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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2117 KP) rated Death al Dente (Food Lovers' Village Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Erin Murphy is back home in Jewel Bay, Montana, to help run the family general store. She's helping run a new event to help bring tourists to town, but it gets off to a rough start with a family friend is found murdered behind the shop on opening night. Who could have done it?
This debut just wasn't quite ready. While Erin and a few core characters are well developed, the rest of the cast is fairly flat. Likewise, the plot moved forward in fits and starts, although there were some interesting twists. Overall average, and I'll think hard before I continue on to the next one.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-death-al-dente-by-leslie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This debut just wasn't quite ready. While Erin and a few core characters are well developed, the rest of the cast is fairly flat. Likewise, the plot moved forward in fits and starts, although there were some interesting twists. Overall average, and I'll think hard before I continue on to the next one.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-death-al-dente-by-leslie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2117 KP) rated Decanting a Murder (A Sommelier Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Katie Stillwell lives for wine, so when her best friend, Tessa, gets her an invitation to Frontier Winery’s 100th anniversary party, Katie gladly accepts. The night ends with tragedy when Katie finds the owner murdered. With Tessa missing, Katie must figure out what is really going on. Can she do it?
I’m not a wine drinker, but I completely enjoyed this debut. Tessa could be a bit much at times, but I liked her at others. I was bothered by how much the detective included Katie in the investigation, but overall I completely enjoyed this book. The story moved forward quickly, and Katie is a great main character. I can’t wait to revisit her.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-decanting-murder-by-nadine.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I’m not a wine drinker, but I completely enjoyed this debut. Tessa could be a bit much at times, but I liked her at others. I was bothered by how much the detective included Katie in the investigation, but overall I completely enjoyed this book. The story moved forward quickly, and Katie is a great main character. I can’t wait to revisit her.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-decanting-murder-by-nadine.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2117 KP) rated Fatal Brushstroke (Aurora Anderson Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Rory Anderson is shocked when the body of a well-respected tole painter, Hester Bouquet, is found buried in her backyard. With a police chief who hates her, Rory knows if she wants to avoid going to jail, she needs to find the killer. But who might it be?
This is a strong debut. The plot was steady with interesting suspects and shifting clues and motives. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times, but it turned out I was wrong. The characters are fantastic as well, and I can hardly wait to visit the series regulars again. Plus I loved the fictional coast town setting.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-fatal-brushstroke-by-sybil.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a strong debut. The plot was steady with interesting suspects and shifting clues and motives. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times, but it turned out I was wrong. The characters are fantastic as well, and I can hardly wait to visit the series regulars again. Plus I loved the fictional coast town setting.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-fatal-brushstroke-by-sybil.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
ClareR (5637 KP) rated The Anomaly in Books
Jul 15, 2018 (Updated Aug 12, 2018)
A surprising debut!
Another book that I didn't expect to like, but the snappy dialogue drew me in much more than the action (to begin with!).
This has been described as Indiana Jones (if he didn't know anything about archaeology) crossed with Tomb Raider (except Nolan is NO Lara Croft!). This is hack archaeology on YouTube which no expert would touch with a barge pole, but the conspiracy theorists love.
The build up left me wanting to visit the Grand Canyon, the middle part made me think twice. The end made me glad there are photos!
It's a bit Sci-fi, adventure, mystery and really quite funny. I really enjoyed it and will look out for any follow-ups!
Thank you to the Pigeonhole for sharing this novel!
This has been described as Indiana Jones (if he didn't know anything about archaeology) crossed with Tomb Raider (except Nolan is NO Lara Croft!). This is hack archaeology on YouTube which no expert would touch with a barge pole, but the conspiracy theorists love.
The build up left me wanting to visit the Grand Canyon, the middle part made me think twice. The end made me glad there are photos!
It's a bit Sci-fi, adventure, mystery and really quite funny. I really enjoyed it and will look out for any follow-ups!
Thank you to the Pigeonhole for sharing this novel!
FilmIntuition (33 KP) rated Tomb Raider (2018) in Movies
Aug 31, 2018
Alicia Vikander Lights up the Screen
Following up his powerful Norwegian disaster movie THE WAVE with this big budgeted English language debut reboot of the video game to big screen series TOMB RAIDER, director Roar Uthaug delivers a fun, fast-paced new take on the series.
Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander picks up the baton left by our previous Lara Croft, Angelina Jolie and has a blast in what is essentially a female spin on INDIANA JONES and NATIONAL TREASURE.
While the film gets pretty ridiculous as it continues, the eye-catching effects and sharp visual visual style, as well as terrific turns by Dominic West and Walton Goggins as her father and the film's villain respectively keep you invested, even if you'll forget it almost as quickly as you've seen it.
Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander picks up the baton left by our previous Lara Croft, Angelina Jolie and has a blast in what is essentially a female spin on INDIANA JONES and NATIONAL TREASURE.
While the film gets pretty ridiculous as it continues, the eye-catching effects and sharp visual visual style, as well as terrific turns by Dominic West and Walton Goggins as her father and the film's villain respectively keep you invested, even if you'll forget it almost as quickly as you've seen it.
Milleen (47 KP) rated Never Greener in Books
Nov 14, 2018
The much-anticipated debut novel by the very talented scriptwriter and actress Ruth Jones (Nessa from Gavin and Stacey) has had mixed reviews from critics but I think I know why. This novel doesnÕt have the quirkiness or levity that youÕd expect from JonesÕ TV work, although it originated from an abandoned TV script she rediscovered. This work delves into affairs and consequences and therefore itÕs a little more pensive. Ex-lovers Kate and Callum meet after seventeen years and consider walking away or taking a second chance to find out if the grass is greener. The two protagonists are not exactly likeable, I found myself wanting to know less about them and more about others. I enjoyed the book but forget any notion of Nessa, Ruth Jones has a voice of her own.
David McK (3280 KP) rated Flashpoint in Books
Jan 28, 2019
So, Flashpoint.
One of the most famous Flash stories - recently covered (briefly) in the DC TV series of the same name, during season 2.
In which Barry Allen wakes up at his desk to find the world he knows has changed drastically: there's no 'Man of Steel, nobody has ever heard of The Flash, and Wonder Woman and Aquaman are at war with each other.
All of which, over the course of the story, eventually comes to be because of a single change in the past, with that oen chagne leading to a domino effect and creating this world.
Reading this, it's also not hard to see why it is one of the more famous Flash stories and is (currently) rumoured to be the foundation for The Flash's upcoming Big Screen debut ...
One of the most famous Flash stories - recently covered (briefly) in the DC TV series of the same name, during season 2.
In which Barry Allen wakes up at his desk to find the world he knows has changed drastically: there's no 'Man of Steel, nobody has ever heard of The Flash, and Wonder Woman and Aquaman are at war with each other.
All of which, over the course of the story, eventually comes to be because of a single change in the past, with that oen chagne leading to a domino effect and creating this world.
Reading this, it's also not hard to see why it is one of the more famous Flash stories and is (currently) rumoured to be the foundation for The Flash's upcoming Big Screen debut ...
Elizabeth Sharrod (5 KP) rated The Woman in the Window in Books
Jul 9, 2019
This debut thriller by AJ Finn is an easy read with some great character development especially in regards to the main protagonist, an agrophobe ex psychiatrist who enjoys watching her neighbours through her window while drinking her favourite alcoholic beverage. Soon she finds herself the only witness to a murder where she questions her sanity (did this murder really take place and if so who did it and can she make anyone believe her?)
Finn really creates a character that anyone can relate to or feel for. A thriller of its genre which is already being made into a movie. The story has some twists (a tad predictable if you have an eye for detail.) However, it was an easy and enjoyable read.
Finn really creates a character that anyone can relate to or feel for. A thriller of its genre which is already being made into a movie. The story has some twists (a tad predictable if you have an eye for detail.) However, it was an easy and enjoyable read.
The Love of a Bad Man
Book
An electrifying debut short story collection about the wives, lovers, and mistresses of history's...
Orenda by With Our Arms to the Sun
Album Watch
An evocative, versatile, and largely instrumental/conceptual post-metal unit from the Arizona...
metal