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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.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Associates of Sherlock Holmes in Books
Jan 23, 2020
A mixed bag of Sherlockian pastiches, each focusing on a different member of the supporting cast: these range from the very well-known to the rather obscure (e.g. Holmes' rival Barker, here recast as a Dorrington-esque chancer). Holmes himself is central to some of the stories, but almost entirely absent from others - so we get a range of different kinds of story. Holmes and Lestrade hunt for a Ripper-like serial killer; Irene Adler seeks revenge on the man she believes destroyed her life; Sebastian Moran sets out to hunt down a quarry with surprisingly large feet. Most of these are relatively 'straight', but some of the contributions enter the realms of horror and the paranormal.
Mostly fun and readable stuff, though, with nothing too shockingly revisionist (it's amusing to note that the authors here can't decide amongst themselves where exactly Dr Watson was shot). None of the stories is really outstanding, but there are no absolute stinkers either (although the one which attempts to 'fix' some of the absurder features of The Speckled Band by recourse to the introduction of Tibetan thought-projection techniques probably comes closest). Proof of the endless fun to be gained from playing around with this set of characters.
Mostly fun and readable stuff, though, with nothing too shockingly revisionist (it's amusing to note that the authors here can't decide amongst themselves where exactly Dr Watson was shot). None of the stories is really outstanding, but there are no absolute stinkers either (although the one which attempts to 'fix' some of the absurder features of The Speckled Band by recourse to the introduction of Tibetan thought-projection techniques probably comes closest). Proof of the endless fun to be gained from playing around with this set of characters.
BookwormLea (3034 KP) rated The Invisible Man (2020) in Movies
Mar 4, 2020
Genuinely terrifying...
Contains spoilers, click to show
I've always thought thrillers were scarier than horrors. They can do anything in a horror movie, making it as fantastical as they want. Killer clowns from space? Check. Mirrors to the other side? Check. They've got it all... but thrillers are so intense and believable that it scares you to your core. For real. This movie was so well made that I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, well except that one bit with the needle but that's because I hate needles... This movie could have been made so badly based on other 'invisible' characters we have seen before. But the acting in this film was just. Perfect *finger kiss*. I can't remember the last time a movie made me jump out my seat, it had the whole cinema audience biting their nails and gripping their seats. I was in awe the whole time. Not once did I think that a part could have been changed. Everything was so well done, I could honestly say, I would be more afraid of an invisible stalker, than a ghost haunting me.
Side note: me and my stepdad who watched it with me both agree that the suit itself, whether Adrian, his brother or anyone else wears it, would make an amazing Super Villain movie!
Side note: me and my stepdad who watched it with me both agree that the suit itself, whether Adrian, his brother or anyone else wears it, would make an amazing Super Villain movie!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Shakespeare's Landlord (Lily Bard, #1) in Books
Mar 30, 2020
Welcome to Shakespeare, Arkansas. Lily Bard came to the small town of Shakespeare to escape her dark and violent past. Other than the day-to-day workings of her cleaning and errand-running service, she pays little attention to the town around her. So when she spots a dead body being dumped in the town green, she's inclined to stay well away. But she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and despite her best efforts, she's dragged into the murder case. Lily doesn't care who did it, but when the police and local community start pointing fingers in her direction, she realizes that proving her innocence will depend on finding the real killer in quiet, secretive Shakespeare.
Shakespeare's Landlord is the first book in Charlaine Harris's Lily Bard mysterious series.
I was sure what to make of it all at first but it was better than expected. Lately I've lost all hope in Charlaine Harris's books but Lily Bard was a much better character than the moaning useless sookie stackhouse. Lily has was a kick ass heroine with a traumatic past so hopefully she will continue in this series to be that kick ass character! Not a bad start to the series it was a quick read too.
Shakespeare's Landlord is the first book in Charlaine Harris's Lily Bard mysterious series.
I was sure what to make of it all at first but it was better than expected. Lately I've lost all hope in Charlaine Harris's books but Lily Bard was a much better character than the moaning useless sookie stackhouse. Lily has was a kick ass heroine with a traumatic past so hopefully she will continue in this series to be that kick ass character! Not a bad start to the series it was a quick read too.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated American Ultra (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
Jesse Eisenberg plays a “stoned” cold killer without a memory in the new action comedy American Ultra. But when the pompous government weasel played by Topher Grace decides to eliminate the asset, Stoner Eisenberg finds himself running for his life and yet relying on secret spy skills he didn’t know he had. Think Jason Borne meets Pineapple Express. Only with way more low budget action and far less stoner humor. Which is a shame because American Ultra doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. If it would have made a commitment to either the action or the stoner comedy, we would could have and a solid movie in either direction, but instead we just get, meh.
That isn’t to say the film is bad. I went in with low expectations and enjoyed myself. It has some chuckles but they are few and far between. Kristen Stewart seems right at home with her performance of Eisenberg’s girlfriend who is caught up in the ride and helps him along the way. While Jesse Eisenberg and Topher Grace are not menacing and their action sequences seem stiff and awkward. However this film makes it clear that it doesn’t take itself seriously and thus if you just go along with the ride you may enjoy it.
That isn’t to say the film is bad. I went in with low expectations and enjoyed myself. It has some chuckles but they are few and far between. Kristen Stewart seems right at home with her performance of Eisenberg’s girlfriend who is caught up in the ride and helps him along the way. While Jesse Eisenberg and Topher Grace are not menacing and their action sequences seem stiff and awkward. However this film makes it clear that it doesn’t take itself seriously and thus if you just go along with the ride you may enjoy it.
There Must be Evil: The Life and Murderous Career of Elizabeth Berry
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