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Forced Perspective: A Novel of Domestic Suspense
Forced Perspective: A Novel of Domestic Suspense
Alyssa Richards | 2022 | Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


I was hooked from the get-go. This is part of the Chasing Secrets series but, as far as I can tell, you don't have to read both. I think they are stand-alone.


Harper has been on the run for a long time, hiding her identity to stay safe from the drug cartel she was kidnapped by when she was younger. I don't want to say too much as I feel it would take away from the suspense that the story gives. It is so cleverly written, I found myself being pulled so far in that I was getting anxious that things wouldn't be fixed.


It is a recommendation by me. A fantastic mystery that keeps you on your toes.
  
The Craftsman (The Craftsman, #1)
The Craftsman (The Craftsman, #1)
Sharon J. Bolton | 2018 | History & Politics, Paranormal, Thriller
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
203 of 235
Book
The Craftsman (book. 1)
By Sharon Bolton
⭐️⭐️⭐️

OLD ENEMIES... NEW CRIMES

Thirty years ago, WPC Florence Lovelady's career was made when she arrested coffin-maker Larry Glassbrook for three shocking murders.

Larry confessed; it was an open and shut case. But now he's dead, and events from the past are repeating themselves.

The town Florence left behind still has many secrets. Will she finally uncover the truth? Or will time run out for her first?


This was a decent read I did enjoy it but it took me a while to read. It wasn’t as gripping as I expected. These poor children it was so heartbreaking and I didn’t really see that ending and I’m normally pretty good at catching the killer. Overall it was a good read!
  
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David McK (3623 KP) rated Ant-Man (2015) in Movies

Aug 26, 2019 (Updated Dec 28, 2024)  
Ant-Man (2015)
Ant-Man (2015)
2015 | Action, Comedy, Mystery
Essentially a heist movie, with Paul Rudd in the lead role as ex-con Scott Lang, and with (in the intro, a de-aged) Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, the original creator of the Ant-Man suit when has hidden his creation from the world following a family tragedy.

However, when his ex-protoge also managed to unlock the secrets of the Pym particle (which allows the user to shrink or grow), Hank Pym - and his daughter, as played by Evangeline Lilly - must find a way to stop him from selling his yellow jacket suit to the highest bidder (ie Hydra: "they're not what they used to be"), which is where the cat burglar Scott Lang comes in.

And, I'll admit, I laughed the first time at the Thomas the Tank Engine bit.
  
Her Sister's Lie
Her Sister's Lie
Debbie Howells | 2019 | Mystery, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Overall, this one is a mixed bag
Hannah Roscoe hasn't seen or spoken to her sister, Nina, in ten years when she receives the call that Nina is dead. The sisters have no other family, so Hannah is now guardian to her fifteen-year-old nephew, Abe, a sullen and angry boy whom she barely knows. Abe comes to live with Hannah, and soon they learn that the police are investigating Nina's death as suspicious. Simultaneously, Hannah begins experiencing strange, unexplained events that quickly have her questioning both her safety and her sanity. Nina's death seems to be close to exposing secrets she thought were buried forever. Is Hannah safe? And her secretive past?

"I... then stopped myself, pulled by the invisible thread that runs through all of us, that however much we might want to, none of us can ever truly disown. Family."

Well, this was an interesting, albeit frustrating one. I really love Debbie Howells' work and the fascinating stories she weaves. Her characters are always complex and often flawed, and there's no exception here. Hannah is a mess, honestly, and I won't lie, she's not the easiest to like. Truly, there aren't really any likeable characters here. Hannah is an unreliable narrator, which sometimes drives me a bit insane. However, the book does a strong job of making you wonder who to trust or believe and what exactly is going on. I was confused a good portion of the time. The weird, creepy things that happen to Hannah are interesting and crazy, though they sort of stressed me out. (Maybe I get too involved?)

The novel is filled with references of Hannah and Nina sticking to the script and keeping each other's secrets. At first, it's intriguing and you're curious as to what they are hiding. After a while, when Hannah makes yet *another* reference to the script and secrets--without any details being revealed--you sort of want to scream. I get a little frustrated at the lack of any reveal throughout the entire book. Eventually, I basically guessed all the major twists anyway, though I still found them clever.

So, overall, this one is a mixed bag. Unlikable characters, some frustrating plot pieces. Some clever plot twists, though I managed to predict most of them. It's a very quick read, however. My rating may be slightly affected by my overall love of Howells. If you've never read anything by her, I would definitely head to THE BONES OF YOU first.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Operator in Books

Mar 19, 2020  
The Operator
The Operator
Gretchen Berg | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
7
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Vivian Dalton is a switchboard operator in the small town of Wooster, Ohio. She knows the people of her town quite well--thanks in no small part to the eavesdropping she and the other women do while working at Bell. Usually it's pretty harmless, but that all changes one December night when Vivian listens in on a call between Betty Miller--a rich woman whom she despises--and someone else, whom she doesn't recognize. Their conversation reveals a shocking secret that affects Vivian personally and, if true, will change her life forever. Vivian is horrified, and she starts to investigate. In doing so, she begins to unearth even more secrets and lies.


"That was the thing about small towns. Everyone knew everyone else's business."


I don't often pick up historical fiction, but I won this book, and it sounded interesting. It certainly was. This is a fascinating look at small town relationships and the power of secrets and family. Vivian is quite a character; married to her husband, Edward, for fifteen years, with a daughter Charlotte, who is a sophomore in high school. Her life is small and mainly confined to Wooster. Vivian resents her siblings who finished high school, something she couldn't do as she had to help her family when money grew tight.

The book starts off a little slow, as I'm never a huge fan when we're told there's a huge secret (what Vivian overhears) but it isn't revealed. Once we finally find out what it was, things pick up. Vivian takes on more power, showing a tough and determined side, especially for what was expected of women in 1950s. The book does a good job of illustrating the limitations, but also strengths, of women in the time period. Berg also includes excerpts from Vivian's childhood and growing in the 1930s. I enjoyed seeing how different things were and watching Vivian overcome so much. Her daughter, Charlotte, was a great character, too. There are also a lot of side stories, too, involving a host of small town Wooster characters and even a bank robbery.

Overall, while this took a while to warm up, it was an intriguing look at lies and secrets and how they affected the Dalton family. It's easy to get invested in Vivian and Charlotte (her husband, Edward, seemed like a pretty one-dimensional character, though). It does a strong job of portraying women and all they endure. The book is witty and heartfelt as well. 3.75 stars, rounded to four here.
  
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