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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings in Books
Sep 30, 2020
Murder at the North Pole
April’s life changed completely when she learned Nick, the man she had fallen in love with, was Santa Claus. Now, she’s spending her first Christmas at the North Pole as Mrs. Claus. However, the stress of the holiday is nothing compared to the death of an elf. Giblet Hollyberry was not an especially popular elf, but his death comes the day after he had a very public fight with Santa. While the rest of the Claus clan doesn’t seem that concerned, April worries that the evidence is pointing toward her new husband. The North Pole isn’t normally a hotbed of crime, but it seems someone is doing their best to put Santa on the naughty list this year. Can April keep that from happening?
At its heart, this book is a cozy mystery, and it is a wonderful one. There are enough suspects, secrets, and clues to keep the reader engaged the entire way through the book. It’s the setting that makes the book stand out, and it is wonderfully done. It took me a bit to get the pictures from countless specials and movies out of my head, but April’s new world soon came fully to life for me. The characters, whether they are human or not, are very real, and I enjoyed meeting them here. And the book is overflowing with Christmas cheer – so much so that I had to start listening to some Christmas music while I was reading it. This book definitely deserves a place at the top of your nice list. I’m already looking forward to the sequel.
At its heart, this book is a cozy mystery, and it is a wonderful one. There are enough suspects, secrets, and clues to keep the reader engaged the entire way through the book. It’s the setting that makes the book stand out, and it is wonderfully done. It took me a bit to get the pictures from countless specials and movies out of my head, but April’s new world soon came fully to life for me. The characters, whether they are human or not, are very real, and I enjoyed meeting them here. And the book is overflowing with Christmas cheer – so much so that I had to start listening to some Christmas music while I was reading it. This book definitely deserves a place at the top of your nice list. I’m already looking forward to the sequel.
Connections In Death (In Death #48)
9.0
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In this gritty and gripping new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Eve Dallas fights...
The Uninvited
8.0
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From the award-winning author of In the Shadow of Blackbirdscomes a stunning new novel a masterfully...
Endings and Beginnings: A Story of Healing
Book
Redi Tlhabi, warm-hearted, charismatic and loved throughout South Africa is as well known for her...
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor in Books
Mar 2, 2018
A fantastic and bittersweet insight into the NHS
Adam Kay's memoir of his time as a junior doctor is hilarious, stomach churning and tragic at the same time. In this, he discusses the inhumane conditions health professionals are faced with working ridiculously long hours for minimal pay. All the while celebrating the importance of accessible treatment for everyone, as well as the rather disconcerting cases that arise on a day to day basis.
However, while there are many funny moments of things being stuck in unusual places, it's his last case where a mother dies that strikes me most. Watching life and death is traumatic and there are no support systems for doctors to deal with these issues. But Kay does a wonderful job of bringing his experiences alive.
However, while there are many funny moments of things being stuck in unusual places, it's his last case where a mother dies that strikes me most. Watching life and death is traumatic and there are no support systems for doctors to deal with these issues. But Kay does a wonderful job of bringing his experiences alive.
Booksnthreads (19 KP) rated A Time to Dance in Books
Jun 4, 2018
This is really such a delightful novel. The story is told in verse, but in a way that I think will still be very accessible to young adults. I love when author’s take risks like this and write for young adults as though they think and feel and are capable not only a grappling with difficult subjects but also with challenging vocabulary and text structure. What a refreshing follow up to The Grimm Collection.
Although the story is steeped in Hindu beliefs, the spiritual concepts and truths dealt with transfer very well to just about any faith–the idea of devoting what you do to God rather than to self. The main character’s growth through some rather serious life events–injury, loss, death–is so beautifully illustrated without being didactic.
Although the story is steeped in Hindu beliefs, the spiritual concepts and truths dealt with transfer very well to just about any faith–the idea of devoting what you do to God rather than to self. The main character’s growth through some rather serious life events–injury, loss, death–is so beautifully illustrated without being didactic.
Well, that was … different.
By now, we're all used to witnessing the current Superhero phenomenon - Spiderman, The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, etc - from the point of view of those characters, drawn (predominantly) as larger-than-life.
This eschews all that, focusing instead on the point of view of a bystander on the street (photo journalist Phil Sheldon), with the characters drawn in an almost photo-realistic manner. As such, this deals more with how the public (would) view those characters and the massive property damage than inevitably follows one of their battles, picking and reinterpreting various scenes - Captain America at war, Mister Fantastic and Sue Storms marriage, The X-Men and the Sentinels, Spiderman and the death of Gwen Stacey, etc - from the decades of comics now available.
By now, we're all used to witnessing the current Superhero phenomenon - Spiderman, The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, etc - from the point of view of those characters, drawn (predominantly) as larger-than-life.
This eschews all that, focusing instead on the point of view of a bystander on the street (photo journalist Phil Sheldon), with the characters drawn in an almost photo-realistic manner. As such, this deals more with how the public (would) view those characters and the massive property damage than inevitably follows one of their battles, picking and reinterpreting various scenes - Captain America at war, Mister Fantastic and Sue Storms marriage, The X-Men and the Sentinels, Spiderman and the death of Gwen Stacey, etc - from the decades of comics now available.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Commuter (2018) in Movies
Feb 4, 2020
All Aboard The Train: Ticket Please
The Commuter- combines the Taken franchise, Non-Stop and Run All Night mixs it with Murder on The Orient Express and Strangers on a Train. All those togther results into this movie. A decent action suspense thriller starting Liam Nesson.
The Plot: Insurance salesman Michael is on his daily commute home, which quickly becomes anything but routine. After being contacted by a mysterious stranger, Michael is forced to uncover the identity of a hidden passenger on the train before the last stop. As he works against the clock to solve the puzzle, he realizes a deadly plan is unfolding, and he is unwittingly caught up in a criminal conspiracy that carries life and death stakes for everyone on the train.
I would reccordmend watching this movie, cause its good.
The Plot: Insurance salesman Michael is on his daily commute home, which quickly becomes anything but routine. After being contacted by a mysterious stranger, Michael is forced to uncover the identity of a hidden passenger on the train before the last stop. As he works against the clock to solve the puzzle, he realizes a deadly plan is unfolding, and he is unwittingly caught up in a criminal conspiracy that carries life and death stakes for everyone on the train.
I would reccordmend watching this movie, cause its good.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Escape Room (2019) in Movies
Jan 28, 2020
Escape The Room
Escape Room- was a really intresting movie. It had thrills, suspense, good puzzles, a great plot, charcters that have different skills, a story that is good from beginning to end abd a sequel set-up, what more can you have.
The Plot: Six adventurous strangers travel to a mysterious building to experience the escape room -- a game where players compete to solve a series of puzzles to win $10,000. What starts out as seemingly innocent fun soon turns into a living nightmare as the four men and two women discover each room is an elaborate trap that's part of a sadistic game of life or death.
Like i said before a very intresting plot. If you havent seen this movie, than i highly recordmend watching it.
The Plot: Six adventurous strangers travel to a mysterious building to experience the escape room -- a game where players compete to solve a series of puzzles to win $10,000. What starts out as seemingly innocent fun soon turns into a living nightmare as the four men and two women discover each room is an elaborate trap that's part of a sadistic game of life or death.
Like i said before a very intresting plot. If you havent seen this movie, than i highly recordmend watching it.
The Allure of Chanel
Book
Coco Chanel invited Paul Morand to visit her in St Moritz at the end of the Second World War when he...