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The Japanese Mafia: Yakuza, Law, and the State
Book
The Japanese mafia - known collectively as yakuza - has had a considerable influence on Japanese...
Directors Tell the Story: Master the Craft of Television and Film Directing
Bethany Rooney and Mary Lou Belli
Book
Move over, movies: the freshest storytelling today is on television, where the multi-episodic format...
ClareR (5885 KP) rated City of Vengeance in Books
Mar 30, 2021
City of Vengeance is set in 16th century Florence during the Renaissance, a time when cities in Italy were run by Dukes. Florence’s Duke was Alessandro de’ Medici.
Cesare Aldo is an officer of the criminal court and a former soldier, and when we first meet him, he is riding home to Florence from Bologna with the Jewish moneylender he’s protecting. This is where we learn just how good Also is at this part of his job. His charge reaches his home safely, despite an encounter with bandits.
Thinking he has finished his job well, Also leaves the moneylender at his home and thinks nothing more of it - until the moneylender is murdered.
Also is tasked with finding the murderer within four days, which seems impossible. Especially when you factor in all the trouble that Aldo manages to get himself in to!
Meanwhile another constable of the criminal court, Strocchi, is investigating the death of a young man. The only problem, is that he was murdered whilst wearing a dress, and homosexuality is illegal. Finding his murderer isn’t high on the courts list of priorities - in fact, there are those who work there who believe that he has got exactly what he deserves.
There’s loads of mystery and intrigue in this book, as well as heaps of historical detail. It’s fast-paced and totally unputdownable. It shows the seedier, more difficult side of life at this time, especially when we get a look in to La Stinche - a notorious prison hellhole.
Both Also and Strocchi are characters that I’m looking forward to finding out more about - especially Aldo. There’s a lot more to him than we see in this, what I hope is, the first of a series (I’m totally guessing here - but it’s not a terrible idea!).
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for providing me with an e-copy of this book to read and review through NetGalley.
Cesare Aldo is an officer of the criminal court and a former soldier, and when we first meet him, he is riding home to Florence from Bologna with the Jewish moneylender he’s protecting. This is where we learn just how good Also is at this part of his job. His charge reaches his home safely, despite an encounter with bandits.
Thinking he has finished his job well, Also leaves the moneylender at his home and thinks nothing more of it - until the moneylender is murdered.
Also is tasked with finding the murderer within four days, which seems impossible. Especially when you factor in all the trouble that Aldo manages to get himself in to!
Meanwhile another constable of the criminal court, Strocchi, is investigating the death of a young man. The only problem, is that he was murdered whilst wearing a dress, and homosexuality is illegal. Finding his murderer isn’t high on the courts list of priorities - in fact, there are those who work there who believe that he has got exactly what he deserves.
There’s loads of mystery and intrigue in this book, as well as heaps of historical detail. It’s fast-paced and totally unputdownable. It shows the seedier, more difficult side of life at this time, especially when we get a look in to La Stinche - a notorious prison hellhole.
Both Also and Strocchi are characters that I’m looking forward to finding out more about - especially Aldo. There’s a lot more to him than we see in this, what I hope is, the first of a series (I’m totally guessing here - but it’s not a terrible idea!).
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for providing me with an e-copy of this book to read and review through NetGalley.
Top Speed: Drag & Fast Racing - Need For Real Race
Games and Entertainment
App
BECOME A STREET RACING LEGEND Dominate your criminally insane rivals in extreme head-to-head drag...
Awix (3310 KP) rated Parker (2013) in Movies
Apr 4, 2019
Fun if slightly nondescript Jason Statham action thriller. Master criminal (J-Stat) is betrayed by associates, embarks on vengeance; this involves pretending to be Texan. Comely estate agent (J-Lo) is, somehow, completely taken in by the wholly ridiculous accent her co-star adopts. Much twisty-turny plotting and violent mayhem ensues.
Not much here to disappoint fans of the great man: plenty of faintly absurd moments are mixed in with him kicking people in, and there are some pleasingly tense and effective moments. That said, it is a bit overlong, and - like quite a few films from around this period in his career - you do get a sense of a star perhaps a bit too firmly lodged in his comfort zone, as there's not much to distinguish this from Safe, The Mechanic, and so on. On the other hand, I kind of miss the days when you could expect two or three Statham movies like this one every year. Hey ho.
Not much here to disappoint fans of the great man: plenty of faintly absurd moments are mixed in with him kicking people in, and there are some pleasingly tense and effective moments. That said, it is a bit overlong, and - like quite a few films from around this period in his career - you do get a sense of a star perhaps a bit too firmly lodged in his comfort zone, as there's not much to distinguish this from Safe, The Mechanic, and so on. On the other hand, I kind of miss the days when you could expect two or three Statham movies like this one every year. Hey ho.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated The Scam in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The unlikely duo of criminal Nick Fox and FBI Agent Kate O’Hare are after a casino owner who is knowingly helping launder money that goes to terrorists. But as their con is set in motion, things quickly spiral out of control. Will they be able to turn their target into an FBI asset?
These books are always light, fun reads and this book is no exception. The characters could have more depth, but they are developed enough to keep my interest, and the crew that Nick and Kate always pull together is half the fun. The twists and plentiful and the ride is fun. I’m very anxious to get my hands on the next in the series.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-scam-by-janet-evanovich-and.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
These books are always light, fun reads and this book is no exception. The characters could have more depth, but they are developed enough to keep my interest, and the crew that Nick and Kate always pull together is half the fun. The twists and plentiful and the ride is fun. I’m very anxious to get my hands on the next in the series.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-scam-by-janet-evanovich-and.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated Sem Rasto (Darby McCormick #1) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I have absolutely no idea how I came across this book. I'm glad I did, though. It was very well-written, and the character of Darby McCormick was fleshed out very thoroughly. I don't normally read many books of this genre, though I do watch shows like Criminal Minds.
The reveal as to the final villain felt somewhat off, - if I hadn't been reading an ebook, I probably would have flipped back to figure out what clues I had missed. That isn't quite as simple on an ereader, so I didn't, but I did spend time thinking it over. I read the book very quickly, when I wasn't feeling well, so it's entirely possible that I did miss something that I would have ordinarily caught.
I'll look for another book in the series to see if it is more intellectually satisfying for me, since I did like Darby and the overall writing style was enjoyable.
The reveal as to the final villain felt somewhat off, - if I hadn't been reading an ebook, I probably would have flipped back to figure out what clues I had missed. That isn't quite as simple on an ereader, so I didn't, but I did spend time thinking it over. I read the book very quickly, when I wasn't feeling well, so it's entirely possible that I did miss something that I would have ordinarily caught.
I'll look for another book in the series to see if it is more intellectually satisfying for me, since I did like Darby and the overall writing style was enjoyable.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Legend (2015) in Movies
Jun 12, 2018 (Updated Jul 12, 2019)
Krays-y
Yet another movie glamourising the vicious real-life gangster siblings, with the principal gimmick of Tom Hardy playing both Krays through the wonders of something-or-other. Hardy is excellent as Reggie, the merely-psychotic brains of the outfit, but way over the top as Ronnie, who is portrayed as a slightly thick criminal maniac, and arguably played for laughs too. A friend of mine came out thinking this was intended to be a black comedy; she may not have been wrong.
There's a good supporting cast and it's quite well made, but the film seems much too keen to cut the Krays some slack, presenting them as roguish anti-heroes rather than the brutal thugs they actually were. The 1990 Peter Medak telling of the Krays' story was arguably more balanced - this is an uneasy combination of a 'those quaint old Brits' period drama and a modishly violent modern gangster film.
There's a good supporting cast and it's quite well made, but the film seems much too keen to cut the Krays some slack, presenting them as roguish anti-heroes rather than the brutal thugs they actually were. The 1990 Peter Medak telling of the Krays' story was arguably more balanced - this is an uneasy combination of a 'those quaint old Brits' period drama and a modishly violent modern gangster film.
ClareR (5885 KP) rated The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah: The Autobiography in Books
May 26, 2018
Lyricist. Writer. Activist.
What a life this man has had! He had a hard start, living in one of the least affluent areas of Birmingham (UK), and running away with his mother to escape a violent father. The 1980s saw race riots, miners strikes and demonstrations against police brutality. Zephaniah and his dub poetry were at the forefront. By the 1990s he was a household name, and not just at home in the UK - he travelled and performed around the world.
I really admire this man. He hasn't had an easy life: he was in borstal as a teen, lived a life of crime for a while and decided for himself that he didn't want to live his life as a criminal where he would most certainly end up dead. HE turned his life around. He stands by his beliefs as well. A brilliant, self taught man, who sets a sterling example for all.
I really admire this man. He hasn't had an easy life: he was in borstal as a teen, lived a life of crime for a while and decided for himself that he didn't want to live his life as a criminal where he would most certainly end up dead. HE turned his life around. He stands by his beliefs as well. A brilliant, self taught man, who sets a sterling example for all.
Merissa (12934 KP) rated Our little secret in Books
Dec 17, 2018
It seems wrong to give this book 4 stars when the description comes up with "Really Liked It". I didn't like. Not at all. It's a horrifying story made even worse because it is true. There is no glory in this book. Nothing that could make you think that it's "OK". I have had tears running down my cheeks as I've read it and do not want to read it again for a while. One comment made by the author is that the UK legal system is currently set up to favour the criminal and not the victim. How I wish this were otherwise.
I take my hat off to Duncan Fairhurst for writing down this account and showing himself in a true light, rather than trying to hide parts of it. I wish him all the best for the future and congratulate him on the choices he has made and the choices he still has to make. He has turned himself around.
I take my hat off to Duncan Fairhurst for writing down this account and showing himself in a true light, rather than trying to hide parts of it. I wish him all the best for the future and congratulate him on the choices he has made and the choices he still has to make. He has turned himself around.