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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2204 KP) rated G is for Gumshoe (Kinsey Millhone #7) in Books

Mar 9, 2018

At the beginning of May, PI Kinsey Millhone is hired by a woman named Irene to track down her mother. The two usually talk one a month, but it’s been several months since they last talked. Before Kinsey can head out to the Salton Sea area, she gets words that a dangerous criminal is vowing revenge on the people who put him away, and one of those people is Kinsey. She does take the threat seriously. Should she? Will it complicate her search for the missing woman?

I was hoping with two parallel plots that they would build off each other. That doesn’t happen quite as well as I would have liked. In fact, the book begins to drag in the middle, although it certainly picks up near the end. We get to know another supporting character pretty well here, which in turn lets us get to know Kinsey better, which I love.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-g-is-for-gumshoe-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

Kudos

Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Blacklist - Season 1 in TV

Jun 17, 2019

The Blacklist - Season 1

2013 | Action, Drama

8.0

(3 Ratings)

TV Season Rating

FBI action series with a twist

This American crime thriller series focuses on criminal mastermind Raymond Reddington (James Spader) who turns FBI informant; as long as he can work with a particular agent: Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone.)

Initially the series follows a very episodic nature with Reddington providing info on particular bad guy and the FBI team chasing them down, it’s good fun and nice to the more recent trend of series long arcs. However as the series progresses you get a more ongoing underlying story hinting at why he insists on working with relative FBI rookie Keen and it’s engaging enough to keep coming back for the full 22 episodes of this first season. Some of the CGI especially early on is laughable but I've never let that stop me having a good time.

James Spader at times is amazing and others a tad cringe worthy, while Boone is unremarkable I did like Parminder Naga as agent Malik a lot. Overall entertaining diversion, I will be carrying on with the next season.

Kudos

David McK (3425 KP) rated Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars) in Books

Jan 28, 2019

An early Expanded Universe (EU) novel, Shadows of the Empire is really all but Star Wars episode 5.5 in all but name, taking place as it does between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Starting with a familiar scene from The Empire Strikes back (at least, it was familiar until Lucas changed it!) but viewed from a different angle, the novel is also unusual in that Vader is actually one of the main protagonists, with he and Prince Xivor (the head of the criminal organization Black Sun) struggling for The Emperor's approval.

With Han Solo frozen in carbonite - indeed, the first attempts to rescue him form one of the main plot strands of the novel - this also introduces Dash Rendar: a character who, if I'm honest, is really all but Han Solo in name.

The novel also provides a little more background into some of the events mentioned in Return of the Jedi, in particular how come "Many Bothans dies to bring us this information ..."

Kudos

Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated Good Time (2017) in Movies

Mar 3, 2020

Good Time (2017)

2017 | Crime, Drama

7.8

(9 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Twilight is long gone!

400. Good Time. This is a good one! We meet Connie, a low life criminal with a smooth talent manipulating people. Today he's an incredible jerk and brings his mentally challenged brother, Nick, with him to a bank heist. The job actually goes over pretty smoothly, until police randomly ask them a few questions when spotted walking on the street. Nick can't handle the pressure and bolts, and promptly gets caught and sent to jail, Connie escapes. Now Connie desperately needs to get his brother bailed out, coming up 10 grand short for bail, he goes through a series of events to raise the money fast, including an ill fated jail break! Robert Pattinson was awesome as Connie, have really liked his stuff since leaving Twilight behind! Fast paced, exciting story, that makes you feel for Connie, also makes you want to punch him in the face!! Has a cool 80's synthesizer soundtrack to it. Panic makes a good movie tone. Filmbufftim on FB