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Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated Death in Profile in Books

Mar 15, 2018

Death in Profile

Guy Fraser-Sampson | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry

6.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

(I've changed this down to 3 stars from 4 stars cause think back, it wasn't actually that good, I just think I was really happy to find a Netgalley book that didn't bore me to death)

Firstly I'd like to thank Netgalley and Urbane Publications for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Death in Profile is an excellent twist on modern crime drama novels. It's refreshing to find all the characters have a clear head with no underlying disturbances like we see with many other detective characters. While the plot for this novel is nothing too bold or different from other books out there, it still manages to feel unique.

I like how Sampson doesn't focus on simply one person throughout the book, but instead lets you in to each persons life in little snippets making you want to keep reading and find out more and more about each person. While Metcalfe and Willis are interesting as separate people I found their relationship juvenile, in all honesty. The way they went about each other was really rather unimaginable.

For me, the characters made this book fun and exciting because I didn't feel the plot was anything too incredibly amazing and I found the 'shock twist' a little... disappointing. I would have preferred the story to continue in the direction it was already heading by that point rather than the real outcome. I also found the last few pages of the book a bit pointless and it confused me slightly as to why it was included, I think it completely took away from the amazement you were supposed to feel about the outcome of the investigation into the serial killings.

Other than that and a few spelling mistakes here and there (which I couldn't keep note of due to there being no page numbers on the kindle), I actually did very much like this book and was reaching for it of a night time as well as during my travelling hours. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a crime drama without the troubled cop or gritty suspense. Definitely a fun and quick read.

Kudos

Natalie (23 KP) rated The Girls in Books

Nov 16, 2017

The Girls

Emma Cline | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry

6.1

(17 Ratings)

Book Rating

Good concept (1 more)

Some interesting imagery/analogies

Lack of character development (2 more)

Slow build up with a sudden ending that feels rushed

Attempts to make socio-political commentary with disjointed (and again rushed) narrative

Underwhelming drama/mystery with the backdrop of a cult

It took me a while to get into the book itself, it wasn't a page turner and was very easy to get distracted. About a third to a midway through, it started to pick up pace and I became embroiled in the narrative of a young girl's induction into a full-blown cult, the crime they commit and her reflection on this as an adult. This momentum carried nicely for a while, until nearing the end where the narrative and characters suddenly seemed to become disjointed and it appears the author suddenly decided to turn fractions of what has previously been mentioned into an overall statement which I found to be a little ridiculous. The concept was seriously intriguing (the experience of drifting in and out of cult life) so it's a shame it wasn't followed through with confidence.

Kudos

Maddie (37 KP) rated Mindhunter - Season 1 in TV

Dec 11, 2017

Appropriately disturbing (2 more)

New subject matter

Not a typical crime drama

Characters were hard to understand (1 more)

Slow, awkward pacing

Unique, but awkward

I will start by saying I will definitely be watching the next season, because the subject matter is so fascinating to me (I've put the book on my To Read ASAP list). Overall, this season was well done - with David Fincher's trademark style and an appropriate treatment of monstrous individuals.

However, where I struggled with the series was the characters. It was like the show hasn't decided how to portray them. The motivations for certain actions and behaviors were shaky. Holden makes sense until the last three or so episodes, when he starts doing things that don't line up with who we met in the first chapters. His girlfriend and their relationship is difficult, sometimes idealistic and other times annoying. Everyone else has similarly strange situations. The only character that's pretty consistent is Tench.

I hope they get a little more focused in the next season. I still enjoyed the heck out of it.

Kudos

Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Old Man and the Gun (2018) in Movies

Apr 7, 2019

The Old Man and the Gun (2018)

2018 | Biography, Comedy, Crime

7.9

(8 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Redford is one of a kind!

The whole time I was watching this film, it felt like a cross between classic Redford like Butch Cassidy, Brubaker, or Jeremiah Johnson. The plot and story are also similar to the recent Clint Eastwood crime drama, The Mule.

Hard to argue with watching Redford be Redford with his charm and grace portray a real sort of true true about an aging bank robber who can never seem to get enough wanting more and more, just addicted to the thrill of the caper.

Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek and Danny Glover are also along for the ride and turn in memorable performances.

I liked th beginning and ending more than the middle. At just over 90 minutes, it seemed as if there were some extra scenes included just t increase the running time to a 90 minute minimum rather than to further the story, but this is a minor complaint.

Here's to hoping I can write reviews for more Redford greats for the next 20+ years!