| Title | : | Buried on the Fens (DI Nikki Galena, #7) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 333 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2017 |
Buried on the Fens (DI Nikki Galena, #7) Reviews
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A Great Conclusion!
Detective Nikki Galena and Detective Joseph Easter are trying to solve the identity of a body found in a church cemetery.
It leads to a crime that occurred thirty years ago. But is the crime linked to a recent murder that has just happened.
The author uses everything that she can think of to make this book topsy turvy. You don’t know which way to think about the murderer.
And when the identity of the murderer is revealed, you still don’t know who it is.
This book is recommended.
Four stars. ✨✨✨✨ -
I’ve been rolling through this series, as it’s fast become my favorite audiobook series. I was happy to see that Ellis is adding to the team which helps to keep things fresh. Flip side, Joseph’s ex- wife has stayed after Tamsin’s wedding and is making his life miserable. (Nikki’s, too, for that matter.)
The team has two murders to solve. The first dates back 30 years, but the skeleton was just discovered in a local church’s graveyard. The other was the murder of a local business woman, who was a member of a private social club. In both instances, those that might know something aren’t talking. As always, the story moved at a brisk pace and kept my attention. There are several possible suspects and I had no idea which of them could be the murderer.
I can’t recommend this series enough for those that like strong police procedurals with fascinating characters.
Henrietta Meike continues to do a fabulous job as the narrator. -
This is a 4.5 star read.
A stunning return to form by Joy Ellis for her 7th novel in the DI Nikki Galena series! This time around it really did feel like coming home, it was that easy and comfortable to fall back into Nikki's world surrounded by the Fens.
The start of our story sees Nikki, Joe and the rest of her team dealing with budget cuts within her station alongside working in tandem with colleague DI Gill Mercer on the brutal death of local businesswoman Madeline Prospero. When a skeletal body that is not meant to be there is found in a local Churchyard, Nikki and her team are diverted to investigate what is determined to be a murder. The only problem ..... the death is 30 years old.
Once the team determines the identity of the body they are led to the small closed in community of Quentin Eaudyke, a forlorn secretive place marred by the tragedy of a series of child abuses in the late 70's and 80's. There they are met with a wall of silence and villagers with ideas stuck in the dark ages. What will it take to get somebody to open up and tell them the truth?
Both teams of DI's Galena and Mercer are also met with a wall of secrecy surrounding Madeline Prospero's death until a friend of Nikki's reveals that Madeline belonged to a secretive drinking club called The Briar Patch. But what else are these women hiding, and how does their membership hamper Nikki's and Gill's investigation? When past deeds connect to the future both teams are left shocked but determined.
Once again this is a superior read, with twisty intertwined plots and a look into the face of true evil. Excitingly paced, this was a remarkably quick read that really did hold me riveted until the very last sentence. An absolute must read for all Nikki Galena fans but equally compelling for new readers of Joy Ellis' work. Highly, highly recommended!
I received an ARC of this novel directly from the author and publisher Joffe Books. I have voluntarily chosen to review the book, and the gifting in no way determines my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion. -
“Buried on the Fens” by Joy Ellis – This is the 7th book in the “DI Nikki Galena” series, and is another good read, with lots happening throughout the storyline.
“ Detective Nikki Galena and her team are investigating the brutal slaying of local businesswoman Madeline Prospero. She was a member of an exclusive and secretive drinking club called The Briar Patch. But they’ve got no suspects and no one is telling them the truth”
The Nikki Galena character is a strong female lead, and this a sound and interesting story. -
3.5 stars. A skeleton is unearthed from a shallow grave in a churchyard. But this was not an official burial. The victim had been murdered decades ago.
Detective Nikki Galena and her team are investigating the brutal slaying of local businesswoman Madeleine Prospeo. She had been a member of an exclusive and secretive drinking club called The Briar Patch. There are no suspects and no one is telling them the truth. The skeleton leads them to the village of Quintin Eaudyke , a troubled place where in the late seventies and eighties a reign of terror was unleashed on the close-knit population.
The is the seventh book in the DI Nikki Galena series. The body murdered decades ago may be linked to a more recent case. There are a lot of twist and turns thrown in to keep your interest. The pace is steady and the author has a nice style in writing. This book can be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank Joffe Books and the author Joy Ellis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
Ever since I read "Their Lost Daughters" earlier this year, I've been a big fan of Joy Ellis. "Buried on the Fens" is the latest in the DI Nikki Galena series, and I loved it just as much. I really enjoy how Ellis can take what seems like a straightforward mystery and creates a twisty, explosive haters that will shock you to your very core.
While the novel is in a series, it can be read as a standalone, no problem.
Nikki Galena is called to a country church, where an old skeleton has been found, obviously the victim of a brutal murder years ago. As Nikki and her team investigate, they're pulled into a 30-year-old mystery which seems to still be affecting people in the modern day. At the same time, another murder is confounding Nikki's team. A woman was murdered and the people that knew her best - all members of a secret drinking society - aren't talking. Everything collides in spectacular fashion as the investigations continue.
The atmosphere of this book is amazing. It's all about secrets and trying to crack through layers of silence and misdirection. Plus, it opens with scenes in a creepy church graveyard on a quiet English marsh. Awesome.
There's no way I saw the ending coming, and I really enjoyed it. It was extremely satisfying. I like how Ellis really blends together good and bad, really making you question who's doing "right" and what exactly constitutes "wrong." The characters aren't all good or all bad. Except the villain in this one - they are uh.....really bad.
I would absolutely read more in this series. It was absolutely great. -
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This was my first outing with Nikki Galena and her team and I can honestly say I am gutted that I have been missing out on such a gripping series. I intend to rectify this at the first opportunity and read the back list.
Not having read the earlier books I may have missed out on some of Nikki’s history and character building but it didn’t mar my enjoyment of this book. I found I was totally gripped from the first page and just kept reading one more chapter until I reached the dreaded words ‘THE END’ I am now looking for a slot to get my next fix of Nikki and her team.
The story begins with the discovery of a body in a graveyard that shouldn’t be there and so begins an investigation to find out who it is and what happened to him. At the same time we have another investigation into the violent murder of a woman. Resources are stretched as Nikki and her team try to investigate the cold case while still looking for the murderer of the young woman.
There are many twists and turns to the book and the suspense builds gradually to create a very gripping book. I absolutely loved it and will definitely be reading future books by this author.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for the advance copy. -
Enjoyed this, the seventh of the series, but not as much as some. It was a bit slow and a confusing mixture of suspects, and I wish Nikki and Joseph would get their act together and stop being "just friends"!
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Neither good nor bad, but not really good. There are lots of funny and quirky things that add to the whole story/book. The characters, their way of dealing with what happens - divers, fun and well written. Also the whole set-up, where it's happening, that whole still-in-the-closet society and the general question of rural areas and homosexuality... also very good.
So what's bad? The story. Not believable. Too contrived. Extremely unconvincing when the investigation starts to turn up the truth, far too much of it is simply neither logic nor realistic. No spoilers here, but one example: even in the most rural of settings, with the most inbred and homogenous bunch of villagers: schools and teachers and doctors and relatives would notice something as extreme, as is behind this story. It's annoying, because the stress on how extreme, how far reaching, how totally unexpected and cunning the whole thing is, isn't convincing.... convenient pieces are added but they don't create a whole. Best bit about this book: The wondrous genesis of the new office and furniture popping up there. Beautiful. I'd say: read it, but just don't expect to get hooked on this series. -
Buried on the Fens. Joy Ellis' Nikki Galena series continues to keep me engrossed. An unofficial body is discovered in a cemetery, and a decades old murder appears to be entwined with a more recent one.
Initially, the team believes they are looking at two separate cases, and the recent murder of a well-liked businesswoman must take precedence. Nikki finds the older murder a fascinating curiosity, but as both investigations proceed, connections are established.
As usual, Ellis' novel works perfectly well as a standalone. Now, I look forward to the next in either the Nikki Galena or the Rowan Jackson series!
NetGalley/Joffe Books
Police Procedural. July 10, 2017. -
Gripping
I got straight into this book. the story really pulls you in. It's actually the first book i have read by this author but had no trouble getting to know old and new characters. If you love crime thrillers then you will love this. I an certainly going to catch up on all the others -
3.5 stars
This is a much darker turn (animal- and children - harm, repeated sexual violence, and other triggers). The personal subplot this time is more tiring and a bit artificial than interesting. Still, this is a readable addition to a series I enjoy. Glad to move on from this one. -
If you can suspend belief that all the murderers , psychopaths etc all congregate on the Fend, its a good series.
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I’ve read a couple now of this series and I love Nikki and her team. Each character is wonderfully created. There’s a lot on here about the LGBTQI+ community and the fear of coming out. It’s not something I’ve had to deal with but it feels like it’s been handled sensitively and covers a range of lesbian women’s viewpoint (just do it, fear of losing job etc).
There’s a few really good twists especially around the killer and motives. I loved how it was all resolved although with a bit of sadness around it too (no spoilers 😊 ) I’ve dipped into this series now and again but I really do need to go back and finish all the rest -
4 and 1 / 2 stars
DI Nikki Galena and her team is busy working the case of Madeline Prospero when they get a call about a body in a graveyard at a local church. Assuming it was a fluke Nikki responds and discovers from the condition of the body that it is not a scheduled burial. Indeed, it is murder. The autopsy shows that he has been buried there for about thirty years. An ornate and engraved wedding band is the only clue to his identity.
Meanwhile, they are getting nowhere on the Madeline Prospero case. It seems she was a member of a local club called The Briar Patch and was viciously beaten to death.
After taking the ring to a jeweler, Nikki learns more about its origins. This leads the team to the tiny village of Quintin Eaudyke. This is a village where hatred breeds secrets and no one is talking about the dead man, save for the old town doctor. It seems that over thirty years ago, the place was the scene of some horrific crimes against children. Everyone in town thought that the murdered man was guilty and later drowned in the river. His body was never found. But Nikki and her team know better.
Another woman who is related to the Briar Patch is brutally murdered and the problem is growing. What does someone have against the members of this club? With the assistance of Spooky, a brilliant computer technician and a friend of Nikki’s, they make some progress.
As the investigation goes on Nikki and her team discover a link between the two cases. A suspect comes into view. The team feels more and more strongly that their suspect is the murderer. But the suspect is living under an assumed name and they can’t locate any pictures of them to do age progression to see what they look like now. They re-interview witnesses trying to find out what the murderer looks like now. They go hither and thither.
And then a breakthrough occurs. They zero in on the suspect. The tension mounts and the pace of the story speeds up. And it all ends with an exciting car chase on the fens.
This is an extremely well written and plotted novel. The tension starts immediately and builds throughout the story. I like the major characters and the team gets along well. I’ve read all of the Nikki Galena novels and I like this one the best. Ms. Ellis has out done herself! I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read. -
Another great read....
I always enjoy reading Joy Ellis novels, especially from the Nikka Galena series as they are both exciting and have a great deal of character and location interest for me.
This one was no exception, with a great story which really kept me guessing on more or less every new chapter. It was one of those crime novels where you are constantly trying to work out who the murderer could possibly be and just as you think you have worked it out you realise that it couldn’t possibly have been that person. Even when it was finally revealed who the killer actually was we were still no further forward until the very end when everything slotted into place.
I was sent this novel by Joffee Books as an advance copy so that I could write a review and I am pleased to say that I certainly did enjoy reading this and to my amazement I think I have probably beaten my own record at the speed in which I finished it which was just 5 days. It is the kind of book that keeps you wanting more and every time I reached the end of a chapter I just felt I had to read on to find out what was going to happen next.
Unfortunately, although I have read several previous novels in this series I had not quite read them all leading up to this one, so there were a few events that had transpired over the course of the series that I was not aware of. Fortunately, I don’t feel that by reading this one it has spoilt any of the previous books for me so will now have to set too and catch-up on the series before number 8 is available as I certainly intend to continue with “The Fens” series.
I highly recommend this book – you will not be disappointed. -
I liked it (3 star). This book was a nice surprise. It was listed in one of those emails you get with free and cheap books. As I recall, it was only 99 cents so I thought, why not! I read the first few pages in the sample and liked the writer's style. The characters were engaging and the story was intriguing. I read it pretty quickly and enjoyed it. I thought I had it figured out, but....
SPOILER
the perpetrator was a character that we saw/heard about only peripherally, which I thought was a bit of an easy way out, no hints or any interactions (that I can recall) to even consider that person. That "tie-up" to the mystery -- not being able to look back and see hints that were given along the way -- is the difference between an established, top-tier writer and the rest. That being said, the price was right and it was a good story, so I WILL try another. I think this one was the last in the series, which is starting from the wrong end... ;-).... but I'll give the series another go. -
This is another novel in the series with DI Nikki Galena and Sergeant Joseph Easter as the lead characters. This one is set within the Greenborough, a fictitious Fenland town's gay community and in particular focuses on the Briar Patch Club and the murders of two of its members, this links to historic child abuse in a nearby Fenland village. The usual characters fill DI Galena's team and as the serial killer's activities spread so the team links with that of DI Gill Miller, although this team never appears to achieve much.
The story has a heavy emphasis on the gay community which seems to have taken over the town. This gave the story a rather unrealistic feel. The plot itself has a number of tenuous links as does the progress of the investigation which came to an abrupt conclusion. Not as good as previous stories in the series. Maybe I'll stop here. -
3.5 stars.
I read another reviewer who commented that the author has the tendency to link cases together. I do see the pattern but I think that may just be the way the author likes to craft her stories.
Nevertheless, I did admire how she was able to link a decades old buried skeleton in a church yard to a couple of present day murders. There were a lot of suspects and it made me wonder whether the author was herself unsure on who the killer should be? Anyway, it had me guessing until the very end.
Another interesting case. And I'm glad Joseph's issue with the ex-wife seems to be resolved. -
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
Full of twists and turns, this is a crime thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the heart-stopping ending. Having read the book I have to fully agree!! I loved Nikki as the main character and the story flowed brilliantly around her. She is a great character and after reading this book I definitely want to read the previous ones!! For me, Joy is now an author to watch! Loved it – 5 stars from me!!! -
2.5 - This was my first disappointment with this series. The topic was good and different but the story line felt choppy. Also growing tired of the special "friendship" between the main characters. I wish something would happen or it just be forgotten. I will continue the series but hope this was an anomaly.
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I’m glad Joy Ellis changed up the recipe for this one. A refreshing change from nasty gangsters. I’m now wondering what the next instalment will entail.
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I do like this series. This one was a good mystery and had an unexpected end. Easy reading for the Christmas holidays.
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DI Nikki Galena rather has her hands full. A body is found in a graveyard but not in the usual way. A woman has been murdered and it turns out that she has been keeping a secret as have a large number of women in the area. Could this be why they are being targeted? Old tales and more secrets amongst the villagers may be the key to one of the crimes but no-one wants to speak out as the fear is still there. This is one of those wonderful, comfortable, easy reads that you can sit with a coffee and enjoy. There are descriptions of murder and other things (It wouldn’t be a crime book otherwise and I won’t give anything away) but nothing too disturbing to spoil the flow. or to put you off your dinner. Characters that you warm to and know a little of their “outside” lives to make them come more to life. I love Joy’s writing style and this is my second of her books and won’t be the last. This is the seventh in the series but happily stands alone. A highly enjoyable read.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased -
Buried on the Fens is the story of a skeleton discovered in a makeshift grave in the unused area of a graveyard. The skeleton is that of a man and on examination it is revealed he was murdered some 30-40 years ago.
An apparently unrelated present day murder investigation now seems to be somehow connected. D.I Galena and her team discover age old secrets together with new ones during the course of their investigations. There are many twists and turns before the final conclusion is revealed. It held my interest all the way through.
This is the 7th book in the D.I. Nikki Galena Fenland series and works well as a standalone thriller, however it really would be worthwhile reading the series in order, as Joy Ellis's characters have developed throughout the series,their private lives and romantic involvements add to the storylines.
I really enjoyed this Joy Ellis thriller (as always) and its 5 stars from me.
Thanks to Joffe books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. -
This opens with a skeleton in a church yard. There is also the death of Madeleine Prospero a business woman, found inside her own home.
Having read most of the earlier books in the Nikki Galena series and looking back at my previous reviews: I said of the first book: "I liked the story because it had enough pace to keep me interested. Obviously as this is the first in a series, much of the time is given to establishing the team of detectives. The central characters are well-crafted and this suggests that the series may be worth following."
This is certainly true. I really liked this book. I will be careful not to say too much about the plot for fear of spoiling the novel.
This book certainly is a thriller. There are so many twists and turns I thought I was in the maze at Hampton Court.
I give thanks to the publisher, Joffe Books and to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for this review. -
DI Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter are called to the burial site of a murdered man, probably killed in 1988. At the same time they're dealing with the murderous of a business woman, who was a member of a secretive group of like minded women, called the Briar Patch. When the daughter of one of the members is murdered, the team slowly come to the conclusion that the 3 murders are connected. But getting people to open up and help is proving extremely difficult.
The villagers who knew the man who was killed 30 years ago, refuse to answer questions, as we realize that horrific acts had been perpetrated in the past, and people either didn't want to remember or were too frightened to talk.
This was one of the better mysteries I have read this year, it was excellent, spooky and featuring one of the most evil, fearless and cruel characters I've read about and I didn't guess who it was till the end. Great spine chilling read!
Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
