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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated Fixing to Die (Southern Ladies Mystery, #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Sisters An’gel and Dickce Ducote are only too happy to help Mary Turner Catlin, the granddaughter of their friend. It seems the family house is haunted, and she wants them to help her figure out what is causing the problem. It isn’t too long after they arrive that they begin to experience some strange things, but it’s the uninvited guests who really up the tension. What are the sisters involved in now?
I love the main characters in this book, both human and four legged, so I was glad to get a chance to visit them again. They delight as always, and the new characters are strong as well. The pacing was a little off over all, but the haunted house aspect is a nice addition to the mystery. Fans of the author will enjoy this latest book.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-fixing-to-die-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I love the main characters in this book, both human and four legged, so I was glad to get a chance to visit them again. They delight as always, and the new characters are strong as well. The pacing was a little off over all, but the haunted house aspect is a nice addition to the mystery. Fans of the author will enjoy this latest book.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-fixing-to-die-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Cody and her friends love everything about codes and have formed their own club to learn how to use them. When Cody and Quinn observe strangers in the house of the neighbor recluse, they are curious. Then his house catches fire and they find a code. Where will it lead?
It leads to a book kids will love. The mystery is strong, and the codes help propel the story forward. There’s a code in almost every chapter the reader is invited to solve (the solution is at the back of the book). At the end, there is more information on codes that kids can use after they’ve finished reading the story. The characters are a little thin, but that’s something only adults will care about. The target middle grade audience will love this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-secret-of-skeleton-key-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
It leads to a book kids will love. The mystery is strong, and the codes help propel the story forward. There’s a code in almost every chapter the reader is invited to solve (the solution is at the back of the book). At the end, there is more information on codes that kids can use after they’ve finished reading the story. The characters are a little thin, but that’s something only adults will care about. The target middle grade audience will love this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-secret-of-skeleton-key-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated Fun House (John Ceepak Mystery, #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
A reality competition has come to Sea Haven, and Ceepak and Danny have gotten caught up in the action when the sudden star of the show is caught with steroids. But when the bodies turn up, they have to dig deep to find the killer. As always, I loved spending time in this resort town and with the cops, who continue to develop as a characters. The book is filled with foul language, which reminds me why I don't watch the shows that were being spoofed here.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-fun-house-by-chris.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-fun-house-by-chris.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Dork_knight74 (881 KP) rated ARQ (2016) in Movies
Aug 14, 2018
Intense sci-fi
This Netflix original is a good one. Once again Netflix comes through with an excellent story. Time travel is always a tough one to make work but they did in this intense action thriller. The characters were played well and the film work was extremely good. It takes place in one house/lab where a machine designed to generate limitless energy somehow loops time. The protagonists have to keep figuring out what to do in each loop to survive. The story unfolds beautifully and is full of twists and turns. Some violence but nothing gory- pretty family friendly. REALLY worth a watch!
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Twice Told Tales (1963) in Movies
Dec 15, 2020
Triple Threat
Twice Told Tales- is very like "Tales of Terror", were it tells three different stoires that all star Vincent Price. Both films are based off of stories.
The Plot: Vincent Price stars in three horror stories. In "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," Dr. Carl Heidegger (Sebastian Cabot) reanimates his long-dead fiancée. In "Rappacini's Daughter," psychotically over-protective father Giacomo Rappacini (Price) injects his daughter, Beatrice (Joyce Taylor), full of poisons that kill anyone she comes into physical contact with. Finally, in "The House of the Seven Gables," Gerald Pyncheon (Price) moves into his cursed family mansion with his new wife.
Its a decent film.
The Plot: Vincent Price stars in three horror stories. In "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," Dr. Carl Heidegger (Sebastian Cabot) reanimates his long-dead fiancée. In "Rappacini's Daughter," psychotically over-protective father Giacomo Rappacini (Price) injects his daughter, Beatrice (Joyce Taylor), full of poisons that kill anyone she comes into physical contact with. Finally, in "The House of the Seven Gables," Gerald Pyncheon (Price) moves into his cursed family mansion with his new wife.
Its a decent film.
Charlotte (184 KP) rated The Lightning House in Books
Oct 26, 2021
Gripping read
The lightning house throws you straight into the action from the very first page. Being based on a true story helps to draw you in even further to this gripping story and makes it all the more shocking......it had me breathless a fair few times!
Full of danger and intrigue, you'll find it hard to put down this well written and thrilling read. You'll find yourself immersed in a whole new world from your daily life and perhaps have you wondering how people get by with so many secrets and lies in their lives.
Definitely an adult read that would go nicely with a cheeky drink and chocolate.
The lightning house throws you straight into the action from the very first page. Being based on a true story helps to draw you in even further to this gripping story and makes it all the more shocking......it had me breathless a fair few times!
Full of danger and intrigue, you'll find it hard to put down this well written and thrilling read. You'll find yourself immersed in a whole new world from your daily life and perhaps have you wondering how people get by with so many secrets and lies in their lives.
Definitely an adult read that would go nicely with a cheeky drink and chocolate.
BookwormLea (3034 KP) rated Locke and Key in TV
May 1, 2020
The weirdest show I've seen in a while...
Contains spoilers, click to show
I recommended this show to myself on the ideal that it was going to be similar to Stranger Things which I absolutely love. I was like 30% right? Its similar in that I can't stop watching and it's so weird! I'm literally on the 3rd episode but i had to do a review now knowing it would get weirder...
The gist of the plot is that a mother and her 3 children move into their ancestral home (Key House) after their father dies. It is later revealed that he was murdered for withholding information on the Key House. Within a day of moving in, the youngest child, Brode, discovers a well house and his 'Echo' which we find out is actually a demon set on finding the keys that are hidden throughout the house and grounds. So far, from what I've seen, these keys include a Head Key; to look into someones memories and emotions, an Anywhere Key; to go anywhere you want in the world with a door, and a Mirror Key; which allows you to step into a mirror world full of your doubts and fears and is by far the creepiest key.
As I said before, I know it's going to get stranger, I've seen the creepy thing in Kinseys head and that Tyler basically told the kid to shoot his dad... and then there is the mystery of the fathers friends dying when they were younger in a sea cave??? Strange! Can't wait to finish it and apparently the Season 2 is out this year!!!
The gist of the plot is that a mother and her 3 children move into their ancestral home (Key House) after their father dies. It is later revealed that he was murdered for withholding information on the Key House. Within a day of moving in, the youngest child, Brode, discovers a well house and his 'Echo' which we find out is actually a demon set on finding the keys that are hidden throughout the house and grounds. So far, from what I've seen, these keys include a Head Key; to look into someones memories and emotions, an Anywhere Key; to go anywhere you want in the world with a door, and a Mirror Key; which allows you to step into a mirror world full of your doubts and fears and is by far the creepiest key.
As I said before, I know it's going to get stranger, I've seen the creepy thing in Kinseys head and that Tyler basically told the kid to shoot his dad... and then there is the mystery of the fathers friends dying when they were younger in a sea cave??? Strange! Can't wait to finish it and apparently the Season 2 is out this year!!!
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Dead Set in TV
Aug 18, 2019 (Updated Oct 25, 2019)
Dead Set in short - a six part British drama series, set around a zombie apocalypse, where most of the story takes place in the Big Brother house.
It's also from the mind of Charlie Brooker - the creator of Black Mirror, and the results are pretty good.
The opening episode deals with an eviction night of the British Big Brother series, where everyone involved both on camera and behind the scenes go about their usual business.
As a virus takes hold and chaos quickly ensues, the Big Brother housemates are trapped inside the house - which happens to be pretty secure.
The way that Dead Set is shot is frantic when the action starts. It's nasty and gritty whilst keeping a British dark humour sort of charm without ever going full comedy. In fact, the series is really quite bleak throughout.
The episodes run at 20 minutes each with an extended pilot, clocking in at just over 2 hours and it managed to hold my attention throughout.
Of course, being a Charlie Brooker project, there's an underlying message - as the zombie horde surrounding the house grows and grows, even in death, the public are drawn towards trashy reality shows.
Considering Dead Set is a TV show aired on Channel 4, it's pretty impressive. Well worth checking out for anyone who enjoys horror.
It's also from the mind of Charlie Brooker - the creator of Black Mirror, and the results are pretty good.
The opening episode deals with an eviction night of the British Big Brother series, where everyone involved both on camera and behind the scenes go about their usual business.
As a virus takes hold and chaos quickly ensues, the Big Brother housemates are trapped inside the house - which happens to be pretty secure.
The way that Dead Set is shot is frantic when the action starts. It's nasty and gritty whilst keeping a British dark humour sort of charm without ever going full comedy. In fact, the series is really quite bleak throughout.
The episodes run at 20 minutes each with an extended pilot, clocking in at just over 2 hours and it managed to hold my attention throughout.
Of course, being a Charlie Brooker project, there's an underlying message - as the zombie horde surrounding the house grows and grows, even in death, the public are drawn towards trashy reality shows.
Considering Dead Set is a TV show aired on Channel 4, it's pretty impressive. Well worth checking out for anyone who enjoys horror.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated No One’s Home in Books
Aug 10, 2020
145 of 200
Kindle
No ones home
By D M Pulley
Margot and Myron Spielman move to a new town, looking for a fresh start and an escape from the long shadow of their past. But soon after they buy Rawlingswood, a foreclosed mansion rumored to be haunted, they realize they’re in for more of the same…or worse.
After a renovation fraught with injuries and setbacks, the Spielmans move in to the century-old house, and their problems quickly escalate. The home’s beautiful facade begins to crumble around them when their teenage son uncovers disturbing details of Rawlingswood’s history—a history of murder, betrayal, and financial ruin. The Spielmans’ own shameful secrets and lies become harder to hide as someone or something inside the house watches their every move.
As tensions build between the family members, the home’s dark history threatens to repeat itself. Margot and Myron must confront their own ghosts and Rawlingswood’s buried past before the house becomes their undoing.
Such a good book!! Full of mystery and suggestions of paranormal activity all written around historical events, places and people. I read mainly at night and in the dark so I got a few chills reading this. Such a well balanced and well executed book! You got drawn into all these characters lives!
Kindle
No ones home
By D M Pulley
Margot and Myron Spielman move to a new town, looking for a fresh start and an escape from the long shadow of their past. But soon after they buy Rawlingswood, a foreclosed mansion rumored to be haunted, they realize they’re in for more of the same…or worse.
After a renovation fraught with injuries and setbacks, the Spielmans move in to the century-old house, and their problems quickly escalate. The home’s beautiful facade begins to crumble around them when their teenage son uncovers disturbing details of Rawlingswood’s history—a history of murder, betrayal, and financial ruin. The Spielmans’ own shameful secrets and lies become harder to hide as someone or something inside the house watches their every move.
As tensions build between the family members, the home’s dark history threatens to repeat itself. Margot and Myron must confront their own ghosts and Rawlingswood’s buried past before the house becomes their undoing.
Such a good book!! Full of mystery and suggestions of paranormal activity all written around historical events, places and people. I read mainly at night and in the dark so I got a few chills reading this. Such a well balanced and well executed book! You got drawn into all these characters lives!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated The House Guest in Books
Jul 29, 2023
Will Helping a House Guest Hurt Alyssa?
Alyssa Macallan’s life is turned upside down when her husband walks out of their house one day. Facing a divorce she never expected, she finds herself drinking at a bar one Friday night, where she meets Bree Lorrance, who is also down on her luck. The two hit it off, and Alyssa invites Bree to move into her guest house. Helping Bree lets Alyssa forget her own problems, until her own problems heat back up. Will the two be able to help each other? Or do they have secret agendas?
I was hooked early on, although the book does take a little while to build up to the full plot. Once it does, I couldn’t wait to see how things would resolve for the characters. I appreciated the fact that no one seemed overly whiney here, although they could have repeated things less, giving the book more time to flesh out some of the late breaking twists. While knowing I couldn’t fully trust Alyssa and Bree, I really did like them both and hoped things would work out well for them. We get the book completely from Alyssa’s third person point of view which makes us question just what anyone else was thinking. Even with the pacing issues with the plot, I enjoyed this book overall.
I was hooked early on, although the book does take a little while to build up to the full plot. Once it does, I couldn’t wait to see how things would resolve for the characters. I appreciated the fact that no one seemed overly whiney here, although they could have repeated things less, giving the book more time to flesh out some of the late breaking twists. While knowing I couldn’t fully trust Alyssa and Bree, I really did like them both and hoped things would work out well for them. We get the book completely from Alyssa’s third person point of view which makes us question just what anyone else was thinking. Even with the pacing issues with the plot, I enjoyed this book overall.