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SummerLGrant (185 KP) rated The Limehouse Golem (2016) in Movies
Sep 10, 2017
Fantastic Victorian thriller
If you go in wanting to be blindsided about who did it then you're going to be disappointed, it's pretty obvious straight away who the Limehouse Golem is. Other than that this is a gripping film exploring the dregs of society in Victorian London as two cases come together for Scotland Yard's John Kildare (Bill Nighy) and George Flood (Daniel Mays). The story is constantly bubbling beneath the surface and as it rushes towards its conclusion the violence and gore gets more and more graphic, a lot of it doesn't add anything to the story but the dramatics of it does put the state of mind of the murderer into context.
Olivia Cooke, who plays Lizzie Cree a woman on trial for the murder of her husband, is fantastic in the role and has really put on display how good an actress she is.
Olivia Cooke, who plays Lizzie Cree a woman on trial for the murder of her husband, is fantastic in the role and has really put on display how good an actress she is.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Cinco de Murder in Books
Apr 6, 2018
Celebration Leads to Murder
It’s Cinco de Mayo weekend, and Josie Callahan has a full plate. She will be waitressing at her family’s Tex-Mex restaurant as well as helping her uncle with the first annual chili cook-off and dancing in the parade. The last thing she needs is to find the body of Lucky Straw, one of the cook-off contestants. He wasn’t well liked, but who would kill him?
This is a fun mystery tying into a different holiday, yet it fits the theme of this series perfectly. The mystery is good, with several elements to keep us guessing until the end. I did feel that the book needed another edit to smooth things over as Josie’s changing theories constantly confused me, but not in a good way for a mystery. The series regulars are as fun as always, especially Josie’s abuela
This is a fun mystery tying into a different holiday, yet it fits the theme of this series perfectly. The mystery is good, with several elements to keep us guessing until the end. I did feel that the book needed another edit to smooth things over as Josie’s changing theories constantly confused me, but not in a good way for a mystery. The series regulars are as fun as always, especially Josie’s abuela
A really good start to a new series!
I thoroughly enjoyed this and read it over two days, not actually wanting to put it down!
Danny Sanchez is a reporter working in Spain for an ex-Pats newspaper, and by chance finds himself investigating a murder. It’s paced really well, it isn’t bogged down in detail - but there is enough to keep your interest. The murders are pretty macabre, and Danny is clearly traumatised by having seen one of them. I didn’t think it was gratuitously graphic though.
I really liked the character of Danny - he’s very likeable, and I would be interested to read more books in the series.
And a rather unexpected ending after we were kept guessing at the identity of the murderer. It was definitely worth it though.
Many thanks to Sapere Books for my copy of this to read and review!
Danny Sanchez is a reporter working in Spain for an ex-Pats newspaper, and by chance finds himself investigating a murder. It’s paced really well, it isn’t bogged down in detail - but there is enough to keep your interest. The murders are pretty macabre, and Danny is clearly traumatised by having seen one of them. I didn’t think it was gratuitously graphic though.
I really liked the character of Danny - he’s very likeable, and I would be interested to read more books in the series.
And a rather unexpected ending after we were kept guessing at the identity of the murderer. It was definitely worth it though.
Many thanks to Sapere Books for my copy of this to read and review!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated The Black Echo (Harry Bosch #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The body in the drain pipe looks like a drug overdose, and everyone is willing to record it that way. Everyone except LAPD Homicide cop Harry Bosch, who thinks the scene is telling a different story – murder. Then he makes the shocking discover, he knows the victim, although he hasn’t seen the dead man since their days as tunnel rats in Vietnam. What’s going on?
Overall, this is a strong debut from an authors who is now wildly popular. I did feel that Bosch could be a bit too cold at times, and there were certainly clichés in the story. On the other hand, the plot moved forward quickly and always kept me engaged. And I did enjoy the characters most of the time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-black-echo-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Overall, this is a strong debut from an authors who is now wildly popular. I did feel that Bosch could be a bit too cold at times, and there were certainly clichés in the story. On the other hand, the plot moved forward quickly and always kept me engaged. And I did enjoy the characters most of the time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-black-echo-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Murder Packs a Suitcase (Murder Packs a Suitcase, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Mallory Marlowe is attempting to get her life back together after her husband's accidental death. Her new job is as a travel writer, and her first stop is Orlando, where she is part of a press tour. Their first night there, the obnoxious member of the group is found floating in a fountain. Even though she just met him, Mallory is the prime suspect. Can she figure out who really did it? I found Mallory a charming travel companion. Occasionally the bits about the tour were a little long, but the mystery moved along as a consistently fast pace even if it did rely on coincidence a little more then I would have liked. This was my first book by Cynthia Baxter, but I will be reading more.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-murder-packs-suitcase-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-murder-packs-suitcase-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated A Second Chance at Murder (A Love Or Money Mystery #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Georgia and Scott are back to compete on a second reality show, this one a race across Europe with challenges along the way. But the night before the race even begins, Scott disappears and a woman is murdered. With the police certain that Scott is a killer, Georgia must find him and prove his innocence. Can she do it?
This was a wonderfully creative cozy. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and the disappearance added a nice element to the story. The characters were strong as well. The race aspect was kept as a sub-plot, and the location in Spain was brought to life so much that I now want to visit.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-second-chance-at-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was a wonderfully creative cozy. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and the disappearance added a nice element to the story. The characters were strong as well. The race aspect was kept as a sub-plot, and the location in Spain was brought to life so much that I now want to visit.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-second-chance-at-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Artifact (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
New history professor Jaya Jones is trying to process the death of her ex-boyfriend when she receives a package in the mail from him that contains a bracelet. It looks to be old and possibly valuable. Now, she’s wondering if he really died in an accident like everyone thinks or if it was murder. And what is the story of the bracelet?
While I always enjoy a cozy mystery, I love when an author adds something else, which is the case here. I was hoping for a caper feel to things, and this book delivered on that perfectly. Between the mystery and the treasure hunt, there is always something going on. Along the way, we get to meet a great cast of characters. I’ll definitely be back for more.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-artifact-by-gigi-pandian.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While I always enjoy a cozy mystery, I love when an author adds something else, which is the case here. I was hoping for a caper feel to things, and this book delivered on that perfectly. Between the mystery and the treasure hunt, there is always something going on. Along the way, we get to meet a great cast of characters. I’ll definitely be back for more.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-artifact-by-gigi-pandian.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated The Wrong Girl (Jane Ryland, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
This is the second book about reporter Jane Ryland and Boston detective Jake Brogan. This time around, Jane is helping a former co-worker find out if she was sent to the wrong woman while trying to track down her birth mother. Meanwhile, she is also covering a murder that Jake is investigating. A woman is found murdered. Two kids under 3, both alive, are in the next room. It looks like a simple domestic dispute except the woman has no ID anywhere in the apartment.
I loved the book. It started fast and never let me go until I reached the end. The characters were great as well, and I had a blast spending time with all of them.
I got the book via Amazon Vine.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-wrong-girl-by-hank.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I loved the book. It started fast and never let me go until I reached the end. The characters were great as well, and I had a blast spending time with all of them.
I got the book via Amazon Vine.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-wrong-girl-by-hank.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Frog Ledge’s Groundhog Day celebration is cut short when the town historical, elderly Helga Oliver, is found dead at the bottom of the Historical Museum stairs. But when whispers that it was murder reach Stan’s ears, she begins to dig in and see if she can find the truth.
There are many plot threads introduced early that slow down the pacing of the story a little, but as the book progresses, we see how everything ties together. There are some good twists and a creative climax. The characters are great, and we even get to see a different side to a couple of them, which I really appreciated.
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/2015/03/book-review-icing-on-corpse-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
There are many plot threads introduced early that slow down the pacing of the story a little, but as the book progresses, we see how everything ties together. There are some good twists and a creative climax. The characters are great, and we even get to see a different side to a couple of them, which I really appreciated.
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/2015/03/book-review-icing-on-corpse-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Beyond A Doubt (The Carol Childs Mysteries, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Reporter Carol Childs is on the scene when the police pull up the body of a young woman from a Los Angeles canyon. The victim is Monica Channing, who went missing two weeks ago. While the rest of the media begin to focus on the murder, Carol sees a pattern with other missing young women. What might she have stumbled on?
This book is a fast paced read from the very beginning. It’s definitely not the light reads I often go for, but the story never gets as dark as it could either. Watching Carol try to prove what she thinks is going on is fun, and the climax was very satisfying. Carol leads a strong cast of characters, and I’m looking forward to her next adventure.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-beyond-doubt-by-nancy-cole.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book is a fast paced read from the very beginning. It’s definitely not the light reads I often go for, but the story never gets as dark as it could either. Watching Carol try to prove what she thinks is going on is fun, and the climax was very satisfying. Carol leads a strong cast of characters, and I’m looking forward to her next adventure.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-beyond-doubt-by-nancy-cole.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.