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A group of ghost hunters have returned to the island to search for the ghost of a Prohibition era rum runner. However, when their leader gets murdered, Bea must figure out which of her guests might be a killer in order to clear her friend Kate of the crime.
The story is fun, and the way it wove a mystery from the past into what was happening now was great. The characters are strong, as I expected from the first two books. The humor I’ve enjoyed was still there as well. Unfortunately, the book had some serious editing flaws, including multiple characters getting the location where the body was found wrong. None of these impacted the final outcome, but it did detract from my enjoyment.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-legend-of-sleepy-harlow-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The story is fun, and the way it wove a mystery from the past into what was happening now was great. The characters are strong, as I expected from the first two books. The humor I’ve enjoyed was still there as well. Unfortunately, the book had some serious editing flaws, including multiple characters getting the location where the body was found wrong. None of these impacted the final outcome, but it did detract from my enjoyment.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-legend-of-sleepy-harlow-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2173 KP) rated Death by Tiara (A Jaine Austen Mystery #13) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Jaine takes on the job of writing the song lyrics for a beauty pageant contestant and finds herself in the high passion world of local beauty contests. Things are so heated that it’s hardly a surprise when a dead body turns up. But with her client at the top of the suspect list, Jaine will have to act fast to find the killer.
As always this book is a pure delight. The many sub-plots keep things moving right along, and the mystery is wrapped up in a logical fashion. The characters are a little out there, but that is definitely part of the fun of the series. They contribute to the laughs, which are plentiful. This is definitely light reading but lots of fun.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/08/book-review-death-by-tiara-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
As always this book is a pure delight. The many sub-plots keep things moving right along, and the mystery is wrapped up in a logical fashion. The characters are a little out there, but that is definitely part of the fun of the series. They contribute to the laughs, which are plentiful. This is definitely light reading but lots of fun.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/08/book-review-death-by-tiara-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2173 KP) rated Fillet of Murder (Deep Fried Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
After going through a transition, Talia finds herself working at her friend Bea’s fish and chips restaurant again. When a neighboring shop owner is murder and the police start to focus on Bea, Talia decides to start looking for the real killer.
This is the first in a series, and a lot of people seemed to love it, but it felt like it needed another draft to polish things up. The characters weren’t quite as well developed as they could have been, and the plot has some serious pacing issues. It wasn’t a bad debut, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in hopes that I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-review-fillet-of-murder-by-linda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is the first in a series, and a lot of people seemed to love it, but it felt like it needed another draft to polish things up. The characters weren’t quite as well developed as they could have been, and the plot has some serious pacing issues. It wasn’t a bad debut, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in hopes that I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-review-fillet-of-murder-by-linda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2173 KP) rated Killer Takeout (Key West Food Critic Mystery #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Its Fantasy Fest time, a week and a half long party for adults on Key West leading up to Halloween. Hayley Snow is busy covering the event for the magazine where she works. Meanwhile, her mom is in Key West to get remarried. Then a woman dies and Hayley’s co-worker Danielle becomes the prime suspect. Oh yeah, and there’s a hurricane that might be heading to the island as well.
As you can see, there’s plenty to keep your interest. That kept the pages turning although I did feel it weakened the ending of the actual mystery a bit. That’s a minor complaint overall with the wonderful characters and the festive atmosphere of the island. If you need an arm chair vacation, this is the book for you.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-killer-takeout-by-lucy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
As you can see, there’s plenty to keep your interest. That kept the pages turning although I did feel it weakened the ending of the actual mystery a bit. That’s a minor complaint overall with the wonderful characters and the festive atmosphere of the island. If you need an arm chair vacation, this is the book for you.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-killer-takeout-by-lucy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2173 KP) rated Design for Dying (Lillian Frost & Edith Head, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Lillian Frost learns that her former roommate, Ruby, has been murdered, she is shocked. Then she recognizes what Ruby was wearing as a costume from a movie, which brings her into contact with famed costume designer Edith Head. Together, the two discover clues that could lead to Ruby’s killer. But can they piece it all together?
This book takes us back to 1937 Hollywood, and it is all fun. Real and fictional character rub elbows, and I loved it. Everyone came fully alive for me in these pages, as did the time and place (once I remembered just how much things would have changed in that time.) The mystery with strong with a couple of good twists. I love how the clues came together for the fun climax.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-design-for-dying-by-renee.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book takes us back to 1937 Hollywood, and it is all fun. Real and fictional character rub elbows, and I loved it. Everyone came fully alive for me in these pages, as did the time and place (once I remembered just how much things would have changed in that time.) The mystery with strong with a couple of good twists. I love how the clues came together for the fun climax.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-design-for-dying-by-renee.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Murder by Decree (1979) in Movies
Feb 27, 2018 (Updated Feb 27, 2018)
Ah, nothing says 'fun' like a movie based on the activities of a brutal real-life misogynistic serial killer. Classy Sherlock Holmes pastiche is as much a vehicle to disseminate one particular Jack the Ripper theory as it is entertainment; fortunately it works very well as the later.
Not really a very good Sherlock Holmes movie - Holmes and Watson are clearly twenty years apart in age, weirdly, and Holmes' fearsome intellect is not much on display; his main method here seems to be to wander about until he stumbles over the solution to a mystery. But a distinguished cast and nice production values make up for the all-over-the-shop script, and the action at the end of the movie is well-staged. Hardly an ideal Holmes, but an entertaining mystery-thriller in a post-Hammer horror sort of style, issues of taste excepted.
Not really a very good Sherlock Holmes movie - Holmes and Watson are clearly twenty years apart in age, weirdly, and Holmes' fearsome intellect is not much on display; his main method here seems to be to wander about until he stumbles over the solution to a mystery. But a distinguished cast and nice production values make up for the all-over-the-shop script, and the action at the end of the movie is well-staged. Hardly an ideal Holmes, but an entertaining mystery-thriller in a post-Hammer horror sort of style, issues of taste excepted.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Dead Cold Brew (Coffeehouse Mystery, #16) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
I always look forward to another adventure with Clare, Matt, Mike, and all of the gang at the Village Blend. A lot of series seem to lose steam after a while, but Cleo Coyle manages to keep the Coffeehouse mysteries feeling fresh, even at #16.
Her boyfriend Mike finally proposes, but a sniper is targeting members of the NYPD, leaving Clare in fear for her fiancés life. When her ex Matts godfather is poisoned, Clare sees a connection between the two cases that sets her and Matt on the trail of a blackmailer and jewel thief, and quite possibly a killer.
Dead Cold Brew was a fast-paced story and once I got started, I couldnt put it down. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and even new readers should be able to pick this one up without feeling lost.
Her boyfriend Mike finally proposes, but a sniper is targeting members of the NYPD, leaving Clare in fear for her fiancés life. When her ex Matts godfather is poisoned, Clare sees a connection between the two cases that sets her and Matt on the trail of a blackmailer and jewel thief, and quite possibly a killer.
Dead Cold Brew was a fast-paced story and once I got started, I couldnt put it down. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and even new readers should be able to pick this one up without feeling lost.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Masking for Trouble (Costume Shop Mystery, #2) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
I think it would be great to live in a town that loves costume parties and Halloween this much! Margo is such a quirky character whether she is working in her familys costume shop or just running errands, shes always in costume. When a business man interested in developing the small town into something more modern and profitable threatens to run Margos shop out of business, she is understandably angry. When she finds his dead body at a Halloween party she wasnt invited to, she becomes the prime suspect. Rather than trust the police to find the real killer, Margo decides to investigate on her own. This was a unique story, and a perfect read for this time of year.
<i>NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review all opinions expressed are my own.</i>
<i>NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review all opinions expressed are my own.</i>
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna (Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery, #3) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna is the 3rd book in the Fairy Tale Fatal series, set in 1867. I love cozies and historical fiction, and this story was a wonderful mix of the two. Variety hall actress Ophelia Flax finds herself at a hunting party in France, pretending to be someone she is not, and trying to figure out how to avoid getting herself married to the Compte de Griffe. When an unexpected guest turns up dead after a string of petty thefts, she must try to find both the thief and the killer to get herself out of more than one entanglement. I absolutely loved the colorful characters, the time period, and the setting in this story. I plan on going back soon to read this series from the start!
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Vegas (725 KP) rated Friday the 13th (1980) in Movies
Oct 25, 2018
The suspense (2 more)
Violent deaths
Not too much splatter
Classic Slasher
It has been a very long time since I watched this, back in the day I always preferred The Nightmare on Elm Street series. So I went into it almost with fresh eyes, not really remembering too much.
I now wonder why I didn’t like it more at the time, the gory deaths were not over done as in some modern films (eg. Saw series) there was the right amount of suspense and anticipation was cleverly filmed... some of the later scenes once the killer is shown especially the close ups and later struggles remind me for some reason of the style of Hitchcock in psycho.
This is how horror should be done. Maybe some of today’s excessive gore fest films (which I don’t actually dislike) should learn from it - sometimes less is more.
I now wonder why I didn’t like it more at the time, the gory deaths were not over done as in some modern films (eg. Saw series) there was the right amount of suspense and anticipation was cleverly filmed... some of the later scenes once the killer is shown especially the close ups and later struggles remind me for some reason of the style of Hitchcock in psycho.
This is how horror should be done. Maybe some of today’s excessive gore fest films (which I don’t actually dislike) should learn from it - sometimes less is more.