“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?

My thanks to Craig Sisterson at the Ngaio Marsh Awards Team for my review copy and a chance to join the celebration of #YeahNoir for 2018

Nothing Bad Happens Here. But what if something bad *did* happen here? Well in the first pages of Nikki Crutchley’s debut thriller something bad does happen and it turns out not to be an isolated incident. When journalist Miller Hatcher starts digging for a story someone will have to take steps to keep their secrets.

The town where “nothing bad happens” is Castle Bay in New Zealand. It appears a sleepy, idyllic place where all the residents know each other, the town mayor also doubles as a real estate agent and gossip is currency for the residents.  As with all small towns there are a few bad eggs who people know to avoid but overall life seems uncomplicated and peaceful.

Until an English backpacker, traveling alone, goes missing – last seen in Castle Bay. The small police force conduct searches but to no avail.  The reader, however, does know what happened as Nothing Bad Happens Here opens with a sequence which outlines exactly what happened to the backpacker on the night she disappeared.  The main story then picks up events several weeks later when her body is found.

Sent to Castle Bay to report on the resulting investigation, Miller takes up residence in a home which acts as a retreat for women who need space, understanding and the opportunity to speak freely to discuss concerns.  Run by Delta, described as an American Hippy, Miller finds that the other guests all have stories to tell (although not all want to).

In her debut novel Nikki Crutchley focuses on Miller’s pursuit of her story and it makes for engaging reading. The characters in the town display the best and worst of people and Miller tries to establish confidences whilst simultaneously abhorring the gossipy nature of some of the residents.  As Miller gets closer to understanding what happened the night the backpacker disappeared another girl vanishes from the town.  The author builds tension more and more and Miller finds herself in jeopardy when she realises how close she is coming to uncovering the truth.

A fun debut read which captures the claustrophobia of a small town suddenly confronting the discovery that their safe haven is not as safe as they had believed. A strong cast of well established characters makes this an engaging and enjoyable read.

Nothing Bad Happens Here is published by Oak House Press and is available in digital and paperback editions and you can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nothing-Happens-Here-Nikki-Crutchley-ebook/dp/B074V4HTSL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533939383&sr=8-1&keywords=nothing+bad+happens+here