Good thriller! Couldn't put it down till the very end! A must read!

Having thoroughly enjoyed a couple of books written by Joy Ellis, I jumped at the chance to read Stalker in the Fens. The book starts with a serious accident that sees the best friend of DI Nikki Galena trapped in a cellar under a wall. 12 months on and Helen Brooks is starting to get flashbacks about that day and she is convinced that she is being followed due to something someone told her while she was trapped.
Nikki wants to believe her friend however when she starts to investigate all things point to it being just a bit of paranoia… that is until one night when she goes round to keep her company and finds Helen has been brutally murdered. When Helen’s partner goes missing and is subsequently found badly beaten Nikki is left wondering what he had been involved in and was it linked to her friend’s death.
The pairing of DI Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter works really well as they have a closeness that can only come through time and understanding. He seems to be her voice of reason and calming influence all in one as she struggles with the case and how close she is to it all. Living across from each other on the fens he seems to know when she needs an ear to bend and is willing to drop everything at a moment’s notice if required.
DS Easter is also trying to reconnect with his daughter after his divorce but the fact that she is now working locally and dating one of the young police officers in his station seems to help. He is also taking some joy from the fact that his ex-wife will hate it.
DC Eric Barnes is transferred into the team which causes problems and to be fair for the majority of the book he does not seem to have any redeeming qualities. He is related to a senior officer and thinks himself above everyone else and the backwater force in the fens, hating the fact that there is a woman in charge. After a very public telling off he makes his biggest mistake yet that sees him come to blows with Nikki for a second time. Without going into detail so that I don’t give the plot away, he does however manage to show that he is human and somewhere deep down there is a half decent copper.
Throughout the book there are times I was almost sure I knew who had done it and why, however as the investigations evolved I found that not everyone and everything was as it seemed. Ties from the past cropped up that had links with current events and the eventual outcome was not actually what I expected.
Stalker on the Fens is the fifth in the Nikki Galena series but I will admit it is the first one I have read. Although there are some possible references to earlier books in the series, not having read them did not make this book any less enjoyable, nor did I feel that I was missing vital links to understand the dynamic within the team so can be read as a stand-alone story. That being said I am going to have to purchase books 1 – 4 just so that I can see how the relationship between Nikki and Joseph began and how it has developed over the cases they have investigated.

Set in my part of the world, this was a good, solid Police procedural that I could get my teeth into. I always like a female lead character with a bit of spark and DI Nikki Galena fits the bill. Lots of twist and turns and some red herrings to keep me guessing. A really good, reliable read, I will try another one in the series.

This is a good series and this latest installment was as satisfying as the rest. I think you could read this as a standalone because Ellis has done a nice job of keeping each story contained but you would miss the development of the characters and their relationships. Nikki is always smart and the police officer you want to help you, especially if you, like Helen, think there's someone after you. Loved the interplay between Nikki and Joe. This is a procedural with topical issues (cybercrime) and a terrific setting on the Fens. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one!

Captivating Thriller with Great Characterisation
A superb thriller by Joy Ellis which maintains the high standards of her earlier books in the series. It is the fifth book Joy Ellis has written involving Nikki Galena and one of the best. The novel can be read as a standalone novel as any references to earlier books in the series are adequately explained. (You can catch up on reading them later!)
When it comes to devising plots Ellis proves her credentials as one of the top current bestseller crime thriller authors.
"Stalker on the Fens" : is based upon a race to catch the culprit of a senseless murder before he murders again. But the team and DI Galena also face other conundrums whilst they pursue the murderer.
Smart-assed, narcissistic Detective Eric Barnes joins their murder team much to the discomfort of all and in particular D.C. Cat Cullen. Expect sparks to fly as the collective chemistry of the Detective team is upset by him.
What is Andrew, Helen Brook's computer wizard boyfriend up to?
Arch-criminal Stephen Cox is reported to be back on their patch again and, if so, can the team gather evidence to convict him once and for all? Or will he again evade justice?
The author's creation of the Galena and Easter duo is inspired. The two complement one another and, as the main characters, are the backbone of the novel. That it remains a platonic relationship makes their friendship all the more likely to survive the stresses and strains of detective work. Their team likewise show camaraderie with one another which is upset by the imposition of Eric Barnes.
Set in the peaceful and harmonious Lincolnshire Fens district it is hard to believe that criminality can disturb the tranquillity. But geographically the police district includes Greenborough which contains as many, if not more, thugs and criminality than some urban areas.
However the friendship, care and loyalty of the entire murder team is a considerable asset when it comes to resolving crimes and problems. And resolve the crime they must before the killer strikes again.
A marvellous book and up to the usual standard of a Joy Ellis novel: Great.

Stalker On The Fens by joy Ellis is a mystery and thriller read.
DETECTIVE NIKKI GALENA’S FRIEND THINKS SHE HAS A DEADLY STALKER
DI Nikki Galena’s friend Helen Brook is involved in a serious accident where she is trapped in a collapsed cellar. After her hard-won recovery, Helen is still getting flashbacks to a man she says was down there with her and who confessed to a murder. But no trace of this man can be found.
Then Helen tells Nikki that someone is watching her. But is all this in her friend’s imagination and part of her post-traumatic stress?
And why is Stephen Cox back in town? He’s the villain who tore Nikki’s life apart and he seems to have returned for revenge.
Before long the whole town is on the verge of hysteria and her friend’s fear will lead Nikki and Joseph on a very dangerous trail.
THE DETECTIVE DI Nikki Galena: A police detective with nothing left to lose, she’s seen a girl die in her arms and her own family destroyed. She’s tough on the criminals who she thinks did this to her.
HER PARTNER DS Joseph Easter is the squeaky-clean new member of the team. But his nickname “Holy Joe” belies his former life as a soldier. He has an estranged daughter who blames him for everything that went wrong with their family.
THE SETTING The Lincolnshire Fens: great open skies brood over marshes, farmland, and nature reserves. It is not easy terrain for the Fenland Constabulary to police, due to the distances between some of the remote Fen villages, the dangerous and often misty lanes, and the poor telephone coverage. There are still villages where the oldest residents have never set foot outside their own farmland and a visit to the nearest town is a major event. But it has a strange airy beauty to it, and above it all are the biggest skies you’ve ever seen.
I really enjoyed this read. Full of twists and plots. Really had me thinking.
5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley