Today I am so happy to be taking part in the blog tour for
Nothing Bad Happens Here by Nikki Crutchley
Thank you Rachel @rararesources and the author for inviting me to take part
She looked away from his face and took in the clear spring night, full of stars. Her last thoughts were of her mother. Would she finally care, when one day they found her body, and a policeman came knocking at her door?
The body of missing tourist Bethany Haliwell is found in the small Coromandel town of Castle Bay, where nothing bad ever happens. News crews and journalists from all over the country descend on the small seaside town as old secrets are dragged up and gossip is taken as gospel.
Among them is Miller Hatcher, a journalist battling her own demons, who arrives intent on gaining a promotion by covering the grisly murder.
Following an anonymous tip, Miller begins to unravel the mystery of the small town. And when another woman goes missing, Miller finds herself getting closer to the truth. But at what cost?
Purchase Link – Amazon: here
My Review of Nothing Bad Happens Here
Sargeant Kahu Parata, Police Officer, enjoys his job in the seaside town of Castle Bay. He has been working there for ten years, a stark contrast to the violent streets of Auckland, where he was previously based. However, Kahu’s family life is causing him some anxiety, his devoted wife is seriously ill and he fears that they won’t be able to start the family they crave.
Miller Hatcher is a journalist desperate to prove herself and get the respect of her editor and colleagues. Her mother recently passed away and Miller is becoming too dependant on alcohol just to get through the day. Miller finds herself at Castle Bay hoping for an international scoop which will secure her employment as a journalist.
As well as stunning coastal walks the town offers more relaxation and meditation in the form of the Haven, a peaceful, idyllic retreat for troubled souls run by the amicable Delta.
When a body is found in the deep valley behind the town, Kahu is the first officer to visit the crime scene, something he is sadly all too familiar with.
Miller arrives at Castle Bay to investigate the murder, the hotels are full so she has no choice but to book into the Haven, ironically a strictly alcohol-free zone.
Here is an extract from the book where Miller and Kahu meet to discuss the case.
‘So has anything like this ever happened before in Castle Bay?’
‘No. We’re not a perfect town, by any means, but to be honest with you, nothing bad ever happens here.’
Miller frowned. It was the third time she’d heard someone say this, and she’d only been in Castle Bay for four days. Did these people seriously believe their town was that safe?
‘It’s a small community where everyone knows everyone. We mostly take care of each other. Summer gets a bit crazy with a lot of out-of-towners coming in; alcohol, drugs, a few assaults here and there, but that’s about it.’
I loved how each character had a deep and detailed backstory, their lives had clever but subtle connections which fascinated me. Some of the locals were shady, suspicious characters, others gossipy and judgmental.
The pace was steady, gathering momentum and reached an exciting and surprising conclusion which had me sitting on the edge of my seat.
An outstanding debut from Nikki Crutchley.
Thank you to Rachel and Nikki for providing me with a copy of Nothing Bad Happens Here in exchange for an honest review.
Author Bio – After seven years of working as a librarian in New Zealand and overseas, Nikki now works as a freelance proofreader and copy editor. She lives in the small Waikato town of Cambridge in New Zealand with her husband and two girls. Nikki has been writing on and off her whole life and recently has had success in flash fiction. She has been published in Flash Frontier, Flash Fiction Magazine and Mayhem Literary Journal, and has also had a story published in the Fresh Ink Anthology. Crime/thriller/mystery novels are her passion. Nothing Bad Happens Here is her first novel, set on the Coromandel Coast of New Zealand.
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