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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Wolf Wants In in Books
Oct 31, 2019
Sometimes I foolishly put off reading a book because I think it sounds “too smart” or something for me. I made that mistake with The Wolf Wants In, and I was such an idiot! This was such a wonderful, well-written psychological thriller. I don’t know what I was thinking!
Wolf is told from the perspectives of Sadie and Henley, who both live in the same small Kansas town. Sadie has recently lost her brother, Shane, and she’s looking for answers about how he died—even if no one else seems too concerned. Meanwhile eighteen-year-old Henley comes from a long line of known troublemakers: many of whom are drug dealers and users. She’s determined to leave town and her family behind. But events transpire that make that harder than she envisioned. Overshadowing everything is the town’s opioid crisis and the discovery of a child’s skull in the woods.
The characters in Wolf are vivid and nuanced. They have such depth and feeling. McHugh captures small town life so well—as well as how easily addiction can ravage families. What I loved was how she layered a mystery against all of this: the result was a completely compelling read. I was totally captivated by this one: definitely recommend! 4+ stars.
Wolf is told from the perspectives of Sadie and Henley, who both live in the same small Kansas town. Sadie has recently lost her brother, Shane, and she’s looking for answers about how he died—even if no one else seems too concerned. Meanwhile eighteen-year-old Henley comes from a long line of known troublemakers: many of whom are drug dealers and users. She’s determined to leave town and her family behind. But events transpire that make that harder than she envisioned. Overshadowing everything is the town’s opioid crisis and the discovery of a child’s skull in the woods.
The characters in Wolf are vivid and nuanced. They have such depth and feeling. McHugh captures small town life so well—as well as how easily addiction can ravage families. What I loved was how she layered a mystery against all of this: the result was a completely compelling read. I was totally captivated by this one: definitely recommend! 4+ stars.
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Witch Elm: A Novel in Books
Jan 12, 2020
I listened to the audiobook of this narrated by Gerry O’Brian and would recommend increasing the speed it plays at. I didn’t until quite far in and regretted not speeding it up sooner.
Following on from a brutal attack Toby goes to stay in his old family home. When a skull is discovered in Wych Elm in the garden Toby has to question everything he thought he knew about his family.
Despite the skull discovery being on the blurb it actually is a long way into the book before we get that revelation. There is a lot of build-up to it and while I like a good bit of character building I did wish it had just got on with the main story sooner. Told from Toby’s POV who I didn’t find to be a particularly interesting or likable character there seemed to be way too much navel-gazing. I was also a bit disappointed by the main mystery; with so much build-up it just felt anticlimactic and again the whole investigation was overly drawn out. Just when I thought it had finally ended it managed to keep going for even longer.
Overall too much of a slow burner for me.
Following on from a brutal attack Toby goes to stay in his old family home. When a skull is discovered in Wych Elm in the garden Toby has to question everything he thought he knew about his family.
Despite the skull discovery being on the blurb it actually is a long way into the book before we get that revelation. There is a lot of build-up to it and while I like a good bit of character building I did wish it had just got on with the main story sooner. Told from Toby’s POV who I didn’t find to be a particularly interesting or likable character there seemed to be way too much navel-gazing. I was also a bit disappointed by the main mystery; with so much build-up it just felt anticlimactic and again the whole investigation was overly drawn out. Just when I thought it had finally ended it managed to keep going for even longer.
Overall too much of a slow burner for me.
Drew Horner (8 KP) rated Locke and Key in TV
Mar 1, 2020
Intriguing concept that kept me curious about what the next key would do. (2 more)
Really liked Kinsey, the middle sister who seems to tie the show together.
The fun is in the discovery of the keys - not the story behind them.
A couple stiff characters - especially Tyler (the older brother) - who sometimes made confoundingly dumb decisions. (1 more)
Some of the more emotional moments failed to stick the landing.
Better than Expected
The marketing for the show gave me a Narnia vibe and I thought it would be a very childish affair. While the majority of the show, with some exceptions, was family-friendly, it wasn't as childish as I thought. We binged it in a weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The show revolves around the Locke family who moved to their ancestral home - Key House - after suffering the tragic loss of their father/husband. Shortly after arriving at Key House, the Locke children begin finding magical keys throughout the house that each have special properties. But, of course these keys attract a sinister force that hungers to possess the power of the keys.
The show was enjoyable, but left a lot of threads dangling for what will likely be a second season.
The show revolves around the Locke family who moved to their ancestral home - Key House - after suffering the tragic loss of their father/husband. Shortly after arriving at Key House, the Locke children begin finding magical keys throughout the house that each have special properties. But, of course these keys attract a sinister force that hungers to possess the power of the keys.
The show was enjoyable, but left a lot of threads dangling for what will likely be a second season.
JT (287 KP) rated The Last Days On Mars (2013) in Movies
Mar 23, 2020
Not original (1 more)
Character clichés
Another B-movie straight to DVD
Another B-movie, straight to DVD space horror that had the chance to be truly terrifying but ended up falling flat on its arse. A group of astronauts are winding up their last few days on the red planet as they wait for the next team to arrive.
When one of them makes a scientific discovery in the form of a new strain of bacteria they head out to claim it for themselves putting the entire crew in danger. There is nothing unique here that hasn’t already been tried before if this was to succeed at all then the execution had to be better.
Visually it ticks all the right boxes with set design and location being winning points. It’s the lack of originality that is the most frustrating. The cast is not given any credible dialogue and it’s as dry and barren as the planet that they are standing on.
Step back and look at it for what it is and you’ve got zombies in space. The acting is run of the mill and no one, in particular, stands out as personality cliches run thick. If the crew of the Nostromo had a reserve team this lot would fit the bill perfectly.
When one of them makes a scientific discovery in the form of a new strain of bacteria they head out to claim it for themselves putting the entire crew in danger. There is nothing unique here that hasn’t already been tried before if this was to succeed at all then the execution had to be better.
Visually it ticks all the right boxes with set design and location being winning points. It’s the lack of originality that is the most frustrating. The cast is not given any credible dialogue and it’s as dry and barren as the planet that they are standing on.
Step back and look at it for what it is and you’ve got zombies in space. The acting is run of the mill and no one, in particular, stands out as personality cliches run thick. If the crew of the Nostromo had a reserve team this lot would fit the bill perfectly.
ClareR (5784 KP) rated Stone Mothers in Books
Aug 6, 2019
Stone Mothers was my first Erin Kelly book, and it really surprised me with its dark, melancholy story that evolved into a taut thriller.
It’s a story told in reverse. We meet the adults first before we begin to slip into their past, and we learn of their connection with the ‘Stone Mother’, or the mental hospital in their home town. Marianne and Jesse are unlikely sweethearts, very different personalities, yet they are both affected by the closure of the local psychiatric hospital, Nazareth, which employed most of their remote village. Including their own parents. With a random discovery comes their chance, in Jesse’s opinion, to improve their lives and some retribution.
I really enjoyed how this story unfolded: I liked how we found out more about the three main characters as we slipped into their pasts (I found Helens story particularly interesting, to be honest, and I would have happily read more). It’s a story where it’s really difficult to apportion blame to anyone - I ended up liking all of them, and could understand the motivation for their actions.
I will definitely be looking out for more books by Erin Kelly - this has without a doubt piqued my interest. Stone Mothers is well worth a read.
It’s a story told in reverse. We meet the adults first before we begin to slip into their past, and we learn of their connection with the ‘Stone Mother’, or the mental hospital in their home town. Marianne and Jesse are unlikely sweethearts, very different personalities, yet they are both affected by the closure of the local psychiatric hospital, Nazareth, which employed most of their remote village. Including their own parents. With a random discovery comes their chance, in Jesse’s opinion, to improve their lives and some retribution.
I really enjoyed how this story unfolded: I liked how we found out more about the three main characters as we slipped into their pasts (I found Helens story particularly interesting, to be honest, and I would have happily read more). It’s a story where it’s really difficult to apportion blame to anyone - I ended up liking all of them, and could understand the motivation for their actions.
I will definitely be looking out for more books by Erin Kelly - this has without a doubt piqued my interest. Stone Mothers is well worth a read.
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