Evergreen Copse by Katie Nimmo
Release Date: 1st May 2014
Genres: Mystery
A long kept state secret is at risk of being discovered.
False identities reveal their true colours as the hunt turns to Evergreen
Copse.
As the deaths increase it becomes clear that no one is safe. But from whom are they all running?
As the deaths increase it becomes clear that no one is safe. But from whom are they all running?
Evergreen Copse is a book by new author Katie Nimmo. The book is a mystery novel and there are no shortage of murders. There are a wealth of characters for the reader to try to get their head around and sometimes I was a little confused by who was who. Very soon into the book we are introduced to our first intriguing clue...........the strange blue letter which is posted by poor Bernard who is bullied by his landlady and who works in an office where he is equally bullied by one of his bosses. However, Bernard is a loyal employee and likes the other boss in the business, Mr Robin. On this particular day, Mr Robin appears to be acting strangely and Bernard is concerned by an unusual request he makes. Thus, a chain of events is kicked off and soon nobody is safe! But, how are they all connected? Who can be trusted?
Whilst this book is set in the present day, the language and dialogue used was a little overly descriptive and quite stiff and formal, reminding me of an older age like the 1950's. I would have liked the dialogue to have flowed a little more freely and in keeping with the modern setting.
The village of Evergreen Village reminded me of the village in Midsomer Murders! The basic plot behind Evergreen Copse is quite clever with little clues dropped in throughout. Unfortunately, many of the characters meet with their maker a little too soon (or do they???) and I got confused as to who could be trusted and who couldn't. The book is a nice quick read, finished in one sitting which I love, and throughout my curiosity was piqued with some interesting, if not confusing plot twists that I had not expected. With further editing and character and plot development I feel this book will have the makings of an interesting mystery. I wish Katie lots of luck in further developing her writing and her author presence.
EXCERPT
Robin
and Co. Business Associates sat on the second out of four floors in a fire
station turned office building in the town of Baxden. Consisting of just three
rooms the 'Robin' floor was small, but adequate for its needs.
A
moderate sized reception room welcomed all visitors with a pine desk sat facing
the main door. Including a potted plant on the right hand side to lighten up
the so called dreary environment. A coffee machine was also attached to the
wall next to four rather tired looking chairs, a little like a doctor's waiting
room.
At
the rear of the reception two separate doors led off to two small offices, each
identical in size right down to the radiator being in exactly the same place.
Mr Harold Robin, chair of the company, inhabited the office on the left and his
associate, Mr Percy Brumpton, the one on the right. A system devised purely out
of the fact that Brumpton was Robin's right hand man, so naturally he had the
office on Robin's right hand side.
To
look outside the office windows didn't hold any amusement. Staring out at a
brick arch which marked the entrance to the courtyard in front of the building,
and nothing else. Appearance clearly not taken into consideration during its
construction, the area within the arch was a very sordid place to come to.
Through
that brick arch a tall, gangly looking man tiptoed through the courtyard
blowing his nose into his handkerchief as he went. Bernard felt that the
January weather had been very unkind to him so far that year. He couldn't cope
with the cold and detested having a wet handkerchief in his pocket all day.
Bernard's short brown hair did nothing to keep his head warm so his grey and
blue bobble hat did that for him, though it really didn't match his shirt and
tie.
Since
climbing out of his old car he knew straight away he should have bought a new
coat. Muttering to himself such things as the icy wind bit in to his thin and
inadequate office clothing. Quickening his pigeon like pace he padded over to
the office building, shivering as he went, thinking dreamily of the inviting
coffee machine that was near his desk upstairs.
Removing
his batch of keys from his pocket he fumbled for the correct one to open the
outer door, his hands being numb making it difficult to get the key in the
lock. A grunt of satisfaction announced the key was in the lock and the white
plastic door was opened.
Springing
through the door Bernard closed the door a little more forcefully than needed
to make sure the cold stayed where it was. Outside. He could already imagine
the smell of the hot coffee that awaited him upstairs. Crossing the lobby he
untangled another key to open up the post box sat adjacent to the stairs.
"Bill,
bill, bill and..." He paused as he ripped open the fourth envelope with
his finger. "Junk mail." With a sigh he reclosed the post box and
started up the four sets of stairs.
Reaching
the Robin floor Bernard was slightly out of breath. Three years gone and he
still wasn't used to all these stairs, he thought to himself. On arrival at the
office door Bernard clumsily dropped his keys and his tie fell to the floor as
he bent to pick them up. It wasn't the first time he had forgotten to do up his
tie and it probably wasn't the last.
The
door swung open with a nasty squeak and the smell of papers and coffee hit
Bernard's nose. Smiling to himself he headed straight to the coffee machine and
asked it to make him a white coffee. Dropping the boring post onto the desk
Bernard started to reattach his tie around his neck.
"Good
morning Bernard." A voice came with the familiar squeak of the front door.
He knew that voice anywhere, at least he should after three years.
"Good
morning to you Mr Robin." He replied with a little nod of his head, a half
nod as his hands worked around his tie.
"I
really think you should find somewhere else to hide that key." Mr Robin
laughed, noting a small key on the reverse of Bernard's tie. Removing his coat
Bernard promptly took it and hung it on the coat stand in the corner of the
room.
"Safest
place is where I hide it, sir. An intruder would have to strangle me with my
own tie before I let them take it. Can I make you a coffee sir?" Picking
up his own coffee he placed it on the reception desk out of sight from any
would be visitors.
"Sounds
like a very good idea to me, the usual please." Mr Robin departed into his
office and dropped his newspaper in front of him. Feeling a chill he glanced
over at his window, single glazing never kept the room very warm. He
contemplated putting his coat back on.
"Your
coffee, sir." Bernard entered with a cup that was steaming.
"Thank
you Bernard, just what I need. That chill has really picked up this morning.
Which reminds me, I didn't see your coat on the stand? Don't tell me you came
in like that." Robin looked enquiringly at Bernard, already knowing the
answer before he spoke.
"Yes,
sir. You see, sir." Bernard stammered, trying to think of a reason instead
of giving the real reason he didn't have his coat.
"She
locked you out didn't she?" Robin asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Yes,
sir." Bernard replied facing the floor. "Didn't pay my rent in time,
sir. I didn't have the money for my rent so," he paused. "She took my
coat, sir."
Robin
erupted into laughter, the look on Bernard's face making him worse. "Oh
Bernard, that's the best thing I've heard in quite a while. Your landlady is
certainly a piece of work isn't she?" Chuckling to himself he reached into
his top drawer. "Now, I look after you Bernard. Like you do for me, so
I'll tell you what I'll do." He looked up at Bernard, he was wearing a
very confused face.
"I
want you to take this cheque and get yourself a new coat when you go to pay the
bills this morning. Take some extra time, not too long mind, but get yourself a
coat on me."
"Thank
you, sir. That's very kind." Half smiling Bernard stamped his feet
together with a full nod and left the room. Mr Robin smiled after Bernard as
picked up his steaming coffee to warm up his hands. Taking a sip of his drink
he heard voices out in the reception area, he gathered Percy had arrived.
ABOUT KATIE NIMMO
Katie A Nimmo was born in
England, September 1986. Born and bred in the Surrey countryside Katie had a
quiet upbringing around the virtues of family and working hard to make dreams
become reality. These ethics have led to many of her aspirations coming true.
Previous to her writing career Katie performed on the stage for several years
contrary to the popular belief of her shyness among those in her school hood
years. Katie's newfound confidence to defeat the odds led her to pursue her
dream of writing which has led to many adventures both on and off the page.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KANimmo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatieAScottx
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieascottx/
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