Sign up
Search
Advanced search settings

Search only in certain items:

Search results
All (241)
Content
People
Apps
Books
Orbs
Movies
Music
Podcasts
Shows
Tabletop Games
Tech
TV
Video Games
YouTube Channels
Videos
40x40

Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated The Devil's Music (Emory Crawford Mysteries #1) in Books

Feb 21, 2018  
TD
The Devil's Music (Emory Crawford Mysteries #1)
Pearl R. Meaker | 2015
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
***I was provided with a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review***

The Devil’s Music was a quick, easy read at only 218 pages, but also an enjoyable one. The story is sprinkled with plant lore as well as bluegrass and folk music tidbits that add interest to the story. I would suggest not reading this book on an empty stomach, however, as the descriptions of all of the delicious sounding food served at various functions are sure to leave you hungry!

The Sleuth, Emory Crawford, is a likable protagonist. Even though she aspires to be a young Miss Marple, she has her faults, and they add to her charm. Her occasional fumbling around after clues makes her seem all the more genuine. I did appreciate the fact that she wasn’t all-knowing despite the “gift” that she realizes she has part of the way through the story. She still had to rely on her wits and ability to make logical deductions, not solely on her intuition.

Overall, a nice start to a new cozy mystery series.
  
40x40

Sue (5 KP) rated Death Over Easy in Books

Aug 13, 2018  
Death Over Easy
Death Over Easy
Maddie Day | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Roberta “Robbie” Jordan is busy running her country store/café and has newly opened her B&B for business. Her first guests at the B&B include her father Roberto and his wife Maria visiting from Italy plus a few musicians in town for a bluegrass festival.

On the first night of the festival, Roberta and Maria recognize one of the performers as a young woman named Pia from their town in Italy. Pia is later found choked to death by a banjo string and there are many suspects that the police are looking at including Robbie’s father and stepmom, her boyfriend Abe, and the festival chairperson Sue. Can Robbie find the real murderer before someone she loves is booked for murder?

This is a cozy mystery with a strong female lead who has a knack for amateur sleuthing. The rest of the ensemble of characters include the usual quirky and witty townspeople, a laundry list of potential suspects, and for once a few police officers that are not bumbling idiots. It has a good plot and the author has a nice flow to her writing style. While this is a few books into the series, it can easily be read as a standalone without the reader getting confused by the storyline.
  
40x40

Gordon Gano recommended Can the Circle Be Unbroken by The Carter Family in Music (curated)

 
Can the Circle Be Unbroken by The Carter Family
Can the Circle Be Unbroken by The Carter Family
2006 | World
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I grew up hearing the original Carter Family recording, my Father had it on an album compilation of their recordings. I grew up hearing that from my earliest memories and then he would play the song and sing it, sometimes on the guitar. He even wrote some other lyrics for it once for a family reunion to sing about the different branches of the family. Now, whenever I have the chance to I join in with a bluegrass jam session, which always ends every one of their jams. with playing and singing ‘Can The Circle Be Unbroken’ and even ending with everyone singing a capella, which is really a fun experience. I’ve always loved the song from when I was a little child and I still sing it and play it. It’s the only thing that would be on the list that I would ever sing and play, or at least regularly sing and play, so it’s part of my life. I really like the sentiment of it, especially the chorus. My father isn’t around anymore; he would play and sing it and my older brothers and sisters would play and sing it, so I grew up with that in the family, which is enormous for me. I feel like I’m a continuation of that."

Source
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Death Over Easy in Books

Aug 3, 2018  
Death Over Easy
Death Over Easy
Maddie Day | 2018 | Mystery
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Did Robbie Open Her Bed and Breakfast to a Killer?
Robbie Jordan, Pans ‘n Pancakes’ proprietor, has just opened the few rooms she’s been working on as a bed and breakfast, and it’s just in time for a visit from her father from Italy as well as the Bluegrass festival being held in the area. The biggest problem at the festival seems to be Pia Bianchi, a woman that annoys just about everyone who gets to know her. Then Pia’s body is found early one morning in a covered bridge in the area. With Robbie’s guests some of the police’s suspects, she finds herself in the thick of things again. Will she figure out what is going on?

This was a fun book in the series since it worked in several sub-plots that have been woven through the series – Robbie’s father and opening the bed and breakfast part of the business among others. These work themselves nicely into the mystery, providing a reason for Robbie to be involved and giving her access to gather clues. The suspects are great, and they provide us with some good twists before we reach the creative climax. The series has always featured some local (to southern Indiana) expressions to provide local color, but a couple of times, they started to annoy more than charm. Fortunately, those were rare moments that were over quickly. If you find yourself drooling over some of the food, you’ll be happy with the recipes at the end of the book.