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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2482 KP) rated Due or Die in Books

Jan 19, 2019

Due or Die

Jenn McKinlay | 2012 | Mystery

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Due Read This Book

Carrie Rushton has just been elected president of the Friends of the Library. Even though Lindsay Norris isn't a member of the group since she's the head of the library itself, she is thrilled to be working with someone bringing fresh ideas and perspectives. However, after Carrie's first meeting in her new role, she returns home to find her husband shot to death. People are quick to jump to the conclusion that Carrie is guilty, but Lindsay is sure the woman is innocent. Will a winter storm coming to the area turn the trail of the real killer cold?

While I still don't have all the supporting characters straight in my head, the characters important to this mystery are all well developed. That includes not only the suspects, but the main characters. Thanks to a couple of sub-plots, I found the pacing uneven, although things did pick up for the climax. Things do fit together well, but there is a major timing issue in the climax. It annoys, but it is minor overall. While I always enjoy Jenn's books, I found this one super funny, laughing out loud multiple times over the course of the story. I'm already looking forward to my next stop at this library.

Kudos

Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated Fifty Shades Darker in Books

Jan 12, 2020

Fifty Shades Darker

E.L. James | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry

7.3

(43 Ratings)

Book Rating

I found myself having a really hard time getting through this novel! Having seen the movies and knowing what happens in this section of the trilogy, I still was fighting myself to finish. I read this and it's counterpart "Darker" at the same time to give myself a more comprehensive view of the story and that definitely helped - being able to know what Ana was doing when she was away from Christian and vice versa, but also being in both of their heads when they were together, having sex, fighting, whatever the situation may be. I still found "Darker" to be more compelling. I think Ana's strongest moment as a character, thus far in the series, is in this novel during her run-in with Hyde. I also greatly appreciated his character development from the beginning of the novel to the end. The excerpt given at the end of this novel is what makes reading "Fifty Shades Freed" so intriguing.

I said it in my review of "Darker" but I'm still angry that there isn't a third Christian point of view to match "Freed" but I'm still eager to round out this series and move on. I can't say I'll ever read them again, but I don't regret starting them, that's for sure.

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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Stranger Things - Season 2 in TV

Aug 4, 2019

Another great series

I binge watched this entire series in one day, and it really was rather entertaining. The first episodes start off rather slowly, but this at least gives a chance to catch up with the returning characters and introduce some new faces. It soon picks up though, and is packed full on intrigue, humour, some rather dark moments and of course a pretty awesome soundtrack. The CGI has improved a fair bit since the last series and it was such an enjoyable series to watch. My favourite parts so far were anything involving Hopper. David Harbour is just fantastic and Hopper’s character has developed well this series, especially his relationship with Eleven. Her story and development too was good to see.

Of course it isn’t perfect. I found parts of the storyline ridiculously predictable, even if they were alright to watch (like Eleven’s storyline). I liked most of the new characters but I found Bob a little too much and sickly sweet (sorry!). And the whole childhood romance thing was a little too over the top and cringey and a bit much.

But still overall one of the best series Netflix has to offer and I’m just looking forward to catching up on series 3 now!

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Show all 3 comments.

Lee (2222 KP) Aug 5, 2019

I only watched season 2 a couple of weeks ago, before moving onto season 3. Like you, I binged it, and absolutely loved it. I'm in the minority (as usual), but I didn't think season 3 was as good as 2. Nearly there, but not quite. Interested to find out what you thought though, once you've seen it.

Kudos

Sarah (7800 KP) Aug 5, 2019

@Lee season 3 is this weekend's watch, so I'll let you know!

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ClareR (6067 KP) rated Stone Mothers in Books

Aug 6, 2019

Stone Mothers

Erin Kelly | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller

8.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

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.