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Ross (3284 KP) rated Tell Me Lies in Books
Jan 28, 2020
A change in style for James
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ed James' new series takes place in Seattle rather than the UK-based series he has penned to date. There is also a change in subject, focusing on child abductions rather than the standard "murrdurr" fayre.
Special Agent Max Carter is tasked with tracking down a senator's abducted children. With the clock ticking, we see the action from the abductor's PoV as well as Carter's and the father's. The senator finds himself trying to help the abductor of his children to uncover a government conspiracy in which he may have been involved. The mix of different perspectives allows the story to flow with a good pace, with different angles of the emerging story adding up for the reader in way they wouldn't yet do for the characters. In the middle of the book the investigation did start to feel a little samey (both the FBI agents and the abductor/senator teams going through the same leads one after the other), but this didn't last long.
The change in location sadly comes with a change in writing style and this was a downside for me. I like James' flowing narrative and the American tone and style were quite jarring. I would say more American than genuine American authors. However once I accepted this it did not spoil my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
The ending of the story was mostly satisfying but with some loose ends that I hope to see addressed in subsequent books.
A departure for James' readers but worth the trip, and a good book for fans of Harlan Coben and David Baldacci.
Ed James' new series takes place in Seattle rather than the UK-based series he has penned to date. There is also a change in subject, focusing on child abductions rather than the standard "murrdurr" fayre.
Special Agent Max Carter is tasked with tracking down a senator's abducted children. With the clock ticking, we see the action from the abductor's PoV as well as Carter's and the father's. The senator finds himself trying to help the abductor of his children to uncover a government conspiracy in which he may have been involved. The mix of different perspectives allows the story to flow with a good pace, with different angles of the emerging story adding up for the reader in way they wouldn't yet do for the characters. In the middle of the book the investigation did start to feel a little samey (both the FBI agents and the abductor/senator teams going through the same leads one after the other), but this didn't last long.
The change in location sadly comes with a change in writing style and this was a downside for me. I like James' flowing narrative and the American tone and style were quite jarring. I would say more American than genuine American authors. However once I accepted this it did not spoil my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
The ending of the story was mostly satisfying but with some loose ends that I hope to see addressed in subsequent books.
A departure for James' readers but worth the trip, and a good book for fans of Harlan Coben and David Baldacci.
And on That Bombshell: Inside the Madness and Genius of Top Gear
Book
I was Top Gear's script editor for 13 years and all 22 series. I basically used to check spelling...
Dean (6927 KP) rated Ocean’s 8 (2018) in Movies
Jun 29, 2018
Decent heist film
I didn't see any reviews before seeing this so I had an open mind. I didn't expect much but found it enjoyable enough as a fan of the the other films. The cast is overall impressive, although Helena Bonham Carter was a bit panto and Rihanna doesn't have many lines. I thought James Corden was miscast as the insurance investigator. Cate Blanchet and Anne Hathaway stood out the most.
It doesn't have the Razmatazz and humour of the original, but it did have a couple of ties to the other films. Don't expect anything too deep or meaningful and you should enjoy it.
It doesn't have the Razmatazz and humour of the original, but it did have a couple of ties to the other films. Don't expect anything too deep or meaningful and you should enjoy it.
Nicholas Cage recommended A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) in Movies (curated)
Pocket (19 KP) rated Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014) in Movies
Jul 14, 2017
Cgi (1 more)
Andy Serkis
Dawn Dirty Apes
Contains spoilers, click to show
This moved the story along for the first film with some nice call backs to James Franko's character later on.
Overall I enjoyed this but it suffers from the same problems as the first film, a slightly meandering plot that would have been better served by less running time.
Overall I enjoyed this but it suffers from the same problems as the first film, a slightly meandering plot that would have been better served by less running time.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Cleaner: John Milton, Book 1 in Books
Jul 28, 2017
If Jason Bourne was a social worker
Unlike James Bond, government hitman turned fugitive John Milton has a heart and attempts to assuade his guilt by hitting the mean streets of Hackney. While his intentions are good, I think Milton is too much of a flawed character to become a hero so he's a bit of a tragic protagonist.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Atonement (2007) in Movies
Mar 13, 2018
Firstly, that continuous shot at Dunkirk beach is fantastic. I love everything Keira Knightly is in, and her and James McAvoy are perfect together (that library scene...). The acting is brilliant, and the story is so good on film (book-not so much).
This film always makes me cry, it softens my little stone, black heart.
This film always makes me cry, it softens my little stone, black heart.
Testament Of Youth (2015)
7.7
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A British woman recalls coming of age during World War I - a story of young love, the futility of...
