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DI Nikki Galena #13
Fear on the Fens
Now.
In the beautiful gardens of Shelley House a shocking discovery is made. A blackened hand dangles over the side of a wheelbarrow. The horrific scent of burnt flesh lingers in the air.
Detective Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in to investigate.
Twenty years ago.
A family destroyed by tragic secrets. The scientist father who killed their gardener, before being murdered himself. The brother who disappeared, never to be seen again.
Until now?
Nikki and Joseph must find a man who’s been missing for two decades and unravel the painful past of a broken family before anyone else dies.
In the beautiful gardens of Shelley House a shocking discovery is made. A blackened hand dangles over the side of a wheelbarrow. The horrific scent of burnt flesh lingers in the air.
Detective Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in to investigate.
Twenty years ago.
A family destroyed by tragic secrets. The scientist father who killed their gardener, before being murdered himself. The brother who disappeared, never to be seen again.
Until now?
Nikki and Joseph must find a man who’s been missing for two decades and unravel the painful past of a broken family before anyone else dies.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2021
1657 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Joy Ellis
59Ìýbooks2,328ÌýfollowersJoy Ellis grew up in Kent but moved to London when she won an apprenticeship with the prestigious Mayfair florist, Constance Spry Ltd. Having run her own flower shop in Weybridge for many years, Ellis then worked as a bookseller until a trip to the Greek island of Skyros, where she took part in a writer's workshop with Sue Townsend, encouraged her to write her own books. Joy soon after moved to the Lincolnshire Fens, where she has spent many of years living among the countryside accompanied by her partner, Jacqueline, and her variety of springer spaniels. After many years of writing, Jasper Joffe, from Joffe Books, discovered Joy's work and approached her with the offer of becoming her new publisher. This new relationship introduced Joy's work to the fascinating world of ebooks and audible listening. Since their partnership, Joy's success has grown further than she could have ever imagined. She has recently celebrated her 10th UK No.1 book on the Amazon 'Best Sellers' chart, with her 9th instalment in the Jackman & Evans series, Solace House. Joy boasts a staggering estimated total over 3.4 million copies sold worldwide, and became a short-listed nominee at the British Book Awards, 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
September 26, 2021
Nikki Galena is back and this time, she’s got a doozy of a case. “CIA psychic spies and bloody fairies. It’s like the X-Files meets Tinker Bell around here. Whatever happened to good old bumping someone off to get their money?� A young man with Fantasy Prone Personality Disorder is thought to have set a young hoodlum on fire after he harmed a tree. Then, a second man is brutally murdered after he attempts to cut down a tree.
It’s been so wonderful to see Nikki’s transformation from the initial book. She’s gone from a loner to a true team player. As Nikki says more than once during the book, “Oh, hell! I really am getting soft in my old age.� And she does have a great team, starting with Joseph, her sergeant and her partner.
There’s a great sense of tension to this book and the book is aptly named. It was an interesting plot line to know the killer but for there to be all sorts of other questions and roadblocks thrown in their way. The team is prohibited from looking into the father’s background, in a sort of “he who must not be named� kind of way.
I recommend this book (and series) to everyone that likes strong police procedurals that feature strong, balanced characters. The book flows at a nice pace with enough twists to keep the reader engaged.
My thanks to NetGalley and Joffre Books for an advance copy of this book.
It’s been so wonderful to see Nikki’s transformation from the initial book. She’s gone from a loner to a true team player. As Nikki says more than once during the book, “Oh, hell! I really am getting soft in my old age.� And she does have a great team, starting with Joseph, her sergeant and her partner.
There’s a great sense of tension to this book and the book is aptly named. It was an interesting plot line to know the killer but for there to be all sorts of other questions and roadblocks thrown in their way. The team is prohibited from looking into the father’s background, in a sort of “he who must not be named� kind of way.
I recommend this book (and series) to everyone that likes strong police procedurals that feature strong, balanced characters. The book flows at a nice pace with enough twists to keep the reader engaged.
My thanks to NetGalley and Joffre Books for an advance copy of this book.
November 11, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of this book.
Can’t believe this is book 13 in the series, it is fantastic to read how much Nikki has developed from book 1. She was a real loner, one-woman crime fighter, but now she has become a true team player. She is not the only one, all of the characters have been developed over the series.
To me this could be the best one so far, one of the most horrific. Not for the faint hearted. Very difficult to put down, the pace and twists , keep you hooked with the exceptionally strong, and balanced characters.
I highly recommend this book (and the whole series) to anyone who likes a strong police procedural series and is not too worried about reading some horrific murders.
Can’t believe this is book 13 in the series, it is fantastic to read how much Nikki has developed from book 1. She was a real loner, one-woman crime fighter, but now she has become a true team player. She is not the only one, all of the characters have been developed over the series.
To me this could be the best one so far, one of the most horrific. Not for the faint hearted. Very difficult to put down, the pace and twists , keep you hooked with the exceptionally strong, and balanced characters.
I highly recommend this book (and the whole series) to anyone who likes a strong police procedural series and is not too worried about reading some horrific murders.
January 8, 2025
The brutal murder of a young man in the grounds of Shelley House was the beginning of a case so different to anything Detective Nikki Galena and Sergeant Joseph Easter had ever worked on. As it emerged about a twenty year old murder, then death of a scientist, and the disappearance of one of said scientist's sons, Nikki and Joseph weren't prepared for Government boffins descending on their station, forbidding any mention of past events. In other words, trying to solve a baffling case with their hands tied behind their backs - Nikki was furious, but had no choice. When another murder occurred, then a third, plus the brother of the missing person arrived with notes, maps and memos to help them, they wondered if this was a case they would never solve...
is #13 in the DI Nikki Galena series by and it was an absolute doozy!!! What a weird and wonderful case the team were involved with this time! Intriguing, impressive, imaginative - I loved it! I'm looking forward to #14 now :) Highly recommended.
is #13 in the DI Nikki Galena series by and it was an absolute doozy!!! What a weird and wonderful case the team were involved with this time! Intriguing, impressive, imaginative - I loved it! I'm looking forward to #14 now :) Highly recommended.
December 10, 2024
Thirteen books into the series and the quality is still being maintained.
I am giving five stars mostly for the originality of the murderer, a young man who loves nature too much and takes revenge on people who damage it. Of course he is not sane and his revenge is brutal. DI Nikki Galena is in a hurry to capture him but finds herself blocked by MI5. All very intriguing.
Rory has even more to cope with than usual as the bodies are particularly gruesome, but he manages to produce his usual blackly humorous comments and give the team and the reader a smile or two. The ending is satisfying if a little sudden.
Nikki has a new role to play in the next book. It will be interesting to see how she copes.
I am giving five stars mostly for the originality of the murderer, a young man who loves nature too much and takes revenge on people who damage it. Of course he is not sane and his revenge is brutal. DI Nikki Galena is in a hurry to capture him but finds herself blocked by MI5. All very intriguing.
Rory has even more to cope with than usual as the bodies are particularly gruesome, but he manages to produce his usual blackly humorous comments and give the team and the reader a smile or two. The ending is satisfying if a little sudden.
Nikki has a new role to play in the next book. It will be interesting to see how she copes.
October 14, 2021
Detective Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in to investigate when a body is found burned to a crisp.
More bodies follow as Nikki and Joseph start searching for a man who has been missing 20+ years. This man's father killed his gardener before being killed himself. It is his son who is now killing.
with talk of wood fairies, elves, trees with souls, Nikki and Joseph are going to have to dog deep to find a killer who maybe killing in the name of Mother Nature.
A unique plot and intriguing story line make this a compelling read. There's plenty of action and a huge twist that changes everything. Although 13th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I would recommend starting at the beginning and watching how the character development has created some unforgettable characters.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 3, 2024
This was an intricate story, yet one I configured long before the end of it. However, it was a fun journey to see how it all unfolded!
One more book in this series. I miss the audiobooks. It took too long to read lol 😂
One more book in this series. I miss the audiobooks. It took too long to read lol 😂
October 6, 2021
DI Nikki Galena #13
Now: In the beautiful gardens of Shelly House a shocking discovery is made. A blackened hand dangles over the the side of a wheelbarrow. Detectives Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in to investigate.
Twenty years ago: A family's destroyed by tragic secrets. The scientist father who killed their gardener, before being murdered himself. The brother who disappeared, never to be seen again. Nikki and Joseph must find the man who's been missing for two decades.
A man has been found brutally slaughtered beside a tree in an arboretum. DI Nikki Galena and her team are investigating.
This story spans over two decades and a dysfunctional family. We know who the perpetrator is and we get an insight into the reasons for his actions. There's plenty of twists to this story. I like the relationship that Nikki and Joseph share. This is an interesting and slightly different plotline to the normal police procedurals.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #JoyEllis for my ARC of #FearOnTheFens in exchange for an honest review.
Now: In the beautiful gardens of Shelly House a shocking discovery is made. A blackened hand dangles over the the side of a wheelbarrow. Detectives Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in to investigate.
Twenty years ago: A family's destroyed by tragic secrets. The scientist father who killed their gardener, before being murdered himself. The brother who disappeared, never to be seen again. Nikki and Joseph must find the man who's been missing for two decades.
A man has been found brutally slaughtered beside a tree in an arboretum. DI Nikki Galena and her team are investigating.
This story spans over two decades and a dysfunctional family. We know who the perpetrator is and we get an insight into the reasons for his actions. There's plenty of twists to this story. I like the relationship that Nikki and Joseph share. This is an interesting and slightly different plotline to the normal police procedurals.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #JoyEllis for my ARC of #FearOnTheFens in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2021
Another fine book in this terrific series!
In this thirteenth novel, a gruesome discovery in a beautiful setting sparks off the latest investigation for DI Nikki Galena and her team. They very quickly realise there is a connection with events of twenty years ago and they need to find a man who has been missing since then. As the bodies mount up, their task is made all the more difficult by outside interference. Can they get to the truth despite the hindrances they need to cope with?
This is an excellent series and this book, in particular, is very intricate and a real enigma! I was never really sure who to trust and, in all honesty, can say now that I suspected someone who turned out to be completely innocent! Joy Ellis can always be relied upon to provide a thorough workout for the little grey matter and this one had me hooked all the way through! There is such a lot going on and never a dull moment. A gripping read, skilfully crafted as always and definitely a great addition to the series. Highly recommend, and well worth all five stars.
My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this novel; this is � as always � my honest, original and unbiased review.
In this thirteenth novel, a gruesome discovery in a beautiful setting sparks off the latest investigation for DI Nikki Galena and her team. They very quickly realise there is a connection with events of twenty years ago and they need to find a man who has been missing since then. As the bodies mount up, their task is made all the more difficult by outside interference. Can they get to the truth despite the hindrances they need to cope with?
This is an excellent series and this book, in particular, is very intricate and a real enigma! I was never really sure who to trust and, in all honesty, can say now that I suspected someone who turned out to be completely innocent! Joy Ellis can always be relied upon to provide a thorough workout for the little grey matter and this one had me hooked all the way through! There is such a lot going on and never a dull moment. A gripping read, skilfully crafted as always and definitely a great addition to the series. Highly recommend, and well worth all five stars.
My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this novel; this is � as always � my honest, original and unbiased review.
December 7, 2021
Oh dear Oh dear!!!
I have been an avid follower of Joy for a number of years now and have always given 4/5 stars and a positive appraisal ... but not so over the last 18 months. In all of her series the latter few books have been way below par. This latest offering in what was a superb series suffers the same problems ... ponderous, too many characters, too much "jumping" about with the plot? and a rushed ending. I have now moved onto other authors.
I have been an avid follower of Joy for a number of years now and have always given 4/5 stars and a positive appraisal ... but not so over the last 18 months. In all of her series the latter few books have been way below par. This latest offering in what was a superb series suffers the same problems ... ponderous, too many characters, too much "jumping" about with the plot? and a rushed ending. I have now moved onto other authors.
September 19, 2021
Fear on the fens by Joy Ellis.
Detective Nikki Galena Book 13.
Detective Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in to find a man who’s been missing for two decades and unravel the painful past of a broken family before anyone else dies. Can they do it? Brilliant read. I loved Nikki and her team
Niall Aiden Ben Kyle Yvonne and Cat are great. Also superintended cam. I love how they work together. I didn't trust Lucas or Harry at all. I wasn't sure about Julian or Anita either who were Lucas and Harrys parents. Dawson I wasn't sure about. C I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
Detective Nikki Galena Book 13.
Detective Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in to find a man who’s been missing for two decades and unravel the painful past of a broken family before anyone else dies. Can they do it? Brilliant read. I loved Nikki and her team
Niall Aiden Ben Kyle Yvonne and Cat are great. Also superintended cam. I love how they work together. I didn't trust Lucas or Harry at all. I wasn't sure about Julian or Anita either who were Lucas and Harrys parents. Dawson I wasn't sure about. C I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
September 25, 2021
FEAR ON THE FENS opens with the threat of a dangerous person in the area. Shortly thereafter there's a ghastly discovery. While trying to assess the risk he poses and find this menacing individual a horrifying incident takes place. How much worse can it get? Heart-stopping tension mounts with apprehension of another heinous act. Secrets, intra-agency conflict, political intrigue, mysterious beliefs and lies keep the pages flying by. Heart-racing suspense skyrockets bringing you to the edge of your seat. Mind-blowing twists and turns explode into a dynamite, cataclysmic finish.
October 3, 2021
Harry Hopwood-Byrd calls on DI Nikki Galenia and her team to find his missing brother. Luke disappeared twenty years ago at the age of 13, but has since been in touch indicating that he is near Greenborough. Meanwhile a corpse is discovered at the Shelley House Arboretun owned by the Mortons. But the past of the Hopwood-Byrd family is covered in mystery.
Another entertaining and well-written crime story with its cast of likeable and varied characters. Another good addition to the series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Another entertaining and well-written crime story with its cast of likeable and varied characters. Another good addition to the series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 15, 2021
DI Nikki Galena is based in the Lincolnshire Fens and covers a huge area with her team including partner and ex-soldier DS Joseph Easter. They live together but have to keep this low key as, if exposed, one of them would have to move stations. It's great to meet again the loyal team of DCs Cat Cullen and Ben Radley, and highly experienced veteran PC Yvonne Collins still helps out when Supt Cam Walker can borrow her from uniform. As Nikki and Joseph are briefed by Cam on a rather strange request to interview Harry Byrd, the brother of Lucas who has been missing for years, in the beautiful gardens of Shelley Hall a burnt and battered body is discovered on the very spot where a tree was destroyed recently. Surely not a coincidence, especially when one of their most dedicated gardeners is missing?
Julian Hopwood-Byrd had been recruited by the CIA in America to work on classified and rather questionable programmes involving psychic abilities which may have left behind many damaged minds. After returning to England he killed their gardener, and Harry is sure Lucas was instrumental in giving his father motive to do it. Then Julian was murdered by another patient in the secure psychiatric unit he was incarcerated in and Lucas ran away from home. There are so many questions that need answers. How did a 13 year old boy suddenly disappear with only a few belongings? Did someone help him and take him in? Where did he gain all his woodland knowledge and expertise and where has he been hiding for 20 years?
Then a man prepares to take an axe to a tree, little knowing he is sealing his fate in doing so in a most horrible way. Another man is on a mission to find and destroy the Elf King. He might be away with the faeries but a part of him is a brutal killer as he avenges the damage done to nature. The case is made even more difficult for Nikki and her team when a security blanket is thrown over the identity of their suspect. They are fortunate to receive civilian help in the form of ex DC Aiden Gardner and Nikki and Niall have their eye on a more permanent replacement if they can persuade Cam. But can the detectives catch a killer with a very unusual mindset who is unravelling faster than a puff of faery dust with one hand tied behind their backs before anyone else gets hurt?
I dearly love pathologist Professor Rory Wilkinson, with his camp black humour and assistants Spike and “Cardiff� Erin. There is a great feeling of genuine care and loyalty within the team of detectives, and this makes the story all the more enjoyable. The plot is wonderfully clever and superbly delivered, the characters beautifully described, and the scenery and setting of these books is perfect, as always. This series just gets better and better! I guessed part of the plot early on but the twists and red herrings left by this exceptionally talented author left me doubting myself at every turn and oh! what an ending lies in store for the reader in the latest and most impossible case to ever hit the Fens! And now I am off to research the rather intriguing idea of using cats as spies! 5*
Julian Hopwood-Byrd had been recruited by the CIA in America to work on classified and rather questionable programmes involving psychic abilities which may have left behind many damaged minds. After returning to England he killed their gardener, and Harry is sure Lucas was instrumental in giving his father motive to do it. Then Julian was murdered by another patient in the secure psychiatric unit he was incarcerated in and Lucas ran away from home. There are so many questions that need answers. How did a 13 year old boy suddenly disappear with only a few belongings? Did someone help him and take him in? Where did he gain all his woodland knowledge and expertise and where has he been hiding for 20 years?
Then a man prepares to take an axe to a tree, little knowing he is sealing his fate in doing so in a most horrible way. Another man is on a mission to find and destroy the Elf King. He might be away with the faeries but a part of him is a brutal killer as he avenges the damage done to nature. The case is made even more difficult for Nikki and her team when a security blanket is thrown over the identity of their suspect. They are fortunate to receive civilian help in the form of ex DC Aiden Gardner and Nikki and Niall have their eye on a more permanent replacement if they can persuade Cam. But can the detectives catch a killer with a very unusual mindset who is unravelling faster than a puff of faery dust with one hand tied behind their backs before anyone else gets hurt?
I dearly love pathologist Professor Rory Wilkinson, with his camp black humour and assistants Spike and “Cardiff� Erin. There is a great feeling of genuine care and loyalty within the team of detectives, and this makes the story all the more enjoyable. The plot is wonderfully clever and superbly delivered, the characters beautifully described, and the scenery and setting of these books is perfect, as always. This series just gets better and better! I guessed part of the plot early on but the twists and red herrings left by this exceptionally talented author left me doubting myself at every turn and oh! what an ending lies in store for the reader in the latest and most impossible case to ever hit the Fens! And now I am off to research the rather intriguing idea of using cats as spies! 5*
June 30, 2023
3.4 stars. But my god, was it shockingly appalling horrifically gruesome and brutal at times.😳🫣😱🤯🤢🥺
September 21, 2021
399 pages
4 stars
DCI Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter have a very odd mystery on their hands in this latest entry into the series.
A badly burned body is found in a wheelbarrow. It is located in an arboretum-like setting at Shelley House. Nearby, a brother is very concerned about his missing brother. He has been missing for nearly twenty years. Nikki and Joseph go to interview the brother while other team members respond to the burned body.
A tragic circumstance happened just before the brother disappeared at age thirteen. Lucas is an odd person. He has a personality disorder and sees the world in a very different way. Nikke has little time for Lucas� point of view, but Joseph is more tolerant. The crux of the matter is that Lucas� way of seeing the world causes him to strike out violently at those who do not respect nature as he does.
Could it have been Lucas who burned the man in the wheelbarrow? Was the burned man one of the people who trashed the rare tree at the arboretum?
The boys� father was involved in a secretive experimental program in the US that has to do with his apparent high-level psychic abilities. A thorn in Nikki’s side arrives in the form of an agent who is more concerned with keeping the father’s involvement in the program a secret than any police investigation.
The writing and plotting of this book is excellent as is usual with Ms. Ellis� novels. The transitions are smoother. I like Nikki and Joseph. Their relationship is wonderful. They work well together and compliment one another. The team gets along well and Nikki treats them all equally and notices their particular talents. Joy Ellis� books are a treat to read. I will continue to read them for a long time to come.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
4 stars
DCI Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter have a very odd mystery on their hands in this latest entry into the series.
A badly burned body is found in a wheelbarrow. It is located in an arboretum-like setting at Shelley House. Nearby, a brother is very concerned about his missing brother. He has been missing for nearly twenty years. Nikki and Joseph go to interview the brother while other team members respond to the burned body.
A tragic circumstance happened just before the brother disappeared at age thirteen. Lucas is an odd person. He has a personality disorder and sees the world in a very different way. Nikke has little time for Lucas� point of view, but Joseph is more tolerant. The crux of the matter is that Lucas� way of seeing the world causes him to strike out violently at those who do not respect nature as he does.
Could it have been Lucas who burned the man in the wheelbarrow? Was the burned man one of the people who trashed the rare tree at the arboretum?
The boys� father was involved in a secretive experimental program in the US that has to do with his apparent high-level psychic abilities. A thorn in Nikki’s side arrives in the form of an agent who is more concerned with keeping the father’s involvement in the program a secret than any police investigation.
The writing and plotting of this book is excellent as is usual with Ms. Ellis� novels. The transitions are smoother. I like Nikki and Joseph. Their relationship is wonderful. They work well together and compliment one another. The team gets along well and Nikki treats them all equally and notices their particular talents. Joy Ellis� books are a treat to read. I will continue to read them for a long time to come.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
March 3, 2025
Fear on the Fens by Joy Ellis is the 13th book in the D.I. Nikki Galena series. Detective Inspector Nikki Galena and her team are called in to investigate a burnt body of a teenager in a wheelbarrow which they soon link to a mentally ill suspect who believes that he sees fairies and other creatures and can communicate withe the natural world. His mission is to take revenge on those who harm his imaginary friends. Their hunt for the killer takes them back to earlier government secrets and experiments and they find their investigations hampered and restricted. An amzing book with a bit of everything including government spies, a severely dysfunctional family, a very disturbed young man taking revenge on those harming the environment and particularly gruesome and disturbed murders. Plenty of twists as the team find they are being manipulated from multiple angles. The best part is catching up with all the team. This book sees them preparing for Vinnie and Sheila's wedding. Nikki and Joseph's relationship is getting stronger and I love that Yvonne will be joining the team. Nikki's mother and her friends don't play a part in this book and are missed. A superb, twisty police procedural thriller.
September 24, 2021
Book thirteen Nikki Galena Greenborough CID along with DS Joseph Easter, are called into Cameron Walker's office he has worried lines with a tricky problem, the late Julien Hopwood-Byrd his son Harry wants a word that could leave them with a massive issue all concerning Lucas who has a propensity for killing, this is all they need. also a male burnt body has been found not far from where they are on Arthur Morton private estate. Luca Hopwood-Byrd was in complete control when he left the family home all those years ago never been seen since. This is the most gripping book in the series for me and I could not put it down never get tired of reading this authors work every book is always full of massive twists and surprises, may she continue to thrill all her readers with many more.
November 3, 2021
I can easily see how Joy Ellis has sold over two million books. Fear on The Fens is another winner.
I love stories where the central mystery is tied to events in the past and this book delivers. Nikki is a strong female lead character who the reader can root for.
It’s fast-paced and scary in parts. One section describing the discovery of a body is particularly vivid!
I read this book as a standalone but can see it would be fantastic addition to the Nikki Galena series and probably even more enjoyable for readers that have read the whole series. It’s a gripping read, and Joy’s prose is smooth and compelling. Her characters talk like real people. I feel as though I know Nikki. An absolute rollercoaster of a book and a pleasure to read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of this book.
I love stories where the central mystery is tied to events in the past and this book delivers. Nikki is a strong female lead character who the reader can root for.
It’s fast-paced and scary in parts. One section describing the discovery of a body is particularly vivid!
I read this book as a standalone but can see it would be fantastic addition to the Nikki Galena series and probably even more enjoyable for readers that have read the whole series. It’s a gripping read, and Joy’s prose is smooth and compelling. Her characters talk like real people. I feel as though I know Nikki. An absolute rollercoaster of a book and a pleasure to read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of this book.
March 14, 2024
Another great story in this British crime thriller series.
I liked the familiar characters, their development and relationships and how the team tackle the many awful things they see.
This instalment was intriguing because of how it touched upon 'otherworldly' possibilities...not that Nikki would agree.
Well-written and fast-paced.
Recommended.
I liked the familiar characters, their development and relationships and how the team tackle the many awful things they see.
This instalment was intriguing because of how it touched upon 'otherworldly' possibilities...not that Nikki would agree.
Well-written and fast-paced.
Recommended.
February 21, 2025
I really felt sorry for the detectives who were trying to track the “deranged� killer. There seemed to be lies being told at every turn, so they had to determine truth from fiction. It had me on the edge of my seat as the round up was coming to a conclusion, with a totally unexpected surprise right at the end.
November 19, 2023
An OK read.
Good point is that this is a relatively easy read. On the downside the story was fairly unbelievable and long passages re elves and fairies were boring and tedious, which is a pity as it could have been a good police procedural story.
Good point is that this is a relatively easy read. On the downside the story was fairly unbelievable and long passages re elves and fairies were boring and tedious, which is a pity as it could have been a good police procedural story.
April 17, 2023
Lately Nikki Galena series takes quite a plot toward espionage and si-fi elements. Not sure if I like that but so far the story is still entertaining.
November 27, 2023
Oh I do love a Joy Ellis novel and this series is brilliant, really getting into it. It is a very strong police procedural and the plot is just 'WOW'. So recommend it either as a series or standalone.
I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
Read
September 25, 2022I missed Nikki’s mom Eve and her friends.
May 22, 2024
I was expecting a routine police procedural with decent character moments. Instead, I got a cut-rate urban fantasy. I like urban fantasy as a genre, but it should be written by people who understand the genre, and it's clear that Ellis doesn't, and it should not be dropped into an established series without foundation.
The police procedural lacked verisimilitude, with standard investigative techniques denied for ... reasons. The plot twists weren't much hinted at, coming at random and purely used to make predictions impossible.
There was a routine "security service bad" theme of the sort that infests American action/suspense novels; the only difference was that the CIA was a bit player rather than the principle villain.
The characters' actions didn't seem to be particularly related to the outcomes of the story, with consequences being poorly correlated with actions.
The main plot was infested with ESP woo, but not in a way that improved anything about the story. The actual effects were backgrounded, but referred to so often as to be a serious distraction from the core of the novel. Surprisingly, there wasn't a flat-earth subplot as well.
And the ending was the worst sort of hack writing.
Other Ellis books are decent to quite good. This one was not.
Strongly discommended.
The police procedural lacked verisimilitude, with standard investigative techniques denied for ... reasons. The plot twists weren't much hinted at, coming at random and purely used to make predictions impossible.
There was a routine "security service bad" theme of the sort that infests American action/suspense novels; the only difference was that the CIA was a bit player rather than the principle villain.
The characters' actions didn't seem to be particularly related to the outcomes of the story, with consequences being poorly correlated with actions.
The main plot was infested with ESP woo, but not in a way that improved anything about the story. The actual effects were backgrounded, but referred to so often as to be a serious distraction from the core of the novel. Surprisingly, there wasn't a flat-earth subplot as well.
And the ending was the worst sort of hack writing.
Other Ellis books are decent to quite good. This one was not.
Strongly discommended.
October 22, 2021
I have been a fan of Joy’s work for a while now. I have read and loved every single book that she has written to date. ‘Fear On The Fens� is the thirteenth book in the series featuring Detective Inspector Nikki Galena and her partner in more ways than one, Detective Sergeant Joseph Easter. I couldn’t wait to start reading and so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for a fabulous afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Fear On The Fens� but more about that in a bit.
It took me no time at all to get into ‘Fear On The Fens�. In fact seeing Joy’s name on the front cover of a book was enough to grab my attention and the synopsis just convinced me that I had to read the book as soon as I could. I made the fatal mistake of picking the book up just before I went to bed. Well let’s just say that bedtime was delayed and I had a distinct ‘lack of sleep� hangover the following morning but it was so worth it. This was one of those books that was constantly on my mind- If I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book to one side then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of the book and I had to say ‘farewell� to Nikki & Joseph. I found ‘Fear On The Fens� to be the true definition of an unputdownable page turner of a read, which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Fear On The Fens� is superbly written but that’s true of all of Joy’s books. She certainly knows how to grab your attention with an eye catching synopsis and the plot is certainly memorable and not one you would come cross very often. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Fear On The Fens� felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you thought that you could take a minute to gather your thoughts, reclaim your stomach and take a breather then off the action would go again. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Oy’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Fear On The Fens� and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Joy’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
It took me no time at all to get into ‘Fear On The Fens�. In fact seeing Joy’s name on the front cover of a book was enough to grab my attention and the synopsis just convinced me that I had to read the book as soon as I could. I made the fatal mistake of picking the book up just before I went to bed. Well let’s just say that bedtime was delayed and I had a distinct ‘lack of sleep� hangover the following morning but it was so worth it. This was one of those books that was constantly on my mind- If I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book to one side then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of the book and I had to say ‘farewell� to Nikki & Joseph. I found ‘Fear On The Fens� to be the true definition of an unputdownable page turner of a read, which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Fear On The Fens� is superbly written but that’s true of all of Joy’s books. She certainly knows how to grab your attention with an eye catching synopsis and the plot is certainly memorable and not one you would come cross very often. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Fear On The Fens� felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you thought that you could take a minute to gather your thoughts, reclaim your stomach and take a breather then off the action would go again. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Oy’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Fear On The Fens� and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Joy’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
September 25, 2021
REVIEW:
Once again, I was SOOO thrilled to be offered this ARC by Joffe, as I just adore Joy’s books. Considering the past eighteen months we have had to endure, these books are really warming to the soul. They are so well written and you actually feel that you are there with the characters living on the Fens. They take you out of yourself to just enjoy it all.
As I say every time, I must go to visit and see for myself, but not at night with the harsh winds and the whispers of the fog creeping over the marshes like fingers.
This has to be THE BEST one yet. I love Joseph, Nikki, Cat, Ben, Niall and Vonnie and of course Cam they make an excellent team and dear Rory, but we didn’t hear much from him this time, probably because the murders were so horrendous. I, for one, have to say, I thought the ethereal aspect with nature was just wonderful. As Joy quite rightly states, a lot of religions are based on nature, and why not, it seems when everything is against it, it finds a way to survive.
Poor Lucas, who seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth years ago,lived in his own world, and his beliefs and his brother Harry is keen to reunite with him after his dysfunctional family broke down. His father who worked for the USA as a scientist who apparently killed himself after a murder was committed is totally enshrined in secrets from both our government and the states.
Nikki has her hands tied, she’s not, under any circumstances allowed to find out about Julian Hopword-Byrd and the spooks are watching her and her team in the form of a rather precocious individual called Hackett. Typical MI5!
As the book continues it shows how far governments will go to cover things up, but Nikki and her team keep persevering until the climax at the end.
I was a little surprised that Nikki didn’t consult her mum and Wendy as to the nature of the investigation as they’ve always helped out before.
I would like this book to get the recognition it deserves, and Joy gets an award for it. I just hope she keeps on with the characters, and I’m sorry I’ve finished it. Good authors always make sure they leave you wanting more.
My thanks to Joy and Joffe publishers for the ARC.
Once again, I was SOOO thrilled to be offered this ARC by Joffe, as I just adore Joy’s books. Considering the past eighteen months we have had to endure, these books are really warming to the soul. They are so well written and you actually feel that you are there with the characters living on the Fens. They take you out of yourself to just enjoy it all.
As I say every time, I must go to visit and see for myself, but not at night with the harsh winds and the whispers of the fog creeping over the marshes like fingers.
This has to be THE BEST one yet. I love Joseph, Nikki, Cat, Ben, Niall and Vonnie and of course Cam they make an excellent team and dear Rory, but we didn’t hear much from him this time, probably because the murders were so horrendous. I, for one, have to say, I thought the ethereal aspect with nature was just wonderful. As Joy quite rightly states, a lot of religions are based on nature, and why not, it seems when everything is against it, it finds a way to survive.
Poor Lucas, who seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth years ago,lived in his own world, and his beliefs and his brother Harry is keen to reunite with him after his dysfunctional family broke down. His father who worked for the USA as a scientist who apparently killed himself after a murder was committed is totally enshrined in secrets from both our government and the states.
Nikki has her hands tied, she’s not, under any circumstances allowed to find out about Julian Hopword-Byrd and the spooks are watching her and her team in the form of a rather precocious individual called Hackett. Typical MI5!
As the book continues it shows how far governments will go to cover things up, but Nikki and her team keep persevering until the climax at the end.
I was a little surprised that Nikki didn’t consult her mum and Wendy as to the nature of the investigation as they’ve always helped out before.
I would like this book to get the recognition it deserves, and Joy gets an award for it. I just hope she keeps on with the characters, and I’m sorry I’ve finished it. Good authors always make sure they leave you wanting more.
My thanks to Joy and Joffe publishers for the ARC.
October 25, 2021
Joy Ellis is back with a chilling Nikki Galena crime thriller that will leave readers breathless: Fear on The Fens.
The beautiful gardens of Shelley House are full of dark and twisted secrets that have lain hidden for far too long. However, the truth can no longer remain buried and when a shocking discovery is made, Detectives Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in for a case that stretches back decades and that will plunge them into a terrifying and impenetrable investigation that is going to test them like never before. Can Nikki and Joseph get to the bottom of this case? Or will they be unsuccessful in their quest to uncover Shelley House’s chilling past?
Twenty years ago, a family had been completely and utterly destroyed by terror and tragedy. The scientist father had killed the gardener before being murdered himself and the brother had disappeared never to be seen ever again. Could there possibly be a link between the shocking crimes of twenty years ago and the blackened hand that has just been found over the side of a wheelbarrow at Shelley House? As Nikki and Joseph continue to dig deeper and deeper into the past, they realise that the answers they seek can only be found if they manage to locate the brother who has been missing for twenty years and unravel the mysteries of the past.
Will Nikki and Joseph solve this case before anyone else dies? Or are they already far too late?
Fear on The Fens is classic Joy Ellis! It grabs the reader’s attention from the very first line and keeps them gripped throughout. The twists and surprises come thick and fast, the pace never flags and the tension will have readers biting their nails to the elbow as they find themselves completely engrossed in this first-rate thriller.
As always, Nikki and Joseph are a fabulous double act. Dedicated, intelligent and flawed, readers will be with them every step of the way.
Joy Ellis is one of the most talented crime writers writing today and with Fear on the Fens she has penned yet another fantastic crime thriller that should not be missed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The beautiful gardens of Shelley House are full of dark and twisted secrets that have lain hidden for far too long. However, the truth can no longer remain buried and when a shocking discovery is made, Detectives Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in for a case that stretches back decades and that will plunge them into a terrifying and impenetrable investigation that is going to test them like never before. Can Nikki and Joseph get to the bottom of this case? Or will they be unsuccessful in their quest to uncover Shelley House’s chilling past?
Twenty years ago, a family had been completely and utterly destroyed by terror and tragedy. The scientist father had killed the gardener before being murdered himself and the brother had disappeared never to be seen ever again. Could there possibly be a link between the shocking crimes of twenty years ago and the blackened hand that has just been found over the side of a wheelbarrow at Shelley House? As Nikki and Joseph continue to dig deeper and deeper into the past, they realise that the answers they seek can only be found if they manage to locate the brother who has been missing for twenty years and unravel the mysteries of the past.
Will Nikki and Joseph solve this case before anyone else dies? Or are they already far too late?
Fear on The Fens is classic Joy Ellis! It grabs the reader’s attention from the very first line and keeps them gripped throughout. The twists and surprises come thick and fast, the pace never flags and the tension will have readers biting their nails to the elbow as they find themselves completely engrossed in this first-rate thriller.
As always, Nikki and Joseph are a fabulous double act. Dedicated, intelligent and flawed, readers will be with them every step of the way.
Joy Ellis is one of the most talented crime writers writing today and with Fear on the Fens she has penned yet another fantastic crime thriller that should not be missed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 4, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Joffe Books for the electronic copy.
This is Book #13 in the Nikki Galena series and I've read and enjoyed them all. Set in the Lincolnshire Fens, always well-written with believable dialogue which flows through Nikki's team in this latest police procedural. This is a murder investigation from quite a unique perspective with lots of twists and intrigue.
Julian Hopwood-Byrd was a British scientist who became involved in a CIA special project exploring the scope to which the human mind could be exploited as useful intelligence against an enemy. Returning to the UK with his two sons Harry and Lucas and their mother, Julian's state of mind had, and continued to, deteriorate until he inexplicably murdered their gardener and was confined to a secure facility; apparently he was himself killed there by another inmate.
Lucas was always "different" - a very troubled child, and ran away from home when he was 13yrs old. Nothing was heard from him until Harry received a letter - he wanted to meet. Harry explains to Nikki that he fears Lucas has the propensity for killing; Lucas also lives in his own magical world - a kingdom of plants and fairies.
Of course, Nikki is having none of this "fairy nonsense" it's simply a fact that Lucas is a potential killer where anyone who deliberately harmed plants could become a victim.
Then she's called to a crime scene at Shelley House where Sean the head gardener had discovered a burned body in a wheelbarrow in the Arboretum. This could be Lucas's first victim, but if it is then where's he been for the last 20 years - who looked after him - who mentored him?
Nikki and her team are in a race against time as they try to get to grips with Harry and Lucas's fantasy kingdoms as the body-count rises.
There are moments of humour within the dialogue, but the murders are gruesome - beware, next time you cut down a tree there just might be a deranged avenging goblin on your trail!
Excellent read
This is Book #13 in the Nikki Galena series and I've read and enjoyed them all. Set in the Lincolnshire Fens, always well-written with believable dialogue which flows through Nikki's team in this latest police procedural. This is a murder investigation from quite a unique perspective with lots of twists and intrigue.
Julian Hopwood-Byrd was a British scientist who became involved in a CIA special project exploring the scope to which the human mind could be exploited as useful intelligence against an enemy. Returning to the UK with his two sons Harry and Lucas and their mother, Julian's state of mind had, and continued to, deteriorate until he inexplicably murdered their gardener and was confined to a secure facility; apparently he was himself killed there by another inmate.
Lucas was always "different" - a very troubled child, and ran away from home when he was 13yrs old. Nothing was heard from him until Harry received a letter - he wanted to meet. Harry explains to Nikki that he fears Lucas has the propensity for killing; Lucas also lives in his own magical world - a kingdom of plants and fairies.
Of course, Nikki is having none of this "fairy nonsense" it's simply a fact that Lucas is a potential killer where anyone who deliberately harmed plants could become a victim.
Then she's called to a crime scene at Shelley House where Sean the head gardener had discovered a burned body in a wheelbarrow in the Arboretum. This could be Lucas's first victim, but if it is then where's he been for the last 20 years - who looked after him - who mentored him?
Nikki and her team are in a race against time as they try to get to grips with Harry and Lucas's fantasy kingdoms as the body-count rises.
There are moments of humour within the dialogue, but the murders are gruesome - beware, next time you cut down a tree there just might be a deranged avenging goblin on your trail!
Excellent read
October 4, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe for an advance copy of Fear on the Fens, the thirteenth novel to feature DI Nikki Galena and her partner DS Joseph Easter set in the fictional Fenland town of Greenborough.
A burnt body left in a wheelbarrow on a country estate gives Nikki her first clue that she is hunting a pitiless killer. What it doesn’t tell her is that she is embarking on the most difficult case of her career, trying to excavate the history of a troubled family while negotiating the parameters imposed by the security services.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fear on the Fens, which is an engrossing tale of secrets and lies and not only on the perpetrator’s part. This is a different novel from its predecessors, because it’s not a hunt for the identity of the killer, which is established early in the novel, but more a search for him and an understanding of why he has become a killer. Obviously there is a lot more to it with the security services involved, but if I told you I’d have to kill you.
I guessed one of the main mysteries early on in the novel, but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the novel in the slightest as there are so many threads I didn’t guess and the author keeps it fresh with twists and developments, none of which I foresaw. I was impressed by her easy command of the narrative, although some of the subject matter is straight out of the conspiracy theory manual. I am interested in them, not saying I believe them, so I could recognise many of the allusions and while the premise of one plot angle seems far fetched, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility because the background to it is real. I think it will depend on the reader and how far they can push their credulity. Still, it adds to the fun and games of a novel I found hard to put down.
Fear on the Fens is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
A burnt body left in a wheelbarrow on a country estate gives Nikki her first clue that she is hunting a pitiless killer. What it doesn’t tell her is that she is embarking on the most difficult case of her career, trying to excavate the history of a troubled family while negotiating the parameters imposed by the security services.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fear on the Fens, which is an engrossing tale of secrets and lies and not only on the perpetrator’s part. This is a different novel from its predecessors, because it’s not a hunt for the identity of the killer, which is established early in the novel, but more a search for him and an understanding of why he has become a killer. Obviously there is a lot more to it with the security services involved, but if I told you I’d have to kill you.
I guessed one of the main mysteries early on in the novel, but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the novel in the slightest as there are so many threads I didn’t guess and the author keeps it fresh with twists and developments, none of which I foresaw. I was impressed by her easy command of the narrative, although some of the subject matter is straight out of the conspiracy theory manual. I am interested in them, not saying I believe them, so I could recognise many of the allusions and while the premise of one plot angle seems far fetched, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility because the background to it is real. I think it will depend on the reader and how far they can push their credulity. Still, it adds to the fun and games of a novel I found hard to put down.
Fear on the Fens is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
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