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Claude Monet's Gardens at Giverny
Dominique Lobstein and Jean-Pierre Gilson
Book
Water lilies, ponds, a Japanese footbridge and blankets of glorious flowers: nothing evokes Claude...
Salamander Sun and Other Poems
Book
Pia Tafdrup is one of Denmark's leading poets. She has received the Nordic Literature Prize -...
The Dilemma
4.0
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Knowing the truth will destroy her. Keeping it secret will destroy him. It’s Livia’s 40th...
ClareR (5996 KP) rated Appointment in Paris in Books
Sep 17, 2025
I was on the edge of my seat from the first page of Appointment in Paris - Jane Thynne certainly knows how to set the tone!
This is the second book in The Harry Fox/ Stella Fry series (well, I hope it’s going to be a series!), and set a year after the first book, Midnight in Vienna. War looms ever closer: Poland has fallen, Amsterdam, Belgium and France are next on Hitler’s occupation list.
When a German officer is found dead at a top secret POW camp in a former stately home, and one of the German Listeners goes missing, the worry is that vital information will fall into the wrong hands. Enter Maxwell Knight, Harry’s former MI5 handler. He wants Harry to find the missing listener, and hands the job of the murder investigation over to Stella.
Stella goes undercover as a listener at Trent Park - her fluent German once again proving its worth. She’s a determined, astute, intelligent woman.
I was a little puzzled as I read, as to why the title is “Appointment in Paris”, because most of this book takes place between London and Trent Park. You just need to be patient, though. And then you’ll be back on the edge of your seat.
The attention to detail is what really makes this book: the preparations for war, the blackout, the fear of the refugees, the jazz clubs. Every now and again, a real person form that time is mentioned (Agatha Christie and Noël Coward).
I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t read the first in this series - YET!! But I WILL be! I really like the characters of Harry and Stella, and I’d love to experience their war with them. So I’ll be watching out for the next instalment!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
This is the second book in The Harry Fox/ Stella Fry series (well, I hope it’s going to be a series!), and set a year after the first book, Midnight in Vienna. War looms ever closer: Poland has fallen, Amsterdam, Belgium and France are next on Hitler’s occupation list.
When a German officer is found dead at a top secret POW camp in a former stately home, and one of the German Listeners goes missing, the worry is that vital information will fall into the wrong hands. Enter Maxwell Knight, Harry’s former MI5 handler. He wants Harry to find the missing listener, and hands the job of the murder investigation over to Stella.
Stella goes undercover as a listener at Trent Park - her fluent German once again proving its worth. She’s a determined, astute, intelligent woman.
I was a little puzzled as I read, as to why the title is “Appointment in Paris”, because most of this book takes place between London and Trent Park. You just need to be patient, though. And then you’ll be back on the edge of your seat.
The attention to detail is what really makes this book: the preparations for war, the blackout, the fear of the refugees, the jazz clubs. Every now and again, a real person form that time is mentioned (Agatha Christie and Noël Coward).
I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t read the first in this series - YET!! But I WILL be! I really like the characters of Harry and Stella, and I’d love to experience their war with them. So I’ll be watching out for the next instalment!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Giovanni's Room in Books
Sep 4, 2017
This is one of those great works of literature where despite loathing the protagonist, the prose is so magnificent you can see past it - almost. It definitely reminded me of Nabokov's renowned tale Lolita where you detest Humbert Humbert, but it's still a masterpiece.
This is the story of an American David, set in the 1950s-1960s, who begins a tumultuous love affair with an Italian man in Paris, while deciding whether to marry his fiancee. He is arrogant, selfish, spoilt and horribly flawed to the point you just think he's more evil than misguided. He can't admit to himself that he is gay, but instead strings along everyone around him and says he's punishing himself. In the end, his lack of character destroys everyone around him including himself but in a very different way. Massively misogynistic at times and I'm not sure if it was the author's intention or a reflection of how he also sees women. Beautifully written nonetheless.
This is the story of an American David, set in the 1950s-1960s, who begins a tumultuous love affair with an Italian man in Paris, while deciding whether to marry his fiancee. He is arrogant, selfish, spoilt and horribly flawed to the point you just think he's more evil than misguided. He can't admit to himself that he is gay, but instead strings along everyone around him and says he's punishing himself. In the end, his lack of character destroys everyone around him including himself but in a very different way. Massively misogynistic at times and I'm not sure if it was the author's intention or a reflection of how he also sees women. Beautifully written nonetheless.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated The Mystery of the Antique Doll (Trixie Belden, #36) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
A new antique shop has opened in Sleepyside, and when Trixie and Honey visit the shop, they find Carl, the owner, rude. But Trixie really gets suspicious when he asks them to do him a favor on a weekend trip to Paris, and they find themselves being followed after doing it. What have they stumbled into?
While not among my least favorites in the series, I certainly do see the flaws. The plot drives the book more than logic and the author has to twist things around in pretty painful ways to get to the climax. Having said that, I do enjoy the climax, and I think the idea behind the mystery was good. Some of the series regulars are reduced to cameos, and this is the infamous books where Trixie knits.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-mystery-of-antique-doll-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While not among my least favorites in the series, I certainly do see the flaws. The plot drives the book more than logic and the author has to twist things around in pretty painful ways to get to the climax. Having said that, I do enjoy the climax, and I think the idea behind the mystery was good. Some of the series regulars are reduced to cameos, and this is the infamous books where Trixie knits.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-mystery-of-antique-doll-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Cinderella Six Feet Under (Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Ophelia and Prue have traveled to Paris where they hope to reunite Prue with her mother. Instead, they find that Prue’s mother is missing and there is a dead body in Prue’s step-family’s home – a body wearing a ball gown and only one slipper. Then Gabriel shows up and insists that’s not the only tie in to Cinderella.
The combination of fairy tale with cozy mystery is successful once again. There are a couple of plot points that seem a bit rough, but for the most part the story is a fun, fast paces romp. I love the trio at the heart of the series, and the rest of the cast is just as sharp and fun. I already can’t wait to see where they go next.
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/2015/09/book-review-cinderella-six-feet-under.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The combination of fairy tale with cozy mystery is successful once again. There are a couple of plot points that seem a bit rough, but for the most part the story is a fun, fast paces romp. I love the trio at the heart of the series, and the rest of the cast is just as sharp and fun. I already can’t wait to see where they go next.
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/2015/09/book-review-cinderella-six-feet-under.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated Beyond Believing in Books
Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
Olivia must deal with the loss of a best friend. How will she deal with the loss? Finn is also has found his first love and marries and goes to Culinary school in Paris. Most of this is dealt tough this loss of his wife Christine? Olivia talks to Dan though songs and other signs. Finn talks and asks for requests though signs from his wife Christine?
D.D. Marx does a wonderful job with the plot. Olivia is put through her life and what she wants to do. Will she find her true love? Is Dan and Christine behind all the paths and are they the guardians' angels for Olivia and Finn.
Olivia was sent to Hellexia and meets up with Finn McDaniels. What do you know when two people bring life back for to people that lose some they love. We find out the Finn met Dan while they were on a trip to Ireland together. We find out what happens to Christine, Dan’s best friend.
D.D. Marx does a wonderful job with the plot. Olivia is put through her life and what she wants to do. Will she find her true love? Is Dan and Christine behind all the paths and are they the guardians' angels for Olivia and Finn.
Olivia was sent to Hellexia and meets up with Finn McDaniels. What do you know when two people bring life back for to people that lose some they love. We find out the Finn met Dan while they were on a trip to Ireland together. We find out what happens to Christine, Dan’s best friend.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) in Movies
Aug 3, 2018 (Updated Aug 3, 2018)
Great funny, thrilling adventure
I may have over-egged the rating for this, as it was my first 4D experience (excluding the very dated Captain Eo at Disneyland Paris) which was incredible!
This keeps the feel of Ant-Man (a daft, capable hero with technology allowing him to become more than he is), but expands on that while keeping Michael Pena's character at peak hilarity. It doesn't feel like Ant-Man 2, it is a definite Wasp movie as she is (rightly) given a lot more of the limelight.
Ant-Man does become something of a laughing stock in the film, mainly due to comedic mishaps with his suit, but he still proves himself to be a capable hero.
Numerous references to Captain America: Civil War, which helped make it more inclusive of the overall MCU and pre-credits scene which alludes to Infinity War (Part 1).
NB - the post-credits scene is not worth the wait at all.
This keeps the feel of Ant-Man (a daft, capable hero with technology allowing him to become more than he is), but expands on that while keeping Michael Pena's character at peak hilarity. It doesn't feel like Ant-Man 2, it is a definite Wasp movie as she is (rightly) given a lot more of the limelight.
Ant-Man does become something of a laughing stock in the film, mainly due to comedic mishaps with his suit, but he still proves himself to be a capable hero.
Numerous references to Captain America: Civil War, which helped make it more inclusive of the overall MCU and pre-credits scene which alludes to Infinity War (Part 1).
NB - the post-credits scene is not worth the wait at all.
David McK (3623 KP) rated Brothers in Arms in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Sold with the tag-line "If you like Sharpe, Jack Steel is your man", it's not hard to see the influence of Bernard Cornwell's eponymous hero on this novel: the only real difference beng that, while Sharpe is set during the Napoleonic Wars, this novel (the third in a series, apparently), is set during the Wars of Marlborough (1702 - 1713).
However, an unlike a Sharpe novel, this one never really gripped me: I never really seemed to connect with the title character at all. While it is written as one, this book could also easily be split into three main sections: the first part concentrating on the battle of Oudenarde, the middle part with Steel going undercover in Paris, and the final part with the siege of Lille: it's just a pity that none of these really grips and so, while I may read some more in the series, I won't be going out of my way to look for them.
However, an unlike a Sharpe novel, this one never really gripped me: I never really seemed to connect with the title character at all. While it is written as one, this book could also easily be split into three main sections: the first part concentrating on the battle of Oudenarde, the middle part with Steel going undercover in Paris, and the final part with the siege of Lille: it's just a pity that none of these really grips and so, while I may read some more in the series, I won't be going out of my way to look for them.