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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated Time's Up (Maisie McGrane Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Maisie is set to follow in the footsteps of some of her older brothers and her father and become a cop. That is until she fails the psych evaluation. So she decides to prove she can handle being hated by becoming a meter maid. But can she really handle the job?
This was a mixed bag. First of all, it is not a mystery. The dead body and who killed him is a poorly handled sub-plot at best. However, the coming of age aspect I did enjoy at times. At other times, it was slow. Likewise, some of the characters never rose above cliché while others were lots of fun. There’s potential for some good stories here, but this book isn’t at that level yet.
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/2015/07/book-review-times-up-by-janey-mack.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was a mixed bag. First of all, it is not a mystery. The dead body and who killed him is a poorly handled sub-plot at best. However, the coming of age aspect I did enjoy at times. At other times, it was slow. Likewise, some of the characters never rose above cliché while others were lots of fun. There’s potential for some good stories here, but this book isn’t at that level yet.
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/2015/07/book-review-times-up-by-janey-mack.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated Caramel Crush (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #9) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Mel’s college roommate has finally come to collect on a favor that Mel owes her, and Diane wants Mel to deliver break up cupcakes to her ex-fiance. However, the delivery doesn’t go as planned when Mel finds Mike’s body. With the police looking at Diane as the killer, suddenly Mel finds herself with a new favor – keep Diane out of prison.
Who can you not love a book that starts out with break up cupcakes? The story that follows delivers on the promise with plenty of viable suspects and some good twists. I did feel Mel was foolish at the end of the book, but that was my only complaint. All the usual supporting characters are here, and they are their usual charming selves. I just love them! And there is one scene guaranteed to melt your heart.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-caramel-crush-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Who can you not love a book that starts out with break up cupcakes? The story that follows delivers on the promise with plenty of viable suspects and some good twists. I did feel Mel was foolish at the end of the book, but that was my only complaint. All the usual supporting characters are here, and they are their usual charming selves. I just love them! And there is one scene guaranteed to melt your heart.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-caramel-crush-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated At the Drop of a Hat (A Hat Shop Mystery, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Ariana brings one of Mim’s hats in and asks if it can be repaired for her upcoming wedding, Scarlett and Viv are thrilled to take on the challenge. When Scarlett goes to talk to her about it, she finds Ariana kneeling beside a dead body. With the evidence saying Ariana killed the person, Scarlett and Viv step in to prove their new friend is innocent.
While the motive to get involved with the mystery might be a little weak, I’m glad that Scarlett and Viv poked around because this book is lots of fun. A dash of humor enlivens scenes as we weave through clues and suspects before we reach a logical ending. The characters are continuing to grow. A cliffhanger left me wanting the next to know what happens next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-at-drop-of-hat-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While the motive to get involved with the mystery might be a little weak, I’m glad that Scarlett and Viv poked around because this book is lots of fun. A dash of humor enlivens scenes as we weave through clues and suspects before we reach a logical ending. The characters are continuing to grow. A cliffhanger left me wanting the next to know what happens next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-at-drop-of-hat-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated A Sticky Situation (Sugar Grove Mystery, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
It’s sugaring season, which means Dani Greene is super busy with the sap running, the annual Maple Festival, and the annual visit from her difficult great-aunt. The last things she needs is the body in the town hall basement. The remains are identified as a drifter who came through town 30 years ago and stole cash before he left. Now, Dani is asked to figure out who really took the money. Can she do that without getting in a killer’s crosshairs?
This series has some great characters, and it was a treat to get to visit them again. The new characters are just as strong. The main mystery and some sub-plots weave in and out of each other, and the result is a book I didn’t want to put down.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/04/book-review-sticky-situation-by-jessie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This series has some great characters, and it was a treat to get to visit them again. The new characters are just as strong. The main mystery and some sub-plots weave in and out of each other, and the result is a book I didn’t want to put down.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/04/book-review-sticky-situation-by-jessie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated A Puzzle to be Named Later (Puzzle Lady #18) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Yankee’s pitcher Matt Greystone moves to town to rehab after a car accident, Cora Felton is thrilled. That is before a therapist’s house is broken into and Cora is asked to solve a puzzle that points to something in the therapist’s files. When a second puzzle shows up on the dead body, she knows she has to figure out what is going on.
Like some others in the series, the mystery is the weak link in this book. The action is quick even if it doesn’t always lead us anywhere. The climax is a bit convoluted as well. However, I read these books for the word play and comedy, and that’s here in spades. I laughed multiple times in the book and smiled throughout. Plus, it’s fun to spend time with the gang again, and I liked the new characters as well.
Read my full review at <a href="https://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-puzzle-to-be-named-later-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Like some others in the series, the mystery is the weak link in this book. The action is quick even if it doesn’t always lead us anywhere. The climax is a bit convoluted as well. However, I read these books for the word play and comedy, and that’s here in spades. I laughed multiple times in the book and smiled throughout. Plus, it’s fun to spend time with the gang again, and I liked the new characters as well.
Read my full review at <a href="https://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-puzzle-to-be-named-later-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated Berried Secrets (Cranberry Cove, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Monica Albertson has moved to Cranberry Cove to help her half-brother, Jeff, run his cranberry farm. But when a body is found in one of the bogs on the first day of the harvest and the victim is someone who was stealing from Jeff, Monica soon realizes she must save him from being arrested for murder.
The book started out very slowly as it was setting up characters and the location. Unfortunately, I still had a hard time connecting with the characters until the second half. Likewise, the plot does pick up in the second half, but a day that vanishes from the timeline bothered me. The climax was wonderful and the killer a surprise, but overall, the book was just average.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-berried-secrets-by-peg.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book started out very slowly as it was setting up characters and the location. Unfortunately, I still had a hard time connecting with the characters until the second half. Likewise, the plot does pick up in the second half, but a day that vanishes from the timeline bothered me. The climax was wonderful and the killer a surprise, but overall, the book was just average.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-berried-secrets-by-peg.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated Death al Fresco in Books
Mar 14, 2018
Corpse in the Kelp
Sally and her friend Eric are taking an outdoor painting class around Santa Cruz. During class one Saturday, Sally’s dog finds a dead body in the kelp. The man was a regular at Sally’s family’s restaurant, and his last few days seem to be connected to his time there. Can Sally figure out what happened before the restaurant’s reputation is ruined?
This book has a good mystery with viable suspects and a couple of good twists to it. It also has some strong sub-plot, which are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they take the focus off the mystery a bit too much at times. On the other hand, they are the perfect showcases for some of the recurring characters, and I enjoyed seeing them again and how they are growing. Overall, I found this a satisfying read.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
This book has a good mystery with viable suspects and a couple of good twists to it. It also has some strong sub-plot, which are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they take the focus off the mystery a bit too much at times. On the other hand, they are the perfect showcases for some of the recurring characters, and I enjoyed seeing them again and how they are growing. Overall, I found this a satisfying read.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) in Movies
Feb 24, 2018
(The other) Young Frankenstein
At the start of the 1970s Hammer tried to relaunch both their main series with new leading men (Ralph Bates replacing Christopher Lee in this case); this was the only reboot which eventually happened. The basics of the Frankenstein story are (just about) retold; young Victor decides to make a man, if not of himself, then from some body parts.
There's no doubt that Ralph Bates could have been a brilliant Frankenstein, but not in a film with a script like this one's. The film attempts to appeal to a hip young audience by including cleavage by the yard and lots of sub-Carry On film humour; script is also thick-headed and repetitive. The moment Frankenstein's experiments included resurrecting a tortoise everyone involved should have realised there was a serious problem here. Not funny, not scary, not interesting, barely worth watching except for Hammer fans. They got Peter Cushing back for the next one.
There's no doubt that Ralph Bates could have been a brilliant Frankenstein, but not in a film with a script like this one's. The film attempts to appeal to a hip young audience by including cleavage by the yard and lots of sub-Carry On film humour; script is also thick-headed and repetitive. The moment Frankenstein's experiments included resurrecting a tortoise everyone involved should have realised there was a serious problem here. Not funny, not scary, not interesting, barely worth watching except for Hammer fans. They got Peter Cushing back for the next one.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Tea Cups and Carnage (A Tourist Trap Mystery, #7) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
It was a pleasure to return to South Cove, CA to visit with Jill and her friends again. There was a lot going on this time around. Between the extra business for the food truck during the local beach festival and a missing check, Jill's more than a little stressed out. Yet when a dead body is found, she can't help herself. She has to start asking questions, even if her police-detective boyfriend, Greg, isn't too thrilled about it.
The various sub-plots in this one made it hard to put down - I really needed to know what was going on, on all fronts! Besides the usual cast of characters, the new shop owner in town, Kathi, was a interesting addition. I'm hoping to see more of her during my next visit to South Cove.
NOTE: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The various sub-plots in this one made it hard to put down - I really needed to know what was going on, on all fronts! Besides the usual cast of characters, the new shop owner in town, Kathi, was a interesting addition. I'm hoping to see more of her during my next visit to South Cove.
NOTE: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Death of a Ghost (Hamish Macbeth, #32) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
This is good classic Hamish Macbeth. If you are a fan of the series already, then you won't be disappointed. If not, I think you could easily pick this one up and enjoy it as a stand-alone mystery without having read the previous books.
Called to the village of Drim to investigate claims of a "haunted" castle, Hamish and Charlie discover no ghosts, but they do find a dead body. Unfortunately it disappears before CDI Blair arrives on the scene. When the investigation points to local smugglers, the department is quick to wrap up the case. Hamish is not convinced, however, and puts his own life on the line to find the real killer.
Read more on <a href="https://booksthething.com/2017/02/03/review-death-of-a-ghost-by-m-c-beaton/">The Book's the Thing</a>.
<i>Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.</i>
Called to the village of Drim to investigate claims of a "haunted" castle, Hamish and Charlie discover no ghosts, but they do find a dead body. Unfortunately it disappears before CDI Blair arrives on the scene. When the investigation points to local smugglers, the department is quick to wrap up the case. Hamish is not convinced, however, and puts his own life on the line to find the real killer.
Read more on <a href="https://booksthething.com/2017/02/03/review-death-of-a-ghost-by-m-c-beaton/">The Book's the Thing</a>.
<i>Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.</i>