Smashbomb

Cozy mystery fans, sneak a peek at STIFF LIZARD by Lisa Haneberg on my blog. (How amazing is that book cover!?!)

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2021/04/book-blitz-stiff-lizard-spy-shop.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Rodent Roger, a popular Galveston Island exterminator, goes missing the day after he tells private investigator and spy shop owner Xena Cali about a concerning uptick in green iguana sightings on the island. They’re crapping in people’s boats and falling from trees. Are the lizards swimming over from Florida to escape the pythons, or is it something more nefarious? Can Xena help untangle the mess before the raucous reptiles take over Galveston?

Ultima Penelope Roger is a best-selling writer of romance novels. The Lizard Liquidators have set up shop on Galveston Island. Herpetologist Quintana Flores, PhD, works on a bizarre cruise ship that sails out of the Port of Galveston. Sasha Barlow is a driven junior reporter who’ll do anything to get the story. Ned “The Pelican Man” Quinn writes a column about bird necropsies. Captain Ethan Slaughter is the head of the Major Crimes team at the Galveston Police Department. Xena and her team will have to partner with and/or battle this cast of characters and others to solve what becomes a disturbing murder investigation.

Stiff Lizard is the third full-length book in the Spy Shop Mystery series. If you like fast-paced crime novels, clever satire, and gritty beach towns, then you’ll love Lisa Haneberg’s humorous and contemporary cozy caper.

Kudos Comment

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Catherine Coulter

5.0 (2 Ratings) Rate It

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crime thriller

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Tad Williams

7.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

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Micah Ulibarri (79 KP) rated Tomb Raider (2018) in Movies

Mar 26, 2018

Tomb Raider (2018)

2018 | Action, Adventure

6.8

(113 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

So, this reboot of the franchise happened. I dare say, I doubt anyone was asking for it. It's a hard film to critique due to the fact that I have to compare it to the Angelina Jolie films where the biggest plus was that Jolie looked like the video game character... And that was the biggest plus.

That being said, I would call this a good movie and an acceptable action flick.

The characters were pretty much all outshine by Alicia Vikander who was the only character with any real nuance. Her father had a lot of potential but was extremely unrelatable. The villain seemed bored to even be there. Her Asian buddy could have been lifted out of the film... And you would never have noticed.

That being said, Vikander's performance was strong and made the character grounded. She took hits. She didn't seem like she just knew how to do everything perfectly well. I actually enjoyed that for most of it she seems out of her element and made to do all the action sequences out of survival.

The plot was better than I expected. I enjoyed the lore and mythology that surrounded the island, but I admit, I breathed a sigh of relief when the reveal showed it being something much more realistic and less supernatural.

The action sequences we're actually very good. There were quite a few times I found myself on the edge of my seat. I particularly enjoyed the bike race at the beginning and her escape from the "chain gang".

Considering that this is clearly an original story attempting to start a franchise, I'm not convinced I need another chapter. But I am glad I got the one they gave me.

Kudos

Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Husk in Video Games

Jun 19, 2019

Husk

Action/Adventure

4.0

(1 Ratings)

Video Game Rating

Husk is a game with some great potential going in. The horror game is set in 1995 and involves a man with a questionable past taking the train home to his rural hometown of Shivercliff with his wife and teenage daughter along for the trip.

When the train derails and you are unable to find your family, players make their way into the small town to find it deserted with no signs of life anywhere.

There is a toxic fog about the town and soon strange creatures appear which forces players to look for keys, weapons, and other items of use in order to survive as they attempt to unravel the mystery, find your family, and escape.

The premise is compelling enough to take a look but sadly there are many issues with the game which really hamper the experience. I can overlook the dated graphics and the jerky controls and camera transitions, but the game made me feel like I was stuck in the 90s with the numerous glitches in the game. Keys would not be visible on a counter and I at times had to search wildly waiting to get the indicator that keys had been located.

Combat was very uninteresting as I had to simply flail about with a pipe at first without any real indication my blows were landing or doing damage until an enemy fell. I had hoped locating a pistol would make things a bit easier but once again the combat mechanics proved to be lacking.

If you do not mind bugs and glitches, dated graphics, and gameplay, then you will finds yourself entertained by Husk but for me the promising setup went away after the first hour or so of play and I found myself paying more attention to the numerous issues rather than the game.

http://sknr.net/2017/02/07/husk/