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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2476 KP) rated Black List, White Death in Books
Mar 6, 2024
Two More Novellas with the Reds
The book features two novellas featuring cowboy detectives Old Red and Big Red. Up first, the two travel to the Arizona territory to try to find a list of names related to a murder that happened years before. Then, they go undercover at a tuberculosis sanitarium in Colorado where patients have died of unnatural causes. In between, we get a short story involving Big Red’s first solo case in which a package pickup goes wrong.
When you combine the three stories, you get a full-length book. And all three stories are filled with fun. I laughed multiple times while reading. But they are solid mysteries, and I’m always amazed at how Old Red pieces things together. As always, the brothers’ interactions are fun, and I really do enjoy spending time with them as they navigate cases in the 1890’s.
When you combine the three stories, you get a full-length book. And all three stories are filled with fun. I laughed multiple times while reading. But they are solid mysteries, and I’m always amazed at how Old Red pieces things together. As always, the brothers’ interactions are fun, and I really do enjoy spending time with them as they navigate cases in the 1890’s.
The Awakening and Selected Stories
Sandra M. Gilbert and Kate Chopin
8.0
Rate It
Book
The Awakening and Selected Stories is Kate Chopin's groundbreaking depiction of a woman who dares to...
I’ve not actually read Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe, but I was happy when I realised that this could easily be read as a standalone novel – there were only a small amount of moments when I felt like I was missing some information that came from the main novel.
It’s only a very short book, but that made it all the better for me because I prefer reading short stories over Christmas than trying to dig into a really big novel, just because I struggle for time over Christmas.
The characters were all brilliant. I loved Becca because I know people with the same attitude over Christmas as her, so it made me laugh a bit seeing people I know as Characters in a book.
It was a cheesy festive romance, and there were a few parts where I wasn’t too sure on how far the novel was going to go, but thankfully it balanced out the romance with the plot really well.
It’s only a very short book, but that made it all the better for me because I prefer reading short stories over Christmas than trying to dig into a really big novel, just because I struggle for time over Christmas.
The characters were all brilliant. I loved Becca because I know people with the same attitude over Christmas as her, so it made me laugh a bit seeing people I know as Characters in a book.
It was a cheesy festive romance, and there were a few parts where I wasn’t too sure on how far the novel was going to go, but thankfully it balanced out the romance with the plot really well.
Harpertrue Life - A Short Read: Learning to Love Amy: The Foster Carer Who Saved a Mother and a Daughter
Book
The second in a series of true short stories from foster carer Mia Marconi. India was a child who...
Sherlock Holmes: Volume 1
Arthur Conan Doyle and Roger Boylan
Book
A stunning gift edition boasting the early tales of Sherlock Holmes, including 2 full-length novels...
Mel (490 KP) rated Lincoln in the Bardo in Books
Oct 2, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
When this book first came out it seemed to be publicised everywhere so when I saw it on a daily deal I picked up a copy.
I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't quite what I got. While the main thread of the story focusing on the death of Lincoln's son and the ghosts in the graveyard was interesting it felt like this was essentially a short story bulked out into a novel (given the author is far more famous for his short stories this probably isn't surprising). The use of historical quotations to tell the parts of the story taken from real life seemed more of a clever affectation than actually a useful plot device. While I finished the book and felt like I knew a little more about Lincoln the man afterwards overall I didn't think it lived up to the hype surrounding it
I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't quite what I got. While the main thread of the story focusing on the death of Lincoln's son and the ghosts in the graveyard was interesting it felt like this was essentially a short story bulked out into a novel (given the author is far more famous for his short stories this probably isn't surprising). The use of historical quotations to tell the parts of the story taken from real life seemed more of a clever affectation than actually a useful plot device. While I finished the book and felt like I knew a little more about Lincoln the man afterwards overall I didn't think it lived up to the hype surrounding it
Merissa (13749 KP) rated He Sees You When You're Sleeping in Books
Dec 10, 2020 (Updated Aug 8, 2023)
HE SEES YOU WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING is a short, standalone, seasonal novel that is DARK! Kris is not all jolly and ho, ho, ho, but more menacing and deadly. He helps Jack as a child and sees him as time moves on. Jack grows up and still tries to do the right thing, although for him, life is also dangerous. Kris 'tries' to do the right thing, but will he learn his lesson in time?
What a brilliant short-story! I loved the lights and the Ghost of Christmas Future. Although short, this is powerful and reflects upon how life can be if circumstances are against you. It has the feel of a psychological thriller to it, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep your attention.
This was a fantastic seasonal read, so different from the warm and fuzzy stories you normally get. I thought the ending was unexpected and perfect, and so I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this amazing story.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 10, 2020
What a brilliant short-story! I loved the lights and the Ghost of Christmas Future. Although short, this is powerful and reflects upon how life can be if circumstances are against you. It has the feel of a psychological thriller to it, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep your attention.
This was a fantastic seasonal read, so different from the warm and fuzzy stories you normally get. I thought the ending was unexpected and perfect, and so I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this amazing story.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 10, 2020
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Black House in Books
Jan 4, 2020
Another of King's epic stories
Stephen King is my favourite author, so I'm always going to enjoy his stories although it varies as to how much. I have a particular fondness for his short stories or epic doorstop sized novels, and I'm pleased that Black House falls into the latter.
The Talisman is a great story, and this is a very welcome sequel with Jack now as a rather endearing and heroic adult, scarred by his past. This is a story that starts off as a standard crime story and as it goes on turns into a fantastical horror, filled with King's usual mix of well written secondary characters and a nice amount of gore. What I also loved about this is how it links into other King stories - not just The Talisman, but others that I won't spoil but are very much beloved.
That's not to say this book is perfect. It is VERY long and I feel like there are parts of this that get too rambling and long winded, and there are some parts that could quite easily have been cut out without impacting on the main plot. There are also a few characters in this with odd speech impediments or accents, and trying to read their manner of speech gets very irritating after a while.
But apart from this, this is a hugely enjoyable King epic novel. Although only one to read if you've read The Talisman - this is not a standalone sequel.
The Talisman is a great story, and this is a very welcome sequel with Jack now as a rather endearing and heroic adult, scarred by his past. This is a story that starts off as a standard crime story and as it goes on turns into a fantastical horror, filled with King's usual mix of well written secondary characters and a nice amount of gore. What I also loved about this is how it links into other King stories - not just The Talisman, but others that I won't spoil but are very much beloved.
That's not to say this book is perfect. It is VERY long and I feel like there are parts of this that get too rambling and long winded, and there are some parts that could quite easily have been cut out without impacting on the main plot. There are also a few characters in this with odd speech impediments or accents, and trying to read their manner of speech gets very irritating after a while.
But apart from this, this is a hugely enjoyable King epic novel. Although only one to read if you've read The Talisman - this is not a standalone sequel.
Winnie the Pooh: The Best Bear in All the World
Brian Sibley, Paul Bright, A.A. Milne and Kate Saunders
Book
Celebrate 90 years of Winnie-the-Pooh with The Best Bear in all the World, the official sequel to...
Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups
Book
There are few more precious routines than that of the bedtime story. So why do we discard this...