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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Missing Hours in Books
Jan 12, 2018
I have read Hidden by Emma previously and found it to be a riveting read so when The Missing Hours appeared on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it and am grateful to the publisher, Random House UK, Cornerstone, for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.
What a fantastic book! I was completely absorbed from the start.
Visit <a href="https://readingstuffnthings.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/the-missing-hours-by-emma-kavanagh.html">Reading Stuff 'n' Things</a> for my full review.
What a fantastic book! I was completely absorbed from the start.
Visit <a href="https://readingstuffnthings.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/the-missing-hours-by-emma-kavanagh.html">Reading Stuff 'n' Things</a> for my full review.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated The Spellmans Strike Again (The Spellmans, #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
For this go around about a family of dysfunctional PI's, Rae is obsessed with getting a wrongfully convicted man out of jail, Izzy is trying to find a missing butler, and doorknobs are disappearing from the Spellman's house. As usually, the family relationships provide the laughs and the plot with any mystery being secondary. And, as always, the book is very funny and hard to put down.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-spellmans-strike-again-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-spellmans-strike-again-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated How to Survive a Killer Séance (Party Planning, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Event planner Presley Parker is hired for a seance themed party at the Winchester Mystery House. But part way through, the "ghost" goes off script. Next thing she knows, the host is missing and a body has turned up. I really like the characters, but plot could have used a bit more polish. It dragged in a few places, and the ending felt rushed.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-how-to-survive-killer.html">Carstairs Considers</a>
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-how-to-survive-killer.html">Carstairs Considers</a>
ClareR (5589 KP) rated The Housekeepers in Books
Aug 4, 2023
Ok, so full disclosure: this WILL be in my top reads this year. I loved every page. Every page that I would have turned much quicker if I hadn’t been reading on The Pigeonhole!!
Mrs King, the housekeeper of a Mayfair house, is sacked when she is discovered trying to access the male servants corridor at night. She recruits a group of women to exact her revenge: a woman who runs a black market business; an actress; a seamstress; and Mrs King’s predecessor. They all have more in common than you’d think, and they all have scores to settle.
I loved everything about The Housekeepers: I felt that the historical details were spot on, and I really wanted the women to come out on top. This is a really audacious plan, and I’m sure that anyone else reading it would want them to succeed as well.
And the secrets within the walls of that house!! The women want to expose this family just as much as they want to completely clear out the house.
The night of the party is a wondrous thing: even the Princess comes along (and with a warning!). There are acrobats, gentry, amazing costumes, and the most startling way of removing artwork from a house that I’ve ever heard of!
But of course there’s much more to this than meets the eye, and Mrs King has a bone to pick with the lady of the house.
Honestly, this is a wonderfully imaginative book - you should read it!!
Mrs King, the housekeeper of a Mayfair house, is sacked when she is discovered trying to access the male servants corridor at night. She recruits a group of women to exact her revenge: a woman who runs a black market business; an actress; a seamstress; and Mrs King’s predecessor. They all have more in common than you’d think, and they all have scores to settle.
I loved everything about The Housekeepers: I felt that the historical details were spot on, and I really wanted the women to come out on top. This is a really audacious plan, and I’m sure that anyone else reading it would want them to succeed as well.
And the secrets within the walls of that house!! The women want to expose this family just as much as they want to completely clear out the house.
The night of the party is a wondrous thing: even the Princess comes along (and with a warning!). There are acrobats, gentry, amazing costumes, and the most startling way of removing artwork from a house that I’ve ever heard of!
But of course there’s much more to this than meets the eye, and Mrs King has a bone to pick with the lady of the house.
Honestly, this is a wonderfully imaginative book - you should read it!!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated Dashing Through the Snowbirds in Books
Dec 23, 2022 (Updated Dec 23, 2022)
Programming an Ice Cold Murder
It’s a few days before Christmas, but Meg’s house isn’t full of visiting relatives like normal. Instead, it’s full of Canadians who are there trying to finish up a rush project. They are working with Mutant Wizards, Meg’s brother’s computer company. Their CEO, however, is less than ethical. Just as Meg starts to learn some of the things he’s been doing recently, he is killed out in her yard. Is she harboring a killer in her house?
It had a very busy couple of weeks, and I hadn’t realized just how stressful until I sat down with this book and began to truly relax while visiting Meg’s world again. As with the other Christmas entries in the series, the Christmas spirit comes through on every page. But it never forgets it is a murder mystery. The climax could have been a little stronger, but I’m being nitpicky there. I absolutely love this cast of characters, and I delighted in spending more time with them. They had me smiling and laughing as I read. If you need a dose of Christmas spirit, this book will definitely give it to you.
It had a very busy couple of weeks, and I hadn’t realized just how stressful until I sat down with this book and began to truly relax while visiting Meg’s world again. As with the other Christmas entries in the series, the Christmas spirit comes through on every page. But it never forgets it is a murder mystery. The climax could have been a little stronger, but I’m being nitpicky there. I absolutely love this cast of characters, and I delighted in spending more time with them. They had me smiling and laughing as I read. If you need a dose of Christmas spirit, this book will definitely give it to you.
Lee (2222 KP) rated Sherlock Gnomes (2018) in Movies
May 6, 2018
Too many new, pointless characters (2 more)
Ridiculous, predictable plot
Sherlock Gnomes himself. Completely dull
A disappointing sequel to a great family movie
Gnomeo and Juliet is a firm favourite in the Boardman house. A clever mix of charm, humour and Elton John songs. Unfortunately this followup, Sherlock Gnomes, is the complete opposite. As the gnomes move to London, they get mixed up in some strange plot involving gnome kidnapping. And it's up to Johnny Depp as the dull Sherlock Gnomes to try and solve the mystery. Predictable, unfunny, and crammed full of unnecessary and uninteresting characters.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated The Penguin Who Knew Too Much (Meg Langslow, #8) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Meg and Michael are finally ready to move into their new house. Unfortunately, Meg's dad finds a dead body while digging a pool for the penguins. Wait a minute. Penguins? Yep, it's another mad cap romp with Meg and her family. I found the book very funny and laughed the entire way through. Unfortunately, the ending was a tad weak for my tastes. But that was the only flaw in the book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-penguin-who-knew-too-much.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-penguin-who-knew-too-much.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated The Secret of the Mansion (Trixie Belden #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Meet Trixie, Honey, and Jim as the trio form a friendship and hunt for the treasure that is supposed to be in Jim's great uncle's old house.
This is a very favorite series from childhood on, and I just love meeting the characters again for the first time. They aren't quite themselves yet, and can be annoying as a result. Just know they grow stronger from their friendships by the next in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-secret-of-mansion-by-julie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a very favorite series from childhood on, and I just love meeting the characters again for the first time. They aren't quite themselves yet, and can be annoying as a result. Just know they grow stronger from their friendships by the next in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-secret-of-mansion-by-julie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated Mr. Monk is Cleaned Out (Mr. Monk, #10) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Monk is fired by the SFPD, Natalie tries to find them both jobs. Meanwhile, Monk is obsessed with proving a man under house arrest for his ponzi scheme is also guilty of murder. The set up was a bit too familiar since it was also used a couple of books ago. A few of the characters also seemed over the top. Minor complaints in another great tie in novel.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-mr-monk-is-cleaned-out-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-mr-monk-is-cleaned-out-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Kristin (149 KP) rated The Art Of The Next Best in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest (not necessarily positive) review.
I'm currently bingeing the 4th season of "House of Cards," and I must say this novella fits right into the frame of mind that goes hand in hand with that show. Just these few pages has me geared up and ready to go, playing "spot the backroom deal," "whose hand is in whose pocket," and so forth. If this is a lead-in for the 5th full book, go ahead and sign me up!
5 stars
I'm currently bingeing the 4th season of "House of Cards," and I must say this novella fits right into the frame of mind that goes hand in hand with that show. Just these few pages has me geared up and ready to go, playing "spot the backroom deal," "whose hand is in whose pocket," and so forth. If this is a lead-in for the 5th full book, go ahead and sign me up!
5 stars