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BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated The Aristocats (1970) in Movies
Mar 20, 2019
Dean (6926 KP) rated Hard Candy (2005) in Movies
Jun 10, 2018
Great Thriller
Contains spoilers, click to show
A great cat and mouse thriller in a way, just leaves you guessing who is the cat and the mouse. Some might find it a bit dark in subject matter etc, with some of the scenes as well. How far is the girl prepared to go with her scare tactics. Almost like the little red riding hood tale with the roles reversed, notice her top? Great acting from the leads and quite thought provoking.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated The Silent Partner (Diagnosis Murder, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
A trip through the cold case files leads Dr. Mark Sloan to think that a copy cat serial killer is out there. Is he right, or is he going to get himself and son Steve in big trouble? Any fan of the show will love this book. The mystery is great and all the main characters (including Jack) are in top form.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-diagnosis-murder-silent.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-diagnosis-murder-silent.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Class Reunions Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery #1) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
This, the first book in the Poppy McAllister series, was a five star read for me. Maybe even 6. I loved Poppys continual inner monologue. I loved the way I could actually relate to her. I loved the way she learned to believe in herself. I loved Fig! It was refreshing to have a cat in a cozy series who was so completely self-absorbed and cat-like.
A well-thought-out mystery to top it all off kept me engrossed enough to finish this book in a single sitting. If you enjoy a clever, humorous mystery with a loveable protagonist that you just want good things to happen to, go get yourself a copy of Class Reunions Are Murder. You will not be disappointed.
<i>Note: Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a free copy of the book.</i>
A well-thought-out mystery to top it all off kept me engrossed enough to finish this book in a single sitting. If you enjoy a clever, humorous mystery with a loveable protagonist that you just want good things to happen to, go get yourself a copy of Class Reunions Are Murder. You will not be disappointed.
<i>Note: Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a free copy of the book.</i>
Smashbomb (4683 KP) created a post in Friends of Smashbomb
Jun 3, 2019
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Sweet Little Lies in Books
Mar 18, 2019
Perplexing, well-written tale
Young Detective Constable Catrina (Cat) Kinsella hasn't had the easiest of lives--she didn't get along well with her father and her mother has since passed away. At twenty-six, Cat is in counseling after a traumatic incident while on the job, and she spends most of her nights alone, plagued by insomnia. She isn't close to her family, including her father, sister, or brother. Her latest case is that of thirty-five-year old Alice Lapaine, who is found murdered and dumped in Leamington Square. Alice too led a solitary life, spending weeks away from her husband, Thomas, who quickly becomes the team's top suspect. But then they receive a call--Alice isn't Alice, but rather Maryanne Doyle, a teenager who went missing in Ireland nearly twenty years ago. Suddenly, Cat's world is upside down. After all, she knew Maryanne, whom her family met while visiting Cat's grandmother when Cat was eight. And Cat has always suspected her father had something to do with Maryanne's sudden disappearance. Cat chooses not to tell her DCI about the linkages between Maryanne and her father, but this choice may have serious consequences: for Cat, her career, and her entire family.
"I feel it's necessary to make clear that I know nothing about what happened to Maryanne Doyle, the girl who went to Riley's for hairspray and never came back. I have my suspicions, of course. I speculate plenty, especially after white wine. But when it comes right down to it, I actually know nothing. The same cannot be said of my father."
This was an interesting, complicated tale. The mystery aspect of it was actually really fascinating, with the linkages slowly building between Alice and Maryanne, as we try to figure out what happened between Maryanne disappearing as a teen, her becoming Alice and then winding up murdered. Overall, I really enjoyed that part of the book. Frear has a lot of good surprises for us, and I was kept guessing for most of the novel.
The personal side of the book was a little harder for me. Don't get me wrong, I did like Cat. She certainly is a complicated character. I have to admit that characters that don't tell the truth or narratives that revolve around this aspect of keeping the truth hidden can be a bit of a pet peeve of mine. So basically an entire book that involves the main character keeping such a big secret (my Dad knew my murder victim, who was found a few paces outside the pub he owns)--that was tough for me. The more involved Cat gets in her case and the more entwined the case becomes with her own life and past: ugh. It all felt a little wrong and icky for me.
Honestly, I probably would have enjoyed this book more if the personal ties to Cat weren't there, or weren't so strong. I recognize they existed to give her depth and add more to the story and case, but they just made me uncomfortable and almost added an extra layer to the mystery that I felt wasn't necessary. Things were already twisty enough, it seemed as we didn't need this whole additional convoluted element with Cat's family. But maybe that's just me and my aversion to lying and such. (I don't even like when this happens in movies and eventually you know it's all going to come out and bad things will happen.)
This is not a simple book, and the story told is a perplexing and sophisticated one: you really have to be ready to follow along. On the plus side, it's original, and the characters are rather unique. I'm intrigued that it looks like Cat will be part of a series. I did like this book, even if some elements were a little harder for me to enjoy, and it was well-written. I'd certainly pick up the next book in a series and perhaps if her family wasn't so entwined in her case, enjoy it even more.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
"I feel it's necessary to make clear that I know nothing about what happened to Maryanne Doyle, the girl who went to Riley's for hairspray and never came back. I have my suspicions, of course. I speculate plenty, especially after white wine. But when it comes right down to it, I actually know nothing. The same cannot be said of my father."
This was an interesting, complicated tale. The mystery aspect of it was actually really fascinating, with the linkages slowly building between Alice and Maryanne, as we try to figure out what happened between Maryanne disappearing as a teen, her becoming Alice and then winding up murdered. Overall, I really enjoyed that part of the book. Frear has a lot of good surprises for us, and I was kept guessing for most of the novel.
The personal side of the book was a little harder for me. Don't get me wrong, I did like Cat. She certainly is a complicated character. I have to admit that characters that don't tell the truth or narratives that revolve around this aspect of keeping the truth hidden can be a bit of a pet peeve of mine. So basically an entire book that involves the main character keeping such a big secret (my Dad knew my murder victim, who was found a few paces outside the pub he owns)--that was tough for me. The more involved Cat gets in her case and the more entwined the case becomes with her own life and past: ugh. It all felt a little wrong and icky for me.
Honestly, I probably would have enjoyed this book more if the personal ties to Cat weren't there, or weren't so strong. I recognize they existed to give her depth and add more to the story and case, but they just made me uncomfortable and almost added an extra layer to the mystery that I felt wasn't necessary. Things were already twisty enough, it seemed as we didn't need this whole additional convoluted element with Cat's family. But maybe that's just me and my aversion to lying and such. (I don't even like when this happens in movies and eventually you know it's all going to come out and bad things will happen.)
This is not a simple book, and the story told is a perplexing and sophisticated one: you really have to be ready to follow along. On the plus side, it's original, and the characters are rather unique. I'm intrigued that it looks like Cat will be part of a series. I did like this book, even if some elements were a little harder for me to enjoy, and it was well-written. I'd certainly pick up the next book in a series and perhaps if her family wasn't so entwined in her case, enjoy it even more.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Leverage In Death (In Death, #47) in Books
Nov 12, 2018
Always a pleasure, the In Death series is hands down my favorite series of books in any genre. It's like going back to old friends with each new installment. By the 47th book, you know the quirks and eccentricities of each character, from over-the-top Mavis to Galahad the cat, and you can't wait to "see" them again.
Leverage in Death, while a great addition to the series, featured a central plot which felt a bit clunky to me. It was appropriately horrifying, but a bit convoluted - not nearly as streamlined as past installments in the series. The characters, as I said, are always interesting, and it's their interactions with each other that make this story work.
All of that said, I'll be eagerly awaiting #48!
Leverage in Death, while a great addition to the series, featured a central plot which felt a bit clunky to me. It was appropriately horrifying, but a bit convoluted - not nearly as streamlined as past installments in the series. The characters, as I said, are always interesting, and it's their interactions with each other that make this story work.
All of that said, I'll be eagerly awaiting #48!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Gone but Not Furgotten in Books
Aug 17, 2022 (Updated Aug 17, 2022)
Tail of Two Halves
Summer is in full swing, and that means Maddie James is busy with her cat café thanks to the tourists on Daybreak Island. However, when her friend Cass informs her of a potential cat hoarding situation, Maddie readily agrees to help. Sadly, when they arrive, they find Laurel at the bottom of her stairs. It appears that her cats tripped her, but Maddie starts to notice a few things that don’t make any sense. Can she figure out what happened?
This book can almost be divided into two parts. Unfortunately, the first half is rather weak. While a few threads of the mystery are set up, the focus is on rescuing the cats. Meanwhile, some of the characters, including Maddie, over react to what they find. Yes, the situation was bad, but their reactions were over the top. However, the book gets stronger in the second half as the mystery becomes front and center. There are some good twists and a logical solution even if a few pieces set up early don’t seem to quite be paid off. Also, a bit of character development is rushed. I do see that I’m in the minority in my reaction to this book, so if you are a fan of the series, give it a chance. But if you haven’t started it yet, try some of the earlier books before jumping in to this one.
This book can almost be divided into two parts. Unfortunately, the first half is rather weak. While a few threads of the mystery are set up, the focus is on rescuing the cats. Meanwhile, some of the characters, including Maddie, over react to what they find. Yes, the situation was bad, but their reactions were over the top. However, the book gets stronger in the second half as the mystery becomes front and center. There are some good twists and a logical solution even if a few pieces set up early don’t seem to quite be paid off. Also, a bit of character development is rushed. I do see that I’m in the minority in my reaction to this book, so if you are a fan of the series, give it a chance. But if you haven’t started it yet, try some of the earlier books before jumping in to this one.
