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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated An Orphan of Hell’s Kitchen in Books

Apr 10, 2024 (Updated Apr 10, 2024)  
An Orphan of Hell’s Kitchen
An Orphan of Hell’s Kitchen
Liz Freeland | 2020 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Was it Murder or Suicide?
Louise Faulk’s boring Thanksgiving shift at her precinct is interrupted when she is asked to go to a death scene. A young woman has killed herself and one of her twins, or at least that’s what Louise’s fellow officers think. But Louise thinks there is more to the story. Can she find the while conducting an unofficial investigation? Or will it get her fired?

This book is definitely darker than what I normally read, so keep that in mind when you pick it up. Unfortunately, the plot wanders a bit before we reach the suspenseful and logical climax. On the other hand, I did enjoy getting to spend time with Louise and the rest of the regulars. We don’t get a nice wrap up for the ongoing storylines, but we do get some advancement on them, and there aren’t any cliffhangers. The book is set at the end of 1914, and that provided a nice backdrop to the action of the book. While not the strongest book in the series, fans will enjoy our last visit with Louise.
  
Skyscraper (2018)
Skyscraper (2018)
2018 | Action
Not the Worst, But...
When a former FBI hostage team leader is hired to survey the security of a skyscraper, he finds himself in a battle to save himself and his family after terrorists take over the building.

Acting: 10

Beginning: 2
I remember watching the first ten minutes of the film thinking, “Is this ever going to pick up?” I could have showed up late and missed nothing. No intrigue, no strong plot advancement. Just…blah.

Characters: 7

Cinematography/Visuals: 2

Conflict: 10
If nothing else, Skyscraper succeeds by moving the story along with action. There is always something happening from death defying leaps to shootouts with thugs. It’s never really a boring film, just more flat than anything. For the most part, I appreciated the consistency of movement.

Genre: 4

Memorability: 2

Pace: 9

Plot: 8

Resolution: 6

Overall: 60
I honestly thought I would end up scoring Skyscraper lower. It does what it sets out to do, lull you into a mindless stupor with action, but so does the Transformers franchise and that’s not very good either. It’s a brainless movie with no real substance. If you can deal with a movie that has too many over-the-top scenes to count, Skyscraper might be worth your time.