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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2379 KP) rated Murder on Bank Street in Books
Jan 12, 2020
Solving the Murder of Dr. Tom Brandt
In the spring of 1897, New York City Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy has been given permission by NYPD Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt to focus solely on solving Dr. Tom Brandt’s murder. However, since people are expecting Teddy Roosevelt to be called to Washington to serve in the new administration at any moment, Malloy knows he must act quickly to solve the case. He has three good suspects and a description of the murder weapon, but he is facing the fact that Tom died over four years ago. He can’t establish alibis, and the killer might have gotten rid of the weapon over the years. He’ll only have one shot at confronting the suspects as well since his best weapon is the element of surprise. Can he gather enough evidence to get the killer to confess? Will Sarah Brandt, Tom’s widow and Frank’s friend, be happy with what Frank learns along the way?
Dr. Brandt’s murder has been an ongoing storyline since the first book, so I was happy to finally see it solved. Ironically, Sarah doesn’t play an active part in solving it, but she is still an active part of the book as she reacts to what Frank is learning and her scenes are just as compelling. We get to see a different side of several characters, including Frank’s new sleuthing partner, but Sarah gets the most development, which only makes sense. We have three viewpoint characters over the course of the book, but the changes are always easy to follow. The plot is strong and kept me confused until we reached the satisfying ending. It did seem a bit repetitive early on, but that was a minor issue overall. If you are new to the series, you could jump in here without missing too much since everything you need to know is explained. As always, I felt like I was in 1897 with the little details and character’s attitudes acting like a time machine. I’m curious to see how the series will progress without this storyline an active part of things, but I am satisfied with how this storyline was wrapped up.
Dr. Brandt’s murder has been an ongoing storyline since the first book, so I was happy to finally see it solved. Ironically, Sarah doesn’t play an active part in solving it, but she is still an active part of the book as she reacts to what Frank is learning and her scenes are just as compelling. We get to see a different side of several characters, including Frank’s new sleuthing partner, but Sarah gets the most development, which only makes sense. We have three viewpoint characters over the course of the book, but the changes are always easy to follow. The plot is strong and kept me confused until we reached the satisfying ending. It did seem a bit repetitive early on, but that was a minor issue overall. If you are new to the series, you could jump in here without missing too much since everything you need to know is explained. As always, I felt like I was in 1897 with the little details and character’s attitudes acting like a time machine. I’m curious to see how the series will progress without this storyline an active part of things, but I am satisfied with how this storyline was wrapped up.
Dreddknight (28 KP) rated Wonder Woman (2017) in Movies
Jul 27, 2017
Wasn't Man of Steel (3 more)
Wasn't Batman v Superman
Didn't get heavy handed with iffy subject matter
Diana beating wholesale @$$
Villain obvious from the start (1 more)
Above villain fight could've been better
Hey look! It's the ONLY reason that the DCCU still has a pulse!
She didn't murder thousands of people. She didn't do billions of dollars in property damage. She didn't try and murder another hero so because.
It's Wonder Woman! As in, it's a wonder that WB took THIS long to make a movie about one of DC's Trinity. And she was portrayed flawlessly. The only reason this didn't get 10/10 was the way the main villain paid off, which isn't great. Gal Gadot needs an Oscar. Also, there was no super feminism or lack of feminism; it was addressed and then back to the story. LIKE IT SHOULD BE WITH ALL COMIC MOVIES. We aren't paying $10+ a ticket to see a movie about political views! We came to see heroes be heroes! Good on you, WB. Now let's not have Aquaman suck...
It's Wonder Woman! As in, it's a wonder that WB took THIS long to make a movie about one of DC's Trinity. And she was portrayed flawlessly. The only reason this didn't get 10/10 was the way the main villain paid off, which isn't great. Gal Gadot needs an Oscar. Also, there was no super feminism or lack of feminism; it was addressed and then back to the story. LIKE IT SHOULD BE WITH ALL COMIC MOVIES. We aren't paying $10+ a ticket to see a movie about political views! We came to see heroes be heroes! Good on you, WB. Now let's not have Aquaman suck...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2379 KP) rated Mulch Ado About Murder (Local Foods Mystery, #5) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Cam Flaherty is helping new hydroponics farmer, Nicole, by starting a few plants for her. She’s dropping off a few of those plants when she finds Nicole dead in her greenhouse. The police question those protesting Nicole’s hydroponic methods, including Cam’s visiting mother, Deb. Deb is clearly hiding something from the police. Will it get her arrested for murder?
I hadn’t realized how much I had come to love these characters until I was visiting them again. They are wonderful, and I enjoyed getting to catch up on their lives. We’ve gotten to see a lot of growth in Cam over the course of the series, and watching her interact with her parents provides an opportunity for more. And the mystery? It starts quickly and moves along at a brisk pace with plenty of secrets and suspects before we reach the climax.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-mulch-ado-about-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I hadn’t realized how much I had come to love these characters until I was visiting them again. They are wonderful, and I enjoyed getting to catch up on their lives. We’ve gotten to see a lot of growth in Cam over the course of the series, and watching her interact with her parents provides an opportunity for more. And the mystery? It starts quickly and moves along at a brisk pace with plenty of secrets and suspects before we reach the climax.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-mulch-ado-about-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2379 KP) rated Murder on the Bucket List (A Bucket List Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Francine and her friends are working hard at crossing off the items on their bucket lists. Last one night while meeting at Alice’s pool to go skinny dipping, they find a dead body instead. Charlene is thrilled since solving a murder is the top item on her list. But can the friends do it?
I picked up this book because the characters, all in their 70’s, sounded like fun. Boy was I right! They are a hoot, and I was smiling as I enjoyed the entire story. The number of characters is a little overwhelming at first, but I was quickly able to sort them all out. The plot is strong with some nice revelations and twists before the end. I can’t wait to meet this feisty group of ladies again.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-murder-on-bucket-list-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I picked up this book because the characters, all in their 70’s, sounded like fun. Boy was I right! They are a hoot, and I was smiling as I enjoyed the entire story. The number of characters is a little overwhelming at first, but I was quickly able to sort them all out. The plot is strong with some nice revelations and twists before the end. I can’t wait to meet this feisty group of ladies again.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-murder-on-bucket-list-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2379 KP) rated First Degree Mudder (Pacific Northwest Mystery #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Meg’s latest assignment for Northwest Extreme magazine finds her signing up for a mud run and a training course. Billy, the drill instructor in charge of the training course, is harsh – possibly two harsh. After two weeks, Meg is wondering why she signed up. However, one morning she sneaks out early only to discover Billy’s body. Was someone fed up with his training techniques?
Those coming to the series now might be disappointed. While there are some twists to the murder, it is overshadowed by everything else going on in Meg’s life, including a very intriguing twist in the story of her father’s murder. Fans who already know and love Meg will be intrigued by what happens here and anxiously awaiting the next book. (Cliffhangers, anyone?) The new characters are a bit thin as a result, but Meg and the other regulars more than make up for that as well.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-first-degree-mudder-by-kate.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Those coming to the series now might be disappointed. While there are some twists to the murder, it is overshadowed by everything else going on in Meg’s life, including a very intriguing twist in the story of her father’s murder. Fans who already know and love Meg will be intrigued by what happens here and anxiously awaiting the next book. (Cliffhangers, anyone?) The new characters are a bit thin as a result, but Meg and the other regulars more than make up for that as well.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-first-degree-mudder-by-kate.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2379 KP) rated Fatal Reservations (Key West Food Critic Mystery, #6) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Tensions are building all over Key West with restaurant wars and a string of burglaries. However, it’s the fight over the Sunset Celebration lease that erupts in murder when Bart Frontgate is found dead. The police are looking at Hayley Snow’s friend Lorenzo, a man she knows couldn’t have committed the crime. But Lorenzo is hiding something. Can Hayley clear him, or will his secret convict him for murder?
I have completely fallen in love with Key West thanks to these books, and it was wonderful to visit again. The characters are strong, with Hayley showing some growth and Miss Gloria as delightful as ever. The plot is strong, combining several storylines into a cohesive and entertaining whole, although I do wish we didn’t have the constant Hayley is afraid for her job sub-plot.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-fatal-reservations-by-lucy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I have completely fallen in love with Key West thanks to these books, and it was wonderful to visit again. The characters are strong, with Hayley showing some growth and Miss Gloria as delightful as ever. The plot is strong, combining several storylines into a cohesive and entertaining whole, although I do wish we didn’t have the constant Hayley is afraid for her job sub-plot.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-fatal-reservations-by-lucy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lindsay (1774 KP) rated Threading the Needle (Roma Series Book 3) in Books
Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
We are at it again with the gang with all them thrown into a murder from the very beginning. Gabriel Valjan gets all them involved including Binica but not in investing it all. It seems to be about Trust or does you trust throughout the book.
It all starts with a young man murder and also thrown in a politician death. What does Farse want, and why is he there? He seems to only show up ever so often. Why is the gang all pulled in to uncover it but it seems that they are being screwed? Dante, Gennaro, Farrugia, and Alessandro are pulled here and there to do something. They get told to investigate the murders. What with Farrugia getting disgraced by the news.
What is Lead of the Year? What are connections? Something is up. We get through from assassins to terrorists. What can a G9 want? Gabriel Valjan get you wondering what in the world is going on in Italy. With all the murders you seem to follow the group. Can they solve it or not?
It all starts with a young man murder and also thrown in a politician death. What does Farse want, and why is he there? He seems to only show up ever so often. Why is the gang all pulled in to uncover it but it seems that they are being screwed? Dante, Gennaro, Farrugia, and Alessandro are pulled here and there to do something. They get told to investigate the murders. What with Farrugia getting disgraced by the news.
What is Lead of the Year? What are connections? Something is up. We get through from assassins to terrorists. What can a G9 want? Gabriel Valjan get you wondering what in the world is going on in Italy. With all the murders you seem to follow the group. Can they solve it or not?
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2379 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 (2379 KP) rated Fiction Can be Murder in Books
Jun 6, 2018
Mystery Author Framed for Murder by Her Own Manuscript
Melinda has a reputation for taking pleasure in being mean to people. Even though Charlee Russo is an author this agent represents, she’s seen Melinda’s mean streak before. So it isn’t necessarily a surprise when Melinda winds up murdered. What is a surprise is the method – straight out of Charlee’s just submitted book. Clearly, someone in her life is trying to frame her for murder. But which of her friends could it be?
Early on, I was worried that I was about to be flooded with suspects. While there are a lot, they were presented in a way that it was easy to remember them as the book went along. It also helped that potential series regulars are also suspects and that the characters are distinct. I did feel like the plot focused on one aspect of the mystery over some of the others, but there was still a good twist or two and the ending had me turning pages as quickly as possible.
Early on, I was worried that I was about to be flooded with suspects. While there are a lot, they were presented in a way that it was easy to remember them as the book went along. It also helped that potential series regulars are also suspects and that the characters are distinct. I did feel like the plot focused on one aspect of the mystery over some of the others, but there was still a good twist or two and the ending had me turning pages as quickly as possible.
Debbie (52 KP) rated A Stranger in the House in Books
Jul 27, 2018
A Stranger In The House By: Shari Lapena
Adult Thriller 305 Pages
I enjoyed this book; I couldn't put it down. I gave it 5 stars.
It is about a woman who leaves her home in a rush after a phone call. She gets into a car accident and temporarily loses her memory.
During her absents a murder has occurred and the police don't believe that she doesn't remember anything. They keep questioning her to try to get her to remember.
Her husband and best friend are there to support her and help her.
Who was murder? Did she do it? What happened that night?
These questions will be answered when you read the book. This is a thriller and though I want to go in great detail I won't. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong. This is the best kind of thriller where you can't figure it out because there are twists.
I greatly recommend that you read this book.
Adult Thriller 305 Pages
I enjoyed this book; I couldn't put it down. I gave it 5 stars.
It is about a woman who leaves her home in a rush after a phone call. She gets into a car accident and temporarily loses her memory.
During her absents a murder has occurred and the police don't believe that she doesn't remember anything. They keep questioning her to try to get her to remember.
Her husband and best friend are there to support her and help her.
Who was murder? Did she do it? What happened that night?
These questions will be answered when you read the book. This is a thriller and though I want to go in great detail I won't. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong. This is the best kind of thriller where you can't figure it out because there are twists.
I greatly recommend that you read this book.