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The Art of Racing in the Rain
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Garth Stein | 2006 | Mind, Body & Spiritual, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences
10
8.9 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wow! The best thing I can say about this book is READ IT! I adored it.
Anyone that has ever loved a dog will love this book. It is written with so much heart & love poured in to it. I cried my way through it & didn't want it to end at all. But thankfully the ending was very well written & provided good closure. Enzo didn't need his soul to leave his body to come back as a man, he was very much a human even though he was a dog. This story really got to me as I often refer to my dog as a person. He has so many expressions, it's hard to think of him in any other light.
  
Project Almanac (2015)
Project Almanac (2015)
2015 | Mystery, Sci-Fi
A modern but sadly unnecessary take on time travel
The problem with time travel films is that there's quite a few out there and they're all fairly similar. Project Almanac really suffers as it is sadly inferior to most of these other films, some of which it even references here.

Its a stylish and modern take on time travel and this is one of the good things about this film. It also paints the act of travelling in time as a little harsher on the body than most. The problem is the plot is fairly predictable, some of it is just silly and doesn't make sense, and the ending is just plain old stupid. There's potential here, it's just a shame they haven't done anything with it.
  
Trunk Music (Harry Bosch #5)
Trunk Music (Harry Bosch #5)
Michael Connelly | 1997 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Harry Bosch is back working homicide, and his first case involves a body left in a car trunk. It looks like the victim was the victim of a mob hit, and he has connections in Las Vegas. Is the case really going to be that simple?

Bosch’s cases are always fun, and this book is no exception. I was able to spot a couple of the twists coming a little early, but that was a minor complaint. The characters are strong, both returning and new. A face from Bosch’s past comes back into his life here, and I love his new lieutenant.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-trunk-music-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Murder Past Due (Cat in the Stacks, #1)
Murder Past Due (Cat in the Stacks, #1)
Miranda James | 2010 | Mystery
10
7.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
When Charlie's high school rival, successful novelist Godfrey Priest, comes to down, Charlie isn't too thrilled. Godfrey was always an ego driven jerk, and time and success hasn't changed any of that. But when Godfrey is killed and Charlie finds the body, he starts poking around trying to figure out who did it.

This series debut had lots of twists to the plot, even in the first 100 pages. The characters were real and fresh right out of the gate as well. I truly felt for them. I can't wait to visit them with the next book in the series.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-review-murder-past-due-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
TW
Two Wrongs Don't Make a Write
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Writer Cassie and police detective James have been dating for two months, and Cassie has decided it is time to meet James' father, a man he hasn't talked to much since he was kicked off the force for being a corrupt cop years ago. But when a body is found and James' father had ties to the victim, Cassie steps in to find out what is really happening. I love these characters, and they are great to spent time around. The plot is a bit slow at first, but it picks up as it goes a long. Lots of fun overall.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-two-wrongs-dont-make-write.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
SL
Some Like It Hawk (Meg Langslow, #14)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
When a bank repossessed all the buildings in Caerphilly, the town clerk boarded himself in the town hall basement. Now Meg, her family, and the rest of the town are smuggling supplies to him. But when a body turns up just outside his barricade, the jig may be up. Can Meg find the killer without giving away the secret? I love these characters, and I will never complaint about spending time with them. However, I felt the plot could have used more twists or something. And these books have lost some of their humor. Still, fans of the series will enjoy this one.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-some-like-it-hawk-by-donna.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
DO
Death on Tour (Jocelyn Shore, #1)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
No one is too upset with the tour group busy body is found dead on the groups first day in Egypt. But Jocelyn soon begins to suspect that the death wasn't an accident. As the trip continues, strange things seem to happen wherever they go. What's going on? I enjoyed the tour parts of the book, although they did seem to slow the book down. That's not necessarily a bad thing because it is painfully obvious what is happening very early on. Add to that characters that aren't always likeable, and you've got something that could have been fun but winds up only average.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-death-on-tour-by-janice.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
It's county fair time in Rose Pedal, Texas, and stay at home dad Deuce Winters is helping with the 4H booth fundraiser. That's how he stumbles upon the body of George Spellman in the freezer. George was the grounds keeper of the fair and a nice guy. Who wanted him dead?

I love these characters and the humor in the series, so it is always nice to visit them. I didn't think the plot was quite as twisty as previous entries and I didn't care for the environmental lecture, but both of these were minor complaints. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-father-knows-death-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Double Fudge Brownie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #18)
Double Fudge Brownie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #18)
Joanne Fluke | 2015 | Mystery
6
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Hannah’s trial is coming up, and she’s hoping to finally have the entire things behind her. Instead, she finds another dead body, this time the judge who was supposed to preside over her trial. With her name once again on the suspect list, Hannah must find the real killer.

While it is always fun to check in with these characters, I do enjoy a good mystery. Sadly, the mystery took a back seat to other things happening. Too many scenes were devoted to cooking. On the other hand, there is significant progress on the love triangle. And really, I do love these characters.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-double-fudge-brownie-murder.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
BL
Blue Labyrinth (Pendergast, #14)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
NOTE: If you haven't read anything in this series yet, Blue Labyrinth might not be the best place to start. There are returning characters from previous novels, and reading some of the earlier books (especially Relic, #1 in the series) will make this one even more enjoyable.

I love revisiting old friends and old places in this series, and the New York Museum of Natural History is by far my favorite place in Pendergast’s New York. Blue Labyrinth opens with a dead body in the museum, and Margo Green called in to assist with the police investigation. Full of danger and Pendergast family drama, this installment moves along at an incredible pace, and is a great addition to the series.