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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2273 KP) rated Delivering the Truth (Quaker Midwife Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Rose Carroll is a Quaker Midwife in Amesbury, Massachusetts, in 1888. The small town is usually quiet until a fire destroys some of the factories in town, killing employees. Rumors circulate that it was caused by arson. Will her connections in town help Rose figure out what is happening?
This is a good series debut. I had a little trouble keeping track of the characters at the beginning, but I quickly got them all straight, and I grew to care for them by the end. The plot is good with some nice complications and a creative climax. I’m looking forward to visiting Rose again in more books.
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/2016/04/book-review-delivering-truth-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a good series debut. I had a little trouble keeping track of the characters at the beginning, but I quickly got them all straight, and I grew to care for them by the end. The plot is good with some nice complications and a creative climax. I’m looking forward to visiting Rose again in more books.
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/2016/04/book-review-delivering-truth-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2273 KP) rated Kneading to Die (Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Stan has just moved to a small Connecticut town and is taking her cat to the only bet in town for the first time when she finds Carole's dead body on the floor. The vet wasn't well loved, but with the police and local gossip focusing on her as the killer, she needs to act fast to find out who really killed the vet.
I certainly enjoyed this debut. The pets were absolutely charming if not always well behaved. Stan was a refreshing change of pace for a main character because she reacts more realistically to what is happening to her than many main characters do. The plot could have been stronger, but overall it was still entertaining.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-kneading-to-die-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I certainly enjoyed this debut. The pets were absolutely charming if not always well behaved. Stan was a refreshing change of pace for a main character because she reacts more realistically to what is happening to her than many main characters do. The plot could have been stronger, but overall it was still entertaining.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-kneading-to-die-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2273 KP) rated To Helvetica and Back (A Dangerous Type Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When a loyal customer brings her typewriter into The Rescued Word to be repaired, Clare Henry is shocked when a stranger follows her in demanding to buy that exact typewriter and only that typewriter. The next morning, the stranger is dead behind the shop. What was he so obsessed with that typewriter? Did it have anything to do with his murder?
This may be a debut, but the characters are already sharp, and I loved them for it. Several sub-plots revolving around them really helped with that. Unfortunately, that overwhelms the main mystery, which is very weak as a result. The climax especially suffers.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-to-helvetica-and-back-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This may be a debut, but the characters are already sharp, and I loved them for it. Several sub-plots revolving around them really helped with that. Unfortunately, that overwhelms the main mystery, which is very weak as a result. The climax especially suffers.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-to-helvetica-and-back-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Fallow in Books
Feb 21, 2018
I have been a big fan of cross-country, road-trip type novels ever since reading The Talisman, so I was excited to get my hands on this book. Fallow was some trip! The details of the incident that landed Mikey in jail are fed to the reader bit-by-bit, and the more you start to realize what happened, the harder it is to put this book down. Once I spotted the twist headed my way, I had to keep reading until I got to the end. I just had to know what exactly happened years ago, and how it would all end up in the present. This was a thrilling debut novel, and Ill be watching for more from this author.
<i>NOTE: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book.</i>
<i>NOTE: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book.</i>
This is not for the feint hearted. Joe Goldberg outwardly seems like an average guy who works in a bookstore but after a visit from a beautiful, aspiring writer, Guinevere Beck, he obsesses about the encounter and starts obsessing over her and trawling through her social media accounts. Written from his point of view, this is a disturbing but totally absorbing insight into the fractured mind of a stalker. The prose is rapid, candid and visceral, so much so that it’s hard to believe it’s a male point of view written by a woman. This was Kepne’s debut novel and released in 2015 but it’s still hovering around the top twenty bestsellers. If you need a reason to cut back on tweets and Facebook updates, this book will make you think twice before you post any updates.
Watchman (19 KP) rated Beast (2017) in Movies
Jan 9, 2019 (Updated Feb 15, 2019)
Outstanding acting (1 more)
Unpredictable
A chilling fairytale
A girl with a dark past, the black sheep of the family with a perfect sister, a strict, overbearing mother and an ill father, starts a red-blooded affair with a local boy, an enigma with history of run ins with the law.... and now a suspect in the worst of crimes.
Set in the gorgeously filmed isle of Jersey, Michael Pearce has directed on his debut a real nail biter. This take on the search for a serial killer of young girls, intertwined with a forbidden love story is an uncomfortable, disturbing watch at times.... but hypnotic. And newcomer Jessie Buckley is mesmerising, its hard to take your eyes off her.
Brilliant script, plot, pacing and ominous soundtrack.
A must watch for any fan of dark psychological thrillers.
Set in the gorgeously filmed isle of Jersey, Michael Pearce has directed on his debut a real nail biter. This take on the search for a serial killer of young girls, intertwined with a forbidden love story is an uncomfortable, disturbing watch at times.... but hypnotic. And newcomer Jessie Buckley is mesmerising, its hard to take your eyes off her.
Brilliant script, plot, pacing and ominous soundtrack.
A must watch for any fan of dark psychological thrillers.
David McK (3496 KP) rated Battlemage in Books
Jan 28, 2019
If I was asked to describe this debut novel in one word, that word would probably be:
Battles
Lots and lots (and lots) of Battles.
At the end of the story proper, the author acknowledges previous works that have had an influence on this, the most prominent being [authr: David Gemmell]'s [b: Legend|9275658|Legend (Legend, #1)|Marie Lu|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333909141s/9275658.jpg|14157512]. It's easy to spot the similaritues between the two stories, each of which concern a siege, but there are also more than a few differences: unlike Druss, for example, Balfruss is a magic-user; the BattleMage of the title.
Maybe a tad on the long side (I felt that there were some portions that could have been trimmed down a bit), this is nevertheless a solid start to a new series
Battles
Lots and lots (and lots) of Battles.
At the end of the story proper, the author acknowledges previous works that have had an influence on this, the most prominent being [authr: David Gemmell]'s [b: Legend|9275658|Legend (Legend, #1)|Marie Lu|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333909141s/9275658.jpg|14157512]. It's easy to spot the similaritues between the two stories, each of which concern a siege, but there are also more than a few differences: unlike Druss, for example, Balfruss is a magic-user; the BattleMage of the title.
Maybe a tad on the long side (I felt that there were some portions that could have been trimmed down a bit), this is nevertheless a solid start to a new series
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated The Girl from Everywhere (The Girl from Everywhere, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
Heiligs debut novel is inspired by Hawaiian myth and folklore and has an entirely diverse cast with a biracial main character, a Persian love interest, etc. (Ive completely forgotten about everyone else).
Have I mentioned time traveling is through maps?! If the Hawaiian myth and folklore don't grab you, then the maps definitely should.
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Paradise is a promise no god bothers to keep. Theres only now, and tomorrow nothing will be the same, whether we like it or not.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/some-of-those-arcs-from-last-year/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Heiligs debut novel is inspired by Hawaiian myth and folklore and has an entirely diverse cast with a biracial main character, a Persian love interest, etc. (Ive completely forgotten about everyone else).
Have I mentioned time traveling is through maps?! If the Hawaiian myth and folklore don't grab you, then the maps definitely should.
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Paradise is a promise no god bothers to keep. Theres only now, and tomorrow nothing will be the same, whether we like it or not.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/some-of-those-arcs-from-last-year/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
David Betteridge (327 KP) rated The Silent Patient in Books
Mar 20, 2020
Page Turner (1 more)
good paced plot
I received this book as part of the giveaway here on Smashbomb, and I'm really glad I did because this is a book that would have potentially passed me by. Its a very good debut novel by Alex Michaelides and I look forward to seeing where he takes it next.
The book its self is a very easy read and a real page turner, it throws plenty of red herrings your way and tries to keep you guessing, it keeps the characters interesting enough for you to care whats happening.
For me the ending was signposted very early on, but I still read with excitement towards the end to see how it all unfolded.
I'd certainly recommend it, its a couple of days read so can be consumed quite easily.
The book its self is a very easy read and a real page turner, it throws plenty of red herrings your way and tries to keep you guessing, it keeps the characters interesting enough for you to care whats happening.
For me the ending was signposted very early on, but I still read with excitement towards the end to see how it all unfolded.
I'd certainly recommend it, its a couple of days read so can be consumed quite easily.
Who Killed Mister Moonlight?: Bauhaus, Black Magick, and Benediction
Book
Beginning with the creation of Bauhaus's seminal debut hit 'Bela Lugosi's Dead', David J. Haskins...