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David McK (3414 KP) rated Death Masks (The Dresden Files, #5) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
So far, all the Harry Dresden books have been very enjoyable, but this has to be one of the best.
Harry is hired by a representative of the Vatican to retrieve the stolen shroud of Turin, while he's also been challenged to a duel by a vampire ofthe Red Court: a duel, they say, that will end the war between the White Council of Wizards and the Vampire Red Court (a war precipitated in an earlier novel). This also sees the return of Michael Carpenter, as well as Harry's ex Susan Rodriguez (still struggling with her semi-vampiric state), and (due to the subject matter) also builds up more about The Knights of the Cross (first introduced, along with Michael, in Grave Peril).
Harry is hired by a representative of the Vatican to retrieve the stolen shroud of Turin, while he's also been challenged to a duel by a vampire ofthe Red Court: a duel, they say, that will end the war between the White Council of Wizards and the Vampire Red Court (a war precipitated in an earlier novel). This also sees the return of Michael Carpenter, as well as Harry's ex Susan Rodriguez (still struggling with her semi-vampiric state), and (due to the subject matter) also builds up more about The Knights of the Cross (first introduced, along with Michael, in Grave Peril).
David Markey recommended This Is Spinal Tap (1984) in Movies (curated)
David McK (3414 KP) rated Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15) in Books
Mar 6, 2022
Hells Bells!
<2022 update>
I should perhaps mention that Michael Carpenter and his family don't actually turn up until a fair ways into the story ...
<original 2015 review>
"Last year I died, but I got better"
It's probably been over a year since I read the last Harry Dresden book, as I'd been waiting (and waiting, and waiting ...) for this one to come out in paperback. Was it worth the wait?
Absolutely yes.
I know it's still only March (nearly April), but this is a strong contender for my choice for book of the year - definitely the best I've read so far this year, with the bar set VERY high for any others later this year to match.
As this starts, Harry is still on Demonreach island, still recovering from previous events in Cold Days. It's not long, however, before Mab - the Winter Queen - has Harry (as her Winter Knight) paying off on of her debts, forcing him to work with Nicodemus Archleone and the Knights of the Blackened Denarius. Harry has to help Nicodemus to rob a vault belonging to the Lord of the Underworld Hades himself, while somehow staying alive and a step ahead of the inevitable betrayal.
As the Knights of the Denarius are involved, this also means that the Knights of the Cross - or, more specifically, Michael Carpenter - are back in the novel, as counter-points to the fallen angels. So, too, are Waldo Butters, Molly Carpenter, Bob the skull and Karrin Murphy with Thomas, however, conspicuous by his absence.
I should perhaps mention that Michael Carpenter and his family don't actually turn up until a fair ways into the story ...
<original 2015 review>
"Last year I died, but I got better"
It's probably been over a year since I read the last Harry Dresden book, as I'd been waiting (and waiting, and waiting ...) for this one to come out in paperback. Was it worth the wait?
Absolutely yes.
I know it's still only March (nearly April), but this is a strong contender for my choice for book of the year - definitely the best I've read so far this year, with the bar set VERY high for any others later this year to match.
As this starts, Harry is still on Demonreach island, still recovering from previous events in Cold Days. It's not long, however, before Mab - the Winter Queen - has Harry (as her Winter Knight) paying off on of her debts, forcing him to work with Nicodemus Archleone and the Knights of the Blackened Denarius. Harry has to help Nicodemus to rob a vault belonging to the Lord of the Underworld Hades himself, while somehow staying alive and a step ahead of the inevitable betrayal.
As the Knights of the Denarius are involved, this also means that the Knights of the Cross - or, more specifically, Michael Carpenter - are back in the novel, as counter-points to the fallen angels. So, too, are Waldo Butters, Molly Carpenter, Bob the skull and Karrin Murphy with Thomas, however, conspicuous by his absence.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2196 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.
Mike Portnoy recommended This Is Spinal Tap (1984) in Movies (curated)
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2196 KP) rated Echo Park (Harry Bosch, #12; Harry Bosch Universe, #15) in Books
Aug 2, 2020
Does the Confession Solve the Cold Case?
Since Harry Bosch joined the open unsolved squad of the LAPD, he has been actively working on one of his own unsolved cases, that of a young woman who vanished thirteen years earlier. He has a suspect, but it is just based on gut feeling. Then he gets a surprising call. A man who was recently arrested with dead bodies in his car has reached a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He’s going to confess to several other crimes, including Bosch’s cold case. Is the confession credible?
I had missed Harry Bosch, so I was thrilled to be back in his presence when I picked up this book. He’s a fantastic character, and he comes to life once again in these pages. FBI agent Rachel Walling is also present, and I enjoyed their interactions. The rest of the characters, returning and new, are just as vivid. I knew to expect twists, but they still caught me off guard when I reached them. Yet each one was logical. This series has more sex, language, and violence than my normal cozies, but they are never gratuitously put into the book but used to tell the story. I definitely count myself among Michael Connelly’s fans, and I can’t wait until I find the time to visit Harry Bosch again.
I had missed Harry Bosch, so I was thrilled to be back in his presence when I picked up this book. He’s a fantastic character, and he comes to life once again in these pages. FBI agent Rachel Walling is also present, and I enjoyed their interactions. The rest of the characters, returning and new, are just as vivid. I knew to expect twists, but they still caught me off guard when I reached them. Yet each one was logical. This series has more sex, language, and violence than my normal cozies, but they are never gratuitously put into the book but used to tell the story. I definitely count myself among Michael Connelly’s fans, and I can’t wait until I find the time to visit Harry Bosch again.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Snowman (2017) in Movies
Oct 20, 2017 (Updated Oct 23, 2017)
Contains spoilers, click to show
Well, to start, there were two very basic things that they could have gotten right. Harry drinks Jim Beam and his last name is not pronounced like the orifice, as has been specified in multiple books in the series. Also, they could at least have included Beate Lonn (or, was she supposed to be the chick at the computer at one point?).. Katrine Bratt was as annoying as I expected her to be, and I completely didn't mind that she was killed off. The plot was convoluted, thank god I read the book and knew the relevance of Stop in the whole story, whereas it wasn't clear why he was featured in the movie. It could have been so much better! The source material is great, and they completely dropped the ball. The scenery was beautiful, but, Norway is beautiful in general. Don't even get me started about Rakel, I have nothing nice to say about what they did to her character. Overall, I didn't mind Michael Fassbender as Harry, he probably did the best he could with that script.
Sonofdel (6291 KP) rated The Elephant to Hollywood in Books
Aug 1, 2020
A great insight (2 more)
wonderful recollections
humorous anecdotes and stories
This is Michael Caine laid bare
I have always been a fan of Michael Caine and I have seen most of his movies from Zulu to Harry Brown and a lot more. Its fascinating to read about his life and the way he spent the first ten or so years of his adult life looking for that big break in acting. Its hard to think that he was actually over 30 when he got that big break. From his upbringing right upto the present day (2010) he gives a frank and revealing insight into the life of an actor, both in front of the camera and away from it. What i also like is there is none of the 'oh look at me and see how much i earn' about this book. In parts it even contains guidance and information if you are trying to make it in the film and TV world. A great read and i did find it hard to put down.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2196 KP) rated The Reversal (Mickey Haller #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Michael Haller is surprised when he is asked by the LA District Attorney to retry an old case. A man convicted of kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old 24 years ago needs to be retried because of new DNA evidence. He gets Harry Bosch as his investigator, and the two try to track down old witnesses and make their case stronger than before. Will it be enough?
This book is engaging from the first chapter with some surprise twists along the way. Seeing these two characters interact even more is very entertaining. I never wanted to stop reading and couldn't wait to get back to the story.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/06/book-review-reversal-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book is engaging from the first chapter with some surprise twists along the way. Seeing these two characters interact even more is very entertaining. I never wanted to stop reading and couldn't wait to get back to the story.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/06/book-review-reversal-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
David McK (3414 KP) rated Christmas Eve in Books
Apr 3, 2022
I read this when it was provided as an addendum to 'Battle Ground' (that's book #17).
I was unaware that, apparently, this had also been released previously, on Jim Butcher's own website, back even before Peace Talks (or book #16) was released.
it is set after Battle Ground - thankfully giving no spoilers but only dropping hints to what will transpire - with Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, attempting to put together a bicycle for his daughter on Christmas Eve, while staying with Michael and Charity Carpenter.
A bit like Scrooge, he receives numerous supernatural visitors on that night (although for very different reasons than Scrooge did!), with the final visitor and the final portion of the story bringing a tear to the eyes.
I was unaware that, apparently, this had also been released previously, on Jim Butcher's own website, back even before Peace Talks (or book #16) was released.
it is set after Battle Ground - thankfully giving no spoilers but only dropping hints to what will transpire - with Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, attempting to put together a bicycle for his daughter on Christmas Eve, while staying with Michael and Charity Carpenter.
A bit like Scrooge, he receives numerous supernatural visitors on that night (although for very different reasons than Scrooge did!), with the final visitor and the final portion of the story bringing a tear to the eyes.