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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Murder Runs in the Family in Books
May 1, 2025
Retirement Community Filled in Intrigue
Amber has never met her grandma Jade, but when she breaks up with her boyfriend, she winds up heading to Jade’s retirement community. Amber is thrilled to be welcomed with open arms, but the night she arrives, a man in the community dies. The police suspect it was murder, and the man’s family begins telling anyone who will listen that Jade is responsible. Can Amber lean on her PI training and figure out what really happened?
I enjoyed a previous series from this author, but this one didn’t really work for me. I was put off by a negative attitude toward Christianity we get early on. I get it that this is a personal issue, but it did make me read more critically. The characters are thin and more caricature to drive the comedy. The plot is more events than mystery driven, although Amber does make some good deductions along the way. Still, there was an aspect of the plot that I didn’t enjoy. The book does provide some laughs, but over all, it didn’t work for me. This will probably be my only visit with these characters.
I enjoyed a previous series from this author, but this one didn’t really work for me. I was put off by a negative attitude toward Christianity we get early on. I get it that this is a personal issue, but it did make me read more critically. The characters are thin and more caricature to drive the comedy. The plot is more events than mystery driven, although Amber does make some good deductions along the way. Still, there was an aspect of the plot that I didn’t enjoy. The book does provide some laughs, but over all, it didn’t work for me. This will probably be my only visit with these characters.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) in Movies
Dec 29, 2017
Not the Star Wars film I was looking for.
While I am a pretty big Star Wars fan (hell I have a lightsaber tattoo) I also don't mind them playing around with the universe and changing this as long as it makes for a good movie with a good story, so no I'm not some purist that was going to hate this no matter what I was hype and ready for this just like I was for The Force Awakens and man is it killing me to write that I just didn't enjoy this installment to the series.
The main reason I didn't enjoy it that much was that the entire film just felt like a transition to the next saga while The Force Awaken built up so much The Last Jedi just didn't keep up with the momentum and just fell really short for me, halfway through the movie I kind of just wanted it to be over already.
The real downfall in the end though was the characters this time around I really feel like they just wasted Finn and Poe so much throughout the movie with a half thought out side plot that didn't really do or go anywhere for me.
The main reason I didn't enjoy it that much was that the entire film just felt like a transition to the next saga while The Force Awaken built up so much The Last Jedi just didn't keep up with the momentum and just fell really short for me, halfway through the movie I kind of just wanted it to be over already.
The real downfall in the end though was the characters this time around I really feel like they just wasted Finn and Poe so much throughout the movie with a half thought out side plot that didn't really do or go anywhere for me.
David McK (3663 KP) rated Lord of the Silver Bow (Troy #1) in Books
Nov 13, 2022
<2022 update>
Still as good as ever. I've yet to find someone to match Gemmell for this style of work.
<<2011 review>>
While perhaps more famous for his Drenai series of books (that began with 'Legend'), throughout his life David Gemmell wrote many other books as well.
At the time of his death in 2006, he was working on a novel called "Fall of Kings": the final part of a trilogy that began with with this novel. The trilogy, as a whole, was a re-working of the story of Troy: set during the early bronze age and with some famous (as well as some not-so-famous) characters from that legend all making an appearance. This first novel introduces us to some of those characters and sets the scene for what is to come ...
As it's a Gemmell book, it's a pretty safe bet what to expect: the man was famous for writing heroic fantasy, with his characters as (nearly always) flawed in some respect: the main characters in this book (particularly Helikaon) are no exception to that rule. While it could be argued that the novel could do with a bit of trimming in some of the slower sections, this is still an impressive piece of work.
Still as good as ever. I've yet to find someone to match Gemmell for this style of work.
<<2011 review>>
While perhaps more famous for his Drenai series of books (that began with 'Legend'), throughout his life David Gemmell wrote many other books as well.
At the time of his death in 2006, he was working on a novel called "Fall of Kings": the final part of a trilogy that began with with this novel. The trilogy, as a whole, was a re-working of the story of Troy: set during the early bronze age and with some famous (as well as some not-so-famous) characters from that legend all making an appearance. This first novel introduces us to some of those characters and sets the scene for what is to come ...
As it's a Gemmell book, it's a pretty safe bet what to expect: the man was famous for writing heroic fantasy, with his characters as (nearly always) flawed in some respect: the main characters in this book (particularly Helikaon) are no exception to that rule. While it could be argued that the novel could do with a bit of trimming in some of the slower sections, this is still an impressive piece of work.
The Gloves are Off: My Life in Cricket
Book
Since he took over the gloves inthe England side in 2007, Matt Prior has become a vital part of...
Beating Ruby (Spotless Series Book 2)
10.0
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Book
Life hasn’t been quite the same for computer engineer Island Chaptal since March, an OCD-ridden...
Masamune-Kun's Revenge: Vol. 3
Takeoka Hazuki and Tiv
Book
Masamune-kun's Revenge is an ongoing romantic comedy about a young man seeking vengeance against his...
Hexed (Paranormal Tales from Firefly Island)
8.0
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Book
A witch without her powers must choose between a dangerous love and a dark destiny. When...
Paranormal Romance
The October Man (Rivers of London #7.5)
7.0
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Book
Trier is famous for wine, Romans and for being Germany’s oldest city. So when a man is found dead...
Rivers of London Book series magic
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Moving In ( Book 1) in Books
Sep 5, 2023
120 of 235
Kindle
Moving In ( Books 1)
By Ron Ripley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Iron...and...salt," whispers the old man. The dead old man. "Hurry or it will be too late...."
To escape the stress of living in the city and the anxiety of his high-pressure job, Brian Roy moves his family to the country. His wife loves the easy living, but Brian hates it...especially when weird things start happening in the house. When he discovers a dead body in the woods and a burial ground in his basement, Brian could never imagine the shocking history of the house or its former occupants that comes to light.
As his life starts to unravel, Brian isn't so sure living in the country is going to be the oasis of peace he and his wife expected. Lately, his home has become a haunting den of hell.
This was so much fun! A proper ghost fest! I love Ron Ripley he is so easy to read and enjoy. Really good start to a promising series.
Kindle
Moving In ( Books 1)
By Ron Ripley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Iron...and...salt," whispers the old man. The dead old man. "Hurry or it will be too late...."
To escape the stress of living in the city and the anxiety of his high-pressure job, Brian Roy moves his family to the country. His wife loves the easy living, but Brian hates it...especially when weird things start happening in the house. When he discovers a dead body in the woods and a burial ground in his basement, Brian could never imagine the shocking history of the house or its former occupants that comes to light.
As his life starts to unravel, Brian isn't so sure living in the country is going to be the oasis of peace he and his wife expected. Lately, his home has become a haunting den of hell.
This was so much fun! A proper ghost fest! I love Ron Ripley he is so easy to read and enjoy. Really good start to a promising series.
Merissa (13600 KP) rated Against the Darkness (Cimmerian Moon #1) in Books
Apr 7, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)
This story starts with a grumpy 17-year-old as she is packed off to Band Camp and refuses to kiss her mom goodbye. Fast forward 20 odd days and the world as she knew it has completely changed. You find out what happened from her perspective and how they are trying to make it back 'home,' if the home still even exists.
This story is gripping and fulfilling. They have a hard time as they are trying to survive and you feel the pain and loss that they go through. This is not a smooth journey with a handful of hardships thrown in for good measure. No, this is serious work where they are fighting for survival every day.
Yes, there's a love triangle but thankfully no insta-love. Wade is the once overweight Band member who suddenly, possibly for a long time but we don't know for sure, wants to be with Sinta. Jason is the boy/man who helps to rescue them from a horrifying situation. I felt that this part was exceedingly well written as Sinta is really troubled about what is going on, Wade tries his best and Jason keeps his distance.
This is definitely a page-turner and you will be wanting to start The Ashes That Remain which is book 2 in this series as soon as you finish this one.
* 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!
April 8, 2017
This story is gripping and fulfilling. They have a hard time as they are trying to survive and you feel the pain and loss that they go through. This is not a smooth journey with a handful of hardships thrown in for good measure. No, this is serious work where they are fighting for survival every day.
Yes, there's a love triangle but thankfully no insta-love. Wade is the once overweight Band member who suddenly, possibly for a long time but we don't know for sure, wants to be with Sinta. Jason is the boy/man who helps to rescue them from a horrifying situation. I felt that this part was exceedingly well written as Sinta is really troubled about what is going on, Wade tries his best and Jason keeps his distance.
This is definitely a page-turner and you will be wanting to start The Ashes That Remain which is book 2 in this series as soon as you finish this one.
* 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!
April 8, 2017