Search

Search only in certain items:

The Woman in the Window
The Woman in the Window
A.J. Finn | 2018 | Thriller
8
8.0 (42 Ratings)
Book Rating
A fun page-turner
The protagonist is an alcoholic shut-in who suffers from PTSD. For entertainment, she watches old movies and spies on her neighbors. When she sees the woman next door get murdered, she begins to spiral out of control. Did she really see a murder, or did her medications cause her to hallucinate? Is she losing her mind or is something really wrong in the neighborhood?
  
Jackson Jones goes from hero to zero when he gets braces. But that's also how he finds out about the super spies operating out of his elementary school. This book is funny and creative while still delivering a credible plot (well, for a spy spoof). Kids of all ages will love it.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-nerds-national-espionage.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Anna (2019)
Anna (2019)
2019 | Action, Thriller
Anna is a film that believes it is far smarter than it is and having better execution of all the double-crossing the spies do may have stopped Anna from feeling so repetitive and dull. Model-turned-actress Sasha Luss is serviceable as a model-turned-assassin but unfortunately for her, the film is not serviceable and ends up as messy nonsense.

FULL REVIEW: https://jumpcutonline.co.uk/review-anna-2019/
  
Codenames
Codenames
2015 | Card Game, Deduction, Party Game, Spies / Espionage, Word Game
If you know your team, its genius (0 more)
If you dont know your team, its painful (0 more)
Spies! Spies everywhere!
Playing Codenames is like a stationary Charades. You need to identify your spy team to your team mate, without revealing too much, and before your enemy can identify their agents.

It's easy enough to look at the 25 cards, can pick a single, blindingly-obvious link to several cards.... but are they the cards you need to identify, and will your team mate understand?

By using single code words, and the amount of cards it refers to, it can be a simple game; however it can also be fiendishly difficult and it great fun.

We have played this a few times, and most of the guesses/clues have been for 2 or 3 cards - so "Engine, 3" could refer to parts of an engine, or items with an engine; however, if might be too a stretch if one of the cards is "STEAM", and there are also "MOTOR", "AUTOMOBILE", and "AIRCRAFT". So do I mean things WITH an engine? Things which move? A steam engine is much older than the others, perhaps it's not that; but STEAM ENGINE fits so well, hut I only have 3 choices...

The best single round was my wife and I - "Treasure 5", for the win. After a few minutes, all 5 had been identified, and we won. But dont tell anyone.... there are spies everywhere