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Words, Works, and Ways of Knowing: The Breakdown of Moral Philosophy in New England Before the Civil War
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Crime writer Sara Paretsky is known the world over for her acclaimed series of mysteries starring...
The Yard: Book 1
8.0
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A gripping debut from Alex Grecian, The Yard evokes London in the wake of Jack the Ripper. Victorian...
A Kind And Just Parent
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Most people know juvenile offenders only from daily headlines, and the images portrayed by the media...
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Children of the Prison Boom: Mass Incarceration and the Future of American Inequality
Sara Wakefield and Christopher Wildeman
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An unrelenting prison boom, marked by stark racial disparities, pulled a disproportionate number of...
Bloodlines: The True Story of a Drug Cartel, the FBI, and the Battle for a Horse-Racing Dynasty
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The riveting and suspenseful account of two young FBI agents in a pursuit of a drug cartel's most...
Politics crime
Darren (1599 KP) rated A Most Wanted Man (2014) in Movies
Sep 2, 2019
Thoughts on A Most Wanted Man
Characters – Gunther Bachmann is the German agent that is tracking known terrorists, his team has connections and keeps eyes on most of the suspects with their latest one being one wanted worldwide, he must figure out if this man is a danger or not. Martha Sullivan is part of the American team searching for the terrorist, she is trusting Gunther to do the right thing only she isn’t sure what he is going to do. Annabel Richter is an attorney that is trying to help the suspect get into Germany, she is just doing his job using her connection to help make his move go smoother. Tommy Brue is the bank manager that has been dealing with multiple nationalities through the years, he gets involved in trying to get the transfer of money done.
Performances – Philip Seymour Hoffman in the leading role steps into the German character with ease, showing the composure to take his character to be the standout of the film. Robin Wright, Rachel McAdams and Willem Dafoe fill the supporting roles well through the film.
Story – The story here follows the German and American intelligence agencies as they are trying to figure out if an immigrate is a potential terrorist suspect, both sides have difference of opinion on what is true and they must try to stay ahead of each other the best they can. This story does try to come off like an intense spy thriller that seems to get bogged down too easily, by making everything seem like it is just an everyday incident, this does move at a slow pace which only brings down everything because they do just seem to pick a random person, that could have reason to suspect from the early point in the film.
Crime – The crime side of the film shows how the authorities operate to try and tackle potential criminal actions, it does show that they could be above the law at times too.
Settings – We have the German backdrop for this movie, showing how they are planning to operate to keep tracks on terrorists.
Scene of the Movie – Pick up.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – It just seems dull.
Final Thoughts – This is a spy thriller that never seems to get going, it tries to play along with the idea that we are building, but we soon lose the attention because it is more of a political spy thriller over anything going on thriller.
Overall: Slow burning thriller that just doesn’t get going.
Characters – Gunther Bachmann is the German agent that is tracking known terrorists, his team has connections and keeps eyes on most of the suspects with their latest one being one wanted worldwide, he must figure out if this man is a danger or not. Martha Sullivan is part of the American team searching for the terrorist, she is trusting Gunther to do the right thing only she isn’t sure what he is going to do. Annabel Richter is an attorney that is trying to help the suspect get into Germany, she is just doing his job using her connection to help make his move go smoother. Tommy Brue is the bank manager that has been dealing with multiple nationalities through the years, he gets involved in trying to get the transfer of money done.
Performances – Philip Seymour Hoffman in the leading role steps into the German character with ease, showing the composure to take his character to be the standout of the film. Robin Wright, Rachel McAdams and Willem Dafoe fill the supporting roles well through the film.
Story – The story here follows the German and American intelligence agencies as they are trying to figure out if an immigrate is a potential terrorist suspect, both sides have difference of opinion on what is true and they must try to stay ahead of each other the best they can. This story does try to come off like an intense spy thriller that seems to get bogged down too easily, by making everything seem like it is just an everyday incident, this does move at a slow pace which only brings down everything because they do just seem to pick a random person, that could have reason to suspect from the early point in the film.
Crime – The crime side of the film shows how the authorities operate to try and tackle potential criminal actions, it does show that they could be above the law at times too.
Settings – We have the German backdrop for this movie, showing how they are planning to operate to keep tracks on terrorists.
Scene of the Movie – Pick up.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – It just seems dull.
Final Thoughts – This is a spy thriller that never seems to get going, it tries to play along with the idea that we are building, but we soon lose the attention because it is more of a political spy thriller over anything going on thriller.
Overall: Slow burning thriller that just doesn’t get going.
Debbie Duncan (0 KP) rated Murder on the Orient Express in Books
Feb 5, 2018
What a journey!
Contains spoilers, click to show
How do you a summarise a book that is a classical as this one ? We come face to face with Hercule Poirot as he joins the Orient Express at Aleppo in a rush to get to London. After getting in the train Poirot is approached by Samuel Ratchett, a malevolent, elderly American who wants to hire the detective as He believes his life is being threatened.
On the second night of the journey the train is stopped by a snowdrift near Vinkovci and Poirot's is woken by a cry emanating from Ratchett's compartment. The next morning we discover that Ratchett has been murdered and Poirot investigates the crime.
As we get to meet the other passengers we soon discover that everyone on the train has a motive to murder. Poirot discovers that everyone in the coach had a connection to the a famous Family called the Armstrong family who lost their daug in tragic circumstances. and a to kill . He proposes two possible solutions.
What does our detective friend do when he finds the truth?
Even if you know the ending the journey mpoint is weaved so wonderfully in and out like a train sneaking up the route of the Orient Express
On the second night of the journey the train is stopped by a snowdrift near Vinkovci and Poirot's is woken by a cry emanating from Ratchett's compartment. The next morning we discover that Ratchett has been murdered and Poirot investigates the crime.
As we get to meet the other passengers we soon discover that everyone on the train has a motive to murder. Poirot discovers that everyone in the coach had a connection to the a famous Family called the Armstrong family who lost their daug in tragic circumstances. and a to kill . He proposes two possible solutions.
What does our detective friend do when he finds the truth?
Even if you know the ending the journey mpoint is weaved so wonderfully in and out like a train sneaking up the route of the Orient Express
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2204 KP) rated Mouse Trapped (Mirage Mysteries #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Phoenix Robbery detective Marsha “Mouse” is shot in a meeting with an informant gone wrong. All the police have to go on is part of a name and the original tip that the thieves were targeting a collection of Native American silver jewelry. Homicide detectives Joe and Tom are pursuing some of the tangential leads, which brings them into the Robbery side of the case. Can the two figure out what happened without inciting a turf war within the police department?
It’s nice to have a mystery that involves another crime as well, and I enjoyed tracking down the thieves as a way to find the killer. Since the only clue is part of a name, we get too many suspects with similar sounding names, meaning we have to work hard to remember them all until we really get to know the characters. New Christian Joe is trying to grow in his faith, something I enjoyed seeing. I first read this book over 25 years ago, and it’s nice to see it stacks up to my memories of the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-mouse-trapped-by-sandy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
It’s nice to have a mystery that involves another crime as well, and I enjoyed tracking down the thieves as a way to find the killer. Since the only clue is part of a name, we get too many suspects with similar sounding names, meaning we have to work hard to remember them all until we really get to know the characters. New Christian Joe is trying to grow in his faith, something I enjoyed seeing. I first read this book over 25 years ago, and it’s nice to see it stacks up to my memories of the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-mouse-trapped-by-sandy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Vegas (725 KP) rated Locked Up (2017) in Movies
Jul 16, 2019 (Updated Jul 16, 2019)
Why was she even sent to this place for a minor "crime" (1 more)
Plot holes
Not one to watch with your granny
An American teen in Asia gets bullied and retaliates, causing her to be sent to a correctional facility which was more like a Hellhole prison.
She is forced into situations that are awkward and uncomfortable to watch at times and doesn't make for easy viewing, so isn't a lets relax with a family friendly Sunday afternoon type film
That being said, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either, it is a, watch to pass the time film, but then forget about afterwards.
There are a lot of plot holes especially as to why on earth she ended up in this place, randomly after barely a mention of a "trial" (a 30 second to a minute scene) and how this place, looking like a high tech facility can be a front for the goings on behind the facade with nobody checking on the running of the place, even if corruption is rife i cant see how it got like this... I know we are supposed not to think of things like that but sometimes questions need to be asked of films.
She is forced into situations that are awkward and uncomfortable to watch at times and doesn't make for easy viewing, so isn't a lets relax with a family friendly Sunday afternoon type film
That being said, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either, it is a, watch to pass the time film, but then forget about afterwards.
There are a lot of plot holes especially as to why on earth she ended up in this place, randomly after barely a mention of a "trial" (a 30 second to a minute scene) and how this place, looking like a high tech facility can be a front for the goings on behind the facade with nobody checking on the running of the place, even if corruption is rife i cant see how it got like this... I know we are supposed not to think of things like that but sometimes questions need to be asked of films.
