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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Dyeing Season in Books
Apr 12, 2019 (Updated Apr 12, 2019)
Spring Tornado Leaves Behind a Murder Victim
A sudden spring tornado finds Lucy scrambling to protect her property. When she goes to her elderly neighbor’s place, she finds Dottie alone with no idea where her home health aid is. This isn’t like Eva, so the women are worried. It’s only after the storm has passed that they get an answer when Lucy finds Eva’s body. Even with the tornado having just passed, it is very clear that Eva was murdered. The tornado left behind destruction to Lucy’s crops, so she needs to replant, but she can’t help begin to investigate what happened to Eva. Will she uncover the truth?
Being a wind hating California native, this book hooked me from the opening tornado. That didn’t diminish a bit when the storm ended and Lucy found the body. The plot is strong and, while not a typical cozy formula, held my attention the entire time as I waited to see how Lucy could prove what she was pretty sure was happening and who the killer would turn out to be. It’s wonderful to spend time with these characters again, and I enjoyed getting to know some new ones, too. I suspect we’ll see more of some of them in future books; at least I hope so. I did catch a few annoying editing issues, but they can be easily fixed and don’t impact the story at all; in fact, they vanish as we get further into the book. There are seven recipes at the end, including natural dyes for eggs, perfect for Easter. This is a fast, fun read that will leave cozy fans anxious for their next trip to visit Lucy.
Being a wind hating California native, this book hooked me from the opening tornado. That didn’t diminish a bit when the storm ended and Lucy found the body. The plot is strong and, while not a typical cozy formula, held my attention the entire time as I waited to see how Lucy could prove what she was pretty sure was happening and who the killer would turn out to be. It’s wonderful to spend time with these characters again, and I enjoyed getting to know some new ones, too. I suspect we’ll see more of some of them in future books; at least I hope so. I did catch a few annoying editing issues, but they can be easily fixed and don’t impact the story at all; in fact, they vanish as we get further into the book. There are seven recipes at the end, including natural dyes for eggs, perfect for Easter. This is a fast, fun read that will leave cozy fans anxious for their next trip to visit Lucy.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Taken in Books
Jun 5, 2019
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Track the Taken
Los Angeles PI Elvis Cole is hired by Nita Morales to find her daughter Krista. Krista and her boyfriend, Jack, disappeared several days ago. Nita has received a ransom call, but she was only asked for $500. Surely, this is just Krista and Jack trying to get some money from Nita so they can elope, right? However, Elvis quickly begins to determine that Krista and Jack are in serious danger; they’ve been kidnapped by a group that captures illegal immigrants trying to get into California. But knowing what happened to them only increases the stakes. Can Elvis and his partner, Joe Pike, find the two young adults and rescue them before it is too late?
This book is an amazing thrill ride. The story starts off fast, and it never really lets go until we reach the end. However, it is too much like a movie thriller, which means it has some serious weaknesses. The characters, even series leads Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, are shallow. This doesn’t help since there are a lot of players we have to try to keep straight. Author Robert Crais uses shifting timelines to help increase the tension, which works as intended, but he notes the time in a way that grows confusing as the book progresses; he even spoils a major plot point early on as a result. The book is brutal and filled with foul language. While I expect that when reading one of Robert Crais’s books, this one seemed excessive, even by his standards. Despite all these negatives, I still found the book extremely addicting and impossible to stop thinking about. It’s worth reading as long as you keep your expectations appropriate going into the book.
This book is an amazing thrill ride. The story starts off fast, and it never really lets go until we reach the end. However, it is too much like a movie thriller, which means it has some serious weaknesses. The characters, even series leads Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, are shallow. This doesn’t help since there are a lot of players we have to try to keep straight. Author Robert Crais uses shifting timelines to help increase the tension, which works as intended, but he notes the time in a way that grows confusing as the book progresses; he even spoils a major plot point early on as a result. The book is brutal and filled with foul language. While I expect that when reading one of Robert Crais’s books, this one seemed excessive, even by his standards. Despite all these negatives, I still found the book extremely addicting and impossible to stop thinking about. It’s worth reading as long as you keep your expectations appropriate going into the book.
Jesusita is collection of stories about immigrants. The author mainly talks about a woman named Jesusita. All the characters mentioned end up with this Jesusita. Padre comes to California to help with the Mexicans and to help with the ministry. It's really a good book. The main story is about a woman and her children. The other stories that Ronald adds in are almost side stories.
Angie learns only one thing while growing up. She only knows how to make money one way. Filipino laborers want this from her. She agrees to do this to survive and to make money. Filipino laborers are not allowed to have any contact with white woman. What ever will happen to Angie and the Filipino men. She does meet a man at the theater at a young age. She does not want to do what her mother did for a living.
Felix is abandoned by his mother and placed in a foster home on an isolated ranch away from his brother. He worries about his little brother. When he a turns eighteen, he will need to learn to survive and can come and go as he pleases. When does he decide to walk to where his brother is staying and come back at night? He does this weekly.
Jesusita has to deal with her children and when she leaves and can not work cleaning offices she gets work though the government as a foster parent. She gets two little girls and a little boy to live with her. She deals with a little girl that seems to make her do strange things.
There is some abuse and sex that goes on throughout the book. I advise parents to only allow their children 15 or older to read this. I will let you decide what you want your children to read.
Angie learns only one thing while growing up. She only knows how to make money one way. Filipino laborers want this from her. She agrees to do this to survive and to make money. Filipino laborers are not allowed to have any contact with white woman. What ever will happen to Angie and the Filipino men. She does meet a man at the theater at a young age. She does not want to do what her mother did for a living.
Felix is abandoned by his mother and placed in a foster home on an isolated ranch away from his brother. He worries about his little brother. When he a turns eighteen, he will need to learn to survive and can come and go as he pleases. When does he decide to walk to where his brother is staying and come back at night? He does this weekly.
Jesusita has to deal with her children and when she leaves and can not work cleaning offices she gets work though the government as a foster parent. She gets two little girls and a little boy to live with her. She deals with a little girl that seems to make her do strange things.
There is some abuse and sex that goes on throughout the book. I advise parents to only allow their children 15 or older to read this. I will let you decide what you want your children to read.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated The Possession (The Anomaly Files #2) in Books
Nov 3, 2019
Great follow on from the previous book (1 more)
Don't have to have read the previous book
For the fans of Coast to Coast AM etc
When I reviewed Michael Rutger's previous novel; The Anomaly I said that this was a novel for those of us who love the strange paranormal, supernatural woo woo of things like Fortean Times magazine, Coast to Coast AM, Astonishing Legends and Lore and I am going to say the same thing for The Possession. The title lets it down a little. This isn't some girl gets possessed by a daemon and gets exorcised run of the mill story, Rutger is far more interesting than that.
The story centres round the Berkeley Mystery Walls, strange walls in California that are ancient and don't seem to be marking territory and whom no one knows who built them and what their purpose is, and the disappearance of a girl. Nolan Moore and his Anomaly Files crew turn up to investigate and things start getting more and more strange, creepy and out of this world as they go along.
Do you have to have read the previous book to get any of this? Not at all, you can jump straight into this as a separate story although after reading the Anomaly I was really keen to get The Possession and I wasn't disappointed. It is a tense thrilling hell ride from start to finish with no simple answers and solutions, just the great characters from the first book back bumbling through as best they can to try and save the world. Its great fun, full of well researched strange events and massive adventure. Its refreshing to have a voice in horror that throws away the cliches and instead makes a modern story entirely of their own. Lets hope there are many more novels to come.
The story centres round the Berkeley Mystery Walls, strange walls in California that are ancient and don't seem to be marking territory and whom no one knows who built them and what their purpose is, and the disappearance of a girl. Nolan Moore and his Anomaly Files crew turn up to investigate and things start getting more and more strange, creepy and out of this world as they go along.
Do you have to have read the previous book to get any of this? Not at all, you can jump straight into this as a separate story although after reading the Anomaly I was really keen to get The Possession and I wasn't disappointed. It is a tense thrilling hell ride from start to finish with no simple answers and solutions, just the great characters from the first book back bumbling through as best they can to try and save the world. Its great fun, full of well researched strange events and massive adventure. Its refreshing to have a voice in horror that throws away the cliches and instead makes a modern story entirely of their own. Lets hope there are many more novels to come.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Ghosts of Painting Past in Books
Nov 20, 2019
Uncovering the Past at Christmas
The house across the street from Rory is being torn down, so she is trying to drown out the sound of construction vehicles with Christmas carols when the sound suddenly stops. The crew has found bones buried under a building in the backyard. It isn’t long before the police have been able to identify the bones, but their identity puts Rory’s father in the role of suspect. Rory tries to help out with a variety of holiday events planned in the community, including finishing up her own ornaments to sell at the craft fair despite what is happening in town, but when a new body turns up, the stakes are raised. Can she figure out what happened in the past and how that is impacting the present?
Mysteries that involve the past can be great when there is a compelling reason for the characters to care about it today. That’s definitely the case here. Rory has a couple of reasons to make sure this case is wrapped up in time for Christmas, and she gets plenty of clues and red herrings to keep her guessing. The pace is fast, and the climax answers all our questions. The series’ tone is a bit darker overall, and that’s the case here again as well, but we do have some Christmas fun to help lighten the mood. I really enjoyed the fact that this book is set in Southern California, so, while we get plenty of holiday spirit, we do it without snow. I could relate. The main characters continue to grow, and the new characters are just as strong. With Christmas fast approaching, now is the perfect time to pick up this book.
Mysteries that involve the past can be great when there is a compelling reason for the characters to care about it today. That’s definitely the case here. Rory has a couple of reasons to make sure this case is wrapped up in time for Christmas, and she gets plenty of clues and red herrings to keep her guessing. The pace is fast, and the climax answers all our questions. The series’ tone is a bit darker overall, and that’s the case here again as well, but we do have some Christmas fun to help lighten the mood. I really enjoyed the fact that this book is set in Southern California, so, while we get plenty of holiday spirit, we do it without snow. I could relate. The main characters continue to grow, and the new characters are just as strong. With Christmas fast approaching, now is the perfect time to pick up this book.
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