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The stunning new novel in verse from the 2019 Carnegie Medal winning and Waterstones Book Prize...
Dawn of Chaos (The Caitlin Chronicles #1)
Daniel Willcocks and Michael Anderle
7.0
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The Governor she trusted to protect her wants her dead. The target she was sent to capture wants to...
Zombieville USA 2
Games and Entertainment
App
The definitive zombie shooter returns, reborn with stunning new graphics, gameplay and more! ...
David McK (3557 KP) rated Johnny and the Dead (Johnny Maxwell #2) in Books
May 27, 2023
The late, great, Sir Terry Pratchett is probably better known for his Discworld novels.
Which, primarily albeit not exclusively, are aimed towards a more adult audience.
However, during the 1990's, he also wrote a trilogy of novels that were aimed at the younger audience, starting with Only You Can Save Mankind and ending with Johnny and the Bomb, with this one tucked away nicely in the middle. These novels have become known as the Johnny Maxwell trilogy, following the same core characters as Johnny Maxwell (obviously) and his friends Yo-less, Wobbler and Big Mac.
In this one, Johnny learns that the local cemetery is about to be demolished, which comes as news to the residents of said cemetery (who only Johnny is able to see - I kept waiting for the 'I see dead people' gag, before realising this was released before the movie 'The Sixth Sense'), and leading to a local outcry over the same.
It hits different now, 30 years on from when I first read it (due to life events).
Which, primarily albeit not exclusively, are aimed towards a more adult audience.
However, during the 1990's, he also wrote a trilogy of novels that were aimed at the younger audience, starting with Only You Can Save Mankind and ending with Johnny and the Bomb, with this one tucked away nicely in the middle. These novels have become known as the Johnny Maxwell trilogy, following the same core characters as Johnny Maxwell (obviously) and his friends Yo-less, Wobbler and Big Mac.
In this one, Johnny learns that the local cemetery is about to be demolished, which comes as news to the residents of said cemetery (who only Johnny is able to see - I kept waiting for the 'I see dead people' gag, before realising this was released before the movie 'The Sixth Sense'), and leading to a local outcry over the same.
It hits different now, 30 years on from when I first read it (due to life events).
Cardiograph Classic
Health & Fitness and Medical
App
Cardiograph is an application which measures your heart rate. You can save your results for future...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated Haunted House Murder in Books
Aug 30, 2019
Cozy Halloween Hauntings
This collection of three novellas focuses on Halloween. The book opens with the title story featuring Leslie Meier’s protagonist Lucy Stone. A couple has moved into the old abandoned house in town, but they are rebuffing efforts from Lucy and others to welcome them to town. Then strange things start happening and rumors start flying. What is happening? Up next is “Death by Haunted House” by Lee Hollis which takes up back to 2009 and shows us what life was like for Hayley Powell while she was married. When the house next door, which is rumored to be haunted, gets a new family, Hayley’s husband Danny is certain that they are up to something. The discovery of a dead body in the nearby woods just confirms his theory – at least to himself. Is he right? Finally comes “Hallowed Out” from Barbara Ross. The local Haunted House tour is gearing up for Halloween, trying to bring some more people to town in the fall. However, when a reenactment of a crime leaves an actor dead, Julia Snowden must figure out what happened.
As you might expect in a collection of stories by various authors, some are stronger than others. Personally, I found the opening story to be the weakest – I think it might have worked as a short story, but even as a novella is was too long. The middle story was better, with some fun scenes and a good twist to the mystery. I adore Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake mysteries, so it was the reason I picked up the book. It also means I found the third story to be the best, with some good twists and a very fun sub-plot. While each story has plenty of fall atmosphere, these stories aren’t that spooky – they are by cozy mystery authors after all. Still, fans of these authors will enjoy picking up the book.
As you might expect in a collection of stories by various authors, some are stronger than others. Personally, I found the opening story to be the weakest – I think it might have worked as a short story, but even as a novella is was too long. The middle story was better, with some fun scenes and a good twist to the mystery. I adore Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake mysteries, so it was the reason I picked up the book. It also means I found the third story to be the best, with some good twists and a very fun sub-plot. While each story has plenty of fall atmosphere, these stories aren’t that spooky – they are by cozy mystery authors after all. Still, fans of these authors will enjoy picking up the book.
This One Rocked
I Read Blood Sisters By Jane Corry in a few short hours.
No sleep at all for me as I couldn't put the bloody thing down.
so After an awful accident years ago left Vanessa dead, Kitty with severe brain damage living in a home and Alison Introverted and shouldering a heap load of guilt.
The whole trauma is about to be unearthed again for Kitty, Ali and their mother
Many years after the tragic circumstances that left Alison's sister brain damaged and her best friend dead, Alison is trying to move on with her life she has shelved her university plans and is now an artist working at a local college.
Upon spotting an add for a resident artist at a nearby open prison, Alison needing the money applies and surprisingly gets the position.
But then someone starts sending Alison threatening notes saying she will pay.
What is she keeping hidden from that terrible day?
Now what I really loved about this story was the way it jumped from sister to sister while also giving us flashes into the past of the lead-up to what occurred the morning of the accident.
We are first with Alison, Then kitty then back again and even as Kitty resides in the day home with brain damage we see how surprisingly lucid some of her thoughts are, How frustrated she is with the people around her, though she can't remember the past properly and has only flashbacks she struggles to remember more and get her thoughts across.
It gives a whole new perspective into how we interact with disabled individuals, making us think what it would be like to be treated like a child. how frustrating this must be.
Now I don't want to give too much away with Blood Sisters, so all I'm going to say is when you think you know something do not be surprised when its turned on its head. This story takes that many turns with the truth of what happened my head was spinning but in a really good way.
Blood Sisters is an excellent easy read that will keep you guessing until the end, I highly recommend it.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance reader copy of this novel. This is my own unbiased opinion of Blood Sisters by Jane Corry.
Arc Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
No sleep at all for me as I couldn't put the bloody thing down.
so After an awful accident years ago left Vanessa dead, Kitty with severe brain damage living in a home and Alison Introverted and shouldering a heap load of guilt.
The whole trauma is about to be unearthed again for Kitty, Ali and their mother
Many years after the tragic circumstances that left Alison's sister brain damaged and her best friend dead, Alison is trying to move on with her life she has shelved her university plans and is now an artist working at a local college.
Upon spotting an add for a resident artist at a nearby open prison, Alison needing the money applies and surprisingly gets the position.
But then someone starts sending Alison threatening notes saying she will pay.
What is she keeping hidden from that terrible day?
Now what I really loved about this story was the way it jumped from sister to sister while also giving us flashes into the past of the lead-up to what occurred the morning of the accident.
We are first with Alison, Then kitty then back again and even as Kitty resides in the day home with brain damage we see how surprisingly lucid some of her thoughts are, How frustrated she is with the people around her, though she can't remember the past properly and has only flashbacks she struggles to remember more and get her thoughts across.
It gives a whole new perspective into how we interact with disabled individuals, making us think what it would be like to be treated like a child. how frustrating this must be.
Now I don't want to give too much away with Blood Sisters, so all I'm going to say is when you think you know something do not be surprised when its turned on its head. This story takes that many turns with the truth of what happened my head was spinning but in a really good way.
Blood Sisters is an excellent easy read that will keep you guessing until the end, I highly recommend it.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance reader copy of this novel. This is my own unbiased opinion of Blood Sisters by Jane Corry.
Arc Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
Softer Than You Think
Utterly bonkers attempt at combining an apocalyptic thriller with gritty police procedural; the preposterousness of the plot combined with the fact that it always takes itself Very, Very Seriously results in what's essentially a hilarious unintentional comedy.
So, what's it about? Well, a pair of London coppers (cockney geezer and troubled waif) stumble upon a USB stick containing the government's advance planning for the end of the world, which is due in about five years. Quite what form this planning takes is a little unclear, as it neglects to mention just what form the apocalypse is going to take (which if nothing else allows the show a nice big revelation at the end of the season). Geezer and Waif must try to get the truth out there while fending off government agents who want them dead!
Except, it's not really about that: news of the impending catastrophe, whatever it is, lures various nutters out of the woodwork to start committing grisly murders, and - wouldn't you know it - whenever Geezer and Waif get a spare moment from being hunted by the government, they have to go around catching them By Any Means Necessary! (At one point Geezer contemplates waterboarding an innocent man who's not being cooperative enough.)
Except, it's not just about that, either, for Geezer and Waif have the most implausibly complicated back-stories known to man, involving an extramarital fling, a secure unit, an internal affairs investigation, the murder of Geezer's old partner, a secret deal, and Waif's homicidal grown-up son (who seems to be nearly as old as she is).
All of this stuff bangs together in the most grisly and unlikely fashion, with a general tone of overwrought existential misery (every one of the duo's cases either features a moment where they literally start beating each other up with collapsible truncheons, or one where they sit down together and wail 'What's the point of any of this? We're all going to be dead in five years anyway!').
The sheer ridiculousness of Hard Sun makes it quite watchable in a stick-it-on-in-the-background-while-you're-doing-something else kind of way; every time you find yourself saying 'This can't possibly get any sillier' the show comes right back and proves you wrong. The makers of the show are clearly hoping for a full five year run, counting down to the actual apocalypse itself, although clearly the format is in for a big retool somewhere along the line. Fingers crossed this finds the devoted global audience such a potential cult camp classic deserves.
So, what's it about? Well, a pair of London coppers (cockney geezer and troubled waif) stumble upon a USB stick containing the government's advance planning for the end of the world, which is due in about five years. Quite what form this planning takes is a little unclear, as it neglects to mention just what form the apocalypse is going to take (which if nothing else allows the show a nice big revelation at the end of the season). Geezer and Waif must try to get the truth out there while fending off government agents who want them dead!
Except, it's not really about that: news of the impending catastrophe, whatever it is, lures various nutters out of the woodwork to start committing grisly murders, and - wouldn't you know it - whenever Geezer and Waif get a spare moment from being hunted by the government, they have to go around catching them By Any Means Necessary! (At one point Geezer contemplates waterboarding an innocent man who's not being cooperative enough.)
Except, it's not just about that, either, for Geezer and Waif have the most implausibly complicated back-stories known to man, involving an extramarital fling, a secure unit, an internal affairs investigation, the murder of Geezer's old partner, a secret deal, and Waif's homicidal grown-up son (who seems to be nearly as old as she is).
All of this stuff bangs together in the most grisly and unlikely fashion, with a general tone of overwrought existential misery (every one of the duo's cases either features a moment where they literally start beating each other up with collapsible truncheons, or one where they sit down together and wail 'What's the point of any of this? We're all going to be dead in five years anyway!').
The sheer ridiculousness of Hard Sun makes it quite watchable in a stick-it-on-in-the-background-while-you're-doing-something else kind of way; every time you find yourself saying 'This can't possibly get any sillier' the show comes right back and proves you wrong. The makers of the show are clearly hoping for a full five year run, counting down to the actual apocalypse itself, although clearly the format is in for a big retool somewhere along the line. Fingers crossed this finds the devoted global audience such a potential cult camp classic deserves.
The Soundtrack to My Life
Book
This is the story of Dermot's life so far, from growing up in semi rural Colchester with his Irish...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated The Pajama Frame in Books
Jul 26, 2022
Odd Inheritance Leads to Danger
Madison Night is surprised when her friend Alice Sweet leaves her the factory for Sweet Dreams, a pajama company that was closed years ago after a tragic death. Rumors over the decades hinted there may be more to the death than was reported at the time, and there are those who want to get in and see if they can find any clues for themselves. Before Madison can decide exactly what to do with the building, she stumbles over a very fresh dead body. Can she figure out what is going on?
This book started out well, and it never really let up. I was engaged the entire time, and the twists came faster as we got closer. Unfortunately, one aspect of the plot was never really fully explained, but the rest of the mystery is successfully wrapped up. Once again, Madison grows here, and I enjoy seeing her journey. The rest of the cast is just as strong and engaging. Fans of Doris Day movies will enjoy a few Easter eggs hidden in the book, although if you miss them (and I’m sure I missed a couple), it doesn’t take anything away from the story itself. Some humor sprinkled throughout the book added to the fun. If you, like me, need to catch up on this series, you’ll enjoy this book.
This book started out well, and it never really let up. I was engaged the entire time, and the twists came faster as we got closer. Unfortunately, one aspect of the plot was never really fully explained, but the rest of the mystery is successfully wrapped up. Once again, Madison grows here, and I enjoy seeing her journey. The rest of the cast is just as strong and engaging. Fans of Doris Day movies will enjoy a few Easter eggs hidden in the book, although if you miss them (and I’m sure I missed a couple), it doesn’t take anything away from the story itself. Some humor sprinkled throughout the book added to the fun. If you, like me, need to catch up on this series, you’ll enjoy this book.
