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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2682 KP) rated Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue in Books

Oct 13, 2021 (Updated Oct 13, 2021)  
Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue
Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue
Victoria Thompson | 2015 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
While the Detectives are Away
When Maeve answers the door, the last thing she expects is a woman desperately looking for Frank Malloy. Mrs. O’Neil is a former neighbor of the Malloys, and she is anxious to find Frank because her daughter, Una, has just been arrested for the murder of her husband. The problem is that Frank and his new wife, Sarah Brandt, are in Europe on their honeymoon. So Maeve jumps into the investigation, aided by Gino and Sarah’s parents. Will the four of them uncover what really happened?

This is a different book for the series since Frank and Sarah, our usual main characters, aren’t in it. However, it allows the secondary characters time to shine, which was a lot of fun, especially since I love them. It also provided a bit more humor, which I appreciated. The mystery itself is serious, and the book balances the tones perfectly. The mystery is also strong and kept me turning pages, as always. I did feel there was a bit too much rehashing of things at times in the middle, but that got better as the book went along. Sadly, there are some timing issues in the climax as the characters forget when things happened. Ironically enough, the climax makes even more sense if you remember the correct timeline. There are a few Christmas elements in the book, but the main focus is on the characters and mystery. This may be a unique entry in the series, but fans will still love it.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2682 KP) rated Easter Basket Murder in Books

Jan 25, 2024 (Updated Jan 25, 2024)  
Easter Basket Murder
Easter Basket Murder
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Here’s to a Deadly Easter
Kensington has called on their go to trio for three new holiday themed mysteries, this time featuring Easter. Up first, Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone gets involved with a promotion for the local businesses leads to the theft of a golden Easter egg. Then Lee Hollis’s Hayley Powell finds the Easter Bunny dead at a community Easter egg hunt. Finally, Barbara Ross’s Julia Snowden’s Easter on the family island off the coast of Maine is interrupted when she finds a man in coat tails dead in the garden. Then, a few minutes later, he’s gone.

All three stories have fun with the theme, and present it in some clever ways. As is often the case, I found the first story the weakest, but the mysteries in the other two stories are strong. Still, I was engaged no matter which story I was reading. All three have some great Easter elements that made me feel like it was spring. And I love the community aspects we get. I’m only a regular reader of Barbara Ross’s series, and I was interested in the updates we got on the characters there. If you are looking for some new dishes to serve this year, you’ll be interested in the recipes we get with the second and third story. Each story is roughly 100 pages, so you can read them in a sitting or two. Overall, this is a fun anthology you’ll be happy hopped on to your to be read pile.
  
Veil of Shadows (Seven Deadly Veils #1)
Veil of Shadows (Seven Deadly Veils #1)
Diana Marik | 2016 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
VEIL OF SHADOWS is the first book in the Seven Deadly Veils series and we are introduced to a world that accepts paranormals... sort of. There is the usual hate group that wants to eradicate them from the face of the Earth, but most people accept them. Miranda is one who accepts. Her best friend is the Were Queen. Her roommate is a Were. Her lover is a Were. She is currently working for a vampire and is in the right place at the right time to take a poisoned dart for him. This brings her to the attention of the vampires, for good or for bad.

This is a twisted and intriguing story with romantic elements. But don't expect the MCs to immediately fall in love with each other, because you'll be disappointed. Miranda is free to be with anyone she chooses, and she does what she wants.

The biggest thing for me with this book was the multiple POVs. There were loads!!! And it wasn't announced in any way, so it was unclear who was talking and when it was. This made it quite confusing in places, even when I was enjoying it.

If you like Saga-type books with plenty of action and intrigue, then I definitely recommend this one.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 8, 2024
  
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David McK (3935 KP) rated Uncharted (2022) in Movies

Mar 6, 2022 (Updated Jan 1, 2024)  
Uncharted (2022)
Uncharted (2022)
2022 | Action, Adventure
Where's Elena?
So, Uncharted.

Naughty Dogs Playstation exclusives, which are some of the most cinematic games I've ever played, following middle-aged adventurer Nathan Drake, his partner-in-crime and magnificently moustached Victor 'Sully' Sullivan and love interest Elena (with fan favourite Chloe Frazer appearing in the alter entries, and getting her own spin off game).

Yes, I did say middle aged.

So, for my money, Tom Holland is simply too young for the role.

However, I can understand why he was 'aged down' in order to appeal to the younger audience, or to those who have never played the games (although Nathan Fillion did a brilliant fan film a load of years ago, getting the character down to a 'T'). it's also the case that films-based-on-games don't have that great a reputation: very few, if any, ever hold up to their source material.

I'm happy to say that, while this one doesn't *quite* match up, it also falls much less shorter than most adaptations do.

Yes, there are elements lifted almost wholesale from the game: the opening cargo plane shoot-out springs to mind, as does the ships buried in a cave, but Holland does manage to bring a fair amount of banter and swagger to the role, especially in his interactions with Chloe Frazer.

I'm sure there'll be sequels: if so, maybe he will grow into the role more; become more the Nathan Drake players of the games know and love? Only time will tell ...
  
Throne of Threats
Throne of Threats
Sarah E. Burr | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
You Are Cordially Invited to a … Kidnapping
Jax is just days away from the event we’ve been waiting for almost as much as she has – her wedding to the youngest son of a ruler of a neighboring kingdom. With friends and family coming in a couple of days before the big event, and a couple of days before the rest of the guests, Jax is hoping for some relaxing before she has to play hostess and politics with her guests. But when Uma, her lady in waiting, goes to pick up the flowers a couple of days before, she is kidnapped. With only a cryptic clue to guide her, can Jax find Uma and rescue her? And will this latest case hurt her relationships with those she loves most?

Any fan of the series has been looking forward to the events of this book. The beginning takes a bit of time getting to the story. Part of that is set up, but some is just general updates on the characters and the realm. Once the kidnapping happens, the pace doesn’t let up. I loved how things came together. I also loved getting to spend time with these characters again. They truly are fun. Reactions to the events of the story felt realistic, and part of that is because of elements from the past books that are mentioned in passing. It feels like we’ve turned a page in the series, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.