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The Last Place You Look
The Last Place You Look
Kristen Lepionka | 2017 | Crime
8
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Roxane Weary is good at finding things. She always has been. So when she's hired by Brad Stockton's sister, Danielle, to find Brad's teenage girlfriend, Sarah, she doesn't think it will be a difficult case. Danielle is convinced she spotted Sarah at a gas station--despite the fact she disappeared fifteen years ago. Meanwhile, Brad is in jail--set to soon be executed--for the brutal murder of Sarah's parents the night Sarah disappeared; the prosecution also alleged that Brad killed Sarah as well. Brad did not put up much of a fight in his defense, but Danielle refuses to give up. Roxane quickly becomes caught up in Sarah's story and finds ties between her disappearance and other girls in the seemingly idyllic town of Belmont-- as well as connections to cases worked by her father, a police officer.

<i>This is just a great book.</i> It's easy to read and funny, albeit dark and sad at times. Roxane's dark, sarcastic humor is perfect. She gives off a Kinsey Millhone type vibe, if Kinsey was a functioning alcoholic with major Daddy issues. She's a complicated character (a complicated, real, female character - so refreshing!). She's bisexual (so wonderful to see reflected realistically in a novel). The other characters are well-formed and range from awful to sweet, but they support Roxane and the story perfectly.

As for the plot, it draws you immediately and keeps you constantly guessing, wondering what people know, who is telling the truth, and what's the actual story. I actually didn't figure this one out, so kudos to Lepionka. There are a few amazing "aha" moments that basically made me gasp. The town of Belmont is creepy and dark, and you'll find yourself completely wrapped up in its twisted, sad characters.

It looks like this is the first in a series, and I couldn't be happier; I can't wait to see where Roxane is headed next. Definitely recommend this one to mystery and thriller fans alike.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 06/13/2017.

<center><a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">Blog</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/mwcmoto">Twitter</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KristyHamiltonbooks">Google+</a></center>;
  
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Drew Horner (8 KP) rated Locke and Key in TV

Mar 1, 2020  
Locke and Key
Locke and Key
2020 | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Intriguing concept that kept me curious about what the next key would do. (2 more)
Really liked Kinsey, the middle sister who seems to tie the show together.
The fun is in the discovery of the keys - not the story behind them.
A couple stiff characters - especially Tyler (the older brother) - who sometimes made confoundingly dumb decisions. (1 more)
Some of the more emotional moments failed to stick the landing.
Better than Expected
The marketing for the show gave me a Narnia vibe and I thought it would be a very childish affair. While the majority of the show, with some exceptions, was family-friendly, it wasn't as childish as I thought. We binged it in a weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The show revolves around the Locke family who moved to their ancestral home - Key House - after suffering the tragic loss of their father/husband. Shortly after arriving at Key House, the Locke children begin finding magical keys throughout the house that each have special properties. But, of course these keys attract a sinister force that hungers to possess the power of the keys.

The show was enjoyable, but left a lot of threads dangling for what will likely be a second season.
  
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)
2001 | International, Comedy, Drama
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"I saw this when I was in college, and there were a lot of things about it that made me swoon. I watched it over and over again. I couldn’t stop. It does this incredible thing where it stops the narrative, like Godard would, to comment on the story from an omniscient perspective. But where Godard does it in a really cold way, Cuarón does it with such warmth. It made me feel like you could do anything; you could stop your movie and do wild shit and still be incredibly emotionally engaging. The movie also depicts sexuality in a way that I’d never seen before. Long before our culture became obsessed with sexual fluidity and where people fall on the Kinsey scale, this movie said that it was just a reality that the intimacy between friends can also be sexual, that it’s not so cut and dry. It’s about the depth of a friendship, and it was just a revelation for me. That moment when the two men kiss was like, woah, that’s right and that’s real. And the cinematography is insane and showed how you can make beautiful images with so little. It’s a simple road movie about friends, but it’s so gorgeous. Why aren’t we elevating simple stories to the level of epics? Cuarón does that. All his movies are epics, no matter how small or big they are."

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