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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2196 KP) rated Stardust Trail in Books

Aug 23, 2022 (Updated Aug 23, 2022)  
Stardust Trail
Stardust Trail
J. R. Sanders | 2020 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Searching for a Missing Writer
PI Nate Ross is a rarity in 1938 Hollywood – someone who lives in the LA area but isn’t that interested in the movie industry. Still, he’s willing to take on a case for one of the smaller studios. The writer of a picture they are hoping will propel them into a more respected part of the market has gone missing, and they need him for rewrites. As Nate begins investigating, he learns of other issues the film has been having, and soon he’s looking into the sabotage, too. Are the two things connected?

I bought this book when the author gave a talk at my local library a few months back. I’m glad I did. As always, I enjoyed the Hollywood setting, but I especially enjoyed the scenes that took Nate to the area I live. Granted, it has changed a lot since the time when the book was set. The story itself is strong with plenty of action to keep us engaged. I had a few things figured out, but I missed some other clues that Nate used to solve things. The characters are engaging, as well. This has the feel of a classic PI novel, so it has a bit more content than I would typically read. It also means that Nate’s sense of humor made me laugh as I was reading. Fortunately, I already have the sequel since I’m looking forward to visiting Nate again soon.
  
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Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Vow in Books

May 10, 2018  
TV
The Vow
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Three friends vow at another friend's wedding that they are going to find husbands within the next year. Women like Trista, Amaya, and Vivian don't come around a lot, so any man would be lucky to have them. Trista, the Hollywood agent, who is accomplishing everything she set out to do. Amaya, emerging actress who wants just one man, problem: he's married. And Vivian, she has been pining over her baby daddy since the moment she met him, if only she could get him to return the feelings instead of just meeting up for "ex-sex". Will the women be able to accomplish The Vow, or are they meant for other things.
  
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
2019 | Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Graphic (2 more)
Set
Cgi
Ruining a strong female (0 more)
Hollywood once again taking strong female hero turing her to love sick fool
I was so excited for this film. However I left feeling disapointed. There was so much promise in this film. Great ine liners that showed a strong girl and one part had her in a bar and fighting for the right reason fighting for the little guy for what right. However instead of a great story and plot and a strong female hero we got left with a love sick tween who motivations for seeing the end of the villain purely on tween love rather than somone who was fighting for the greater good and this left me sad.
  
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Lee (2222 KP) Feb 11, 2019

Yeah the whole love interest thing was pointless

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Sarah (7798 KP) rated I Let You Go in Books

Feb 2, 2018  
I Let You Go
I Let You Go
Clare Mackintosh | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.3 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
A great crime thriller
Clare Mackintosh really knows how to write a good crime thriller. Her background in policing comes across so obviously and it makes for a very detailed and realistic story. With a background on policing myself it's refreshing to read a crime story that isn't completely hollywood-ised. Embellished a little maybe, but still a very good representation of policing today.

The plot itself is good and interesting, although potentially not entirely unique. The characters are well developed and I like the twists, some are definitely surprising whereas others may be a little more predictable.


 In all a very good, well written crime story that is definitely not run of the mill.
  
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Chloe (778 KP) May 8, 2020

Couldnt have put it better myself. It was nice to actually read about budgeting etc. Which we all know is a factor of police work

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Crime, Drama
The screenplay!
Man, just when I think Hollywood has nothing fresh to give us, they crank out a gem like this film.

When a sassy divorced Missouri woman is unhappy with local law enforcement after her daughter's brutal rape/murder case has gone cold, she takes matters into her own hands to try and spark some progress by purchasing three billboards shaming them.

The real star here is the dialogue. What a fresh, engaging, sometimes nasty script really kept me laughing, gasping and thoroughly entertained and wanting to know what happens next.

I would say the third act is a slight disappointment, but doesn't detract from an overall mesmerizing film.

  
The Clovehitch Killer (2018)
The Clovehitch Killer (2018)
2018 | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Well done
This low budget thriller was quite the find. It's a very thought provoking, emotionally stirring tale about a teenage boy who starts to realize that his "all american dad" might be a serial killer. The acting was good and the cinematography was decent enough. The story was the shining glory here. It unfolded beautifully and is a wonderful example of how a movie can be EXTREMELY good even without a big Hollywood budget. Everything fell into place perfectly throughout and it even had a bit of a twist at the end. Nothing too gory or flashy in this one but I highly recommend it. Especially if you're into "true crime" style movies. Worth a watch!
  
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