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Fictions
Jorge Luis Borges and Andrew Hurley
Book
The most popular anthology of Jorge Luis Borges's short stories, Fictions is a wildly original and...
Wolfhound Century
8.0
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Book
A thousand miles east of Mirgorod, the great capital city of the Vlast, deep in the ancient forest,...
An Inspector Calls: and Other Plays
10.0
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Book
Previously published as Time and the Conways and Other Plays, J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls...
Odd People: Hunting Spies in the First World War
Book
First World War espionage was a fascinating and dangerous affair, spawning widespread paranoia in...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2666 KP) rated Billy Boyle in Books
Jun 19, 2020
Search for the Spy
Summer of 1942 finds Billy Boyle traveling to England to begin working for his distant uncle, Dwight Eisenhower, as a investigator during World War II. Billy had just become a detective for the Boston PD before the war hit American shores, and Billy isn’t sure he is up to the task. However, he has to jump in immediate when he is asked to help find a spy that might impede Operation Jupiter, the plans to invade Norway and drive out the Germans. His investigation is only hampered when a Norwegian official dies under mysterious circumstances. Is Billy now looking for a killer and a spy?
I’ve heard about this series several times over the years, but it was a friend recommending it to me recently that pushed me to finally start the series. I’m glad I did. I’ve always loved World War II, and I already learned something I didn’t know about it thanks to this book. The author has obviously done his research; unfortunately, sometimes that slows down the story. I’m torn on that because I did love the characters, and I loved seeing how everything from this time was impacting them. Most of the characters are fictional, but they feel like they could be real. Billy was especially wonderful, and I hope we see more of several of the characters as the series progresses. While not a cozy, the book does keep the language and violence to a minimum, which I appreciated. I also loved Billy’s restraint with the women he met – I found that very refreshing. The tone mixes some humor with more serious themes for a richer book. Now that I’ve met Billy, I have a long way to go to catch up, and I’m looking forward to the journey.
I’ve heard about this series several times over the years, but it was a friend recommending it to me recently that pushed me to finally start the series. I’m glad I did. I’ve always loved World War II, and I already learned something I didn’t know about it thanks to this book. The author has obviously done his research; unfortunately, sometimes that slows down the story. I’m torn on that because I did love the characters, and I loved seeing how everything from this time was impacting them. Most of the characters are fictional, but they feel like they could be real. Billy was especially wonderful, and I hope we see more of several of the characters as the series progresses. While not a cozy, the book does keep the language and violence to a minimum, which I appreciated. I also loved Billy’s restraint with the women he met – I found that very refreshing. The tone mixes some humor with more serious themes for a richer book. Now that I’ve met Billy, I have a long way to go to catch up, and I’m looking forward to the journey.
An Unlikely Union: The Love-Hate Story of New York's Irish and Italians
Book
They came from the poorest parts of Ireland and Italy and met as rivals on the sidewalks of New...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder in Books
Mar 11, 2021 (Updated Mar 11, 2021)
Twisty thriller with a determined young protagonist
Pippa (Pip) decides to write her senior capstone project on the missing persons case of Andie Bell. Everyone in the town of Fairview believes popular Andie was murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh, who then killed himself. The story still haunts the town five years later--including Sal's family and his younger brother, Ravi. Pip knew Sal, though, and he was always so kind to her. As she starts digging into the case, with Ravi's help, hoping to cast some doubt on the investigation, Pip starts discovering evidence that could exonerate Sal--and a lot of dark secrets that people in Fairview do not want dug up.
"'Because I don’t think your brother did it—and I’m going to try to prove it.'"
This is a dark and twisty thriller with an improbable but immediately likable protagonist. While I found it a bit unlikely that this high schooler could become such an excellent detective, I soon put my doubts aside. Pip is tough and determined and while some of the plot bordered on implausible, I was there for it, because I quickly fell for her, and for Ravi, Sal's younger brother.
“'It’s not just that he’s gone. It’s that…well, we’re not allowed to grieve for him, because of what happened.'"
Forming a partnership, the two dig deep into Andie's case, interviewing friends, family, and turning their town on its side. The result is an incredibly twisty and dark story-its sad, but sweet too. I loved the pluckiness of Pip; her friendship with Ravi; and the way the clues slowly unfolded, allowing us to see the horrible secrets and lies that led to what truly happened to Andie.
All in all, this is a quick read, full of twists and turns, and featuring a strong protagonist.
"'Because I don’t think your brother did it—and I’m going to try to prove it.'"
This is a dark and twisty thriller with an improbable but immediately likable protagonist. While I found it a bit unlikely that this high schooler could become such an excellent detective, I soon put my doubts aside. Pip is tough and determined and while some of the plot bordered on implausible, I was there for it, because I quickly fell for her, and for Ravi, Sal's younger brother.
“'It’s not just that he’s gone. It’s that…well, we’re not allowed to grieve for him, because of what happened.'"
Forming a partnership, the two dig deep into Andie's case, interviewing friends, family, and turning their town on its side. The result is an incredibly twisty and dark story-its sad, but sweet too. I loved the pluckiness of Pip; her friendship with Ravi; and the way the clues slowly unfolded, allowing us to see the horrible secrets and lies that led to what truly happened to Andie.
All in all, this is a quick read, full of twists and turns, and featuring a strong protagonist.
ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Chalet in Books
Nov 8, 2020
The Chalet was a twisty, turny thriller that had me guessing all the way through. I couldn’t for the life of me work out who had been responsible for the death (and at one point I wasn’t even convinced that he was dead!), and I had a list of pretty much everyone in the chalet. My main reason for their guilt was that they just weren’t very nice (I know, I’ll never make a great detective!).
This story is split between two timelines to begin with - the present day and twenty years before. In the present day, two couples are sharing a chalet for a holiday mixed with business. I’ll say this again: these are not particularly nice people. They’re rich, entitled and generally insensitive.
Interspersed with this timeline is that of two couples twenty years earlier. Two brothers and their girlfriends are on a skiing holiday. They’re all Oxford University students: three come from affluent upper class families, and one, Louisa, comes from a working class, single parent family. She is made to feel different at all times - whether this is her own insecurities is never quite clear. Her boyfriends brother certainly doesn’t do much to make her feel welcome. At some point during this holiday, there’s a terrible accident that has an equally terrible effect on characters in the present day timeline.
I won’t say any more about the storyline - I don’t want to be the one to spoil someone’s reading enjoyment! What I WILL say, is that I thoroughly enjoyed this and looked forward to reading it every morning on the Pigeonhole app. It’s a tense, exciting, addictive read - and I loved it!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this and helping me once more, to read my NetGalley books! And also thanks to the author, Catherine Cooper for reading along with us.
This story is split between two timelines to begin with - the present day and twenty years before. In the present day, two couples are sharing a chalet for a holiday mixed with business. I’ll say this again: these are not particularly nice people. They’re rich, entitled and generally insensitive.
Interspersed with this timeline is that of two couples twenty years earlier. Two brothers and their girlfriends are on a skiing holiday. They’re all Oxford University students: three come from affluent upper class families, and one, Louisa, comes from a working class, single parent family. She is made to feel different at all times - whether this is her own insecurities is never quite clear. Her boyfriends brother certainly doesn’t do much to make her feel welcome. At some point during this holiday, there’s a terrible accident that has an equally terrible effect on characters in the present day timeline.
I won’t say any more about the storyline - I don’t want to be the one to spoil someone’s reading enjoyment! What I WILL say, is that I thoroughly enjoyed this and looked forward to reading it every morning on the Pigeonhole app. It’s a tense, exciting, addictive read - and I loved it!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this and helping me once more, to read my NetGalley books! And also thanks to the author, Catherine Cooper for reading along with us.
Patrick Wilson recommended Fletch (1985) in Movies (curated)
ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Devil and the Dark Water in Books
Feb 7, 2021
I listened to The Devil and the Dark Water on Audible, read so well by Julian Rhind-Tutt. HIs voice suited this story so well, and it transported me on to the ‘Saardem’, which had left Batavia, en route to Amsterdam. The sights, the smells, the business, the people, the chaos, were all so well described. And then a leper appears on top of some packing crates, loudly issues a warning that the ship will end in ruin - and bursts in to flames. Sarah Wessel, the Governors wife and a healer, tries to help him but he dies - and this is where it starts to get really strange. It transpires that the leper had no tongue. So how did he speak?
Once the boat has begun its journey, the really menacing things start to happen. A demon called Old Tom makes his presence felt, along with his threats, and the Three Unholy Miracles he promises seemingly come to pass.
On board is the infamous detective Samuel Pipps - except he is imprisoned and on his way to be executed in Amsterdam. His Bodyguard, Arent Hayes, has been employed to ensure his safety (by Pipps) and he asks his advice when he can. But it seems that Pipps’ invaluable detecting skills will go largely untapped. It’s up to Arent.
I loved the menace that runs through this book. Now, I don’t believe in Demons, but even I was wondering when it would appear! And there was NO way that I was EVER going to guess the ending (I would be interested to hear whether anyone else did!).
It’s a great book: full of adventures of the High Seas, with ruthless sailors, soldiers and passengers!
Once the boat has begun its journey, the really menacing things start to happen. A demon called Old Tom makes his presence felt, along with his threats, and the Three Unholy Miracles he promises seemingly come to pass.
On board is the infamous detective Samuel Pipps - except he is imprisoned and on his way to be executed in Amsterdam. His Bodyguard, Arent Hayes, has been employed to ensure his safety (by Pipps) and he asks his advice when he can. But it seems that Pipps’ invaluable detecting skills will go largely untapped. It’s up to Arent.
I loved the menace that runs through this book. Now, I don’t believe in Demons, but even I was wondering when it would appear! And there was NO way that I was EVER going to guess the ending (I would be interested to hear whether anyone else did!).
It’s a great book: full of adventures of the High Seas, with ruthless sailors, soldiers and passengers!