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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2204 KP) rated Torn Asunder in Books

Apr 25, 2024  
Torn Asunder
Torn Asunder
Barbara Ross | 2024 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Murder of the Uninvited Guest
Julia Snowden is happy and nervous to be hosting the first wedding in years on Marrow Island. The wedding is between her friends Zoey and Jamie. The rehearsal dinner the night before has one man that Julia doesn’t recognize at it. Part way through the meal, he collapses. Unfortunately, it quickly becomes apparent that he was murdered. Fortunately, Julia’s detective boyfriend, Tom, is on hand. But if no one knows who the man is, who would want to kill him?

Obviously, Julia begins to make connections soon, and this book gave me major Agatha Christie vibes. I do mean that as a compliment. The suspects were strong, and I had a hard time putting the book down until things came to a logical and surprising climax. I love the characters in this series, and it was great to spend time with them again, even if some of the regulars only had cameos. There are five more recipes at the end of the book to enjoy later. I laughed and teared up a time or two as I was reading this book. Series fans will put this one down very satisfied. If you haven’t started the series yet, you need to fix that today. This is a great series.
  
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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Death on the Nile (2022) in Movies

Feb 15, 2022  
Death on the Nile (2022)
Death on the Nile (2022)
2022 | Mystery
5
6.3 (15 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
To start with, there's only so much you can hate on an Agatha Christie adaption. The film could be torrid tripe, but there's still a particular brand of intrigue which always comes with one of her whodunits. This latest re-telling of Death on the Nile just about scrapes by, mainly thanks to its second half, and that aforementioned Christie narrative, but sadly, not much else.
There's glimpses of something good there. Kenneth Branagh can be hit or miss as far as I'm concerned. For every Belfast (soaringly wonderful) there's an Artemis Fowl (what I imagine a lobotomy feels like). This is somewhere in the middle. There are moments of promise sprinkled here and there, but they struggle to break through all the bloated hot air that is draped over everything.
All of the characters are ridiculous. I get that's part of it, but it just falls flat here. It's hard to enjoy comic relief when everyone is comic relief. Gal Gadot seems like she is half-arsing every line. Russell Brand feels jarringly out of place. I traditionally enjoy French & Saunders but they also feel alien in every scene they're in. I know this shouldn't really impact my view, but Armie Hammer look like he just wants to eat everyone he talks to. Even the usually reliable Annette Benning comes across completely disinterested. There's no chemistry anywhere, and it all just feels a bit odd. Branagh is pretty great as Poirot to his credit. He just about holds proceedings together along with Sophie Okonedo, and they both manage to inject some charisma when things become arduous, which is farily regularly.

A bit of a misfire then, but not a complete disaster. I can firmly file Death on the Nile under "films I don't really like, but would probably watch again if it was on TV, or maybe on Christmas day at my Mums house".