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The Foreign Correspondent
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From Alan Furst, whom The New York Times calls “America’s preeminent spy novelist,” comes an...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Firekeeper's Daughter in Books
Aug 19, 2021
An expansive and lovely #OwnVoices tale
Daunis Fontaine feels torn between two worlds--growing up worrying about her Mom and dreaming of becoming a doctor and then being an unenrolled member of the Ojibwe tribe. Her late father was a member and so is her half-brother, Levi. When Daunis' uncle dies and she decides to stay home and attend local community college to take care of her mom, she feels trapped. But the arrival of Jamie, a new member of Levi's hockey team, is a bright spot. The two become fast friends. However, everything changes when Daunis witnesses a horrible murder, and she becomes an informant for the FBI. Suddenly, everything she knows about her hometown and the tribe changes.
"I learned there were times when I was expected to be a Fontaine and other times when it was safe to be a Firekeeper."
This is an excellent book--more mystery than I thought it would be. It covers a lot of topics--sometimes more than seems necessary. Racism, tribal issues, sexual assault, depression, drug abuse, FBI informants, romance, murder... there's a lot packed into this book. However, it does a great job looking into how meth and drug abuse affect the Native American community (as well as sexual assault). It's heartbreaking at times, but also compelling and educational.
"My mother's superpower is turning my ordinary worries into monsters so huge and pervasive that her distress and heartache become almost debilitating. I can protect her from that hurt."
Daunis is a very sympathetic and likeable character. She's dedicated to her family, to her tribe, and her community. She takes on a lot for a kid her age. Sometimes it felt like the informant plot was a little much, a little contrived, but overall, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. It was wonderful to read an #OwnVoices book of such quality and scope, and I look forward to what Boulley does next.
I read this book as part of my new reading project--choosing books off my shelves based on their Goodreads rankings. This is my fourth book of the project, forcing me out of my comfort zone and to try books in genres I don't usually read!
"I learned there were times when I was expected to be a Fontaine and other times when it was safe to be a Firekeeper."
This is an excellent book--more mystery than I thought it would be. It covers a lot of topics--sometimes more than seems necessary. Racism, tribal issues, sexual assault, depression, drug abuse, FBI informants, romance, murder... there's a lot packed into this book. However, it does a great job looking into how meth and drug abuse affect the Native American community (as well as sexual assault). It's heartbreaking at times, but also compelling and educational.
"My mother's superpower is turning my ordinary worries into monsters so huge and pervasive that her distress and heartache become almost debilitating. I can protect her from that hurt."
Daunis is a very sympathetic and likeable character. She's dedicated to her family, to her tribe, and her community. She takes on a lot for a kid her age. Sometimes it felt like the informant plot was a little much, a little contrived, but overall, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. It was wonderful to read an #OwnVoices book of such quality and scope, and I look forward to what Boulley does next.
I read this book as part of my new reading project--choosing books off my shelves based on their Goodreads rankings. This is my fourth book of the project, forcing me out of my comfort zone and to try books in genres I don't usually read!
RavenclawPrincess913 (253 KP) rated Blood and Moonlight in Books
Jul 3, 2022
Contains spoilers, click to show
Title: Blood and Moonlight
Author: Erin Beaty
Rating: 3/5
Summary: This book is about solving the murder of Perette Charpentier who was brutally murdered in the street. She is the daughter of one the fourteen builders who were killed in an accident when the scaffolding collapsed five years before.
Review: I love the cover the designer did a good job it's so pretty. This book went back and forth between interesting and boring. When Catrin discovered and saw the murder it was interesting and semi caught my attention at this time but than the plot got so slow and could not keep my intrest for long.
Quotes and Thoughts while reading (Spoiler Warning):
1. "I heard everything, smelled everything, felt everything with overwhelming intensity. I'd even heard Perrete's thoughts, like they were hanging in the air with the scent of her perfume - and blood." ......... "The moon had done something to me."
Thoughts: This must have been scary and nerve wrecking for her to experience this.
2. "Perrete had the architect's hammer, and that's what the killer used. When it's found, it will lead straight to Magister Thomas."
Thoughts: He is one the people I suspected as the killer.
3. "Flower of white, curled up tight
In the day you hide from sight.
Selenae know, home to go
When your face begins to show."
4. "If magick is real, maybe I'm risking my soul. After all, if magick was good, wouldn't it come from the Sun?"
Thoughts: Not always plus the moon is better anyways.
5. "The bigger shock is that Magister Thomas knows the Selenae man.".... "Have you considered that perhaps she was meant to find that girl?".... "Moon doesn't cause madness, " the Selanae man is saying. "But it does make madness believe it is safe to come out."
Thoughts: I have a feeling this Selanae man is either her father or realities something isn't adding up.
6. "What happened to your neck? Three long scratches run from Simon's left ear to his collar bone. The marks aren't deep, but thin lines have stabbed over on each where the skin was broken."
Thoughts: Makes me think it's him that killed her maybe the scratches are from her fighting back.
Author: Erin Beaty
Rating: 3/5
Summary: This book is about solving the murder of Perette Charpentier who was brutally murdered in the street. She is the daughter of one the fourteen builders who were killed in an accident when the scaffolding collapsed five years before.
Review: I love the cover the designer did a good job it's so pretty. This book went back and forth between interesting and boring. When Catrin discovered and saw the murder it was interesting and semi caught my attention at this time but than the plot got so slow and could not keep my intrest for long.
Quotes and Thoughts while reading (Spoiler Warning):
1. "I heard everything, smelled everything, felt everything with overwhelming intensity. I'd even heard Perrete's thoughts, like they were hanging in the air with the scent of her perfume - and blood." ......... "The moon had done something to me."
Thoughts: This must have been scary and nerve wrecking for her to experience this.
2. "Perrete had the architect's hammer, and that's what the killer used. When it's found, it will lead straight to Magister Thomas."
Thoughts: He is one the people I suspected as the killer.
3. "Flower of white, curled up tight
In the day you hide from sight.
Selenae know, home to go
When your face begins to show."
4. "If magick is real, maybe I'm risking my soul. After all, if magick was good, wouldn't it come from the Sun?"
Thoughts: Not always plus the moon is better anyways.
5. "The bigger shock is that Magister Thomas knows the Selenae man.".... "Have you considered that perhaps she was meant to find that girl?".... "Moon doesn't cause madness, " the Selanae man is saying. "But it does make madness believe it is safe to come out."
Thoughts: I have a feeling this Selanae man is either her father or realities something isn't adding up.
6. "What happened to your neck? Three long scratches run from Simon's left ear to his collar bone. The marks aren't deep, but thin lines have stabbed over on each where the skin was broken."
Thoughts: Makes me think it's him that killed her maybe the scratches are from her fighting back.
KatieLouCreate (162 KP) rated Pushing Daisies - Season 2 in TV
Jan 9, 2018
As mentioned in the first season, the story follows Emerson Cod, a private investigator; Charlotte Charles, Ned's childhood sweetheart brought back from the dead by Ned; and Ned, who has the ability to bring the dead back to life for one minute before something else takes its place.
Each episode entails all kinds of quirky murder mysteries in which Ned, Emerson, and Charlotte must solve together. As the season progresses, we learn more about each character and other sub characters such as Olive Snook.
We see Emerson in his flight to get in contact with his long lost daughter, Charlotte who tricks Ned into bringing her deceased father back to life, Olives unrequited love with Ned, and Ned who can never touch his only true, Charlotte, love again.
However, I will warn you, the series end kind of abruptly. The contract for a third series, for some reason, was cancelled meaning everything had to be tied up at the end when it should not have. It is rather unfortunate because it is such a good series.
Each episode entails all kinds of quirky murder mysteries in which Ned, Emerson, and Charlotte must solve together. As the season progresses, we learn more about each character and other sub characters such as Olive Snook.
We see Emerson in his flight to get in contact with his long lost daughter, Charlotte who tricks Ned into bringing her deceased father back to life, Olives unrequited love with Ned, and Ned who can never touch his only true, Charlotte, love again.
However, I will warn you, the series end kind of abruptly. The contract for a third series, for some reason, was cancelled meaning everything had to be tied up at the end when it should not have. It is rather unfortunate because it is such a good series.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Detroit (2017) in Movies
Sep 11, 2017
Fantastic Performances (1 more)
Extremely Well Crafted
A Dark Stain On American History
Detroit is a movie that is hard to watch, but should be seen by everyone. It tells the heart breaking story of a violent raid on a hotel by an overly aggressive and racist group of police officers. The movie pulls no punches in telling this unfortunately true story of how a group of evil bigots got away with murder.
The cast are brilliant at bringing this harrowing tale to life and the technical aspects of the movie are spot on as well. The direction is great, the lighting and sound are phenomenal and the believability of the whole thing, makes it feel all too real.
This movie is shocking and difficult to stomach, but it does what it is designed to do - to show us how much outright discrimination the police force and other officials could get away with during this time in history.
This movie deserves to be seen by all and it will leave you thinking about the events that it portrays for days afterwards.
The cast are brilliant at bringing this harrowing tale to life and the technical aspects of the movie are spot on as well. The direction is great, the lighting and sound are phenomenal and the believability of the whole thing, makes it feel all too real.
This movie is shocking and difficult to stomach, but it does what it is designed to do - to show us how much outright discrimination the police force and other officials could get away with during this time in history.
This movie deserves to be seen by all and it will leave you thinking about the events that it portrays for days afterwards.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Warlords and Wastrels (The Duellists Trilogy #3) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
This series was a great start that kind of had a dead point in the middle, then got really good again with this third book, then the last little bit was kind of a let-down. The book itself, the plot, the twists and surprises, the murder, it was all great. But the ending and how it finished was very unsatisfactory. It felt like it came out of nowhere. It made some big changes to the characters lives. I feel like if you’re going to make a big change, you need to hint at it, leave some little for-shadowing clues in the body of the work, etc. Don’t just throw someting at me at the last page. That was the only part of the book I didn’t like.
All in all it was a good conclusion and a nice finish to a fun and exciting story. Not a Joe Abercrombie or a James Patterson or a Gail Carriger, but still fun and lots of swordfights. And we all know swordfights are really the only reason I listen to audiobooks.
All in all it was a good conclusion and a nice finish to a fun and exciting story. Not a Joe Abercrombie or a James Patterson or a Gail Carriger, but still fun and lots of swordfights. And we all know swordfights are really the only reason I listen to audiobooks.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated 11th Hour (Women's Murder Club, #11) in Books
May 10, 2018
I really really liked this book. All of the WMC books keep me on the edge of my seat for what is going to happen next, but in this one, I really couldn't see what was coming next. Lindsay Boxer is pregnant, Cindy & Yuki are in relationships with Lindsay's partner and Boss(respectively). Someone has buried seven heads in the backyard of a famous movie star. Not too long ago, he was aquitted of his wife's murder, could he really be the murderer. Some vigilante is killing drug dealers. While this may be a great help to the city of San Francisco, this really isn't the best way to go about getting rid of the dirty laundry.
<spoiler> There was one part of the book that baffled me. Before the killer for the drug dealers went out on his last kill, he gave his wife something to help explain why he killed one of his victims. I didn't hear anymore about that after the killer was stopped.</spolier>
<spoiler> There was one part of the book that baffled me. Before the killer for the drug dealers went out on his last kill, he gave his wife something to help explain why he killed one of his victims. I didn't hear anymore about that after the killer was stopped.</spolier>
Sue (5 KP) rated The Pajama Frame in Books
Apr 23, 2018
The Pajama Frame is book #5 in the Madison Night Mystery series. While the books can be read as stand-alone, each preceding book builds on the characters and their relationships.
When her octogenarian friend dies and leaves interior decorator Madison Night a pajama factory, Madison is faced with a decades-old tragedy and a more recent murder. All Madison wants to do is hide from the drama, but when estranged family members and special interest groups want to get into the sealed factory, Madison realizes she is caught having to solve a mystery before she becomes the next victim.
As with previous Madison Night books, I found the character of Madison delightful and refreshing. She is no-nonsense, quirky, snarky, and a throwback to Doris Day. Who wouldn’t enjoy an independent woman that dresses and enjoys decorations from the era of the fifties and sixties? Add to the mix a love/hate relationship with the chief of police Tex and a few witty friends & neighbors; you have the perfect chemistry for a delightful cozy mystery series.
When her octogenarian friend dies and leaves interior decorator Madison Night a pajama factory, Madison is faced with a decades-old tragedy and a more recent murder. All Madison wants to do is hide from the drama, but when estranged family members and special interest groups want to get into the sealed factory, Madison realizes she is caught having to solve a mystery before she becomes the next victim.
As with previous Madison Night books, I found the character of Madison delightful and refreshing. She is no-nonsense, quirky, snarky, and a throwback to Doris Day. Who wouldn’t enjoy an independent woman that dresses and enjoys decorations from the era of the fifties and sixties? Add to the mix a love/hate relationship with the chief of police Tex and a few witty friends & neighbors; you have the perfect chemistry for a delightful cozy mystery series.
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated The Breakdown in Books
May 16, 2018
Ok, so I never saw the twist coming.
This story is crafted so well, and kept me so engaged, that it was hard to put the book down. The entire time, I felt so bad for Cass - what must it be like to forget things like how to use the washing machine or the microwave? Terrifying, I imagine. To feel like you're losing your mind, and then to find out you were being gas-lighted all along by the two people you love most in the world?
I felt vindicated right along with her when the truth came out and she got some measure of revenge on her husband and best friend - both of whom are just terrible, terrible people and deserve every ounce of it. In truth, the actual "murder mystery" part of the story was entirely secondary for me, as I was completely wrapped up in what was happening to Cass.
Thank you to SheSpeaks and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!
This story is crafted so well, and kept me so engaged, that it was hard to put the book down. The entire time, I felt so bad for Cass - what must it be like to forget things like how to use the washing machine or the microwave? Terrifying, I imagine. To feel like you're losing your mind, and then to find out you were being gas-lighted all along by the two people you love most in the world?
I felt vindicated right along with her when the truth came out and she got some measure of revenge on her husband and best friend - both of whom are just terrible, terrible people and deserve every ounce of it. In truth, the actual "murder mystery" part of the story was entirely secondary for me, as I was completely wrapped up in what was happening to Cass.
Thank you to SheSpeaks and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Turning the Tide in Books
Apr 11, 2018
Who Killed the Suffragist?
While the country is gearing up for the Presidential election of 1888, Rose Carroll and others in her town in Massachusetts are gearing up for a peaceful protest in support of women’s suffrage. Days before the election, Rose finds the body of Rowena Felch, the local leader of the movement, dead outside her home. Could it be that someone hates the idea of women voting that much? Or is there another motive?
While women’s suffrage is a strong theme in the book, Rose quickly finds other motives for murder. I did feel the plot slowed down a time or two, but that never lasted for very long. In fact, the author was able to work in development in the mystery in the middle of some of the scenes about the suffrage movement. I especially appreciated the fact that some of the males in this book supported the movement, too. The characters are great as always, and a couple of sub-plots advance series storylines well. All told, this is another great book.
While women’s suffrage is a strong theme in the book, Rose quickly finds other motives for murder. I did feel the plot slowed down a time or two, but that never lasted for very long. In fact, the author was able to work in development in the mystery in the middle of some of the scenes about the suffrage movement. I especially appreciated the fact that some of the males in this book supported the movement, too. The characters are great as always, and a couple of sub-plots advance series storylines well. All told, this is another great book.