Peggy Pinch Policeman's Wife by Malcolm Noble

My latest Indie recommendation is Peggy Pinch Policeman's Wife by Malcolm Noble.The novel is set in an English village in 1926 on the eve of the General Strike. Peggy Pinch must solve a murder in order to save her husband's job. It is a murder mystery but more than that, it is a snapshot of village life in the twenties complete with gossip, petty arguments, complex relationships and secrets. This is a very well written book with a light touch and just the right amount of description to set the scene without slowing down the story. I was initially put off by the cover which I do not think represents the contents at all but I am glad I did not judge this particular book by its cover and I am happy to recommend it.

The Serpent in the Glass by D. M. Andrews

My latest recommendation is The Serpent in the Glass by D.M. Andrews. This is a fantasy novel for readers of all ages. Thomas Farrell has been living as an unpaid servant in the home of his adopted parents until on his eleventh birthday, he receives an invitation to attend the mysterious Darkledun Manor, a school for gifted children. So far, so Harry Potter, but although there are several similarities, this is a very different story. The novel is peopled by interesting and believable characters both child and adult, and there are humourous moments which made me chuckle. Although the story starts slowly, the ending is fast paced and satisying and although most of Thomas's questions are answered, there are enough remaining to ensure that a sequel must be on the way.

Gray Justice by Alan McDermott

My latest recommendation is Gray Justice by Alan McDermott. This is a thriller which moves along quickly and  has a few twists and turns along the way. Tom Gray has suffered a double tragedy and finds an original way to bring those responsible to justice. In fact the word original has been used to describe the story and I would agree with that. It is not your run of the mill thriller. The narrative style is easy to read and carries you forward effortlessly.

The ending was not what I expected which always pleases me.  Also the reader is left with unanswered questions which of course will encourage you to buy the second book Gray Resurrection. Both books are available for Kindle on Amazon.

A Real Piece of Work by Chris Orcutt

It just goes to prove what I have always said, there really are good Indie novels out there. A Real Piece of Work was recommended to me and I am so glad it was. Available from the Amazon Kindle store, this is the first in the series about private investigator Dakota Stevens. It is written in the first person in the style of Raymond Chandler and indeed the narrator alludes to the detectives of old but there is nothing old-fashioned or derivative. The story is very much a twenty first century take on the genre. Dakota Stevens and his beautiful Russian associate Svetlana Krush are asked to investigate the disappearance of a painting. The case takes them into the murky business of stolen art and of course into dangers they had not expected. Dakota is impetuous and passionate, whilst Svetlana has a brilliant analytical mind and is entirely logical. It makes for great chemistry between them and plenty of humourous moments. The story moves along beautifully and the ending is unexpected and satisfying. I loved the narrator's witty asides as the plot's twists and turns. Highly recommended.

Only the Innocent - by Rachel Abbott

My second recommendation for Indie novels is this murder mystery by Rachel Abbott. What I particularly liked about this was the fact that it is out of the ordinary. It is not purely a police procedural, although the policeman in charge of the investigation (As with all the characters)  is well drawn and believable. Hopefully, the author is planning to use him again in another novel. I would like to read more about him. The story unfolds layer by layer and  I did not guess who had committed the murder until the end. Even then, there was a final twist as the reason for the murder is revealed.

The novel hooked me from the beginning and kept me hooked throughout. A real page turner. I am very happy to recommend it. Another thumbs up for indie authors.

Novel Kicks is an online community designed especially for writers whether published or taking those first few steps. I am delighted that Laura Parish, the site's founder has agreed to answer some questions for me.

Laura, please tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve recently turned thirty and still wondering where my twenties went. I’ve wanted to write a book for years but fear has always got in the way. However, I’ve recently become a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association New Writers Scheme so I’m hoping the lack of book will soon change. I also love music and would love to be working in the radio industry but for now I’ll stick with my I-pod which has songs ranging from The Beatles to Westlife to Lady Gaga (much to my husband’s Chris’ annoyance.) If I’m not writing, reading or dancing around to pop music, I watch TV for a living. :)

How did you come up with the idea for Novel Kicks?

Being a new writer myself, one of the things that I find the scariest (other than committing to the actual writing of the book) is letting people read my work. Therefore I thought it would be great to have somewhere people could post work and gain feedback (including me) and be around people in the same boat. As I work shifts, I couldn’t commit to a weekly writing group so putting something online seemed like the next best thing. Also, around the same time, my friend Roland was recruiting people on a Facebook Group to commit to writing a book in a year. I put the two ideas together in my head and suggested Novel Kicks to him.

What are your aims and ambitions for Novel Kicks?

My main ambition for Novel Kicks is to have a community within the forums. Somewhere people feel they can go to discuss with fellow writers and where people would feel comfortable in posting work. I also want the author interview section to continue to be as successful as it has been.

What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

Meeting new people via the virtual world of the site and being able to be in contact with some of the authors I admire has been the thing I’ve loved the most. I’ve managed to be in contact with so many lovely people (authors as well as users of the site) and it’s great. I’ve also been sent books for review; books I wouldn’t have normally picked up but have loved. If not for the site then I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to read so many wonderful stories.

How can people get in touch with you?

You can become a member on Novel Kicks (http://www.novelkicks.co.uk) – it’s free and we have a monthly book club and writing group where anyone is welcome to contribute too. You can also contact me via e-mail (novel@novelkicks.co.uk) and we’re also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/novelkicks) and Twitter (@novelkicks)

If you’re a new writer and don’t really know where to begin then please come join Novel Kicks. We’re all a friendly bunch and the more people who use the forum, the better it will become.

Sea Witch by Helen Hollick

As I promised, my first Indie book review. I am so glad I started with this one. It proves what I have been saying, that there is some really good Indie writing out there.

Firstly, and most importantly for me, it is a good story and I was hooked from the very first page. Sea Witch, the first in a series, is the story of a pirate, Jesemiah Acorne, charming, handsome - of course - ruthless, but basically good and just a little vulnerable, all you would wish for from an enduring hero. The heroine, Tiola Oldstagh is a white witch with extraordinary powers but not the wand waving, spell weaving type and she has strength of character that comes not just from her powers. All the characters are believable even the baddies and the author shows us why they do what they do.

The story is basically boy meets girl, boy loses girl etc. but actually it is much more than that. Helen Hollick sets the period perfectly, it is well researched and detailed without long paragraphs of description or lecture notes. I love history and if a book has a good story and also educates me then  all the better. Within the first few pages I had learned the difference between a pirate and a privateer for example. No, I'm not going to tell you. Read it for yourself.

I am pleased to say that having been hooked initially Sea Witch kept me turning the pages right to the end and I am very happy to recommend it.