Search
Search results
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Family in Books
May 22, 2019
Becky Morgan's family were the victims of the 'crimes of the decade'. The lone survivor of a ritualistic killing, Becky's been forever haunted by the memories of that night.
Twenty years later, with the killer never found, Becky is ready to hunt them down and exact revenge. But the path to find the murderer is a slippery slope and she finds herself opening up some old wounds that should have been left sealed.
Will Becky avenge her family or join them?
Wow!!! What a read this one was!
This was just so gripping from the very start. I was hooked straight away.
This book ticked all my boxes. Intense, chilling, scary and absolutely gripping. I could not put this book down.
I have never read anything from this author before but I am definitely going to be looking for more.
I don't want to say too much about things as don't want to ruin it.
Becky is the main character of our story and she survived a horrific and ritualistic killing of her entire family. She was injured and rescued by a man in the woods.
Now adult Becky is looking for the killer and revenge.
Intense and dark; will not let you go.
The ending was just MEGA WOW and didn't see that coming!!
Highly Recommend!
I would like to thank the author, Aria and Netgalley for the ARC and this is my honest voluntary review.
Twenty years later, with the killer never found, Becky is ready to hunt them down and exact revenge. But the path to find the murderer is a slippery slope and she finds herself opening up some old wounds that should have been left sealed.
Will Becky avenge her family or join them?
Wow!!! What a read this one was!
This was just so gripping from the very start. I was hooked straight away.
This book ticked all my boxes. Intense, chilling, scary and absolutely gripping. I could not put this book down.
I have never read anything from this author before but I am definitely going to be looking for more.
I don't want to say too much about things as don't want to ruin it.
Becky is the main character of our story and she survived a horrific and ritualistic killing of her entire family. She was injured and rescued by a man in the woods.
Now adult Becky is looking for the killer and revenge.
Intense and dark; will not let you go.
The ending was just MEGA WOW and didn't see that coming!!
Highly Recommend!
I would like to thank the author, Aria and Netgalley for the ARC and this is my honest voluntary review.
Joe Julians (221 KP) rated Murder on the Orient Express (2017) in Movies
Jan 30, 2018
Solid performances (1 more)
Beautifully shot
An average movie with some great performances
Kenneth Brannagh steals the show on Murder on the Orient Express, which is all the more remarkable when you consider he's pulling double duty here being the star and the director. His rendition of the greatest detective of all time, Poirot, is note perfect and almost always performed with a degre of a nuance that keeps him feeling like a real and grounded individual. He's backed up by a strong supporting cast that all do their best with limited screen time to bring something special to a script that doesn't always give them the most to work with.
It's the script here that I feel is the largest problem. Being a murder mystery, it's integral that all the pieces slot together so that by the time the killer reveal comes along- it feels earned. It's here where the movie really stumbles. Being an adaptation, it doesn't have much wriggle room when it comes to who the killer is, but when the movie draws to a close and we learn who's responsible, it comes across as a quite a weak resolution. The story hadn't built up to a point where it all feels real and instead it comes across as a random resolution that doesn't hold up to scrutiny.
Still though, its an enjoyable watch. I would however be interested to hear what others who are already familiar with the story feel about it.
It's the script here that I feel is the largest problem. Being a murder mystery, it's integral that all the pieces slot together so that by the time the killer reveal comes along- it feels earned. It's here where the movie really stumbles. Being an adaptation, it doesn't have much wriggle room when it comes to who the killer is, but when the movie draws to a close and we learn who's responsible, it comes across as a quite a weak resolution. The story hadn't built up to a point where it all feels real and instead it comes across as a random resolution that doesn't hold up to scrutiny.
Still though, its an enjoyable watch. I would however be interested to hear what others who are already familiar with the story feel about it.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2173 KP) rated Dogged in Books
Oct 26, 2018
Joe and Tommy must Doggedly Track Down Another Killer
It starts with the discovery of a naked body in Camelback Mountain. The victim, a female, had been discovered not too far from the hiking path by some early morning hikers. The weirdest part is that all of the bones in her legs and arms had been broken before she died. Phoenix homicide detectives Joe Rodriguez and Tommy Flaherty are assigned to the case, but while they are still tracking down the victim's identity, another body is found. This one has the same broken bones, but it is several months older. Joe is finding himself distracted by his concerns over his new relationship with Bridgid, Tommy's cousin. Can he focus on the case long enough to solve it?
I was very pleasantly surprised earlier this year when I saw this book pop up. This is definitely a book that falls into the traditional part of the mystery spectrum, but it doesn't get much worse than what I teased already. The plot is strong and doesn't try to delve into the mind of the serial killer, just tries to catch the person, and we get a strong mystery as Joe and Tommy work to do that. I did feel the ending was a bit weak since it hit two of my pet peeves, but they were minor overall. The characters are absolutely wonderful, and it was fantastic to see them all again.
I was very pleasantly surprised earlier this year when I saw this book pop up. This is definitely a book that falls into the traditional part of the mystery spectrum, but it doesn't get much worse than what I teased already. The plot is strong and doesn't try to delve into the mind of the serial killer, just tries to catch the person, and we get a strong mystery as Joe and Tommy work to do that. I did feel the ending was a bit weak since it hit two of my pet peeves, but they were minor overall. The characters are absolutely wonderful, and it was fantastic to see them all again.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) in Movies
Dec 26, 2018 (Updated Aug 19, 2020)
An unnecessary sequel
Yet again this is another sequel that was entirely unneeded and unnecessary. Whilst the original wasn’t brilliant or a classic, it was at least very creepy and bleak, and the ending was quite interesting and what i found the scariest thing of all about the entire film.
Sadly this sequel fails because it mostly ruins the ending of the first film. It’s initially more of the same but set in a trailer park, with characters who make some very dodgy decisions that wind up getting them hurt/killed. It’s quite bloody and gory at least, and still kind of creepy, and it has a killer soundtrack. The two kids do fairly well, and as with Hard Times at the El Royale, Lewis Pullman really shines and he makes this worth sticking with. The ending however is a little lacklustre and is just your typical horror movie ending. It wasn’t unusual or creepy and bleak like the original, and this is such a shame. Had they improved the ending, I may have rated this a little higher.
Edit 19th Aug 2020:
Having just rewatched the original, I has to return and rate this higher. Not only does it have the killer soundtrack it has some great performances and is a lot more entertaining than the original. There's still a lot of stupidity in this, but it's definitely the better of the 2 films.
Sadly this sequel fails because it mostly ruins the ending of the first film. It’s initially more of the same but set in a trailer park, with characters who make some very dodgy decisions that wind up getting them hurt/killed. It’s quite bloody and gory at least, and still kind of creepy, and it has a killer soundtrack. The two kids do fairly well, and as with Hard Times at the El Royale, Lewis Pullman really shines and he makes this worth sticking with. The ending however is a little lacklustre and is just your typical horror movie ending. It wasn’t unusual or creepy and bleak like the original, and this is such a shame. Had they improved the ending, I may have rated this a little higher.
Edit 19th Aug 2020:
Having just rewatched the original, I has to return and rate this higher. Not only does it have the killer soundtrack it has some great performances and is a lot more entertaining than the original. There's still a lot of stupidity in this, but it's definitely the better of the 2 films.
Leigh J (71 KP) rated The Final Girls (2015) in Movies
Dec 3, 2019
Cruel, Cruel Summer
Still grieving for the death of her Scream Queen Mother, Max is coaxed into attending a screening of her Mother's Movies (called Camp Bloodbath) where she will also answer any questions the fans have. However, whilst they're all watching the Movie, an accidental fire breaks out. Max and her group of friends all escape from it and mysteriously wake up in a Forest... the Forest in the Camp Bloodbath Movies. Even more strange... alll the Camp Bloodbath characters are also there, and Max comes face to face with her deceased Mother. But the killer is also there, and Max and her friends know who's going to be murdered and when. They also get caught in a timeloop if they don't go along with the Movie's plot. But can they intervene in any way? Will Max be able to change the plot and possibly save her Mother? Or will the Killer start to come after them?
Final Girls is very tongue in cheek whilst also dealing with the fatality of Max's Mother and Max's subsequent grief with sensitivity and tact. It's a Slasher with a unique perspective and I totally appreciate that it stands apart from what's become the norm. It's definitely a must see for those of us who enjoy Movies like Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp, but for me it's a one watch wonder. I'm very glad I've seen it but don't really see myself reaching for it.
Final Girls is very tongue in cheek whilst also dealing with the fatality of Max's Mother and Max's subsequent grief with sensitivity and tact. It's a Slasher with a unique perspective and I totally appreciate that it stands apart from what's become the norm. It's definitely a must see for those of us who enjoy Movies like Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp, but for me it's a one watch wonder. I'm very glad I've seen it but don't really see myself reaching for it.
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Hidden Agenda in Video Games
Jan 17, 2020
An unfortunate let down
Hidden agenda is a story about detective marney (katie Cassidy) who 5 years after capturing and arresting the infamous serial killer "the trapper killer" is thrown after the announcement that she may have arrested the wrong man...who is on death row with only 48 hours left...she has to be sure.
This game genuinely looked like a hit, with its dark, gritty tone, detective based story & quick time scenarios but was quickly derailed due to only being able to play by downloading a companion app and using a portable device (providing your device was able too - fyi old fire tabs don't 😕)
Once you have it, you will be prompted to add you name & choose a colour? As you can have friends join in too, but still need to if it's just you?
The story is incredibly short, even shorter if you make a wrong choice or are too slow to move your device pointer to a specific moving target, which from a I can assure you, can become rather infuriating.
Answering a phone call or video call WILL disrupt your game and you will be sent back to start all over.....Including adding your name and colour again.
Aside from that- great casting, great story, great graphics and this would make and absolutely fantastic live action movie.
This game genuinely looked like a hit, with its dark, gritty tone, detective based story & quick time scenarios but was quickly derailed due to only being able to play by downloading a companion app and using a portable device (providing your device was able too - fyi old fire tabs don't 😕)
Once you have it, you will be prompted to add you name & choose a colour? As you can have friends join in too, but still need to if it's just you?
The story is incredibly short, even shorter if you make a wrong choice or are too slow to move your device pointer to a specific moving target, which from a I can assure you, can become rather infuriating.
Answering a phone call or video call WILL disrupt your game and you will be sent back to start all over.....Including adding your name and colour again.
Aside from that- great casting, great story, great graphics and this would make and absolutely fantastic live action movie.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Signature Kill (Frank Behr #4) in Books
Jan 5, 2020
Gritty, dark atmospheric and suspenseful
This is another book that has been on my "to be read" list since 2015 and I have finally got round to reading it and so pleased I did as I really enjoyed it. Although this is book 4 in the Frank Behr series, I haven't read any of the others and I admit that it would probably be better to read the others in order to get some clarity and background to Frank but having said that, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book so will say it works well as a standalone.
This is a pretty disturbing story written from Frank's perspective and that of the killer; this I think was genius in that it gave Frank a strong voice and made him come alive but it also did the same for the killer which was chilling and oddly satisfying but perfect for this book.
The writing style was excellent and easy to read; the suspense and action scenes were described perfectly and all the characters were well developed and authentic.
This is a gritty, dark, atmospheric and suspenseful read that I found gripping and very difficult to put down; I will certainly read more of this series and from this author but hopefully won't delay it so long next time.
Thank you to RandomHouseUK / Transworld Publishers via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
This is a pretty disturbing story written from Frank's perspective and that of the killer; this I think was genius in that it gave Frank a strong voice and made him come alive but it also did the same for the killer which was chilling and oddly satisfying but perfect for this book.
The writing style was excellent and easy to read; the suspense and action scenes were described perfectly and all the characters were well developed and authentic.
This is a gritty, dark, atmospheric and suspenseful read that I found gripping and very difficult to put down; I will certainly read more of this series and from this author but hopefully won't delay it so long next time.
Thank you to RandomHouseUK / Transworld Publishers via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
JT (287 KP) rated Summer of 84 (2018) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
The arrival of Stranger Things has given those old enough to remember the 80s a real sense of nostalgia; a retro throwback to a time when life was relatively uncomplicated. The film cobbles together another bunch of archetypal misfits who are convinced their sleepy suburb harbours a terrifying secret – that the kind hearted cop living next door is in fact a sadistic serial killer.
Davey (Graham Verchere) is bored and in need of something to spice up his univentful summer. When he starts to suspect that Wayne Mackey (Rich Sommer) is a serial killer, he enlists the help of his friends to piece together the evidence.
It’s not long before the group think that Davey is paranoid and start to cut him off, leaving Davey’s hot neighbour, whom he has a desperate teenage crush on, as the only person who might just believe him. Summer of 84 was always going to come up short to its Stranger Things cousin, but I really enjoyed it, the synth retro soundtrack coupled with a satisfying ending made it a great watch.
It makes no excuses for being thoroughly unoriginal but instead has fun, never taking itself too seriously. Each of the boys has a reason to be outside playing amatuer detective rather than in the confines of their unhappy homes. The final epilogue will leave an unhinged sense of fear in us all and it’s an ending which doesn’t follow the normal rules.
Davey (Graham Verchere) is bored and in need of something to spice up his univentful summer. When he starts to suspect that Wayne Mackey (Rich Sommer) is a serial killer, he enlists the help of his friends to piece together the evidence.
It’s not long before the group think that Davey is paranoid and start to cut him off, leaving Davey’s hot neighbour, whom he has a desperate teenage crush on, as the only person who might just believe him. Summer of 84 was always going to come up short to its Stranger Things cousin, but I really enjoyed it, the synth retro soundtrack coupled with a satisfying ending made it a great watch.
It makes no excuses for being thoroughly unoriginal but instead has fun, never taking itself too seriously. Each of the boys has a reason to be outside playing amatuer detective rather than in the confines of their unhappy homes. The final epilogue will leave an unhinged sense of fear in us all and it’s an ending which doesn’t follow the normal rules.
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder
7.0
Rate It
Book
After his December 2003 arrest, registered nurse Charlie Cullen was quickly dubbed 'The Angel of...
Cold War Command: The Dramatic Story of a Nuclear Submariner
Book
The part played in the Cold War by the Royal Navy's submarines still retains a great degree of...