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The Gods of Guilt (Mickey Haller, #5; Harry Bosch Universe, #25)
The Gods of Guilt (Mickey Haller, #5; Harry Bosch Universe, #25)
Michael Connelly | 2013 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mickey Haller’s latest murder case involves the death of a prostitute with her pimp as the prime suspect. Only Mickey knew Gloria when she was alive, working out what he thought was a deal to get her out of the life. Where has she been for the last eight years? And can Mickey get his client off when the odds keep piling up against him?

This was another gripping legal thriller that was almost impossible to stop reading. There were great twists and surprises along the way, yet there was still time for the characters to continue growing. I hope it isn’t too long before we are treated with another case for this great team.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-gods-of-guilt-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
When a loyal customer brings her typewriter into The Rescued Word to be repaired, Clare Henry is shocked when a stranger follows her in demanding to buy that exact typewriter and only that typewriter. The next morning, the stranger is dead behind the shop. What was he so obsessed with that typewriter? Did it have anything to do with his murder?

This may be a debut, but the characters are already sharp, and I loved them for it. Several sub-plots revolving around them really helped with that. Unfortunately, that overwhelms the main mystery, which is very weak as a result. The climax especially suffers.

NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-to-helvetica-and-back-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
TT
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'll be honest and say that none of the characters within this really gripped me into the point where I wanted to know more about that person and I wanted the story to progress in their direction, however it was an enjoyable story line. Lolita with murder.

As much as I liked this book, Dicker wasn't able to explain to me why Nola fell in love with Harry, it never explained that infatuation they had for each other deep enough for me to be able to get the love affair. As similar this book is to other books, it still had some sort of edge to it that made me keep on reading. The ending was a predictable shock, but nevertheless, I didn't mind the read. Not as good as it was made out to be.
  
Well, I've found yet another cozy mystery series to add to my must-buy list! I really enjoyed the setting - a working historical farm - and learned everything I could want to know about maple syrup production. Not in a clinical way, but as interesting bits of information presented during the story.

Our heroine Kelsey has her hands full trying to run the farm, raise her kindergarten-age son, and solve a murder before the police can pin it on one of her young employees. There was an interesting cast of characters, and that homey, small-town feel that I love in a good cozy.

While previous events are mentioned, it's not necessary to have read book 1 to know what's going on.

NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
  
Reading Up a Storm focuses more on characters outside of the library staff than the first two novels in the series, and Lucy has a new friend in this one who is accused of murder. Of course she doesn't trust that the police will see past her friend Stephanie's apparent motive for the crime, and is soon getting herself into trouble asking questions and trying to solve the case by herself. She probably figured it out long before I did, but it was gratifying to find that the killer was the person I suspected, for once.

And for those of you who enjoy a little romance with your cozy mystery - I love where the author has taken the romantic triangle that was developing in the first two books. I can't say anything more without spoilers, but I was very pleased with the outcome.
  
Silence of the Lamps is book #5 in the Caprice De Luca mystery series, and while previous cases are mentioned, you do not need to have read the earlier books in the series to enjoy this one. The interaction between Caprice and her sisters is so realistic you almost feel like part of the family while reading the story. And when one of her sisters is the prime suspect in a murder investigation, how can Caprice stay out of it? The more she asks around, the more she finds that her sister Nikki was far from Drew’s only enemy. With lots of clues to keep you guessing at the identity of the murderer, this was a fast paced, fun read.

NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts / opinions are my own.
  
Charley joins a book club in the hope that making friends with the town’s elite will drum up business for her clothing store. She finds that she isn’t really fitting in with the Agathas, as the members are known, but sticks with it anyway. It isn’t long, however, before murder victims start turning up arranged just like the victims in the novels that the book club is reading. Charley manages to use her status as a member of the club to convince a detective to let her help with the investigation, but puts her own life in danger in the process.

This is a fun start to a new series with a great main character – cozy fans will love it!

<i>Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review</i>
  
Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Tom Sweterlitsch | 2014 | Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I had a hard time deciding how to rate this book at first because of the subject matter. The story is somewhat more disturbing than what I normally read, but it is a murder mystery as well as sci-fi, so you have to expect some unpleasantness. There are some terrible people doing terrible things. There are also some not so terrible, everyday people accepting, and occasionally even enjoying, terrible things. The worst (or best depending on how you look at it) part of it all is how believable everything is. In the end though, I did enjoy the book and decided that it deserves 4 stars. It is a very well thought out and well-written story that kept me listening every minute I could until it was finished.

See full review at <a href="http://booksthething.com">The Book's the Thing</a>
  
Memento (2000)
Memento (2000)
2000 | Mystery, Thriller
Very unique storytelling
If you are a Christopher Nolan fan, or even a fan of movies that make you think, you should give Memento a try.

The story is pretty simple about a man (Guy Pearce) who is trying to remember details relating to the murder or death of his wife. The problem: the suffers from short term memory loss and wakes up every day having to start over.

Maybe like a serious version of Groundhog Day, Memento is such a fascinating slow burn, slow reveal of details. As the man encounters the creepy individuals who inhabit his life, he does not know who to trust or how the puzzle pieces will ultimately fit together.

If you watch the movie 10 times, you will find different layers in it each time.

A must watch!
  
40x40

ClareR (5674 KP) May 26, 2018

I really enjoyed this film - it had a great atmosphere to it, and was really frustrating at times.

40x40

Sara Cox (1845 KP) Feb 18, 2020

I absolutely love this film!

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KarenRC (6 KP) rated Watching You in Books

Jul 23, 2018  
Watching You
Watching You
Lisa Jewell | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.7 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
This story focuses around this small neighbourhood with lots of strong characters, each with their own storyline to deal with. It feels like a lot, but once I had got my head round them all, this book drew me right in and I was hooked. It starts off with a body in a kitchen, then goes back and does a brilliant job of revealing the story, very slowly, by going back to the beginning of the timeline and working back through. The intermittent police reports from the day after the murder is an excellent addition, as it adds to the slow reveal as you start to realise who the body isn’t! It was a bit of a slow start, but once it got going the suspense, intrigue and twists are coming thick and fast right up until the very last page!