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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated A Nutcracker Nightmare in Books
Oct 21, 2023
Class Bully Gets Murdered
This Christmas, Harriston High School is hosting an all years reunion. While twin sisters Alex and Hanna didn’t attend, they are helping with the weekend’s events. That’s how they meet Kyle, the class star quarterback and the class bully. He’s taken an interest in Hanna, an interest she doesn’t return. The opening night ends when Kyle is murdered, and Hanna’s fingerprint is the only one found on the murder weapon, a nutcracker. Surely someone who knew him longer had a better motive, right?
I read the first book last year and enjoyed it enough to give the series a second try. Sadly, I found the flaws the same here. The writing kept me out of the story at first, and I had a really hard time remembering who the suspects were and all their connections. But the further I got into the book, the more I got caught up in the mystery, which had some nice twists on the way to the logical solution. The main characters are great, and the recipes for the gourmet chocolates sound delicious. There is a good story here, so be patient when you pick up this book.
I read the first book last year and enjoyed it enough to give the series a second try. Sadly, I found the flaws the same here. The writing kept me out of the story at first, and I had a really hard time remembering who the suspects were and all their connections. But the further I got into the book, the more I got caught up in the mystery, which had some nice twists on the way to the logical solution. The main characters are great, and the recipes for the gourmet chocolates sound delicious. There is a good story here, so be patient when you pick up this book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust in Books
Sep 25, 2024
Flavia’s Surprise Return
Mrs. Mullet, the long time de Luce house keeper, is being questioned about a murder. Turns out, she’d been making breakfast for a gentleman in the village, Major Greyleigh. He’s been found dead on the floor of his cottage and the last thing he ate was the breakfast prepared by Mrs. Mullet. Flavia knows that Mrs. Mullet wouldn’t hurt anyway. She also knows that the mushrooms everyone thinks killed the man weren’t poisonous. Can Flavia figure out what is really going on?
I had thought the series ended with the previous book five years ago, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this up for preorder. It was fun to revisit Bishop’s Lacey and catch up with Flavia. However, I still find her cousin Undine extremely annoying and not as funny as she is supposed to be. The pacing of the mystery was good, but there were parts of the plot I didn’t care for. And I certainly could have done without all the talk about the crime scene. I’ve often found this series uneven, and this entry fit that description for me.
I had thought the series ended with the previous book five years ago, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this up for preorder. It was fun to revisit Bishop’s Lacey and catch up with Flavia. However, I still find her cousin Undine extremely annoying and not as funny as she is supposed to be. The pacing of the mystery was good, but there were parts of the plot I didn’t care for. And I certainly could have done without all the talk about the crime scene. I’ve often found this series uneven, and this entry fit that description for me.
David McK (3562 KP) rated Arthur (The Arthurian Tales #3) in Books
Jun 30, 2024 (Updated Jun 30, 2024)
This is the final entry in Giles Kristian's 'Arthurian Tales' trilogy, set after both 'Lancelot' and 'Camelot', and now told in the third person instead of the first person view of both those former works.
It's also the first one - I believe - to so heavily rely on flashbacks, paralleling the 'now' of the story with the background to one of the main characters Beran (whose identity I, personally, found quite easy to grok early on).
As a whole, I have to say, this trilogy is one of the best retellings of the Arthurian myths I have come across although retelling, however, may be too strong a word; perhaps a better on would be re-imagining as there's no mystical Green Knight (reimagined in 'Camelot'), search for the Holy Grails (again, see 'Camelot'), or mysterious women lying in ponds and distributing swords ("that's no basis for sound government..."), but which does cover the whole Arthur/Lancelot/Guinevere love triangle (see, in particular, 'Lancelot') and the fall out thereof.
In short, all three novels are well worth a read - personally, I found I enjoyed these more than the 'Blood Eye' series by the same author.
It's also the first one - I believe - to so heavily rely on flashbacks, paralleling the 'now' of the story with the background to one of the main characters Beran (whose identity I, personally, found quite easy to grok early on).
As a whole, I have to say, this trilogy is one of the best retellings of the Arthurian myths I have come across although retelling, however, may be too strong a word; perhaps a better on would be re-imagining as there's no mystical Green Knight (reimagined in 'Camelot'), search for the Holy Grails (again, see 'Camelot'), or mysterious women lying in ponds and distributing swords ("that's no basis for sound government..."), but which does cover the whole Arthur/Lancelot/Guinevere love triangle (see, in particular, 'Lancelot') and the fall out thereof.
In short, all three novels are well worth a read - personally, I found I enjoyed these more than the 'Blood Eye' series by the same author.
A Matter of Life and Depths
9.0
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Murder has twisted them together... It's bad enough that Kyrie Dawn had an affair and a son with...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Framed for Murder in Books
Feb 5, 2025
Can Mel Clear a Frenemy?
Former police officer Mel O’Rourke is trying to settle into her new life running a B & B in the mountain town of Pine Cove. But then her past walks in. Poppy Phillips is a thief that Mel spent time trying to arrest when she was an officer. Poppy is looking for help since she stumbled over a body, and she is afraid the police will think she did it. The fact that Poppy was there committing a burglary does complicate things. Can Mel clear her? Does she want to?
I picked up this book thinking it was the first in a series. There is a novella that introduces some of the characters, and this book has major spoilers for that story. I also found the language in this book to be much worse than I wanted to read. The mystery was good, although I found some things bumped me, like police jurisdiction. It just didn’t seem logical, although maybe there is something I was missing. On the other hand, I really did like the characters and the relationships they were forming. Overall, this was a mixed bag for me.
I picked up this book thinking it was the first in a series. There is a novella that introduces some of the characters, and this book has major spoilers for that story. I also found the language in this book to be much worse than I wanted to read. The mystery was good, although I found some things bumped me, like police jurisdiction. It just didn’t seem logical, although maybe there is something I was missing. On the other hand, I really did like the characters and the relationships they were forming. Overall, this was a mixed bag for me.
Laura (40 KP) rated There's Someone In Your House in Books
Sep 30, 2017
Gripping, difficult to put down (1 more)
The suspense and tension was really well built
I had a lot of fun reading this book. This has been compared to Scream a lot, and I can see why. There are similarities, but not so many that you know whats going to happen. I found it really difficult to put down.
* I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for review via Netgalley. This has not influenced my review.
* I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for review via Netgalley. This has not influenced my review.
MissCagey (2652 KP) rated The Paperboy (2012) in Movies
Dec 4, 2017
Can you really know someone after writing a few letters? This was an interesting film based on a true story of a woman who believed she had found her true love. the fact he was in prison for murder did not faze her and she was determined to have him released. She contacts two writers to investigate his case to try and get him freed. I really wanted to find out whether he was innocent or not and the twists and turns keep you gripped throughout. Very compelling.
Book Divas (227 KP) rated Gizelle's Bucket List: My Life with a Very Large Dog in Books
Dec 12, 2017
Finally found my notebook that contained this review!!
I must say that I experienced many emotions while reading this book. I laughed and I cried and I often reminisced about my fur baby that passed a couple of years ago as he was my love, my companion, and friend. I think that animal lovers will certainly enjoy reading about the adventures contained within this book.
{I requested a review copy from NetGalley and made no guarantees of a favorable outcome. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
I must say that I experienced many emotions while reading this book. I laughed and I cried and I often reminisced about my fur baby that passed a couple of years ago as he was my love, my companion, and friend. I think that animal lovers will certainly enjoy reading about the adventures contained within this book.
{I requested a review copy from NetGalley and made no guarantees of a favorable outcome. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
Book Divas (227 KP) rated A Stolen Kiss (Stolen Royals #1) in Books
Dec 12, 2017 (Updated Dec 12, 2017)
I received an eARC via NetGalley. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinion expressed here is unbiased and my own.
I will admit that though it took me a bit to get into the swing of this story I eventually found myself getting caught in the web this author weaved. The story line did start off slow but once it picked up I enjoyed the fantasy and the beautiful characters. I must say that I loved the cover and that's the main reason why I picked this book to read.
I will admit that though it took me a bit to get into the swing of this story I eventually found myself getting caught in the web this author weaved. The story line did start off slow but once it picked up I enjoyed the fantasy and the beautiful characters. I must say that I loved the cover and that's the main reason why I picked this book to read.
Book Divas (227 KP) rated Phoenix Awakens (The Phoenix, #1) in Books
Dec 12, 2017
I received an ARC when I signed up and was selected to host the book tour. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are my own.
This teen/young adult read is well written with ever developing characters and I enjoyed reading it. You'll find secret socieities, rituals, magic and a developing romance between my two favorite characters, Julia and Graham. I found it hard to put the book down. There are definitely some lose ends so I look forward to reading the next book.
This teen/young adult read is well written with ever developing characters and I enjoyed reading it. You'll find secret socieities, rituals, magic and a developing romance between my two favorite characters, Julia and Graham. I found it hard to put the book down. There are definitely some lose ends so I look forward to reading the next book.