Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (179)

Content

The Mayfly (Charlie Priest #1)

James Hazel

8.7 (3 Ratings) Rate It

Book

With the suspense of JEFFERY DEAVER, the tension of THOMAS HARRIS and the gruesomeness of M. J....

The Spanish Princess

8.3 (6 Ratings) Rate It

TV Show Watch

Catherine of Aragon, the beautiful teenaged princess of Spain who was promised the English throne...

ClareR (5561 KP) rated The Ash Doll in Books

Sep 24, 2018

The Ash Doll

James Hazel | 2018 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

A thrillingly dark read!

This is the second in the Charlie Priest series, but I have to say that it's so well written that it's not necessary to have read the first book in the series, 'The Mayfly' to enjoy this. Suffice to say, I got three chapters in to this book and immediately bought the first book. I can see Charlie Priest becoming my new book obsession!
We're thrown right in to the action on the first page with a small girl, who appears to be on the verge of throwing herself off a cliff in front of a group of hikers. No one knows who she is or where she has come from.
We then flash forward to the present day, and the court case that Charlie Priest and his colleagues are involved with - a libel case between a charity and a magazine. Believe me, I couldn't see how there could possibly be any kind of connection between the two.
The start of the book isn't particularly pleasant (trigger warnings here for anyone that doesn't like reading about child abuse!), but it really drew me in: who is the child? What has happened to her? Ho what she come to be imprisoned and abused? Yes, there's some pretty graphic content, both with regards to her treatment and the murders.
Charlie and his sidekick, Georgie Someday, are so likeable, and Charlie's medical condition adds an interesting layer to the story.
I would highly recommend this, especially if you like dark, well written thrillers.
Many thanks to Readers First, NetGalley and the publisher Bonnier Zaffre for sending me a copy to read.

Kudos

Midge (525 KP) rated Casualty - Season 32 in TV

Dec 30, 2018 (Updated Jan 1, 2019)

Casualty - Season 32

2017 | Drama

8.1

(7 Ratings)

TV Show Rating

Includes some great actors (2 more)

Superb storylines

Well written

Fantastic Drama!

I ? Casualty and I have watched it since the show began, in 1986! Some amazing actors have starred in the show over the years. Cathy Shipton who plays Lisa"Duffy" Duffin and Charlie Fairhead, who is played by actor, Derek Thompson, are old favourites. Currently, my most enjoyable scenes are those including William Beck (plays Dylan Keogh), who I think is an absolutely brilliant actor.

Some say that Casualty has had its day, but I hope that the show is not about to disappear from our screens any time soon.

Kudos

Going the Distance (2010)

7.4 (5 Ratings) Rate It

Movie Watch

Erin (Drew Barrymore) and Garrett (Justin Long) are very much in love. When Erin moves to San...

My Talking Dog – Virtual Pet

Games and Entertainment

(0 Ratings) Rate It

App

Wanna play with the cutest puppy ever? You can talk to him, play mini games, dog dress up and so...

NOS4A2

7.2 (13 Ratings) Rate It

TV Show Watch

Based on Joe Hill's New York Times best-selling novel of the same name, "NOS4A2" is a different kind...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2065 KP) rated Charlie Thorne and the Lost City in Books

Mar 24, 2021 (Updated Mar 24, 2021)

Tracking Darwin Through the Amazon

It's been a few months since Charlotte “Charlie” Thorne has gone missing. While she was initially presumed dead, she took advantage of the confusion of the situation to slip away. She’s currently hiding out in the Galapagos Islands, which turns out to be very fortunate. One day, she is approached by Esmerelda, a researcher from the Darwin Institute who thinks she’s found a message left behind by Charles Darwin almost 200 years ago. Unfortunately, it’s in code, and Esmerelda needs Charlie to help her figure it out. Suddenly, Charlie finds herself on another wild ride that will take her deep into the heart of the Amazon pursued by people out to get the treasure first. But what did Darwin leave behind?

When I realized that Charles Darwin was going to be the featured scientist in this book, I was worried. As expected, there are some jabs taken at people like me, Christians who believe in microevolution (which Darwin clearly observed) but not the theory of macroevolution. I realize that will only be an issue for some readers. The rest will be thrilled with the action, danger, and twists that Charlie finds herself caught up in once again. I do struggle a bit with Charlie’s characters since she comes across as too perfect, but there are others in the book who are more realistic. I appreciated the rising tension we got while traveling through the Amazon as well as the humor that helped lighten the mood at times. There are some great seeds planted, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they pay off in future books. Fans of Stuart Gibbs will certainly enjoy this book.