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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated G is for Gumshoe (Kinsey Millhone #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
At the beginning of May, PI Kinsey Millhone is hired by a woman named Irene to track down her mother. The two usually talk one a month, but it’s been several months since they last talked. Before Kinsey can head out to the Salton Sea area, she gets words that a dangerous criminal is vowing revenge on the people who put him away, and one of those people is Kinsey. She does take the threat seriously. Should she? Will it complicate her search for the missing woman?
I was hoping with two parallel plots that they would build off each other. That doesn’t happen quite as well as I would have liked. In fact, the book begins to drag in the middle, although it certainly picks up near the end. We get to know another supporting character pretty well here, which in turn lets us get to know Kinsey better, which I love.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-g-is-for-gumshoe-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I was hoping with two parallel plots that they would build off each other. That doesn’t happen quite as well as I would have liked. In fact, the book begins to drag in the middle, although it certainly picks up near the end. We get to know another supporting character pretty well here, which in turn lets us get to know Kinsey better, which I love.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-g-is-for-gumshoe-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Murder on Gramercy Park (Gaslight Mystery, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy arrives at the scene of Dr. Edmund Blackwell’s death thinking it is a suicide. However, as soon as he views it, he realizes it was murder. By that point, he’s already involved midwife Sarah Brandt as she is attending the dead man’s wife, who has gone into labor from the shock. Dr. Blackwell was a magnetic healer, bring relief to people suffering from pain. Who would want to kill a man like that?
And just like that, we are once again traveling back in time to 1890’s New York City. The book really does a great job of bringing the time and place to life. Frank and Sarah are fantastic main characters who share the sleuthing and page time as our third person point of view characters. The mystery is sharp with plenty of secrets to be uncovered. I thought I had it figured out early, but I was missing a big piece of the puzzle.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-murder-on-gramercy-park-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
And just like that, we are once again traveling back in time to 1890’s New York City. The book really does a great job of bringing the time and place to life. Frank and Sarah are fantastic main characters who share the sleuthing and page time as our third person point of view characters. The mystery is sharp with plenty of secrets to be uncovered. I thought I had it figured out early, but I was missing a big piece of the puzzle.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-murder-on-gramercy-park-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated The Floating Light Bulb in Books
Jul 5, 2018
Eli Finds Himself Creating Magic and Stalking a Killer at the Mall of America
Magician Eli Marks and his uncle Harry are taking in a magic act at the Mall of America since the magician is a former student of Harry’s. The show is lackluster at best, but it gets worse when the magician misses a cue at the end of the show. It turns out that’s because the magician is dead, and soon Eli finds himself taking his place in an effort to help find the killer. Will he learn anything useful?
Part of this book finds Eli learning a new trick and interacting with his new co-workers, something that I felt overwhelmed the mystery at times. Things were still sprinkled in that helped lead us to the surprising and satisfying conclusion, however. And I loved seeing Eli interacting with his new co-workers, so I had fun the entire way through the book. The cast of characters is fantastic as always, including getting to see some regulars who were missing in the previous book.
Part of this book finds Eli learning a new trick and interacting with his new co-workers, something that I felt overwhelmed the mystery at times. Things were still sprinkled in that helped lead us to the surprising and satisfying conclusion, however. And I loved seeing Eli interacting with his new co-workers, so I had fun the entire way through the book. The cast of characters is fantastic as always, including getting to see some regulars who were missing in the previous book.
Kelly (279 KP) rated IMDb Movies & TV in Apps
Nov 22, 2018
Fantastic data base
I downloaded the IMDB app to my phone some time ago, and it gets used regularly by my husband and myself.
Although the site includes data on the majority of tv and film programs that have been made/ shown, I primarily use it to find out more about the actors/ actresses.
Ratings of programmes and films are a good indication of the quality of what you are watching and at times have enticed me into watching a film that I may otherwise have ignored.
At times there has been information missing from the site (e.g. overviews for lesser known or new releases), which although understandable as a result of the size of the project, can be a little frustrating to the user who becomes reliant on having the information at hand. There are also a few user additions to overviews, which I have found can be more thorough than the IMDB ones, however a small number so have inaccuracies.
Although the site includes data on the majority of tv and film programs that have been made/ shown, I primarily use it to find out more about the actors/ actresses.
Ratings of programmes and films are a good indication of the quality of what you are watching and at times have enticed me into watching a film that I may otherwise have ignored.
At times there has been information missing from the site (e.g. overviews for lesser known or new releases), which although understandable as a result of the size of the project, can be a little frustrating to the user who becomes reliant on having the information at hand. There are also a few user additions to overviews, which I have found can be more thorough than the IMDB ones, however a small number so have inaccuracies.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated My Sister, the Serial Killer in Books
Dec 21, 2018
The problems of a serial killer's older sister....
Short, snappy chapters, satire oozing out of every page (and murder!). This story is about Korede covering up her sister, Ayoola's, penchant for 'offing' her boyfriends: "Femi makes three, you know. Three and they label you a serial killer".
Korede feels a responsibility for her younger sister - something which seems odd to do given the circumstances, but is explained later in the book.
Korede is quite a sad character, really. Ayoola is the beautiful sister, she is not. Yet she still protects her and keeps her safe, stops her from posting on Instagram after her boyfriend goes 'missing'. Ayoola certainly has issues - she has no problem with the murders she commits, no guilt. She gets on with her life, on to the next man, and Korede is left to clean up and worry. The eternal problem of the older sister (usually minus the murders, mind you!).
I really enjoyed this, and it seemed to end very quickly. It's well worth reading.
Korede feels a responsibility for her younger sister - something which seems odd to do given the circumstances, but is explained later in the book.
Korede is quite a sad character, really. Ayoola is the beautiful sister, she is not. Yet she still protects her and keeps her safe, stops her from posting on Instagram after her boyfriend goes 'missing'. Ayoola certainly has issues - she has no problem with the murders she commits, no guilt. She gets on with her life, on to the next man, and Korede is left to clean up and worry. The eternal problem of the older sister (usually minus the murders, mind you!).
I really enjoyed this, and it seemed to end very quickly. It's well worth reading.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Who is The Mystery Reader? in Books
Nov 4, 2019
Reading is a Superpower!
This book is broken up into many parts. The main story involves Zoom Squirrel who gets some help in reading for The Mystery Reader, a costumed superhero. But who is the masked man, er squirrel? And can Zoom enter the world of masked superheroes? After the main story, we get a couple of terrible (and by that, I mean delightful) puns and jokes related to reading. There’s also a section where we see the work that goes into creating a book.
As an adult, I don’t find these picture books as delightful as some of Mo’s other works. They are missing the humor and charm. However, I can see the appeal to young readers, and if the addition of superheroes to reading encourages kids to read, I’m all in favor of it. The multiple sections can make the book disjointed, especially if you are reading the book to a group of kids, but it would be great for kids ready to expand their reading beyond the traditional easy readers.
As an adult, I don’t find these picture books as delightful as some of Mo’s other works. They are missing the humor and charm. However, I can see the appeal to young readers, and if the addition of superheroes to reading encourages kids to read, I’m all in favor of it. The multiple sections can make the book disjointed, especially if you are reading the book to a group of kids, but it would be great for kids ready to expand their reading beyond the traditional easy readers.
AJaneClark (3975 KP) rated Private Sessions in Books
Nov 13, 2019
Middle of the Range
Caleb Payne is a calculating entrepreneur. An avowed bachelor. He takes what he wants - in the boardroom and the bedroom - and gets thanked for it! While Bryna Metaxas is his opposite; emotionally invested in her family’s business and about to enter into a business deal with Caleb that will shock her on every level... yet she’ll love every minute of it.
It’s a dangerously hot situation, filled with steamy sexual tension and cold business machinations. Can Caleb earn Bryan’s trust - and love??
Very much what you would come to expect of a Blaze Mills and Boon, with a hint of additional naughtiness. I generally view these as a quick read, palette cleanser between more heavier reading material. Tori is well known in the MB world for her good writing. This one whilst well written was lacking in something special. I struggled to like the characters, and the storyline is missing something that I can’t put my finger on.
Not the worst I have read, but far from being the best.
It’s a dangerously hot situation, filled with steamy sexual tension and cold business machinations. Can Caleb earn Bryan’s trust - and love??
Very much what you would come to expect of a Blaze Mills and Boon, with a hint of additional naughtiness. I generally view these as a quick read, palette cleanser between more heavier reading material. Tori is well known in the MB world for her good writing. This one whilst well written was lacking in something special. I struggled to like the characters, and the storyline is missing something that I can’t put my finger on.
Not the worst I have read, but far from being the best.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019) in Movies
Jan 29, 2020
Misses the mark
The trailer made this film out to be a wonderfully eclectic humorous look at the life of David Copperfield, but I'm afraid to say the trailer was very misleading.
I've never read the book and to be honest, I really hope it's different to this mess. Yes this film is definitely rather eclectic and seems to swing from attempts at humour (that really miss the mark) to rather sombre drama and seriousness, and it also just feels a little jumbled. The script too is not what you'd expect from a film that feels so obviously British and there's nothing particularly clever or witty about it.
The cast are great, there really is a stellar line up of British stars in this and Dev Patel is a wonderfully charismatic choice as Copperfield and he's well supported by Tilda Swinton and Hugh Laurie. It's just a shame the rest of the cast are let down by the dodgy script and plot.
I really wanted to like this, but sadly it's missing virtually everything you'd expect and want, especially some decent British humour.
I've never read the book and to be honest, I really hope it's different to this mess. Yes this film is definitely rather eclectic and seems to swing from attempts at humour (that really miss the mark) to rather sombre drama and seriousness, and it also just feels a little jumbled. The script too is not what you'd expect from a film that feels so obviously British and there's nothing particularly clever or witty about it.
The cast are great, there really is a stellar line up of British stars in this and Dev Patel is a wonderfully charismatic choice as Copperfield and he's well supported by Tilda Swinton and Hugh Laurie. It's just a shame the rest of the cast are let down by the dodgy script and plot.
I really wanted to like this, but sadly it's missing virtually everything you'd expect and want, especially some decent British humour.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Saw IV (2007) in Movies
Jan 11, 2020
The game That Never Ends
Saw IV- continues right off from the 3rd movie, im really liking these movies, their is something about them that i really like. I think its because of the twist and turns throught the story, John's charcter and motivation, the mystery, the suspense and the thrills. This one you really get to know John's back-story through flashbacks. This franchise has alot of flashbacks which is good, because then you truely understand the story at hand. This franchises endings are soo good, and leave you wanted more.
The Plot: During the autopsy of serial killer Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), a cassette tape is discovered in his stomach in which he warns that his gory games will continue. Sure enough, SWAT Lt. Daniel Rigg (Lyriq Bent) is forced to follow a blood-drenched trail of torture, dismemberment and death in order to find two missing colleagues. A pair of FBI profilers follow Riggs, suspecting he might be Jigsaw's accomplice, even as they unlock the puzzle of the killer's origins, seen in gruesome flashbacks.
Such a good franchise.
The Plot: During the autopsy of serial killer Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), a cassette tape is discovered in his stomach in which he warns that his gory games will continue. Sure enough, SWAT Lt. Daniel Rigg (Lyriq Bent) is forced to follow a blood-drenched trail of torture, dismemberment and death in order to find two missing colleagues. A pair of FBI profilers follow Riggs, suspecting he might be Jigsaw's accomplice, even as they unlock the puzzle of the killer's origins, seen in gruesome flashbacks.
Such a good franchise.
David McK (3623 KP) rated Sharpe's Devil (Sharpe, #21) in Books
Mar 5, 2020
The final (*sniff*) of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books, this is set 5 years after the battle of Waterloo (so, in 1820) and sees Richard Sharpe - now happily settled and living with Lucille in Normandy, and his particular friend Patrick Harper (now running a bar in Dublin) off to Chile in a quest to find an old friend (from all the way back in Sharpe's Rifleswho is missing, reported dead - a report his wife refuses to believe.
While at first it seems that the 'pit-stop' in Saint Helena to meet/gawk at the defeated Emperor Napoleon - pretty daring of Cornwell to put such a famous historical personage in the novel! - is just that, this actually later proves to be an essential part of the plot: I'm not going to give anything away by saying how!
Bit sad that the series is finished now; I guess I'm just going to have to go back and (re)read them all again, as I have been doing over the last couple of years!
While at first it seems that the 'pit-stop' in Saint Helena to meet/gawk at the defeated Emperor Napoleon - pretty daring of Cornwell to put such a famous historical personage in the novel! - is just that, this actually later proves to be an essential part of the plot: I'm not going to give anything away by saying how!
Bit sad that the series is finished now; I guess I'm just going to have to go back and (re)read them all again, as I have been doing over the last couple of years!