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David McK (3194 KP) rated Knives Out (2019) in Movies
Dec 27, 2022
It seems all bit impossible to talk about a Rian Johnson film without mentioning *that* other, incredibly divisive, movie in a certain Space-based franchise.
I'm one of those who that movie pretty much soured me on seeing any others by the same director.
However, this recently popped up on Netflix and so I decided that, as enough time had passed, I would give it a shot.
What I saw was pretty much a standard whodunnit, not as funny or as clever as the reviews made it out to be, and with some twists and turns I saw coming but others which I didn't.
I will agree, however, that Ana de Armas is the standout in the entire film. (And the least said about Craig's atrocious accent the better)
I'm one of those who that movie pretty much soured me on seeing any others by the same director.
However, this recently popped up on Netflix and so I decided that, as enough time had passed, I would give it a shot.
What I saw was pretty much a standard whodunnit, not as funny or as clever as the reviews made it out to be, and with some twists and turns I saw coming but others which I didn't.
I will agree, however, that Ana de Armas is the standout in the entire film. (And the least said about Craig's atrocious accent the better)
Book_nerd_qu33n (0 KP) rated One of us is Lying in Books
Mar 11, 2018
One of my new faves
I loved one of us is lying
I had to buy it when I saw it was like the breakfast club which is obviously a cult classic...
I didnt want to stop reading it.. at first I was getting confused with all the character changes but its not hard to get me confused lol... The character growth was very well done I enjoyed how they evolved into the people they are supposed to be it was full of twists that i didnt see coming even though i did predict who it was I was still suprised with the way it was all planned out. I usually hate endings of good books because they usually end disastifyingly but i was happy with the ending..... I recommend this book to anyone who loves twists and whodunnit stories.
I had to buy it when I saw it was like the breakfast club which is obviously a cult classic...
I didnt want to stop reading it.. at first I was getting confused with all the character changes but its not hard to get me confused lol... The character growth was very well done I enjoyed how they evolved into the people they are supposed to be it was full of twists that i didnt see coming even though i did predict who it was I was still suprised with the way it was all planned out. I usually hate endings of good books because they usually end disastifyingly but i was happy with the ending..... I recommend this book to anyone who loves twists and whodunnit stories.
David McK (3194 KP) rated Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch #2) in Books
Jan 28, 2019 (Updated May 22, 2020)
Only the second book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series to feature the City guard (in a total of eight such books, and at least one short story), this takes place a year or so after he events of "Guards! Guards!", and is probably best described as a police procedural/whodunnit crossover.
This, to the best of my knowledge, is also the first book to feature Leonard of Quirm (albeit in a small role), and expands upon the characters first introduced in "Guards! Guards!" as well as upon the themes of racial (or speciesist) intolerence and bigotry. Like "Guards! Guards!", and unlike some of the later City Watch novels, Corporal Carrot once again takes a central role in the narrative: a position later filled by Vimes, with Carrot himself becoming more of a background figure.
This, to the best of my knowledge, is also the first book to feature Leonard of Quirm (albeit in a small role), and expands upon the characters first introduced in "Guards! Guards!" as well as upon the themes of racial (or speciesist) intolerence and bigotry. Like "Guards! Guards!", and unlike some of the later City Watch novels, Corporal Carrot once again takes a central role in the narrative: a position later filled by Vimes, with Carrot himself becoming more of a background figure.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Knives Out (2019) in Movies
Nov 28, 2019
Bravura Agatha Christie pastiche from Rian Johnson. A successful writer turns up dead in suspicious circumstances, and a renowned private detective finds himself retained to investigate the situation. There are various unpleasant and scheming relatives and an implausibly convoluted plot unfolds before the denouement: the film is almost self-consciously modern in many ways, but hits all the right beats for a whodunnit in the classic style.
It mainly manages this thanks to Johnson's mastery of tone - this is a sly, playful movie, full of big performances as comically grotesque characters. Daniel Craig is clearly having rather too much fun as the Poirot-proxy and I can imagine him wanting to play this fellow again once he's finished with that other well-known role of his. An impressive performance from Ana de Armas as well. Pure entertainment, superbly done: lots and lots of fun.
It mainly manages this thanks to Johnson's mastery of tone - this is a sly, playful movie, full of big performances as comically grotesque characters. Daniel Craig is clearly having rather too much fun as the Poirot-proxy and I can imagine him wanting to play this fellow again once he's finished with that other well-known role of his. An impressive performance from Ana de Armas as well. Pure entertainment, superbly done: lots and lots of fun.
David McK (3194 KP) rated Foxtrot Hotel (Harriet Walsh #4) in Books
May 23, 2021
Entry #4 in Simon Haynes's 'Harriet Walsh' series; a series which I actually started reading after picking up Hal Spacejock (sometimes also known as A Robot Named Clunk) and was completely unaware that the two characters would cross-over in later books (I haven't reached that point yet in either series).
Unlike the previous entry in the series - Sierra Bravo - (which is pretty much a siege story), this is back to being more of a whodunnit, with Harriett and the Peace Force (what there is of them ... ) investigating when a dead body turns up at her favourite beauty spot, which just so happens to be about to face an important governmental vote on whether it can have an apartment complex built on it ...
Competent? Yes.
Enjoyable enough? Yes.
A few unforeseen twists and turns? Hmmm ... that depends upon how familiar with the genre you are!
Unlike the previous entry in the series - Sierra Bravo - (which is pretty much a siege story), this is back to being more of a whodunnit, with Harriett and the Peace Force (what there is of them ... ) investigating when a dead body turns up at her favourite beauty spot, which just so happens to be about to face an important governmental vote on whether it can have an apartment complex built on it ...
Competent? Yes.
Enjoyable enough? Yes.
A few unforeseen twists and turns? Hmmm ... that depends upon how familiar with the genre you are!
LilyLovesIndie (123 KP) rated Rue Toulouse in Books
Nov 5, 2018
Caterine Douchette, envied by her family, loved by her friends and in fear of her life finds herself in the safe and loving arms of Remi Michaud, a pirate who lost his heart to an ice princess. Family turmoil, a whodunnit, a new and exotic lover, all with a backdrop of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Rue Toulouse is a refreshing romance which blends together action, adventure, love, sex and so many other features as well.
I read the summary to this book and I was, if I'm honest, ambivalent. I thought it would be an ok read that I would find pretty run of the mill as far as romances go. I couldn't have been more wrong.Rue Toulouse boasts an excellent premise for the story, which is well set up, well paced, well developed and well written. It hooked me in and left me turning pages with frantic abandon as I tried to figure out the whodunnit whilst also waiting rather impatiently to find out if Remi and Caterine would have a permanent, lasting relationship.
The characters are fabulous, especially Remi and Caterine. Caterine is the epitome of good society, a lady through and through. Remi is an enticing and spicy piece of something unknown, but something you would very much like to get to know. He exudes sex appeal and hooks you with his easy cher's and occasional French dialogue. Although Remi and Caterine lead a cast of excellent characters, they are all well written throughout, with the characters all developing nicely in ways you hadn't quite expected. The blossoming romance is not overdone, but realistic and enjoyable. The only quibble I have is that Paulette, Charlotte and Hyacinth did annoy me somewhat, but that was understandable given their treatment of Caterine who you get behind from the get go.
The whodunnit element of the story is excellent and had me guessing right up until the very end, and even then I was shocked. Grahl throws in so many red herrings along the way that you are constantly questioning and thinking of new solutions to the mystery, which was a refreshing angle to add to the romance. I love a book that keeps me thinking, and I have to say that Grahl had my grey matter working overtime trying to second guess what would happen next.
The ending itself was super, tying everything up nicely and leaving the reader with a feeling of quiet satisfaction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, it's pacy, sexy and incredibly engaging. I will definitely be watching out for more from this author and will be recommending this book to all those who like a romance with a bit more of a kick to it.
*This book was first reviewed on Lily Loves Indie as part of a blog tour, for which an ARC was received in return for an honest review*
I read the summary to this book and I was, if I'm honest, ambivalent. I thought it would be an ok read that I would find pretty run of the mill as far as romances go. I couldn't have been more wrong.Rue Toulouse boasts an excellent premise for the story, which is well set up, well paced, well developed and well written. It hooked me in and left me turning pages with frantic abandon as I tried to figure out the whodunnit whilst also waiting rather impatiently to find out if Remi and Caterine would have a permanent, lasting relationship.
The characters are fabulous, especially Remi and Caterine. Caterine is the epitome of good society, a lady through and through. Remi is an enticing and spicy piece of something unknown, but something you would very much like to get to know. He exudes sex appeal and hooks you with his easy cher's and occasional French dialogue. Although Remi and Caterine lead a cast of excellent characters, they are all well written throughout, with the characters all developing nicely in ways you hadn't quite expected. The blossoming romance is not overdone, but realistic and enjoyable. The only quibble I have is that Paulette, Charlotte and Hyacinth did annoy me somewhat, but that was understandable given their treatment of Caterine who you get behind from the get go.
The whodunnit element of the story is excellent and had me guessing right up until the very end, and even then I was shocked. Grahl throws in so many red herrings along the way that you are constantly questioning and thinking of new solutions to the mystery, which was a refreshing angle to add to the romance. I love a book that keeps me thinking, and I have to say that Grahl had my grey matter working overtime trying to second guess what would happen next.
The ending itself was super, tying everything up nicely and leaving the reader with a feeling of quiet satisfaction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, it's pacy, sexy and incredibly engaging. I will definitely be watching out for more from this author and will be recommending this book to all those who like a romance with a bit more of a kick to it.
*This book was first reviewed on Lily Loves Indie as part of a blog tour, for which an ARC was received in return for an honest review*
Debbiereadsbook (1084 KP) rated Nothing But Good in Books
May 19, 2021
I did NOT see the whodunnit coming at me, at all! And the WHY!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
First time author, peeps, and I think it’s rather good!
Jefferson is an FBI agent tasked with catching The Smiley Face killer, Mr Smiley (I have no idea why, but that tickled me no end!) Coming face to face with his college room-mate after 8 years, and then Finny getting attacked by Mr Smiley, puts Jefferson in a difficult position. But Jefferson can’t stay away from Finny, not now.
So, couple points.
First, though, well done Ms McKinley, on a job well done. I did NOT see the whodunnit coming at me, at all! And the WHY! Loved being kept on my toes.
It did take me a little while to get into it, and it was touch and go whether I would dump this or not, but I am glad I kept going, I really did enjoy it!
I did feel, though, that I might have enjoyed this more, had there not been any smexy stuff, I really do. I felt the scene before the gala dinner was kinda thrown in, like it NEEDED some smexy, but I really don’t think it did. So, clean, here, might have worked better for ME.
And of course, I wanted to hear from Finny too! Why they fell out, all those years ago was playing on my mind, and what I had was not how it went down. But I needed Finny to tell me why, not Jefferson. Finny had his heart broken when Jefferson went nuts, and I needed Finny to tell me how he dealt with it all, in much more detail than when he is talking to Jefferson. And we don’t get him, we just get Jefferson. Just me, being greedy!
A well thought out plot line, well written, and well delivered.
4 GREAT stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
1 like
First time author, peeps, and I think it’s rather good!
Jefferson is an FBI agent tasked with catching The Smiley Face killer, Mr Smiley (I have no idea why, but that tickled me no end!) Coming face to face with his college room-mate after 8 years, and then Finny getting attacked by Mr Smiley, puts Jefferson in a difficult position. But Jefferson can’t stay away from Finny, not now.
So, couple points.
First, though, well done Ms McKinley, on a job well done. I did NOT see the whodunnit coming at me, at all! And the WHY! Loved being kept on my toes.
It did take me a little while to get into it, and it was touch and go whether I would dump this or not, but I am glad I kept going, I really did enjoy it!
I did feel, though, that I might have enjoyed this more, had there not been any smexy stuff, I really do. I felt the scene before the gala dinner was kinda thrown in, like it NEEDED some smexy, but I really don’t think it did. So, clean, here, might have worked better for ME.
And of course, I wanted to hear from Finny too! Why they fell out, all those years ago was playing on my mind, and what I had was not how it went down. But I needed Finny to tell me why, not Jefferson. Finny had his heart broken when Jefferson went nuts, and I needed Finny to tell me how he dealt with it all, in much more detail than when he is talking to Jefferson. And we don’t get him, we just get Jefferson. Just me, being greedy!
A well thought out plot line, well written, and well delivered.
4 GREAT stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
1 like
Chelsea (166 KP) rated The Perfect Mother in Books
Jun 6, 2018
I honestly wasn’t sure how much I would like this one since I am not yet a mother, so I can’t relate to all the things these new mothers are going through. However, once I started reading it was pretty difficult to stop! There are a lot of real issues that new mothers go through from wanting to appear perfect to feeling like they aren’t good enough. Then there’s a baby that goes missing, a baby from a mommy group the main characters are a part of, and there’s a ton of whodunnit, crime blog searching, amateur detective work going on. You don’t know who is telling the truth or even whose perspective you are reading from. I thought I knew what was going on and thought I was so smart having figured it all out but I was definitely wrong (about pretty much everything!). This was a good, quick read and actually had an ending that is satisfying and doesn’t feel rushed.
Sarah (126 KP) rated The Sixth Sense (1999) in Movies
Jul 28, 2018
One for the Must-See List
I remember when I first saw this film how completely shocked I was with the twist at the end. I'm not one for trying to guess what the ending is, whodunnit, etc. so it was a big surprise for me.
It's not a film I would class as a horror; although there are some moments that might make you jump, it's not scary in a traditional sense. The scares are more psychological (although there is some gore), and the story is actually quite moving in some ways; I found myself quite upset at the stories of some of the ghosts, and when reflecting after the "twist in the tale".
I think this is certainly a film that everyone should watch at least once. On a second watching, even though you are aware of the 'surprise' you are able to look out for more clues and hints as to what is to come, so it definitely stands up to repeated viewings.
It's not a film I would class as a horror; although there are some moments that might make you jump, it's not scary in a traditional sense. The scares are more psychological (although there is some gore), and the story is actually quite moving in some ways; I found myself quite upset at the stories of some of the ghosts, and when reflecting after the "twist in the tale".
I think this is certainly a film that everyone should watch at least once. On a second watching, even though you are aware of the 'surprise' you are able to look out for more clues and hints as to what is to come, so it definitely stands up to repeated viewings.
Sue (5 KP) rated Death on the Menu in Books
Aug 13, 2018
Hayley Snow is a food critic for Key Zest magazine and also assists her mom at a catering business. When a bid is won for a catering job for a high profile 3-day Cuban event, Hayley once more finds herself knee-deep in murder.
Just as the flan is being served during the event, Hemingway’s Nobel prize gold medal is discovered missing from its case and the new busboy Gabriel is found stabbed to death in a storeroom. Gabriel’s family wants answers, so Hayley puts on her sleuthing cap to figure out who amongst the long list of suspects wanted Gabriel dead. Why was he murdered and what does it have to do with the missing gold medal?
Lucy Burdette weaves a wonderful mystery which includes a female lead with a flair for solving murders, a supporting case of fun & quirky characters, a great mix of possible suspects, and lots of twists and turns until you finally discover whodunnit.
Just as the flan is being served during the event, Hemingway’s Nobel prize gold medal is discovered missing from its case and the new busboy Gabriel is found stabbed to death in a storeroom. Gabriel’s family wants answers, so Hayley puts on her sleuthing cap to figure out who amongst the long list of suspects wanted Gabriel dead. Why was he murdered and what does it have to do with the missing gold medal?
Lucy Burdette weaves a wonderful mystery which includes a female lead with a flair for solving murders, a supporting case of fun & quirky characters, a great mix of possible suspects, and lots of twists and turns until you finally discover whodunnit.