Search

Search only in certain items:

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers [Audiobook]
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers [Audiobook]
Jesse Sutanto | 2023 | Crime, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
After initially thinking "oh dear, I'm not going to like this", the more I listened the more I grew to love Vera Wong.

Vera lives on her own after the death of her husband, her son being successful and not in her life quite as much as she would like. Once a thriving tea shop, Vera Wang's World Famous Tea House is now on it's last legs having only one regular customer so when she discovers a dead body in the middle of her shop one morning, she decides it has to be murder and begins to investigate and find out who killed Marshall.

Using her own logic, Vera decides that those who turn up at her shop to ask questions about the body immediately become suspects and she begins to ingratiate herself into their lives using her forthright nature, a little bit of manipulation, fantastic cooking and, if course, tea.

As the story develops, we get to know each of the characters and suspects more so by the end, you don't want any of them to be guilty of murder but one of them must be surely?

This is definitely within the 'cosy mystery' genre and whilst there is little action, I was caught up in the story hook, line and sinker and desperate to know what the ultimate outcome was going to be and I definitely wasn't disappointed.

The narrator was excellent and she totally drew me into the story and into Vera's life. This, for me, was definitely a book to listen to rather than to read myself and I am hopeful that Vera will do more investigating in the future.

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.
  
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
2022 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Technically well-made (1 more)
Acting
Plot (0 more)
What a disappointment.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Spoilers below!!!

I'll say this: Sam Raimi used to be one of my favorite directors, but with this movie he has officially turned me off the Marvel universe. It is nonsense.

Example A: dreams are actually real events happening in alternate universes, so if you dream about showing up naked to work, a version of you really did that.

Example B: reading the book of evil allows a witch or sorcerer to "dream walk" and inhabit the body of an alternate version of themselves. It never explains how this works, but apparently you can "aim" your dream-self because Doctor Strange is able to intentionally dream walk into a dead body and use it. He can't move between universes, but somehow he can do this.

Example C: the city of Kamar-Taj is destroyed and everyone killed except for Wong and Strange. Yet in the last scene the city is full of warriors practicing. Where did they come from?

Example D: Cool cameos! Mr. Fantastic! Professor X! But they all die. Every single one.

Example E: Wanda's whole motivation is to go to a different universe to be with her kids. But why not go to a universe where Vision is still alive? Wouldn't that be her goal? NEVER EXPLAINED.

It doesn't stop there, but that's a good sampling of how nonsensical the plot is. Nothing is explained, nothing make sense, and rules are made up out of whole cloth. Doctor Strange as a zombie? Sure. How? We don't know.

I'll never watch this again and might not watch future Marvel movies, especially considering you have to watch WandaVision on Disney+ to fully understand this movie.
  
A Wedding and A Killing (Mac Faraday Mystery #8)
A Wedding and A Killing (Mac Faraday Mystery #8)
Lauren Carr | 2014 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
If you are looking for a book that will spice up the beginning of your book or story. Well, “A Wedding and a Killing” is a good one that does just that. Mac and his lady decide to get married in the Spencer Church.

It starts once Gnarly jumps out of the car, runs, and barks at the door, which everyone invited to the wedding for Mac and Archie. They realize that Gnarly will not stop barking to get their attention.

Gnarly seems to be trying to get their attention. When no one is paying attention, He will not leave that door. Once someone goes to the door and opens it, Gnarly finds a dead body. It gets chaotic and brings everyone from the church’s sanctuary as Mac and Archie seem in an argument over Gnarly being there. It seems to bring action when they find a murder occurred.

Who would kill a man with no enemies? Who volunteers for the church. When Gnarly finds a dead body, it brings Mac to team up with David and dives into the investigation. But how long will it take? How long will Mac have to wait to get married to Archie? We seem to get more murders and twists and turns. What happens when Ruth and her daughter get brought in. Will Ruth be framed for murder and her husband? Who killed Jason Fairbanks. We seem to have two cases that interlope, and Mac wants to help and defend Ruth.

Once you start reading Lauren Carr’s books, you will want more of them. You can read any of her books in any order and as a standalone. You will want to read more by finding one of her books or audiobooks. Great for any mystery fan, murder mystery, or even thriller fan.
  
Evolution (2001)
Evolution (2001)
2001 | Comedy, Sci-Fi
The comedic elements (0 more)
A funny sci to good time
Contains spoilers, click to show
This was another movie that was somewhat of a surprise to me. I really enjoyed watching this movie. David Duchovny and Orlando Jones a great comedic chemistry together. I am really surprised they haven't done more movies together. This movie was just good fun. An alien invasion that was foiled by dandruff shampoo or more specifically the selenium sulfate that was in it. I thought every character in this movie lended to the story in some way. Sean William Scott, who unfortunately is type cast to this sort of role, was good in this movie too. There are some scenes that are just great! The scene where a small alien gets into Jones' characters body is just comedic gold. Overall I recommend this movie for a good late afternoon laugh
  
TW
Taran Wanderer (The Chronicles of Prydain #4)
Lloyd Alexander | 1967 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
9.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
If the third of the series is my favorite, I love this novel infinitely more. I forgot what it was like to read such great literature that each pages inspires you to think and wonder. No body writes literature like this anymore, such thought provoking, enthralling books that bring you so close to the characters that you almost don't want to finish the novel for fear of losing such a friendship. You share their pains, triumphs, frustrations, and joys that it's almost heartbreaking to finish.

Taran Wanderer starts out with Taran setting out to search for his lineage so that he will have no doubts about asking Eilonway to marry him. Instead, he creates one of the greatest tales about finding ones self. If Taran existed here and now, I would demand that we be friends.
  
Flavia has been sent to Canada and Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy for the fall 1951 term. She is very upset about being sent away from her family in England, but things definitely start looking up when a dead body falls out of her chimney on her first morning there. Who was the corpse? And who at the school is a killer?

Since this book takes place away from Flavia’s normal stomping grounds, it is easy to miss the series regulars. However, this book is filled with wonderful new supporting players. The book starts a little slowly as we are introduced to everyone, but soon we are caught in quite an interesting web that also advances the storyline introduced in the last book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-as-chimney-sweepers-come-to.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
With fall in the air, Julia must make decisions about her future with the family clambake. Will she stay or return to her job in New York City? That gets put on the back burner when the body of a potential competitor is found on an abandoned boat and the police begin to question her brother-in-law, who is clearly hiding something.

The book started off strong and never slowed down. There are plenty of secrets, clues, and twists along the way to a fantastic ending. The characters were strong and that made me care about the solution to the mystery that much more.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-musseled-out-by-barbara.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Blackberry Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #17)
Blackberry Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #17)
Joanne Fluke | 2014 | Mystery
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's been four months since Hannah last found a dead body, and the only thing on her mind is getting her mother to settle on something for her wedding. That is until a sever summer storm forces Hannah to lose control of her car and hit a man, killing him. But no one recognizes him. Who is he? And what was he doing in Lake Eden?

There is little that changes in the lives of the characters, but I still enjoyed visiting them again since I found them their normal charming selves. The cliffhanger at the end definitely made me want the next book out soon. Can't believe I have to wait a year to find out what happens next.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-review-blackberry-pie-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.