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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Against the Claw in Books
Aug 23, 2018
Who Killed the Girl with the Pitchfork Tattoo?
It’s the week of the Fourth of July, and Allie and her aunt Gully are getting ready for the onslaught of customers the holiday weekend will bring to their town of Mystic Bay, Connecticut and the lobster shack that Aunt Gully has started. However, the holiday weekend takes a sad turn when Allie finds a dead body in the bay. No one seems to know who she was. But if no one recognizes her, who would want her dead?
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was a delight to return again. The characters are lots of fun, and it was great to see them again. The new characters fit right in; they were so nice, it was hard to believe there was a killer hiding among them. I did think the plot wandered a bit in the first half, but it picked up in the second half. When we reached the climax, I discovered there were some clues I hadn’t even realized where hiding in the book. The location is charming; the perfect summer resort town. So if you are looking for a book to hold on to summer, pick this one up.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was a delight to return again. The characters are lots of fun, and it was great to see them again. The new characters fit right in; they were so nice, it was hard to believe there was a killer hiding among them. I did think the plot wandered a bit in the first half, but it picked up in the second half. When we reached the climax, I discovered there were some clues I hadn’t even realized where hiding in the book. The location is charming; the perfect summer resort town. So if you are looking for a book to hold on to summer, pick this one up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Murder Flies the Coop in Books
Sep 26, 2018
Can Edwina and Beryl Catch a Flighty Killer?
Lifelong friends Beryl and Edwina are still trying to figure out how to earn more income when they hit on the idea of opening an enquiry agency. And their first case comes from the local vicar. It seems a member of the local pigeon racing club has vanished, along with club funds and several birds. Did the man take off with everything? If so, can Beryl and Edwina find him?
It was wonderful to be visiting this dynamic duo again in 1921 England. Beryl and Edwina are such opposites, but their differences really make them a great team, and the third person narration from their points of view show cases that perfectly. I'm loving watching Edwina come out of her shell. I don't feel we are getting quite as much character development for Beryl, or I'm just not seeing it, but that is a minor complaint. The mystery is strong and manages to bring in some issues from the time period in an organic way without lecturing us. There are some good twists and surprises to the story and a logical climax. The entire thing is wrapped in a sense of fun that comes from Beryl and Edwina themselves, who are enjoying their new vocation.
It was wonderful to be visiting this dynamic duo again in 1921 England. Beryl and Edwina are such opposites, but their differences really make them a great team, and the third person narration from their points of view show cases that perfectly. I'm loving watching Edwina come out of her shell. I don't feel we are getting quite as much character development for Beryl, or I'm just not seeing it, but that is a minor complaint. The mystery is strong and manages to bring in some issues from the time period in an organic way without lecturing us. There are some good twists and surprises to the story and a logical climax. The entire thing is wrapped in a sense of fun that comes from Beryl and Edwina themselves, who are enjoying their new vocation.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated City of Bones (Harry Bosch, #8; Harry Bosch Universe, #10) in Books
Oct 21, 2018
Can Bosch Solve a Cold Case?
Harry Bosch doesn’t take the call about a human bone serious at first, but this time it turns out that a bone from a human skeleton has been found in a Hollywood neighborhood. The skeleton is that of an abused pre-teen boy, and he’s been buried for 20 years. Can Bosch figure out who he was and bring the killer to justice?
I was looking forward to seeing Harry tackle a cold case, figuring we’d get some interesting twists along the way. Sadly, I was disappointed by the plot, which often gets overshadowed by the various sub-plots going on at the same time. The mystery’s still okay, but it’s not one of the better books by Michael Connelly. The characters are still strong, however, and much of what happens is working on Bosch, although I didn’t realize just how much character development we were getting until I reached the end of the book. The book has the usual levels of foul language, sex, and violence that fans of the series would expect, although it is more than my usual reading choices. Average Michael Connelly is still enjoyable, and I’m definitely anxious to find out what happens to Bosch next.
I was looking forward to seeing Harry tackle a cold case, figuring we’d get some interesting twists along the way. Sadly, I was disappointed by the plot, which often gets overshadowed by the various sub-plots going on at the same time. The mystery’s still okay, but it’s not one of the better books by Michael Connelly. The characters are still strong, however, and much of what happens is working on Bosch, although I didn’t realize just how much character development we were getting until I reached the end of the book. The book has the usual levels of foul language, sex, and violence that fans of the series would expect, although it is more than my usual reading choices. Average Michael Connelly is still enjoyable, and I’m definitely anxious to find out what happens to Bosch next.
Merissa (11953 KP) rated Through Her Touch (Mind's Eye #5) in Books
Oct 24, 2018
Through Her Touch (Mind's Eye #5) by Deborah Camp
Through Her Touch is the fifth book in the Mind's Eye series, and we continue with Levi and Trudy, now happily married. Levi is working through his issues, with help from his psychiatrist and Trudy. Trudy is also working on her self-confidence, which has been lacking. Together, this pair are simply awesome!
This was once again an intricate and intriguing novel, full of red herrings and suspense. I will say I was able to guess who the killer was, but I was wrong for a long time. The characters, whether you like them or not, are all fully rounded and three-dimensional. The situations they find themselves in are believable, and it doesn't take much to start feeling for them. I love Levi, but I wish he would get over his jealousy as far as Trudy is concerned, especially when she has made every effort to placate him and prove her love.
With no editing or grammatical errors, I was able to lose myself in this story, reading it straight through (with only necessary interruptions) until I reached the conclusion. A magnificent tale and a welcomed addition to the series. Highly recommended by me.
* Verified Purchase ~ July 2018 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This was once again an intricate and intriguing novel, full of red herrings and suspense. I will say I was able to guess who the killer was, but I was wrong for a long time. The characters, whether you like them or not, are all fully rounded and three-dimensional. The situations they find themselves in are believable, and it doesn't take much to start feeling for them. I love Levi, but I wish he would get over his jealousy as far as Trudy is concerned, especially when she has made every effort to placate him and prove her love.
With no editing or grammatical errors, I was able to lose myself in this story, reading it straight through (with only necessary interruptions) until I reached the conclusion. A magnificent tale and a welcomed addition to the series. Highly recommended by me.
* Verified Purchase ~ July 2018 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Wreath Between the Lines in Books
Nov 21, 2018
Killer at Christmas
The town of Chrystal Cove, California is getting into the Christmas spirit, and Jenna Hart is busy with a bunch of Christmas themed events at the Cookbook Nook. Her life is more complicated by the fact that her sister and her family are visiting, and Jenna gets pulled into their drama. But things take a huge turn when her neighbor, Jake, comes over in a panic one night to report that a friend who had been staying with him has been murdered, trussed up with Christmas light and stabbed by a Christmas star. Who would want to kill a visitor to town? Or was Jake the intended target?
If you are looking for a cozy filled with Christmas spirit, you've come to the right place. This book is filled with Christmas. The mystery is a little weak since a couple of sub-plots crowd it out, but we do still get some twists before reaching a creative and fun climax. The series regulars are all here, and it is wonderful to catch up with them again. Once you've finished the book, you can keep the Christmas spirit with the many recipes for holiday goodies at the end.
If you are looking for a cozy filled with Christmas spirit, you've come to the right place. This book is filled with Christmas. The mystery is a little weak since a couple of sub-plots crowd it out, but we do still get some twists before reaching a creative and fun climax. The series regulars are all here, and it is wonderful to catch up with them again. Once you've finished the book, you can keep the Christmas spirit with the many recipes for holiday goodies at the end.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Child's Play 3 (1991) in Movies
Oct 22, 2019 (Updated Nov 8, 2019)
The third outing for Chucky unfortunately offers nothing new.
It's simply a less fun re tread of the first two.
The setting for Child's Play 3 mainly takes place at a military academy for young people, with typical character cliches thrown in - the nerdy coward type who will clearly redeem himself by the end of the movie, the harsh drill sergeant, the jock type bullies, the badass female, and of course a whole host of people who (for the third time!) don't believe a now teenage Andy Barcley, that there's a killer doll on the loose.
It's all pretty tiresome, and tied together by a poor script.
Chucky himself is the same old, shooting off sweary one liners and being a general prick to everyone he comes across (not necessarily a bad thing).
The finale is pretty lackluster, and not a patch on the seemingly never ending abuse parade against Chucky from Child's Play 2, but it does boast some nice animatronic work and some nasty practical effects.
Child's Play 3 is ultimately a thoroughly underwhelming sequel, sat in a weird purgatory between the more horror themed elements of the first movie, and the schlockier elements of the later films.
It's simply a less fun re tread of the first two.
The setting for Child's Play 3 mainly takes place at a military academy for young people, with typical character cliches thrown in - the nerdy coward type who will clearly redeem himself by the end of the movie, the harsh drill sergeant, the jock type bullies, the badass female, and of course a whole host of people who (for the third time!) don't believe a now teenage Andy Barcley, that there's a killer doll on the loose.
It's all pretty tiresome, and tied together by a poor script.
Chucky himself is the same old, shooting off sweary one liners and being a general prick to everyone he comes across (not necessarily a bad thing).
The finale is pretty lackluster, and not a patch on the seemingly never ending abuse parade against Chucky from Child's Play 2, but it does boast some nice animatronic work and some nasty practical effects.
Child's Play 3 is ultimately a thoroughly underwhelming sequel, sat in a weird purgatory between the more horror themed elements of the first movie, and the schlockier elements of the later films.
Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated The Get Down - Season 1 in TV
Jul 18, 2019
The Get Down is ill, straight dope to the max,
It's on point like a needle to the wax.
It's as if Shakspeare grew up in the Bronx,
And was spittin' rhymes deeper than ancient monks.
Mylene's looks would make the Devil sigh,
And her voice would make an angel cry.
Not since Romeo and Juliet have I seen a more passionate fling,
Ezekial loves Mylene like Mylene loves to sing.
Flash, he's the Grand Master,
When it comes to spinning vinyl no one does it faster.
Kung Fu Master Chu met his defeat,
At the hand of Shaolin Fantastic's killer beats.
While the Fantastic Four Plus One be makin' the heat,
Big Annie is the one running the streets.
Tearin' up the dance floors is a man they call Cadillac,
Bustin' moves and bustin' caps, so ya better watch your back.
Like a Bruce Lee karate chop this show is a hit,
Hip to the hop don't want it to stop, for this here is the good good shit.
Turntables spinning circles like piegons in the sky,
It's my new religion and I'm praising it on high.
Like a purple crayon that is full of possibilities,
The Get Down is my new favorite show that you just gotta see.
It's on point like a needle to the wax.
It's as if Shakspeare grew up in the Bronx,
And was spittin' rhymes deeper than ancient monks.
Mylene's looks would make the Devil sigh,
And her voice would make an angel cry.
Not since Romeo and Juliet have I seen a more passionate fling,
Ezekial loves Mylene like Mylene loves to sing.
Flash, he's the Grand Master,
When it comes to spinning vinyl no one does it faster.
Kung Fu Master Chu met his defeat,
At the hand of Shaolin Fantastic's killer beats.
While the Fantastic Four Plus One be makin' the heat,
Big Annie is the one running the streets.
Tearin' up the dance floors is a man they call Cadillac,
Bustin' moves and bustin' caps, so ya better watch your back.
Like a Bruce Lee karate chop this show is a hit,
Hip to the hop don't want it to stop, for this here is the good good shit.
Turntables spinning circles like piegons in the sky,
It's my new religion and I'm praising it on high.
Like a purple crayon that is full of possibilities,
The Get Down is my new favorite show that you just gotta see.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Due or Die in Books
Jan 19, 2019
Due Read This Book
Carrie Rushton has just been elected president of the Friends of the Library. Even though Lindsay Norris isn't a member of the group since she's the head of the library itself, she is thrilled to be working with someone bringing fresh ideas and perspectives. However, after Carrie's first meeting in her new role, she returns home to find her husband shot to death. People are quick to jump to the conclusion that Carrie is guilty, but Lindsay is sure the woman is innocent. Will a winter storm coming to the area turn the trail of the real killer cold?
While I still don't have all the supporting characters straight in my head, the characters important to this mystery are all well developed. That includes not only the suspects, but the main characters. Thanks to a couple of sub-plots, I found the pacing uneven, although things did pick up for the climax. Things do fit together well, but there is a major timing issue in the climax. It annoys, but it is minor overall. While I always enjoy Jenn's books, I found this one super funny, laughing out loud multiple times over the course of the story. I'm already looking forward to my next stop at this library.
While I still don't have all the supporting characters straight in my head, the characters important to this mystery are all well developed. That includes not only the suspects, but the main characters. Thanks to a couple of sub-plots, I found the pacing uneven, although things did pick up for the climax. Things do fit together well, but there is a major timing issue in the climax. It annoys, but it is minor overall. While I always enjoy Jenn's books, I found this one super funny, laughing out loud multiple times over the course of the story. I'm already looking forward to my next stop at this library.
ClareR (5681 KP) rated The Book of M in Books
Dec 21, 2018
An enjoyable, original book.
Oh how I love a bit of dystopia. This time, people 'lose' their shadows, and with the loss of their shadows comes the loss of their memories. The added twist, is that when they are losing their memories, people begin to be able to do remarkable, scary things. Magical things.
We follow Ory and his quest to find his wife, Max, after her shadow disappears. She leaves to protect him. There are also two other main characters whose stories we follow - an olympic trained archer and the Amnesiac.
I loved this. The narrators were excellent, and for such an implausible concept, it just seemed so likely! For a book with magic, it didn't seem wildly fantastical. Why SHOULDN'T this happen? It makes a change from a killer virus (for the record, I like those kinds of stories too, by the way). I really liked the descriptions of those who lost their memories - the way in which it happened sounded a bit like I would imagine those with Alzheimers or dementia lose their memories. This book is about how important our memories actually are, how they shape the way we live our lives.
A very good book/ listen (I listened to this on Audible)!
We follow Ory and his quest to find his wife, Max, after her shadow disappears. She leaves to protect him. There are also two other main characters whose stories we follow - an olympic trained archer and the Amnesiac.
I loved this. The narrators were excellent, and for such an implausible concept, it just seemed so likely! For a book with magic, it didn't seem wildly fantastical. Why SHOULDN'T this happen? It makes a change from a killer virus (for the record, I like those kinds of stories too, by the way). I really liked the descriptions of those who lost their memories - the way in which it happened sounded a bit like I would imagine those with Alzheimers or dementia lose their memories. This book is about how important our memories actually are, how they shape the way we live our lives.
A very good book/ listen (I listened to this on Audible)!
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated Long Bright River in Books
Dec 15, 2019
A Tale of Two Sisters
An engaging story of two sisters whose lives take very different paths. I loved the writing in this book and felt I was drawn into seeing the run-down Philadelphia neighborhood this book is set in.
Less a thriller and more a very character-driven tale of Michaela (Mickey,) a cop and her complicated relationship to her drug-addicted sister. When women start turning up dead on Mickey’s patch her concern for her sister intensifies. The book switches between the present day with Mickey’s search for a killer and her sister in a neighborhood suspicious of police and the tale of their growing-up in less than ideal circumstances.
Part police procedural/mystery/thriller I wouldn’t pick this book up if that’s what you are really craving as this isn’t done in a particularly satisfying way with what felt like a slightly rushed resolution after a slow-burn start to this aspect. I would, however, recommend picking it up if you fancy a gritty emotional look into the world of a neighborhood ravaged by drugs and the strong family ties that persevere.
Many thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Less a thriller and more a very character-driven tale of Michaela (Mickey,) a cop and her complicated relationship to her drug-addicted sister. When women start turning up dead on Mickey’s patch her concern for her sister intensifies. The book switches between the present day with Mickey’s search for a killer and her sister in a neighborhood suspicious of police and the tale of their growing-up in less than ideal circumstances.
Part police procedural/mystery/thriller I wouldn’t pick this book up if that’s what you are really craving as this isn’t done in a particularly satisfying way with what felt like a slightly rushed resolution after a slow-burn start to this aspect. I would, however, recommend picking it up if you fancy a gritty emotional look into the world of a neighborhood ravaged by drugs and the strong family ties that persevere.
Many thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.