Sign up
Search
Advanced search settings

Search only in certain items:

Search results
All (3797)
Content
People
Apps
Books
Orbs
Movies
Music
Podcasts
Shows
Tabletop Games
Tech
TV
Video Games
YouTube Channels
Videos
40x40

Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Sweet Little Lies in Books

Aug 26, 2018  
Sweet Little Lies
Sweet Little Lies
Caz Frear | 2017 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry
9
8.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sweet Little Lies was billed as a thriller in Book of the Month's description, but it's more of a police procedural. I hadn't read one before, though I watch plenty of them on Netflix - they're a bit of a guilty pleasure! It was interesting having one in book form. It's not my typical fare, but I did enjoy it, far more than I probably would have enjoyed a true thriller. It's got all your typical parts of a police procedural - older family man cop, ball-busting female chief who isn't as bitchy as she first appears, troubled main character who snapped on a case, police psychiatrist, puzzling case, lying witnesses. All we're really missing is a partner who isn't actually a cop but somehow worms his way into cases anyway.

I'm conflicted about Cat herself. I like her - but I disagree with some of her decisions. I think she should have come clean about her connection to the case immediately. She doesn't because she's trying to protect her dad, but why? She spends most of the book talking about how much she dislikes him! Her entire family dynamic is pretty weird. They have issues.

I really enjoyed the writing of this book. The pacing was excellent - slow enough to absorb each new reveal properly, but fast-paced enough that the action rolls along. Goodreads says the book is "Cat Kinsella #1" implying it's the start of a series. I'll have to keep an eye out for them. For a debut novel, I am impressed at the level of writing, pacing, plot, and characterization. There's a lot of threads in this book that get gathered together at the end and tied up nicely, with only one escaping. That worried me until I discovered it's the beginning of a series; the one loose thread makes sense in that context.

While I didn't like this one quite as much as Goodbye, Paris, it's still another great pick from Book of the Month.

You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
  
40x40

Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) in Movies

Jun 19, 2019  
Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
6
7.2 (200 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), is back in the second installment of the
Fantastic Beasts series. The film opens with Grinderlwald (Johnny Depp),
conducting an elaborate escape from custody which in turn starts off a
search to find him and bring him to justice.
After a few months of fruitless searching; the Ministry of Magic offers
Newt a chance to have his travel ban lifted if he will locate and
eliminate Grindelwald. Newt refuses especially since he would have to
join his brother’s division as an Orator and instead opts to travel to
Paris to help Jacob and Queeenie find Tina. Newt still has strong
feelings for Tina and is eager to resolve a misunderstanding which has
arisen.

At the same time, Grindelwald as well as forces from the Ministry are
eagerly trying to find Credence (Ezra Miller), who has become obsessed
with finding his mother.

To say there is a lot going on would be an understatement as I have not
even touched upon Dumbledore (Jude Law) and his conflicts with the
Ministry over his unwillingness to fight Grindlelwald and you can get a
sense of just how busy and at times convoluted the plot can be.
There are plenty of nice visuals and the cast works well with one another
but the film has a darker tone than the previous one and there are aspects
of the film which will appeal to the hardcore fans but will be lost by
newer or more casual fans.

The entire films plays more as a setup to the next chapter in the series
so aside from a few moments, there is little real resolution as most of
the film is simply setting up what is to be the focus of the remaining
films.

While it does entertain; it does seem to be better suited to the hardcore
versus the casual fan who might need more than the magical splendor it
offers.

http://sknr.net/2018/11/15/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindlewald/