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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2336 KP) rated The Raven Thief in Books

Jan 25, 2024 (Updated Jan 25, 2024)  
The Raven Thief
The Raven Thief
Gigi Pandian | 2023 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Who Made the Impossible Possible?
Tempest Raj’s family’s specialty construction company has just finished a project for a family friend. Lavinia Kingsley wanted to redesign a space her ex-husband had used. She’s planning an open house followed by a séance, overseen by Tempest’s friend Sanjay, to ceremonially get her ex out of her life. However, when the lights come on in the middle of the séance, the group finds Lavinia’s ex’s very real body on the table in their midst. With the police looking at her grandfather, Tempest jumps into the case. But she realizes there are four impossible things that she needs to figure out in order to solve the case. Can she figure out not only who did it, but how?

I’m not sure why I didn’t get to this book sooner, but I’m glad I finally did. I was quickly hooked, and the locked room aspect really added to the plot. The complications and twists just made the book harder to put down, but I was completely satisfied when I turned the last page. I fell in love with the characters even more here, as well. We get some advancement to the overarching storyline related to Tempest’s family, which made me glad the next book is coming soon. There are even three recipes at the end. If you haven’t read this book yet, fix that today.
  
Illuminae: The Illuminae Files: Book 1
Illuminae: The Illuminae Files: Book 1
Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman | 2015 | Children
10
9.2 (19 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book has an interesting way it was written in the way that it is more like documents compiled together rather than being all prose. I enjoyed seeing this different style of writing, plus it made for a very quick read.

Even though we were never truly in Kady or Ezra's complete point of view, we still get their feelings in the way the characters are inhabited. They jump off the page at the readers.

The plot moved at a great pace, neither too fast or too slow. I read this book very quickly (we're talking a couple of hours here) but I felt very immersed in the story.

The way each character was introduced was very interesting as well. A lot of it was similar to an investigation log or script from an interrogation room. Even though we don't get much in the way of physical description, we still get the big picture of the characters.

The AI (AIDAN) was quite interesting itself. Even thought it was not a human, there were so many intricate parts to it that I thought it was at some point.

I don't normally enjoy or read space operas or science fiction novels much, but this book made me want to read more.

There is an awesome set up for the rest of the books, as well.
  
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    Richard McGuire

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    Here is Richard McGuire's unique graphic novel based on the legendary 1989 comic strip of the same...

Dim Sum of All Fears
Dim Sum of All Fears
Vivien Chien | 2020 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fear Not, This is a Fun Book
A new souvenir shop has opened next to Ho-Lee Noodles, the restaurant that Lana Lee’s parents own and where she works. Over the last few weeks, Lana has become friends with Isabelle, one half of the newlyweds who own the new store. That makes it person when Isabelle and Brandon, her husband, are found murdered in the back of their store one morning. Despite warnings to stay out of the investigation, Lana begins to poke around. Can she figure out what happened?

Too many books got in the way of me returning to this series sooner, but I’m glad I was able to revisit the characters. The plot is strong, with plenty of secrets and suspects that kept me guessing until the very end. Lana is a relatable, sympathetic heroine, and I really like her friends as well. There is some room for growth in her relationships with her family, and I hope that happens as the series progresses. There are some spoilers for the first book in the series here, so if you are interested in the series, I definitely recommend you read them in order. I’m glad I got to return to Ho-Lee Noodles, and I hope it isn’t so long before I move on to book three.