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David McK (3632 KP) rated National Treasure (2004) in Movies
Sep 10, 2021
Family friendly 2004 treasure hunt film, in which Nicolas Cage dials back his usual manic energy to play the lead character who - for plot reasons - has to steal the Declaration of Independence (yes, *that* Declaration of Independence) in order to stop the (British, of course) villain of the piece - as portrayed by Sean Bean - from doing so and then destroying that artifact.
As such, heavily aimed at the American audience rather than more international fare, coming across (to my UK eyes, at least) as very much an American attempt to set up a new Indiana Jones series. Oh, and the whole plot point of something being on the back of the Declaration? Remind you much of The Da Vinci code, and something on the back of the Mona Lisa ...?
Having said that, it's polished enough to not be the worst way of spending about 2 hours or so in front of the box.
As such, heavily aimed at the American audience rather than more international fare, coming across (to my UK eyes, at least) as very much an American attempt to set up a new Indiana Jones series. Oh, and the whole plot point of something being on the back of the Declaration? Remind you much of The Da Vinci code, and something on the back of the Mona Lisa ...?
Having said that, it's polished enough to not be the worst way of spending about 2 hours or so in front of the box.
Sweetheart (2021)
8.0
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Movie
April Jane (Nell Barlow), or “A.J.” as she now likes to style herself, is a seventeen-year-old...
One For Sorrow (DI Callanach #7)
9.0
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Book
One for sorrow, two for joy Edinburgh is gripped by the greatest terror it has ever known. A lone...
Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated A Landscape of Lies (2011) in Movies
Nov 1, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
After a fairly violent opening to the film, A Landscape of Lies tells the story of Jacob who is inflicted with PTSD after spending his time in the Gulf war, as he tries to adjust to being back in the UK and is helped along by his former commanding officer, Hilt.
But after Hilt is murdered by a serial killer, Jacob’s reality comes crashing down, Jacob decides that the only thing that he can now do is find out who the killer was and to help bring closure for Louise, Hilt’s widow, after the murder. Jacob then goes head to head with DCI Lane and his partners Sergeant Egan and DC Carter as he tries to discover the killer his life starts to mix with the suspects, such as East End villain and property tycoon Brannigan Woods, Marcus Clancy a workaholic who has put a strain on his marriage to his wife Claire, who is also cheating on him, and their rebellious daughter, Hannah.
But after Hilt is murdered by a serial killer, Jacob’s reality comes crashing down, Jacob decides that the only thing that he can now do is find out who the killer was and to help bring closure for Louise, Hilt’s widow, after the murder. Jacob then goes head to head with DCI Lane and his partners Sergeant Egan and DC Carter as he tries to discover the killer his life starts to mix with the suspects, such as East End villain and property tycoon Brannigan Woods, Marcus Clancy a workaholic who has put a strain on his marriage to his wife Claire, who is also cheating on him, and their rebellious daughter, Hannah.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Judas Tree [Audiobook] in Books
Jan 8, 2023
![The Judas Tree [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/cc0/d4551d00-51c6-4255-bacc-c2a7a4c03cc0.jpg?m=1673206524)
I was unsure where this story was going for most of it but I was intrigued and once it got there, it had me hooked.
Will is married to Harmony; their marriage is somewhat strained and when they meet Will's childhood friend, Luke, at a party, things begin to unravel in spectacular style.
With increasing tension and a realisation that things are becoming more sinister, I found The Judas Tree almost impossible to stop listening to and this was helped by the narrator, Joe Jameson, who was great; he kept me engaged and really brought the characters to life.
This is a very powerful story of how bullying and trauma in childhood can impact the rest of your life and shape the choices you make and if ever there was an advert not to be a bully, this is it and I must give my thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen and share my thoughts of The Judas Tree.
Will is married to Harmony; their marriage is somewhat strained and when they meet Will's childhood friend, Luke, at a party, things begin to unravel in spectacular style.
With increasing tension and a realisation that things are becoming more sinister, I found The Judas Tree almost impossible to stop listening to and this was helped by the narrator, Joe Jameson, who was great; he kept me engaged and really brought the characters to life.
This is a very powerful story of how bullying and trauma in childhood can impact the rest of your life and shape the choices you make and if ever there was an advert not to be a bully, this is it and I must give my thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen and share my thoughts of The Judas Tree.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Echo Man in Books
Apr 28, 2022
What can I say? I absolutely loved this and it is one of my favourite reads of 2022 so far. I was hooked from the very first page to the last and completely and utterly devoured it!
With excellent characters, an engrossing story line and a plot with twists that at least one of which I didn't see coming, this is a great read however, be warned, there is a lot of violence and gore from the beginning but, to be honest, that's to be expected given it's about serial killers although it may be a bit much for some.
This is a great debut and I will certainly be looking out for more by this author in the future and I have no hesitation recommending to lovers of this genre.
My thanks go to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
With excellent characters, an engrossing story line and a plot with twists that at least one of which I didn't see coming, this is a great read however, be warned, there is a lot of violence and gore from the beginning but, to be honest, that's to be expected given it's about serial killers although it may be a bit much for some.
This is a great debut and I will certainly be looking out for more by this author in the future and I have no hesitation recommending to lovers of this genre.
My thanks go to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated No Less The Devil in Books
May 1, 2022
I have read and enjoyed a few books by Mr MacBride but this one has me in a quandary as whilst it had me on the edge of my seat at times, there were also times when it didn't.
For the majority of the book it appears to be your 'usual' hunt for a killer story with excellent characters, intriguing plot and twists but then it develops into something else which, I can only say, had me reading with my mouth hanging open and wondering if I had stumbled into an alternative universe. I can't go into detail here as it will give the game away but what I will say is be prepared!!
This is a dark and gritty read that you definitely need to keep your wits about you and your mind open and I must thank Random House UK / Transworld Publishers via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in order to share my thoughts.
For the majority of the book it appears to be your 'usual' hunt for a killer story with excellent characters, intriguing plot and twists but then it develops into something else which, I can only say, had me reading with my mouth hanging open and wondering if I had stumbled into an alternative universe. I can't go into detail here as it will give the game away but what I will say is be prepared!!
This is a dark and gritty read that you definitely need to keep your wits about you and your mind open and I must thank Random House UK / Transworld Publishers via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in order to share my thoughts.
David McK (3632 KP) rated Carry on, Jeeves (Jeeves, #3) in Books
Oct 1, 2023
Rather than a novel in its own right, this is a loosely connected collection of Jeeves and Wooster short stories, all told ion the first person narrative (nearly all by Wooster except the very last) and largely split between the UK and the US.
In the collection I read, the stories included are as follows:
1) Jeeves Takes Charge (the first meeting of Jeeves and Wooster!)
2) The Artistic Career of Corky (New York)
3) Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest (New York again)
4) Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg (also in New York)
5) The Aunt and the Sluggard (still New York)
6) The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy (Paris)
7) Without the Option (London)
8) Fixing it for Freddie (English seaside)
9) Clustering Round Young Bingo (English countryside)
10) Bertie Changes His Mind (the one told from Jeeves point of view)
Whilst maybe not the best PG Wodehouse Jeeves books I've read, they are nice as a palate cleanser after something heavier!
In the collection I read, the stories included are as follows:
1) Jeeves Takes Charge (the first meeting of Jeeves and Wooster!)
2) The Artistic Career of Corky (New York)
3) Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest (New York again)
4) Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg (also in New York)
5) The Aunt and the Sluggard (still New York)
6) The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy (Paris)
7) Without the Option (London)
8) Fixing it for Freddie (English seaside)
9) Clustering Round Young Bingo (English countryside)
10) Bertie Changes His Mind (the one told from Jeeves point of view)
Whilst maybe not the best PG Wodehouse Jeeves books I've read, they are nice as a palate cleanser after something heavier!
What His Wife Knew
7.0
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Book
SORRY. Beth Lomas thought she knew her late husband. But this one small word, written on the back...