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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Restaurant Weeks are Murder in Books
Feb 28, 2019
Cooking with a Killer
Poppy McAllister is thrilled to be helping Tim during the Restaurant Week cooking competition as the third member of his team. While their relationship is complicated, she knows they can work well together. The weeks gets off to a shaky start when there is a problem with the hotel where the judges were going to stay, and Poppy volunteers the not quite open yet bed and breakfast she is working on with her aunt. Then, on the first day of the competition, someone sabotages the ingredients. As things spiral out of control, Tim and Poppy find themselves at the center of it all. Can Poppy figure out what is happening?
Fans of this series will be thrilled with the latest outing for Poppy and the rest of the crew. Yes, everyone is here and causing mayhem and laughs for us like normal. I did sympathize more with the victim of Figueroa’s antics since I allergic to cats as well, but I still found that subplot fun. As usual, Aunt Ginny and her friends steal the show. I do feel the pacing of the mystery could have been better, but this is something I’ve felt with all three books in the series. We definitely did get a good mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. There are seven Paleo friendly recipes at the back of the book to enjoy once you’ve finished the book.
Fans of this series will be thrilled with the latest outing for Poppy and the rest of the crew. Yes, everyone is here and causing mayhem and laughs for us like normal. I did sympathize more with the victim of Figueroa’s antics since I allergic to cats as well, but I still found that subplot fun. As usual, Aunt Ginny and her friends steal the show. I do feel the pacing of the mystery could have been better, but this is something I’ve felt with all three books in the series. We definitely did get a good mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. There are seven Paleo friendly recipes at the back of the book to enjoy once you’ve finished the book.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Stalker (Joona Linna #5) in Books
Mar 21, 2019
5th novel in the Joona Linna series. Can stand-alone
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Stalker by Lars Kepler is the 5th novel in the Swedish police series involving the main character, Joona Linna. Linna is a detective who is on the hunt of an obsessive, stalking serial killer who secretly video records his victims before brutally murdering them. He taunts police by sending them videos showing the victim alive and clearly unaware they are being recorded.
This novel can stand-alone but, according to reviews on Goodreads, the earlier novels provide information and background stories on characters in the series. I have never read the previous books but have had several of them on my "want to read" list since the 4th book, Sandman, could be found all over social media last year.
I was hesitant to start the series because, I have found when a book has that much hype surrounding it, it feels like a disappointment when reading. I did not feel that when reading Stalker. The novel started off slowly. This may be because I was not familiar with the characters. Familiar or not, after the slow start, I was sucked into the story and will be moving the rest of the series to the top of my "want to read" list.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/21/19.
Stalker by Lars Kepler is the 5th novel in the Swedish police series involving the main character, Joona Linna. Linna is a detective who is on the hunt of an obsessive, stalking serial killer who secretly video records his victims before brutally murdering them. He taunts police by sending them videos showing the victim alive and clearly unaware they are being recorded.
This novel can stand-alone but, according to reviews on Goodreads, the earlier novels provide information and background stories on characters in the series. I have never read the previous books but have had several of them on my "want to read" list since the 4th book, Sandman, could be found all over social media last year.
I was hesitant to start the series because, I have found when a book has that much hype surrounding it, it feels like a disappointment when reading. I did not feel that when reading Stalker. The novel started off slowly. This may be because I was not familiar with the characters. Familiar or not, after the slow start, I was sucked into the story and will be moving the rest of the series to the top of my "want to read" list.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/21/19.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Chestnut Man in Books
Mar 24, 2019
A great debut
If that cover doesn't draw you in and make you pick it up, you are a lost soul !!!
And if the cover doesn't do it for you, the story certainly will. It does make for uncomfortable reading at times given the subject matter but it is a story about a serial killer so some gruesome descriptions of the crimes shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.
The plot is gripping, dark and thrilling and the pace of the book is ideal with a seamless mix of murder, politics and police procedure all wrapped up in a perfect psychological thriller package. I actually don't normally like what is called Scandi-noir after having previously tried and failed to read one by a very successful author but this one is excellent.
The characters are fantastic - I know it's a good book when I can see the characters as real people and imagine who would play them if the book were made into a film or TV series - the Danish actor, Kim Bodnia, from The Bridge (Bron/Broen) and Killing Eve would be perfect for the role of Hess.
This is the debut novel by this author, although he has written the highly acclaimed series "The Killing", and a very accomplished debut it is and my thanks must go to the publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
And if the cover doesn't do it for you, the story certainly will. It does make for uncomfortable reading at times given the subject matter but it is a story about a serial killer so some gruesome descriptions of the crimes shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.
The plot is gripping, dark and thrilling and the pace of the book is ideal with a seamless mix of murder, politics and police procedure all wrapped up in a perfect psychological thriller package. I actually don't normally like what is called Scandi-noir after having previously tried and failed to read one by a very successful author but this one is excellent.
The characters are fantastic - I know it's a good book when I can see the characters as real people and imagine who would play them if the book were made into a film or TV series - the Danish actor, Kim Bodnia, from The Bridge (Bron/Broen) and Killing Eve would be perfect for the role of Hess.
This is the debut novel by this author, although he has written the highly acclaimed series "The Killing", and a very accomplished debut it is and my thanks must go to the publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated You Die Next (Starke & Bell, #2) in Books
May 22, 2019
When a group of urban explorers stumble across a murderer's kill room in a derelict film studio, terror strikes. And when one of the group is found dead, the team realise - they're being hunted.
DI Dominic Bell is investigating the murder, but as the body count rises, time is running out. The only person who can help him is a figure from his past, Clementine Starke - but Clementine is haunted by her own demons. Can the two of them pair up to catch the killer? Or is it already too late?
This is the second book of Clementine Starke, DI Dominic Bell stories.
You don't have to have read the first one to read this one as there is enough back story provided to fill you in.
This story revolves around a group of Urban Explorers that see something they shouldn't have.
Along side this we have Starke and Bell who have their own demons they are dealing with.
This was a great story and I loved the plot and it was definitely a new premise to have the plot around.
Great characters and love seeing a bit more insight into our main ones.
We had lots of twists and turns and an ending I didn't see coming.
Looking forward to the next in series.
Recommend reading!
My thanks to Orion Publishing Group, the Author for an eARC via NetGalley; this is my honest opinion.
DI Dominic Bell is investigating the murder, but as the body count rises, time is running out. The only person who can help him is a figure from his past, Clementine Starke - but Clementine is haunted by her own demons. Can the two of them pair up to catch the killer? Or is it already too late?
This is the second book of Clementine Starke, DI Dominic Bell stories.
You don't have to have read the first one to read this one as there is enough back story provided to fill you in.
This story revolves around a group of Urban Explorers that see something they shouldn't have.
Along side this we have Starke and Bell who have their own demons they are dealing with.
This was a great story and I loved the plot and it was definitely a new premise to have the plot around.
Great characters and love seeing a bit more insight into our main ones.
We had lots of twists and turns and an ending I didn't see coming.
Looking forward to the next in series.
Recommend reading!
My thanks to Orion Publishing Group, the Author for an eARC via NetGalley; this is my honest opinion.
Awix (3310 KP) rated No Escape (2015) in Movies
Mar 26, 2018 (Updated Mar 26, 2018)
Technically competent suspense-thriller can't help coming across as a little bit suspect in the signals it's sending (also, title may not be strictly accurate). Nice American family go to a country which looks like Thailand but definitely isn't, dearie me no, and find themselves imperilled by a native uprising triggered by the Prime Minister's new water works. Can they escape before Pierce Brosnan starts singing again?
As I say, solidly put together, and if nothing else Lake Bell's performance is pretty much immaculate - but you have to wonder if the film's depiction of Asian countries isn't defamatory, or at least scare-mongering. It's not surprising this film was banned in some parts of Asia. There's a lot of bafflegab about the hordes of machete-wielding psychos being locals upset about globalisation, but c'mon, guys, this is clearly a film inspired by fears of radical Islamist terrorism, and as such it seems to be presenting every person in Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, etc, as a potential psychopathic killer. For something which is basically second-cousin to a zombie movie, it takes itself terribly seriously; a bit too seriously given how implausible the plot rapidly becomes. Perks up a bit when Brosnan is on screen (not often enough), but is this kind of subject matter really the stuff of such broad entertainment? As a thriller this is okay, but a point knocked off for the dubious subtext.
As I say, solidly put together, and if nothing else Lake Bell's performance is pretty much immaculate - but you have to wonder if the film's depiction of Asian countries isn't defamatory, or at least scare-mongering. It's not surprising this film was banned in some parts of Asia. There's a lot of bafflegab about the hordes of machete-wielding psychos being locals upset about globalisation, but c'mon, guys, this is clearly a film inspired by fears of radical Islamist terrorism, and as such it seems to be presenting every person in Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, etc, as a potential psychopathic killer. For something which is basically second-cousin to a zombie movie, it takes itself terribly seriously; a bit too seriously given how implausible the plot rapidly becomes. Perks up a bit when Brosnan is on screen (not often enough), but is this kind of subject matter really the stuff of such broad entertainment? As a thriller this is okay, but a point knocked off for the dubious subtext.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Death of a Nurse (Hamish Macbeth, #31) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Poor Hamish. Hes still as unlucky at love as he ever was. After spying an attractive nurse, Gloria, while out making rounds on his beat, he arranges to meet her for dinner. Hes stood up, and only finds out several days later that the nurse has been murdered.
Glorias employer, Mr. Harrison, soon has a new nurse, and it doesnt take long before there is another body, and another murder for Hamish and his new constable Charlie to investigate. Instead of having to deal with Inspector Blair as usual, Hamish is at first pleased to find the case being handled by Inspector Fiona Hemming, but it becomes all too apparent that her interest is as much in Charlie as it is in solving the case, and she has little use for Hamish. The killer is no match for Hamishs intuition and power of deduction, however. Luckily for Inspector Daviot Hamish is only interested in seeing justice served and getting back to his quiet highland existence, so he has no qualms about once again letting his superiors take credit for solving the case.
All of the usual suspects make an appearance, Dick and Anka, Elspeth, and of course Priscilla. This book was so typically Hamish, and I loved it. Fans of the series should really enjoy this one, but the mystery would work as a standalone as well.
NOTE: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Glorias employer, Mr. Harrison, soon has a new nurse, and it doesnt take long before there is another body, and another murder for Hamish and his new constable Charlie to investigate. Instead of having to deal with Inspector Blair as usual, Hamish is at first pleased to find the case being handled by Inspector Fiona Hemming, but it becomes all too apparent that her interest is as much in Charlie as it is in solving the case, and she has little use for Hamish. The killer is no match for Hamishs intuition and power of deduction, however. Luckily for Inspector Daviot Hamish is only interested in seeing justice served and getting back to his quiet highland existence, so he has no qualms about once again letting his superiors take credit for solving the case.
All of the usual suspects make an appearance, Dick and Anka, Elspeth, and of course Priscilla. This book was so typically Hamish, and I loved it. Fans of the series should really enjoy this one, but the mystery would work as a standalone as well.
NOTE: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Serial Wives in Books
Dec 9, 2018
Couldn't connect with any of the characters (1 more)
Seems to be a long book but only 204 pages
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
I was immediately intrigued by the description of "Serial Wives" by Yvonne Eve Walus. A guilt ridden girl, a mother with a husband who recently returned home but is still a bad boy, and a serial killer who murders women and displays their bodies dressed in a white sheet and puts a fencing mask on them. This description had me hooked. Unfortunately, I did not feel connected to any of the characters. I did not find myself rooting for them to succeed or survive. I did not hate them nor was I actively hoping any of them failed or died. I just was not sympathetic toward them. I found the story to be all over the place, leaping from one person to an other. From the beginning you knew all of the characters were going to be connected. The "reveals" did not seem like reveals.
The book seemed very long. When I finished, I was surprised to see if was, according to Goodreads, only 204 pages. I think the story was ok and would give it 3 stars. Yvonne Eve Walus has written 13 books but I do not think I will add any to my "want to read" list.
I was immediately intrigued by the description of "Serial Wives" by Yvonne Eve Walus. A guilt ridden girl, a mother with a husband who recently returned home but is still a bad boy, and a serial killer who murders women and displays their bodies dressed in a white sheet and puts a fencing mask on them. This description had me hooked. Unfortunately, I did not feel connected to any of the characters. I did not find myself rooting for them to succeed or survive. I did not hate them nor was I actively hoping any of them failed or died. I just was not sympathetic toward them. I found the story to be all over the place, leaping from one person to an other. From the beginning you knew all of the characters were going to be connected. The "reveals" did not seem like reveals.
The book seemed very long. When I finished, I was surprised to see if was, according to Goodreads, only 204 pages. I think the story was ok and would give it 3 stars. Yvonne Eve Walus has written 13 books but I do not think I will add any to my "want to read" list.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Book, Line, and Sinker in Books
Jun 23, 2019
This Book is Not a Stinker, and That’s Not a Line to Hook You
Treasure hunters have come to town, certain they have a map to Captain Kidd’s treasure that he buried off the coast of Briar Creek, Connecticut. Their presence quickly divides the town, with the library that Lindsay Norris runs becoming ground zero for some of the fights. However, when the tension leads to a dead body at the dig site, several of her friends become suspects. Naturally, Lindsay begins looking for a clue that might point the police in a different direction. Can she dig up the correct X to mark the killer?
I completely enjoyed this book. The plot is a little different for a cozy mystery, but in this case that was a good thing. Just adjust your expectations accordingly, but you will be satisfied when you turn the final page. Lindsay’s love life gets complicated when her ex-fiance shows up, but I enjoyed seeing how that storyline played out, and I felt it allowed us to get to know Lindsay better. The characters are as charming as always; I’m especially pleased to see that Lindsay’s relationship with the police is already changing for the better. We get some extras, thanks to the crafternoon group, including discussion questions for The Great Gatsby, a cross stitch pattern, and two recipes. I may be behind in this series, but I am certainly enjoying catching up.
I completely enjoyed this book. The plot is a little different for a cozy mystery, but in this case that was a good thing. Just adjust your expectations accordingly, but you will be satisfied when you turn the final page. Lindsay’s love life gets complicated when her ex-fiance shows up, but I enjoyed seeing how that storyline played out, and I felt it allowed us to get to know Lindsay better. The characters are as charming as always; I’m especially pleased to see that Lindsay’s relationship with the police is already changing for the better. We get some extras, thanks to the crafternoon group, including discussion questions for The Great Gatsby, a cross stitch pattern, and two recipes. I may be behind in this series, but I am certainly enjoying catching up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Scone Cold Dead in Books
Jul 23, 2019
Can Natalie Find a Scone Cold Killer?
It’s late spring on Cranberry Island, but the beautiful weather is doing nothing for the tensions building. Something is going on with the lobstermen on the island. There are rumors of illegal activity, but no one seems to have any proof. Natalie Barnes is concerned about that, but she is also concerned that her bed and breakfast doesn’t have reservations like in years past. Fortunately, she does have some guests thanks to the new artists commune her niece, Gwen, has opened. But when the tension on the island leads to murder, will Natalie figure out what happened?
It’s always a pleasure to visit Cranberry Island, and this book is no exception. The characters are old friends by this point, and there are a couple of sub-plots that focus on them that helped pull me into the book early. Not that the mystery itself wasn’t compelling, and the sub-plots and mystery weave in and out of each other expertly. There are several good fully developed suspects we meet and plenty of turns before we hit the suspenseful climax. Natalie is working on recipes for a scone competition, so it is no surprise that three of the recipes at the end of the book are scones. Fans of the series will be happy with our latest visit to the island, and this book is fun enough to hook new fans as well.
It’s always a pleasure to visit Cranberry Island, and this book is no exception. The characters are old friends by this point, and there are a couple of sub-plots that focus on them that helped pull me into the book early. Not that the mystery itself wasn’t compelling, and the sub-plots and mystery weave in and out of each other expertly. There are several good fully developed suspects we meet and plenty of turns before we hit the suspenseful climax. Natalie is working on recipes for a scone competition, so it is no surprise that three of the recipes at the end of the book are scones. Fans of the series will be happy with our latest visit to the island, and this book is fun enough to hook new fans as well.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Hunting Party in Books
Jan 25, 2019
Classic who-dunnit
This is a classic "who-dunnit" story with a cast of mostly unlikeable characters but set in the very beautiful but remote Scottish Highlands.
The story is written from the perspectives of various characters using two timelines - the days leading up to the death and once the body is discovered. We are kept in the dark about which one of the guests is dead and the author does a good job of throwing in red herrings to throw you off the scent as to who it is and who did the deed.
This is a "who-dunnit" story but is also develops into a "who-is-it" conundrum and I really liked that about this book. I also liked the fact that 90% of the characters were pretty horrible if I'm honest and I wasn't particularly bothered who had been killed but this resulted in a lack of connection and I didn't become as emotionally involved as I would have liked which lessened the enjoyment a little for me.
Overall, this is a pretty good read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a cast of dysfunctional and unlikeable people trapped together in an unforgiving landscape with an unknown killer amongst them - just sit back, enjoy and watch it all unravel.
My thanks must go to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
The story is written from the perspectives of various characters using two timelines - the days leading up to the death and once the body is discovered. We are kept in the dark about which one of the guests is dead and the author does a good job of throwing in red herrings to throw you off the scent as to who it is and who did the deed.
This is a "who-dunnit" story but is also develops into a "who-is-it" conundrum and I really liked that about this book. I also liked the fact that 90% of the characters were pretty horrible if I'm honest and I wasn't particularly bothered who had been killed but this resulted in a lack of connection and I didn't become as emotionally involved as I would have liked which lessened the enjoyment a little for me.
Overall, this is a pretty good read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a cast of dysfunctional and unlikeable people trapped together in an unforgiving landscape with an unknown killer amongst them - just sit back, enjoy and watch it all unravel.
My thanks must go to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.