Absolutely fantastic! It was great to see Nikki and her team back and this did not disappoint. Straight from the first page it was full of tension, darkness and mystery. I read this in super quick time because I was hanging on to every word and couldn’t put the book down.. a really great read which totally deserves five stars.

The Dark Greenborough Festival is the most important event of the year. Costumes, eating, drinking, ghost walks, superstitions, this festival has a little something for not only the locals. but the flocks of tourists, as well.

A letter is sent to the police, promising death. Nikki and her team are prepared for just about anything ... until the body count rises.

There's been 4 deaths from what they think is alcoholic poisoning ... as in someone is poisoning the drinks or the bottles of alcohol that are available. There's no rhyme nor reason to these deaths, nothing that connects them, no clues.

If that's not bad enough, even more deaths occur ... each one killed differently, and more horrendous than the previous murder.

Who is doing this ...and why? Why these particular victims?

Nikki and her team have their hands full. Routine maintaining of peace during this weekend is hard enough, but throw in a mix of petty crimes, looking for a serial killer, keeping the public ignorant of what's happening ... and this is a recipe for disaster.

Although 10th in this series, it is easily read as a stand alone. I highly recommend starting at the beginning. Nikki is a great character. Female, ferocious, and as tenacious as a bulldog. She has her issues, but nothing gets in the way of her job. DS Joseph Easter is a member of her team ... and her partner in life. He's an ex-soldier, still has moments of PTSD, and always has Nikki's back. I really enjoy how they relate to each other at work ..and at play.

As usual with small villages, the residents are, in turn, quirky, secretive except when they aren't, and on the whole, lends not only credibility to the story, but some humor as well. There are plenty of suspects and twists and turns that lead to an incredible ending.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Book Promotions / Netgalley. I received a digital copy of this crime fiction at no charge and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

She has done it again! I don't know how the author keeps this series fresh and engaging after so many titles, but I still enjoy each new book as if it's the first time I'm reading about DI Nikki Galena and her team. It is time for the Dark Greenborough festival, which takes place over one crazy long weekend. Not only has it brought out the usual weirdos and ghoulish freaks, but also a fiendish murderer who kills in the most atrocious ways, drawing out the suffering of the victims.

Everyone takes the horror of these crimes personally, especially Joseph Easter, Nikki's sergeant and partner. In a bit of a side story, he suffers on his own and begins to revert back to his soldier mindset of taking out the enemy no matter what the cost. This would completely destroy his career and relationship and he knows he needs to hold back but is finding it too hard to do so.

Nikki's mother, Eve, and her elderly gang of girls also feature in this story, trying to enjoy the festival but getting drawn in as usual to the crimes occurring. They try to stay out of the way for Nikki's sake, but can't help jumping in to assist when their skills are necessary.

I enjoyed the parts of the story revolving around Cressy Old House and the motley crew of residents and tenants who could all be connected to the crimes. You can picture the grand old estate with its antiquities and ghosts - it is the perfect setting for much of the haunting weekend.

Fans of Joy Ellis will enjoy this newest book but even a brand new reader to the series can pick this up and delve right in. That''s how good her writing is, you feel like you've been right there with the characters the whole time, no matter where you are in your journey on the fens.

Mourning the anniversary of the death of her daughter Hannah, DI Nikki Galena is not looking forward to the Dark Greenborough Festival , a 3 day event bringing visitors to the Fens, a warning note sent to the Chief Inspector warns of tragedies never seen before. When bodies start turning up poisoned in many ways DI Nikki Galena and her team know they have a murderer at large who will stop at nothing to achieve his mission

Gee I enjoy this series, it has everything you could want in a police procedural. This is the tenth installment of the Nikki Galena series, and the Dark Greenborough Festival is in town. All sorts of weirdos abound during this festival, dressing up is the norm and there's a plethora of spooky tours and goings on to choose from. So Nikki and her sidekicks have their work cut out for them when people start dying from some bootlegged alcohol.

Unfortunately this is only the start of the trouble. Things escalate, more people die and Nikki, Joseph and the team are under all sorts of pressure to catch a killer who is causing havoc with the festival.

There's just so much I like about this series. I love the characters and their ongoing developing stories. The often spooky fenland setting really sets the scene, though this book is mainly set in the town. The crimes themselves are always interesting reads, often leaving you guessing until late in the book. I really do recommend this series to all lovers of crime fiction.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this arc.

I've read and enjoyed several of the previous Nikki Galena books and happily settled in for this one. It was another solid and satisfying read for me. Usually by the time a 10th book of a series comes along, the characters and/or story line can be a little stale. Not so with this one.

It started a little slow but soon picked up the pace and maintained it throughout. It was nice catching up with the old familiar characters (many) and meeting some new ones (none of which felt like mere plot devices, they were all well developed and integral to the story). I appreciated the balance between the police actions and the various character's personal lives as well. I especially appreciated the author's deft hand when referring to previous books and characters. Enough was revealed for folks like me (that seem to have swiss cheese for brains some days) to remind me, but not so much as to overwhelm the current story.

There were a couple or three unanswered questions remaining at the end. While my curiosity is up, I'm not too disappointed as I look forward to having them answered in future books!

A series best read in order in my opinion, otherwise, you get get a bit lost with the characters and their backgrounds. It is another great read, I have no idea how the author keeps coming up with such different storylines with just the right amount of suspense and gruesomeness.

The ninth in the Nikki Galena series, this is a great book for anyone who enjoys a well written police procedural. It sees the team of officers come up against a particularly vicious killer, one who seems to be carrying out a series of motiveless murders. As well as the usual members of Nikki's team I was delighted to see her mother Eve and her group of friends feature in this book. They always add a little bit of levity to the story as does pathologist Rory Wilkinson. I also find it refreshing that Nikki gets on with both her colleagues and senior officers, I think the maverick cop who is misunderstood but brilliant is played out.
This book can be read as a stand alone but I would advise that the series is read in order beginning with Crime On The Fens. I would also recommend Joy Ellis' other police series.

DI Nikki Galena #10

It's the Dark Greenborough Festival. A warning letter has been sent to the police warning that there will be deaths. Is it a hoax? Nikki and her team are soon on the hunt for a sadistic serial killer.

People are being killed by drinking alcohol that has been tampered with poisonous snake venom and deadly gasses. DI Nikki Galena and her team have their work cut out trying to solve these horrendous murders. It's action packed, fast paced gripping read. This is a really good police procedural that has well developed characters. The series gets better with each new book. I did not know where the story was taking me. My favourite of the series so far.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Joy Ellis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another excellent book by Joy Ellis, having read all her previous ones. This novel is about a serial killer in the Fens and keeps you guessing to the end. Couldn't put this book down and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery thriller.

When the Dark Greenborough Festival is an opportunity for everyone that loves ghouls and ghosts to dress up and enjoy a long weekend of fun but this year there is another aspect to it and one that involves murder.
For DI Nikki Galena and her team it is not only hard work finding the killer it also involves big personal decisions for each one.
Totally loved the book and found it hard to put down. A great read

Another high pressure case for Nikki and her team with some VERY imaginative murder methods. Good to see the return of the Golden Girls too

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Darkness on the Fens, the tenth novel to feature DI Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter of the Fenland police.

Greenborough is gearing up for the annual three day hallowe’en type festival, Greenborough Dark when a senior police officer receives an anonymous letter hinting at danger during the festival. This soon comes true with four separate deaths from alcohol poisoning but this is only the beginning because then the killer gets serious.

I thoroughly enjoyed Darkness on the Fens which is a high octane, action packed novel with never a dull moment. It is told from various points of view and as they are mostly on the investigative side this works well in giving the reader a wider view on events and, as the team are struggling for a motive, there are no distracting hints on it from the killer, allowing the reader to guess along with the team. It’s an interesting if highly improbable solution, but who cares as the novel is all about the journey to that point and I found that absorbing and entertaining.

All the usual characters are involved from the detectives to Nikki’s mum, Eve and her former military friends but the novel really centres on Joe Easter and some uncharacteristic behaviour. It’s unconvincing but raises some interesting points about PTSD.

Darkness on the Fens is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
This 11th in the DI Nikki Galena series has a serial killer on the loose during the Dark Greenborough Festival weekend, celebrating Halloween. People are killed in horrendous ways with doctored alcoholic beverages, poisonous snake venom and deadly gasses, proving an almost impossible case for Nikki, Joseph and the rest of the team.
Eve, Nikki's mother, and her wartime buddies get involved as well, while Joseph is fighting PTSD because of the strain and horrors these killings are causing him. In turn, this is causing his personal relationship with Nikki to suffer.
On the whole I enjoyed the book, but not as much as some the previous ones. It felt a bit drawn out and too long.

A really good read, the story line in this book gives very small clues throughout, however it really does keep you on your toes trying to guess who is committing all these murders. An interesting dynamic between Nikki the lead detective and her partner Joesph both professionally and personally adding that extra thought provoking issue. Bringing the police and x service personnel together as family and friends is cleverly done to enable an excellent read.
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First of all I must thank Net Galley, and Joffe Books for an ARC of this novel. In exchange for an honest review.
This was a new author and a new series for me. I think this probably accounted for the fact that initially I was struggling a bit and the pace a little slow at first. This was probably due to the fact this is book 10 in the series and I was having to get myself acquainted with well established, developed characters. A bit like joining a new team at work, where everyone else has been together for a long time.
Having said that, I enjoyed reading this book, the killer was unexpected, the murders intriguing and different. The pace definitely picked up after the initial section.

I will be reading more of this series and looking at other series by this author.

I love this series so much, there is always something new with each book.

Here DI Nikki is trying her best to balance her personal and professional lives.
Then its time for the Black Greenborough Festival which turned black indeed with a series of horrific mysterious murders, and soon Nikki and her team are on the haunt for a sadistic serial killer.

This was an engaging and pacey mystery thriller that kept me glued to the book till the very last page.
Another highly recommended entry in a fabulous series.

I voluntarily reviewed this book through Netgalley, thanks to Joffe Books, and author Joy Ellis.

It might be the 11th in the series but you have to hand it to Ms Ellis she continues to come up with rivetting stories with a difference. I usually reckon authors have 5-6 in them then the stories start getting repetitive and the characters jaded. Nope. Number 11 and still going strong. Nicki and Team continue to develop well as does the "alternative team" - Eve, her chronies and Vinnie - and this time they are dealing with multiple murders of a grizzly theme during the Black Greenborough Festival. This celebrates the darker side of historic Greenborough about the time of Hallowe'en so there are Ghostly Walks, Black Deeds, Haunted Houses and Enigmatic Disappearances. All good fun then. Some of the murders bring Joe's (and Vinnie's) past alive and he has those demons to settle as well with the effect they have on his and Nikki's relationship. The murders are intriguing and the perpetrator unexpected as well as his motives. Thoroughly good read. Also just seen that this will be my 100th review - so glad it was a good one! Thanks to NetGalley and Joffee books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Nikki has finally found some peace with her relationship with Joseph, her mother, Eve, is happily settled and life is good. October brings the local event of Greenborough Darkness a time when police resources are stretched. A warning is received to say that it will be dark indeed. And it is.

Loved it - for me Joy Ellis is one of the best writers around.

I received a free advance review copy. This review is mine own and honest

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.