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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Force of Nature in Books
Mar 17, 2018
Four of the women who went with her all have motives to want to see her gone, so Falks attempts to understand what secrets she may have had about them.
The story, as described, felt underwhelming even though I appreciate the straightforward simplicity of Harper's writing. There is no massive conspiracy similar to the first but it may have lacked too much in this instance.
![The West Wing - Season 1](/uploads/profile_image/a57/bc2d8bb6-f2e8-4159-a09d-d4ffe48a3a57.jpg?m=1522323016)
The West Wing - Season 1
TV Season
The West Wing is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that...
Drama
![A Light That Never Goes Out: It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too)](/uploads/profile_image/0fb/776ea2e0-ab11-4da8-a9cf-6b21e9d760fb.jpg?m=1522358079)
A Light That Never Goes Out: It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too)
Book
'This story will compel you to both laugh and cry, just as the title promises. May we all bring...
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2) in Books
Mar 2, 2018
I absolutely adored Jane Harper's first Aaron Falk novel, The Dry, and was really excited to see Aaron back again. He's a wonderful, complex character. Indeed, all the characters in THE DRY were so intricate and deep. Here, I was definitely sucked into the world Harper created again. I won't lie, beyond Aaron, most of the characters in FORCE OF NATURE are not easy to like. The five women who head off on this retreat are often despicable, whiny, and just plain mean. But, as the novel continues, we learn more about their motives and what drives them to act as they do. They may still be, well, despicable and mean, but there's a reason for it. There is no unformed character in a Jane Harper novel. Each comes with a backstory and a reason for every action.
It's nearly impossible not to get sucked into this book. The chapters alternate between the present, from Aaron's point of view as he tries to unravel things, and then flip to the near-past, slowly ticking down the events of the women at the retreat. The result is a nearly unbearable suspense at times, where I found myself wanting to scream, "What happened to Alice?!!" It's a slow, tense, fascinating build as we watch things fall apart for the group--getting lost in the deep woods--and seeing events unfold from there. We also see Aaron figuring out his own chain of events. The format works quite persuasively. Even better is that we get Aaron and Carmen's financial investigation thrown in as well. It adds a nuanced layer to the plot and the overall apprehension.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The characters are complex, and I really liked how their intricate personal lives intertwined. I'm not sure I loved this one quite as much as THE DRY, but part of that is because you can never quite replicate the joy and surprise of discovering a new, talented author again. Nonetheless, this is a great thriller that keeps you guessing with its nuanced characters. I certainly hope Aaron will be back for a third book.
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Operator Down: A Pike Logan Thriller
Book
Former Special Forces Officer and New York Times bestselling author Brad Taylor delivers a...
thriller
I have been hearing about THE DRY since before its release and wasn't sure it would live up to the hype, but I was wrong. I really, really enjoyed this novel and read it over the span of about 24 hours. My only regret about the entire experience was that it was over so quickly. This was an incredibly well-written, interesting, and intricately plotted novel that just flowed effortlessly. The story at its core is a dark one, and the town of Kiewarra is a sad and depressing place: the townspeople find it easy to believe Luke killed his family because everyone is down on their luck. The town is plagued by a horrible drought (hence the title), which spells certain doom for a community that makes it living primarily on farming. Luke and Karen had bought their farm from Luke's parents, and many think he killed himself because the farm couldn't remain profitable. Harper does an excellent job at portraying the people of Kiewarra--the small town town becomes almost another character in the novel. She does an excellent job of depicting depressed small town living.
In fact, I loved all the nuanced characters in THE DRY. You know when an author just captures her characters' voices perfectly? That was this book for me. Falk just slides effortlessly off the page, and I was completely taken with Sergeant Raco, as well. But you can also easily visualize all the people in Kiewarra that Aaron encounters. While the story primarily takes place in the present-day, we get key flashbacks to the past, when Luke and Aaron were teens, and they hung out with two other kids, Gretchen and Ellie. The slow buildup to a big event surrounding this foursome also creates incredible suspense, as both stories (what happened with Luke and family and what happened when all four were kids) unravel in parallel. It's remarkably well-done.
I enjoyed how the story kept me guessing the entire time, which isn't easy to do. Even when I had a decent inkling what happened with Luke, there was still so much I hadn't figured out. I was completely captivated by the story and frantically turning the pages to find out what had happened--both in the present and the past. I could see the setting, the people, and the town so clearly. The novel truly hooked me from the very beginning and never let me go.
I'm very excited to see that this might be a series featuring Aaron, as I really loved his character and Harper's writing. I read a lot of thrillers, but this one packaged everything together perfectly, and I highly recommend it.
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Merissa (11758 KP) rated Guardian Core (Sky Stone #2) in Books
May 20, 2023
With kidnap, heartbreak, a residence for the Sky Guardians, plus lots more, this book is filled from start to finish. With the story moving along at a fair pace, it builds to the climax and ends with a positive. It isn't all simple though, and Skyla has her work cut out for her.
A wonderful young adult fantasy to read and enjoy, definitely recommended.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 29, 2016
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Edge of Darkness (2010)
Movie Watch
Big-screen adaptation of the acclaimed BBC drama serial. Detective Tom Craven (Gibson) is appalled...
conspiracy revenge
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated Word to the Wise in Books
Mar 26, 2021 (Updated Mar 26, 2021)
This book is definitely a cozy with a thriller edge to it. It worked for this fan, and kept me glued to the book until I reached the very end. I did have a problem with how a couple of minor characters reacted to Lindsey’s situation, mainly because I found it unbelievable given their position. Then again, maybe it’s just wishful thinking that they’d react like I would in that situation. I did feel things were slowing down a tad at one point, but then the plot kicked into high gear and didn’t slow down again. All the series characters are here and are just as charming as usual. The new characters fit in well. We have the usual assortment of extras at the end of the book. This may be a more serious book, but we get some humor, and the two were balanced perfectly. Once again, this is a book that fans will enjoy.
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Godzilla (2014)
Movie Watch
In this gritty, realistic sci-fi action epic, Godzilla returns to its roots as one of the world's...