Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2063 KP) rated Malibu Burning in Books

May 4, 2024 (Updated May 4, 2024)  
Malibu Burning
Malibu Burning
Lee Goldberg | 2023 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Is Arson Covering Another Crime?
Former US Marshal Andrew Walker has joined the LA Sheriff arson investigators just as wild fires are breaking out all over the county. His partner, veteran Walter Sharpe, is picking up on clues that these fires are arson and not accidents. But Walker thinks there is a larger motive behind them. If he is right, what other crimes might be happening?

If you need to read a book that takes place in chronological order, this isn’t the book for you since the book jumps back pretty often in the first two thirds to show us how the criminals came together and set up their plan. These jumps are always easy to follow, although I do think there is a small timeline glitch at one point. The final third takes place in the same day and it is hot page turning action. One aspect of the climax didn’t sit well with me, but I think that’s more about me. Walker and Sharpe can be a bit cliché, but they become more developed as the book proceeds. As usual for this author, some of his humor doesn’t work for me, and this isn’t one of my cozies, so keep that in mind when you pick it up. Overall, this is a great new series debut from a reliably enjoyable author.
  
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead
2010 | Drama, Horror
Starts brilliantly, but now starting to drag...
I love zombie films, so a zombie (or walker as the "z" word is never mentioned) tv show really appealed. And to begin with, The Walking Dead really impresses.

The first season is such a good debut, Andrew Lincoln does very well as Rick - can hardly believe it's Simon from Teachers. The visual and physical effects are fantastic and the walkers are truly scary. Character development over the initial few series too is very good and you come to care about a lot (and hate a lot) of them. The first maybe 5 series I can't really fault too much. There's dips, but it always come bouncing back with some shock deaths or interesting characters like the Governor.


The problem is with the last couple of series. Everything has become a bit too samey - meet a hostile group, become scared & abused by the group, people get killed and then Rick's group manages to overcome them. The walkers have pretty much taken a back seat. Personally I think they should try and end the series soon instead of dragging it out too far.