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Cece writes biographies of dead mystery authors. While working on a biography of Erle Stanley Gardner, she finds a letter he'd received from a prisoner who claimed to be innocent. Can Cece dig up this cold case and prove the man innocent? I found this debut a little slow at times, but I was still drawn to Cece and the mystery.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-i-dreamed-i-married-perry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-i-dreamed-i-married-perry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Dominique Marie (7 KP) rated Like Water for Chocolate (Como agua para chocolate) in Books
Nov 28, 2018
I found this story to be really cute. There is just this innocent feel to it that I really loved about it. I also enjoyed Magical Realism elements very much. My one complaint is that I would have preferred it if she had ended up the man that she didn't end up with in the end.
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated The Anarchist's Wife in Books
Jan 8, 2023
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
I found this novella extremely interesting. There was a lot of information to take in. It's been written from the wife's point of view and you can't seem to work out 100% for guilty or innocent. My first instinct is yep, of course, he's guilty, he's bound to be but then there are little things that could say he's innocent.
I've enjoyed reading this and recommend you read it too.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
I found this novella extremely interesting. There was a lot of information to take in. It's been written from the wife's point of view and you can't seem to work out 100% for guilty or innocent. My first instinct is yep, of course, he's guilty, he's bound to be but then there are little things that could say he's innocent.
I've enjoyed reading this and recommend you read it too.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated One Wrong Word in Books
Jul 25, 2024
Rehabbing the Innocent. But Is He Innocent?
Ned Bannister, on trial for hitting and killing a man with his car, has been found innocent. But the public isn’t so ready to forgive, which means life is still difficult for him and his family. That’s why his wife, Cordelia, hires PR expert Arden Ward to help. But Arden is having a crisis of her own, with her job on the line after being accused of an affair. When the Bannister’s case takes an unexpected turn, Arden is left wondering who she can trust. Can she figure out a way to help her client and find her future?
This book has an interesting premise, and I was quickly hooked. But then we hit the middle, where we had questions asked multiple times with very few answers of any kind. I would have been happy with lies, even, to advance the story and set up some twists. We do reach a satisfying climax, but the pacing could have been better. One character was whiney, but I found the rest of the characters likeable, and enjoyed spending time with them. Most of the story is told from Arden’s third person point-of-view, which helps us get to know her better, but we get some chapters from other’s view points. I’m wondering if I’m just not having realistic expectations for phycological thrillers. If you like the genre and this premise sounds interesting, definitely give this book a chance.
This book has an interesting premise, and I was quickly hooked. But then we hit the middle, where we had questions asked multiple times with very few answers of any kind. I would have been happy with lies, even, to advance the story and set up some twists. We do reach a satisfying climax, but the pacing could have been better. One character was whiney, but I found the rest of the characters likeable, and enjoyed spending time with them. Most of the story is told from Arden’s third person point-of-view, which helps us get to know her better, but we get some chapters from other’s view points. I’m wondering if I’m just not having realistic expectations for phycological thrillers. If you like the genre and this premise sounds interesting, definitely give this book a chance.
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.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated The Chocolate Clown Corpse (A Chocoholic Mystery, #14) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Clowns are the theme for the annual winter carnival in Warner Pier, which is ironic since the man who ran the clown themed store in town was murdered about a month before it starts. Since that store was next door to TenHuis Chocolade, Lee Woodyard is hoping to buy it to expand the business. That’s how she meets the family and gets further involved when evidence begins appearing suggestion the homeless man who has been arrest for the murder might be innocent. But if he is innocent, who actually did it?
The book started out a little slowly, but once it gained speed, I found it hard to put it down, as always. I did spot the ending a little early, but I was having so much fun I didn’t mind. Lee, her husband Joe, and the new characters are great, but I do wish we could see more of the supporting cast – another common complaint when it comes to this series. Still, fans of Lee’s will gobble this book down like always.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-chocolate-clown-corpse-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book started out a little slowly, but once it gained speed, I found it hard to put it down, as always. I did spot the ending a little early, but I was having so much fun I didn’t mind. Lee, her husband Joe, and the new characters are great, but I do wish we could see more of the supporting cast – another common complaint when it comes to this series. Still, fans of Lee’s will gobble this book down like always.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-chocolate-clown-corpse-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Jun 11, 2022
Tracy Carr-Harding (4 KP) rated Assassin's Creed in Video Games
Jan 16, 2018
The Good Guys Win Again
I know I am not your conventional gamer, I'm over 50 and a woman, but my son thought I should try this, as I have enjoyed playing other similar format games. I agreed, albeit unwillingly, but was hooked within a short time. I found that time ran away with me, when I was being Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, and I wanted to complete one more mission, find one more treasure, and rescue one more innocent. The story was easy to follow, the maps fairly easy to read, and the graphics made it a very pretty place to venture around. All in all, I am very happy that my son talked me into playing, and am now on game 7 in the series, and still loving them!!!!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning in Books
Jul 26, 2024
A Little Murder for Christmas
This year, Anty Boisjoly is planning to spend Christmas with his aunt Azalea, who is a bit of a recluse. He hasn’t visited her in years, in fact. When Anty arrives, Azalea informs him that she’s just discovered the body of her next-door neighbor, a man she’d begun to be friendly with. The victim is a local war hero, and everyone in the village is upset by the news. Unfortunately, the footprints in the snow make it look like Azalea is the only person who could have realistically killed the man. Oh, and there’s also the fact that he was seen by many people in the pub hours after Azalea claims she found the body. Can Anty figure out what really happened and prove his aunt innocent?
The book doesn’t hesitate, jumping into the murder in the first chapter. I found the pacing to be a little uneven, especially early on. The further I got into the book, the more impossibility we saw, and the more I was engaged. By the end, everything made sense. I also found the suspects a little shallow. I loved the first in the series, so maybe my expectations were too high here. The one thing that was definitely the same as the first book was the dry wit. I laughed so much reading this book. We get some nice Christmas cheer over the course of the book as well. Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone looking for a humorous impossible crime mystery.
The book doesn’t hesitate, jumping into the murder in the first chapter. I found the pacing to be a little uneven, especially early on. The further I got into the book, the more impossibility we saw, and the more I was engaged. By the end, everything made sense. I also found the suspects a little shallow. I loved the first in the series, so maybe my expectations were too high here. The one thing that was definitely the same as the first book was the dry wit. I laughed so much reading this book. We get some nice Christmas cheer over the course of the book as well. Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone looking for a humorous impossible crime mystery.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Due or Die in Books
Jan 19, 2019
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.
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.