Skeletons in the Closet

DI Mike Nash #15

by Bill Kitson

SOME FAMILIES HAVE MORE SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET THAN OTHERS . . .

Detective Mike Nash thought that moving back to Yorkshire from London would give him a quieter life. Little did he know . . .

The body of a woman tied to a chair is found in a crumbling old cottage in the Yorkshire moors. She’s been dead a long time.

Detective Mike Nash investigates and soon uncovers a second body. Trapped in the well in the garden.

Then Nash’s team makes an even more grisly discovery. How many more skeletons are hidden in this tumbledown old cottage?

The suspicious death of the solicitor dealing with the property turns this cold-case investigation into an active hunt for a murderer.

Someone is killing to keep their secrets from coming to light. Detective Mike Nash must track them down before they kill again.

DISCOVER AN ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVE CRIME THRILLER PACKED WITH TWISTS AND TURNS.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2022

Reviews

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Skeletons in the Closet the 15th book in the DI Mike Nash series.

This book reminds me how much I love this series. But also that i really need to make the effort to catch up . I have all the books in between and and have read book 14, Think I need to retire.
Definitely a few developments since last read, but I soon caught up with my old friends

A well thought out and executed plot as always. The title definitely fits the plot. DI Nash and his team, have a great banter to lighten the mood and help them solve the crimes This all flows so smoothly due to how well written it is, you almost feel as if you are there with them. .

Overall an excellent read

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary electronic ARC of this excellent novel from Netgalley, Bill Kitson, and an invitation from publisher Joffe Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Skeletons in the Closet of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I always enjoy another DI Mike Nash tale and am pleased to recommend Bill Kitson's work to friends and family. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, it expands into something else.

Detective Mike Nash is a series, and this is number 15, but they are all complete stories in and of themselves. If you read more than one, the characters become friends because you know them in all their humors.

"Skeletons in the Closet" is no exception. Mike is often stingy with his ideas of plot and counter-plot with his crew as well as you, so you at least have company in the dark. And this is a pretty dark tale. I sure did enjoy it.

Reviewed on October 10, 2022, at Goodreads and Netgalley on October 10, 2022. Reviewed on October 12, 2022, at AmazonSmile. Not available for review on B&N, or Kobo.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET by Bill Kitson.
Detective Mike Nash thought that moving back to Yorkshire from London would give him a quieter life. Little did he know The body of a woman tied to a chair is found in a crumbling old cottage in the Yorkshire moors. She’s been dead a long time. Detective Mike Nash investigates and soon uncovers a second body. Trapped in the well in the garden. Then Nash’s team makes an even more grisly discovery. How many more skeletons are hidden in this tumbledown old cottage? The suspicious death of the solicitor dealing with the property turns this cold-case investigation into an active hunt for a murderer. Someone is killing to keep their secrets from coming to light. Detective Mike Nash must track them down before they kill again.
Really good read. I do like this author. 4*.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

SKELETONS IN THE Closet by Bill Kitson

Earc: NetGalley
Publisher: Joffe Books
Publication Date: 12 October 2022
Genre : Mystery and Thriller
Detective Mike Nash is called in to investigate a woman's body found in a remote cabin. The woman had died many years ago, but what she finds cruel about him is the way she died, and she was tied to her chair and left to die. When another corpse is discovered in a nearby well, the team begins to wonder what's going on. The team is not only busy processing a murder case, but someone broke into the house while the owner was away, and they need to find out the connection.
The characters in this book are relatable and complementary. By the time I got to the next page, I could see that the speed at which the pages were turned was getting faster and faster. The writing style is great and since this is a new author to me I will definitely look for more.I am a new fan of this author. He thanks Netgalley and her publisher Joffe Books for introducing me to this author.

#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #mysteryandthriller #skeletoninthecloset

[Krys · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand that I will likely be in the minority when it comes to this one, but as a reviewer, I also know that this happens to everyone now and then.

First off, the writing style is just not for me. I get that that is most certainly a problem with myself as a reader, but I know I'm probably not the only one who becomes annoyed when you're following along in a case, and the author says things like, "It would be another twenty-four hours before they learned the reason" or "It was not long before this proved to be one of the worst examples of inciting Sod's Law." For me, it doesn't make the book more exciting, it simply makes me roll my eyes and wish they would just get on with it instead of dragging things out even longer.

The second issue I had (this one to a lesser extent) was how everyone and their uncle did not want to help the police with their murder investigation. Perhaps, laws in the UK are different, but I've read other novels set there where people in a position to help weren't so uptight as the ones here. Which led me to wonder why couldn't the police simply obtain a warrant to gain access to the information they needed? Of course, there was one scene where a bank manager straight up said he wouldn't reveal information without a warrant, but that he had never heard of one being granted makes me wonder just how hard it is over there for the police to obtain one when solving a murder investigation.

Finally, and this was probably my biggest pet peeve about this novel, was Mike Nash himself. It wasn't the fact that he was forever having "hunches" at or about the crime scene leading him to find clues that other people were unable to. It wasn't the ungodly amount of coffee that he drinks. Seriously, if I read, "this will take awhile, let's have coffee," or some variation of that sentence one more time, I might have screamed. I also found it very convenient that all of these officers seemed to be able to stop whatever they were doing and eat, even going so far as to do so at an active crime scene. Heck, it wasn't even the fact that when his wife witnessed an accident (and could have been hit), Nash went out of his way to keep her from speaking to the officer in charge of investigating said accident. No instead, he bundled her off home, claiming she was in shock and told his boss the next day that his wife was "out of bounds" to the officer wanting to interview her to find out what happened in regards to the accident she witnessed. What kind of cop impedes the investigation of another officer?

But no, my biggest issue with so-called Detective Nash was that fact that throughout the book, he designates all of his subordinates to go out and conduct interviews or gather clues (while seemingly doing nothing himself); except the one time that he seems to have a breakthrough while at home. In this one instance, why didn't he call the station and get someone on it straight away? No, instead, he sat on it until the next day so he could ensure that his wife was okay when it was obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes that she was fine and didn't need him hovering around her.

The premise of this novel was actually a good one. And I was surprised at how things played out and who the killers actually were. I didn't even mind how slow it was because I assume that actual police work is a lot more tedious than usually portrayed, and I felt this book did a good job at showing that, even if it did make for slow reading at times. However, I doubt I would read more from this series with all the issues mentioned above.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started reading this, I was thinking "this is alright". As I continued, I was thinking that this might be a five star read. Then certain things began to niggle. DI Nash developed a bad habit of having an idea or finding a new clue, but then somehow not telling his colleagues (or the readers). Although Poirot was somewhat noted for playing his cards close to his chest, he was not a police officer. I always find this very false in a procedural, since it is so important for the team to know all the facts.
Secondary crimes of burglary were causing confusion in the murder investigation, and one incident in particular seemed completely unnecessary to the plot. Naughty tapes and pictures were stolen, and recovered, and viewed by the police. The "stars" were a judge and his barrister wife. Nice, the author sticks it to the legal profession who are often obstacles to the police. Nash decides not to use the materials as evidence and returns them to the wife, but for all his po-faced highminded act he does something really sleazy. Read it for yourself, but I went off the bloke then and there.
The murders being investigated are horrific, and more murders ensue in rapid succession, obviously to destroy evidence and witnesses. This part is handled at least with some delicacy. However, for whodunnit lovers, it will be difficult to pin down a culprit. I don't think there's enough information given until late in the book.
There are quite a few characters, most of whom are just cardboard cut-outs, disposable and forgettable. Somehow I found it difficult even to pin down the main police characters.
There's a weird sort of love story running as a thread, but will there be a happy ending?
That's how a five star read became a 3 star read with my rating of 3.3. It's still not a bad book and lovers of this genre should not be deterred. I'm open to reading one more of this series.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Skeletons in the Closet, the fifteenth novel to feature DI Mike Nash of Yorkshire Police.

A chance discovery of a skeleton tied to a chair in a derelict cottage gives Mike and his team a new case. When a second body is found in a well on the property they start to wonder what they are dealing with and they know they are dealing with a sadistic killer when more gruesome things are uncovered. Then the solicitor dealing with the property dies and they are facing one of the most difficult cases of their careers.

I thoroughly enjoyed Skeletons in the Closet, which is a mystifying read with a dash of humour. It is told entirely from Nash’s point of view so the reader can follow the investigation closely. I won’t say my usual the reader knows what he knows, because Mike Nash has a tendency to keep his thoughts to himself, only fully revealing what he knows or conjectures at dramatically important times. If, like me, you want to know everything it can be a bit annoying, but this is counterbalanced by the effect the reveals have when they come.

This is an interesting investigation. For much of it the victims are unidentified, so Nash and his team are reliant on putting together odd snippets of information and gossip and even the death of the obstructive lawyer doesn’t take them much further. I admit that I didn’t quite follow all the detail of the solution - it made my brain hurt, but I got the gist and it’s good with some nice touches and a feel good factor.

I have been reading this series for a long time, but it’s always good to spend time with Nash and the team, even if his jokes are awful. They work well together and it makes a pleasant change from the frequent strife in other novels.

Skeletons in the Closet is a good read that I can recommend.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

1551 kb

4 stars

Bill Kitson writes another winner in this latest entry into the DI Mike Nash series.

DI Mike Nash and his partner DS Clara Mironova respond to the report of a dead body, no a skeleton, tied to a chair in an old abandoned cottage in the woods. Along with team members Viv Pearce and Lisa Andrews they set out to investigate the cold case.

It isn’t long before one of the forensic people finds a body in the well at the cottage. It is a man.

The police have no leads and no idea as to the identity of the people. When they try to find the identity of the owner of the home, they hit a brick wall. No one is talking or cooperating.

Meanwhile, the reader is treated to the heartwarming story of Louise and Bobby.

A series of burglaries is plaguing the area. Nash’s team must work these as well.

The hardworking cops are going every which way trying to solve their cases. When more bodies are discovered at the old cottage, the tension ratchets up. The two attorneys that are blocking Nash’s team gaining information are murdered. More to the mix.

This is a well written and complicated police procedural. The reader gets to glimpse not only their professional lives, but small vignettes about their personal lives. I like Nash’s sense of humor. He sure drinks a lot of coffee. The many hunches he had throughout the book got a little tiring at the end. I like the way Clara puts up with his corniness and ideas. They make a great team. Viv and Lisa work very hard as well.

I truly enjoy a good Bill Kitson novel and will continue to read them.

I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions cited in this review are solely my own.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skeletons in the Closet is book fifteen in the DI Mike Nash series by Bill Kitson. Detective Inspector Mike Nash and his team caught a case of a woman tied to a chair in an isolated cottage in the Yorkshire moors. At first, Detective Inspector Mike Nash and his crew thought only one body existed, but they were wrong. During Detective Inspector Mike Nash's investigation found three other grisly finds. The readers of Skeletons in the Closet will follow the twists and turns in Detective Inspector Mike Nash's investigation to discover what happens.

Skeletons in the Closet is the first book I have read by Bill Kitson. I enjoyed this book's blurb; I wondered if I would enjoy reading this book. Wow, I found another fantastic crime series to add to my collection. I engaged with the plot and the characters of Skeletons in the Closet from the first page. I love Bill Kitson's portrayal of his characters and how they interact throughout this book. Skeletons in the Closet is well-written and researched by Bill Kitson. I like Bill Kitson's description of the settings of Skeletons in the Closet, which allowed me to imagine being part of the plot of the book.

The readers of Skeletons in the Closet will learn about a Russian dog breed called Borzoi. The readers of Skeleton in the Closet will understand the difficulties of understanding Yorkshire native people.

I recommend this book.

[Robert Crouch · Rating 4 out of 5]

When several skeletons are found in a remote, derelict cottage, it poses another complex murder investigation for Mike Nash and the team. The investigation has barely started when a local solicitor, linked to the property, is murdered. When his business partner and lover is also found dead, the team struggle to keep up, making little headway.

Like all the previous novels, this involves another complex and gruelling investigation. The banter and humour among the team, along with Nash’s irreverent take on proceedings, help to keep the story moving along as a series of burglaries take up more of the team’s time.

But it isn’t long before Nash begins to make connections which lead to a far more sinister explanation for the murders.

It’s all wrapped up in style as the investigation reaches a climax, laced with some touching moments to round off another enthralling and entertaining story in the series.

As always, it’s worth going back to the start to discover the characters and watch them grow over the many enjoyable and exciting novels in the series.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'd think I'd feel disadvantaged coming late to the series. Not so!
Detective Nash has a great team who work well together for justice and not just the easiest solution. It starts with a displaced ex-soldier with no place to go who returns to a place he felt happy as a child. Boy does that change quickly! He reports what he found but some think he is responsible. Not possible. But as he does have a charge for B&E and is basically homeless, he is sent to a psychiatric clinic for PTSD. Meanwhile, the entire house and property have to be examined with all due diligence, only to find more gruesome surprises. It's a great read with all sorts of twists, red herrings, and bad puns.
I requested and received an e-book copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Laurie K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

When the body of a woman is found in a derelict cottage, Detective Mike Nash and his team are called in. Their investigation uncovers even more bodies, but when the solicitors in charge of the cottage are murdered, What was a cold case becomes a hunt for a murderer.

This was a book with a very interesting plot that had great potential. Unfortunately it ended up sidetracked for almost half of the book by an unrelated, and totally unnecessary, burglary subplot. The murders do again become the focus, but the story then bogs down in superfluous information and dialogue. The solution is only reached via a confused subplot of family intrigue that is sprung on the reader at the end.

Not a book that I can recommend.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty of Twists and Turns

Having been discharged from the army after serving in Helmand Province in Afghanistan and being divorced by his wife, Robert Pickles goes in search of a cottage where he had spent time as a child in happier times. Unfortunately, when he finds the cottage there is a dead body inside, and it has been there for some time. Robert goes in search of help, and by chance meets someone he has not seen since those times, who offers him a job and a place to live. Meanwhile, Detective Mike Nash leads his team in investigating the death of the woman inside the cottage, and before long more bodies are discovered. This is not a book for the faint hearted, but I was gripped.

[Valerie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
Another book in the Mike Nash series by this accomplished author promised a very good read. The characters are credible and entertaining, a good team, and the inclusion of elements of Nash's home life increase interest. As ever there are several subplots, each full of twists. I have found it best to read these novels without putting the book down - so complex a break can make the reader miss a thread! These are excellent crime thrillers, the only irritation is the occasional Americanised spelling - the books are set in Yorkshire and the author is British so this spoils the books' atmosphere temporarily, hence the loss of one star.

[K Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Another brilliant addition to this series, it just gets better. A heinous crime that the team begin to think they will never solve, especially since they don't even know who the victims are. Got to say that one of my favourite characters has got to be Jonas, and there's a big surprise in store for him in this book. If you haven't read this series you are best starting at book 1, although it can be read as a stand-alone, you don't get a real feel for the character's and their backgrounds, especially Nash, who has probably had the biggest transformation throughout. Definitely one of my top series.

[Jaybour · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Nightmare Read

A horrid example of grammar abuse. Ignoring semi-colons, committing comma splices, forgoing all semblance of comma usage are but a few examples. No page goes by without glaring and irritating examples of grammatical errors. I highlight every error, taking me forever to finish the book. I dreaded coming back to it but struggled through to the bitter end. Shame on the author or the editor or the Publisher, who will all, of course, pass the buck on being responsible for this nightmare! And, by the way, "because" is a subordinating conjunction and is rarely preceded by a comma except in this travesty.

[Paigelauren Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book had a lot going on but it is easy to follow the story, you meet various characters through out the story. this series will become addictive if you love crime and wonderful characters. this is my first book by Kitson but I am not disappointed and will be keeping an eye on this series in the future. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good detective story with a splash of humour added to sweeten the deal
Thank you to Netgalley/Joffe Books/Bill Kitson for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alyce Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Mike Nash has moved back to west Yorkshire for a better work life balance. Turns out there can be some nasty surprises in the countryside. First a long dead skeleton turns up at a decaying cottage. What connection does the young man who found the skeleton have to the cottage? Then a second body turns up in a well on the property. And exactly who owns the property?
An excellent cold case mystery. I enjoyed the setting, the mystery and the characters. Will definitely look for other books by Bill Kitson.

[Rachel Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

A very well written book, easy to read, with a the twists and turns one asks of a who done it. What's more the crime and plot was original and the clues worthy of contemplation. The inclusion of Yorkshire diction added to my pleasure and enjoyment. The ending soothed the beaten heart and brought hope back to the characters. Looking forward to reading more by Bill Kitson. The order doesn't seem to matter. Congratulations to the author for an enchanting and well written mystery.

[John Heffernan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaing and fast moving

I enjoyed the book with its country cop banter. I loved the colloquilisms which gave it a true British touch. Unlike Kitson's US counterparts there was no gun violence and no unnecessary physical violence, something the Yanks seem to love.
My favourite comment from Nash was in reference to a female character becoming involved in an affair with a married man. Nash said, "She must have wanted some fresh meat in her sandwich..."
Kitson's writing doesn't distract from the story and the British charm portrayed by the country cops won me over.

[Aileen (Ailz) Grist · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting and decidedly creepy instalment of the Mike Nash series. Told with gentle humour and an all round ensemble piece as usual. The team have their individual strengths that when put together give a whole that is definitely greater than its parts.

Loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Another spectacular murder mystery! This is definitely outstanding! It begins with a former soldier, with PTSD, visiting a cottage where he spent lovely summers as a child . House is derelict and boarded up, but he finds a skeleton chained to a table! Thus begins a bizarre tale of family resentment, anger, greed, embezzling, and murder------ 6 murders before Nash and team solve this messy generational vendetta!

[Ilona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 15 in the Detective Mike Nash series, but even though I haven’t read any of the previous ones I was hooked from page 1!
A veteran, now homeless, goes back to where he was happy, only to stumble upon a body (now skeleton) in an old, falling down, cottage. Mike Nash and his team investigates, and untangle quite the web of family history, hate, love, ….
I just love the step by step, the logic, and the threads woven through out and all coming together!

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best One Yet!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone of this series, but I have to say in my humble opinion, this is the best one yet. Gripping from the first page to the last. Mike and his team really had their work cut out for them and didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. But, one by one, the clues and pieces of evidence fell into place. Along with that they made a military veteran and an old family friend very happy.

[Derek Thorndyke]

A grim discovery

When a homeless ex soldier tries to find his childhood home he discovers an almost derelict cottage but even worse the remains of a woman. Inspector Nash and his team have the task of identifying the victim and trying to solve the murder. Further victims are found and the case just keeps going round in circles until a break through leads the detectives in the right direction and after so much tragedy some good news.

[Julian Tremayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI Mike Nash is an extraordinary character in a marvellous team (how the Met must wish they had more like him!). Bill Kitson continues the stories of his characters interwoven with a truly horrific, yet very believable, story about what the lengths people will go to to secure their desires, both moral and financial. A great series, if you haven't read any then start at the beginning and share the journey of this excellent team.
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire

[Mrs N J Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

15 brilliant books

All 15 books in this series are well written. Fantastic characterisation, wonderful description and incredibly convoluted stories, Mike is a thinking detective and his team are wonderfully supportive characters. No matter how difficult the crime, they work hard to catch the perpetrators. Highly recommended books.

[Patricia A. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely entertaining.

This was the best mystery story I have ever read. I had never heard of the author, Bill Kits on but I absolutely intend to add him to my library. I am a person that always has a book close at hand and have 2 kindled always charged or on the charger. That you!

[Peter AvillEng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable and an excellent novel

I could not put this book down once I started reading it. I look forward to reading more of his work. My plan is to recommend this author and his ooks to my friends and members of my book club.

[Anne Laugharne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable!

To say that a book about skeletons is enjoyable seems to be a misnomer. However , in this instance it is true. I found myself wanting to continue to read long after m my eyes told me I shouldn't!