recommending Dead Flowers to those who are passionate about their crime fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Verve Books via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 20, 2023
Wow well, this was a captivating and exciting read!
I had not heard of Nicola Monaghan until I was invited to the Blog Tour for her second novel in the Dr Sian Love series, Wish You Were Here. Now I absolutely hate reading a book series out of order, so I immediately bought Dead Flowers, the first book in the series.
And what a book! A brilliantly well-written story set in a dual timeline of the 1960s and 2017, in and around a pub called The Loggerheads, which in 2017 is left in her Uncle’s Will to Sian. On the day that she moves in with her pet dog Elvis, a retired Police dog, leads her to something horrific, which in turn causes Sian to become in grave danger, and leads her on a quest into the past to find answers.
I was gripped by the first chapter and have to say that this is a very well-plotted and written story. I loved Sian Love’s character, an ex-cop who now works as a Scientist, and has little faith in the Police service, she’s fierce and intelligent and brilliant! I found Dead Flowers a fast-paced read, and really enjoyed the twists and turns that happened along the way.
A fantastic book, a real page-turner with a believable and gripping storyline. I give this a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and am looking forward to reading book 2 in the series.
I had not heard of Nicola Monaghan until I was invited to the Blog Tour for her second novel in the Dr Sian Love series, Wish You Were Here. Now I absolutely hate reading a book series out of order, so I immediately bought Dead Flowers, the first book in the series.
And what a book! A brilliantly well-written story set in a dual timeline of the 1960s and 2017, in and around a pub called The Loggerheads, which in 2017 is left in her Uncle’s Will to Sian. On the day that she moves in with her pet dog Elvis, a retired Police dog, leads her to something horrific, which in turn causes Sian to become in grave danger, and leads her on a quest into the past to find answers.
I was gripped by the first chapter and have to say that this is a very well-plotted and written story. I loved Sian Love’s character, an ex-cop who now works as a Scientist, and has little faith in the Police service, she’s fierce and intelligent and brilliant! I found Dead Flowers a fast-paced read, and really enjoyed the twists and turns that happened along the way.
A fantastic book, a real page-turner with a believable and gripping storyline. I give this a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and am looking forward to reading book 2 in the series.
Read
August 31, 2019horoughly enjoyed it!! I really loved the two timelines. Not the same era but the back story was reminiscent of reading Sillitoe’s Saturday Night, Sunday Morning and the atmosphere of bygone days. A real charm. My inner detective enjoyed piecing together events and links between past and present! As a previous Nottingham resident, I loved the descriptions of the surroundings and could easily visualise the story as it unfolded. Enough clues to keep you on your toes but no so many that you predicted the storyline. Elvis, total star! Thanks for the chance to pre-read!
October 19, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I enjoyed this thriller which is not my usual genre. I felt it was fast-paced and I read it in one go! Highly recommend.
I enjoyed this thriller which is not my usual genre. I felt it was fast-paced and I read it in one go! Highly recommend.
January 22, 2020
Hard to follow.
August 20, 2025
British crime books set in regional England. Scotland and Wales are fast becoming one of my favourite genres. This year has been an especially good crop for me. Books by Elly Griffiths, Peter James and MW Craven show how strong the field is. Each has it’s own twist, something to raise it above the ordinary. In Dead Flowers case it’s the protagonist is a forensic scientist who left the police and inherits a pub in the back streets of Nottingham.
Not knowing the author or the city of Nottingham I started this book expecting the usual sort of story, but after a few chapters I realised it wasn’t a run of the mill story. Told in two timelines fifty years apart the plot comes to life as you try to second guess the author into guessing what had happened all those years ago. The two tales being wrapped around each other at a blistering pace.
The characters are fully formed, you get to know slowly their various intricacies, their likes and sometimes their dark sides. Sian, with her grudges against the police, is the ideal protagonist as she tries to find out who the two bodies are that are buried in the cellar. When it all becomes clear, Sian’s life is turned upside down with an explosive ending I really didn’t see coming.
This book really kept me guessing as to what had happened and what was bout to happen. The dual timelines worked really well as we flitted back to the sixties and then whizzing back to the present. The musical background of the sixties added to the enjoyment (I presume the title was after the Rolling Stones song). The ending as I say is well worth waiting for, leaving open a prospect of a sequel. One I’ll wait for with delight.
So all in all, a great new addition to the genre. A book that was breathtaking to read.
This book was sent for a fair and honest review by the author via NetGallery . The resulting review is my honest thoughts after reading the book.
Not knowing the author or the city of Nottingham I started this book expecting the usual sort of story, but after a few chapters I realised it wasn’t a run of the mill story. Told in two timelines fifty years apart the plot comes to life as you try to second guess the author into guessing what had happened all those years ago. The two tales being wrapped around each other at a blistering pace.
The characters are fully formed, you get to know slowly their various intricacies, their likes and sometimes their dark sides. Sian, with her grudges against the police, is the ideal protagonist as she tries to find out who the two bodies are that are buried in the cellar. When it all becomes clear, Sian’s life is turned upside down with an explosive ending I really didn’t see coming.
This book really kept me guessing as to what had happened and what was bout to happen. The dual timelines worked really well as we flitted back to the sixties and then whizzing back to the present. The musical background of the sixties added to the enjoyment (I presume the title was after the Rolling Stones song). The ending as I say is well worth waiting for, leaving open a prospect of a sequel. One I’ll wait for with delight.
So all in all, a great new addition to the genre. A book that was breathtaking to read.
This book was sent for a fair and honest review by the author via NetGallery . The resulting review is my honest thoughts after reading the book.
January 4, 2021
Being Nottingham born and bred this book was always going to court interest of the highest order and the location didn't disappoint with many recognisable landmarks from the getgo.
The narrative follows two timelines: DNA specialist Dr Sian Love in the present day has inherited the Loggerheads public house from her uncle, and 1971, with the same location inhabited by her uncle and other colourful characters seeking stardom with their band on Opportunity Knocks. (Now there's a blast from the past).
With a nod to Alan Sillitoe's Saturday Night, Sunday Morning in some of the pub scenes, it soon becomes apparent that something is amiss in the cellar that our intrepid protagonist must investigate. But as the past catches up with the present will Sian uncover more than she bargained for and finally be allowed to lay her own past to rest?
With lots of twists and turns, this book is a great read for all thriller/crime fans.
The narrative follows two timelines: DNA specialist Dr Sian Love in the present day has inherited the Loggerheads public house from her uncle, and 1971, with the same location inhabited by her uncle and other colourful characters seeking stardom with their band on Opportunity Knocks. (Now there's a blast from the past).
With a nod to Alan Sillitoe's Saturday Night, Sunday Morning in some of the pub scenes, it soon becomes apparent that something is amiss in the cellar that our intrepid protagonist must investigate. But as the past catches up with the present will Sian uncover more than she bargained for and finally be allowed to lay her own past to rest?
With lots of twists and turns, this book is a great read for all thriller/crime fans.
August 23, 2020
This is exactly the sort of murder mystery I like. The story alternates between events in the 1970s leading up to the murder and the present-day: finding the bodies and investigation. I really enjoyed the parts of the book set in the 1970s, some great convincing characters and storyline. Disappointingly I found the present-day story and characters much less convincing, particularly the lead character Dr Sian Love. Perhaps that's because I had made an early assumption of her being late 20s/early 30s in age but later in the story it was revealed she was much older. Whatever the reason, I found it hard to empathize with her character. If this is the start of a series with her as the main character, I wouldn't read another.
July 1, 2021
I love this book. Set in my home city of Nottingham, it describes places and evokes the atmosphere of a time that I know so well.
The plot goes outside my experience with its gangland setting, but is totally believable. And the key location of a closed down former pub is a sad reminder of what our city has lost.
Finally, families. Strange things, but we are stuck with them and all their secrets and oddities. But few families are as strange as the one at the heart of this story.
Now I'm off to find more of Nicola Monaghan's writing.
The plot goes outside my experience with its gangland setting, but is totally believable. And the key location of a closed down former pub is a sad reminder of what our city has lost.
Finally, families. Strange things, but we are stuck with them and all their secrets and oddities. But few families are as strange as the one at the heart of this story.
Now I'm off to find more of Nicola Monaghan's writing.
December 24, 2020
I didn’t care for the writing style right from the beginning but I tried to stick it out because of the reviews. I made it halfway, but I skipped a lot and then I just couldn’t be interested enough to continue. I did want to know more about Sian Love, the main character, but I was frustrated with only getting teasers and no real information about her past and her motives. I kept thinking it must be the second book in a series and I needed the backstory.
November 13, 2022
Dr Sian Love is a DNA analyst. She used to be in the police until things went wrong and now she doesn’t trust the police.
This is a cleverly written book jumping between 2 timeframes - present day and 40 years earlier. The story unfolds well showing us what happened in the past at the same time as revealing more of Sian’s recent issues tied up with the investigation into the bodies.
I liked some of the characters and hope they will feature again in future stories.
This is a cleverly written book jumping between 2 timeframes - present day and 40 years earlier. The story unfolds well showing us what happened in the past at the same time as revealing more of Sian’s recent issues tied up with the investigation into the bodies.
I liked some of the characters and hope they will feature again in future stories.
December 6, 2023
Not a bad read and great descriptions of locations. However, I felt there was too much going on in only 300 pages like you know the ex boyfriend is bad and that's it? And she had a bad realtionship with her previous job but doesn't really clearly explain why. I found the parent plot line a bit silly and over the top, this might have been better as a series. To flesh everything out because there's a lot going on. Not a bad read, I liked the writing style
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2021
The book starts quite slowly. It jumps from present day to to 1970s, often with a bit of cliff hanger which made me read on to know what was going on where they left it. Thought it was quite predictable however towards the end there were a few plot twists that I hadn’t seen coming. Overall enjoyed the book.
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