Search
Search results
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Destroyer (2018) in Movies
Jul 23, 2019
Nicole Kidman: a career best performance (2 more)
Slow burn build of characters, through flashback
Brilliant twist in the third act I didn't see coming
Gritty but unpredictable version of an oft-told tale
The plot is both familiar (think “The Departed” mixed with “Hell or High Water”) but at the same time intricate. Nicole Kidman plays police detective Erin Bell who’s in a bad place. She looks to be on her last legs through drink and drugs, but she is being propped up in her post by an understanding boss and a tolerant partner (who spends most of his time leaving “Where the hell are you?” voicemails).
Erin is in pursuit of a truly evil man – Silas (Toby Kebbell) – who is back after a long absence. Erin and Silas have a past that is only unfolded as the film evolves. (To say more would ruin what is an outstandingly well-constructed screenplay). Aside from the “day job”, what Erin also has to contend with her truly wayward 16 year old daughter Shelby (Jade Pettyjohn).
“Destroyer” seems to have had mixed reviews, but it is really one of the most gripping watches I’ve seen in 2019. A career best from Kidman (imho) and an intelligent, slow and thoughtful motion picture.
For the full graphical review please go to One Mann's Movies here - https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2019/07/20/one-manns-movies-dvd-review-destroyer-2019/
Erin is in pursuit of a truly evil man – Silas (Toby Kebbell) – who is back after a long absence. Erin and Silas have a past that is only unfolded as the film evolves. (To say more would ruin what is an outstandingly well-constructed screenplay). Aside from the “day job”, what Erin also has to contend with her truly wayward 16 year old daughter Shelby (Jade Pettyjohn).
“Destroyer” seems to have had mixed reviews, but it is really one of the most gripping watches I’ve seen in 2019. A career best from Kidman (imho) and an intelligent, slow and thoughtful motion picture.
For the full graphical review please go to One Mann's Movies here - https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2019/07/20/one-manns-movies-dvd-review-destroyer-2019/
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Murder House (DCI Matilda Darke #5) in Books
Jan 27, 2020
This is the fifth in this series starring DCI Matilda Darke but only the second I have read having previous been lucky enough to read the first in the series "For Reasons Unknown" which introduced DCI Darke to the world. Having missed the books in-between and although I have likely missed out on a lot of back story, I didn't feel it detracted from my enjoyment of this book and I felt it worked well as a standalone.
This book starts with the gruesome and brutal murder of 3 family members on the night they were celebrating a family wedding. This is a seemingly motiveless crime against a perfect family ... but can there be such a thing? What follows is the complex investigation by DCI Darke and her Homicide and Major Investigation Team.
The characters are interesting, likeable (mostly) and believable and I quickly became invested in them and their lives. The plot is complex with multiple layers and lines of enquiry and with twists and turns and red herrings aplenty; it certainly kept me on my toes from start to finish and didn't disappoint.
The Murder House is a dark, gripping, thrilling and well paced story which I have no hesitation in recommending to lovers of crime novels like myself and thank you to One More Chapter (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
This book starts with the gruesome and brutal murder of 3 family members on the night they were celebrating a family wedding. This is a seemingly motiveless crime against a perfect family ... but can there be such a thing? What follows is the complex investigation by DCI Darke and her Homicide and Major Investigation Team.
The characters are interesting, likeable (mostly) and believable and I quickly became invested in them and their lives. The plot is complex with multiple layers and lines of enquiry and with twists and turns and red herrings aplenty; it certainly kept me on my toes from start to finish and didn't disappoint.
The Murder House is a dark, gripping, thrilling and well paced story which I have no hesitation in recommending to lovers of crime novels like myself and thank you to One More Chapter (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Signature Kill (Frank Behr #4) in Books
Jan 5, 2020
Gritty, dark atmospheric and suspenseful
This is another book that has been on my "to be read" list since 2015 and I have finally got round to reading it and so pleased I did as I really enjoyed it. Although this is book 4 in the Frank Behr series, I haven't read any of the others and I admit that it would probably be better to read the others in order to get some clarity and background to Frank but having said that, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book so will say it works well as a standalone.
This is a pretty disturbing story written from Frank's perspective and that of the killer; this I think was genius in that it gave Frank a strong voice and made him come alive but it also did the same for the killer which was chilling and oddly satisfying but perfect for this book.
The writing style was excellent and easy to read; the suspense and action scenes were described perfectly and all the characters were well developed and authentic.
This is a gritty, dark, atmospheric and suspenseful read that I found gripping and very difficult to put down; I will certainly read more of this series and from this author but hopefully won't delay it so long next time.
Thank you to RandomHouseUK / Transworld Publishers via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
This is a pretty disturbing story written from Frank's perspective and that of the killer; this I think was genius in that it gave Frank a strong voice and made him come alive but it also did the same for the killer which was chilling and oddly satisfying but perfect for this book.
The writing style was excellent and easy to read; the suspense and action scenes were described perfectly and all the characters were well developed and authentic.
This is a gritty, dark, atmospheric and suspenseful read that I found gripping and very difficult to put down; I will certainly read more of this series and from this author but hopefully won't delay it so long next time.
Thank you to RandomHouseUK / Transworld Publishers via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Kate (493 KP) rated The Silent Patient in Books
Apr 12, 2020
Gripping read - kept me guessing
This is one of the best books I have read and I have read a lot. I was gripped from the very start and it was good going back and forward from past to present as the full story starts to come together.
I read a lot of crime books and can usually guess the perpetrator and the motive usually quite quickly but this book had me guessing. When Alicia and Theo's story merge and everything falls into place this was something I could never have guessed. It all made sense and you kind of say 'oh yeah'. When I got to this part of the book I had to finish this. I couldn't put it down all the way through. I finished it in 2 days.
I started to feel for Theo. Alicia's silence was frustrating me and I was just the reader. The things happening in his personal life were awful and I wanted to tell him what do as he was on a bad path. But it is surprising hoe your feelings for a character can change so quickly. This happened with a few characters but mainly Theo.
Anyone who reads and enjoys crime books should definitely give this book a read. It is a different type of crime book.
The book exceeded all expectations based on the blurb.
I would read other books from Alex Michaelides.
I read a lot of crime books and can usually guess the perpetrator and the motive usually quite quickly but this book had me guessing. When Alicia and Theo's story merge and everything falls into place this was something I could never have guessed. It all made sense and you kind of say 'oh yeah'. When I got to this part of the book I had to finish this. I couldn't put it down all the way through. I finished it in 2 days.
I started to feel for Theo. Alicia's silence was frustrating me and I was just the reader. The things happening in his personal life were awful and I wanted to tell him what do as he was on a bad path. But it is surprising hoe your feelings for a character can change so quickly. This happened with a few characters but mainly Theo.
Anyone who reads and enjoys crime books should definitely give this book a read. It is a different type of crime book.
The book exceeded all expectations based on the blurb.
I would read other books from Alex Michaelides.
The Man Who Knew: The Life and Times of Alan Greenspan
Book
WINNER OF THE 2016 FT & McKINSEY BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD, this is the biography of one of...
The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival
Book
It's December 1997, and a man-eating tiger is on the prowl outside a remote Russian village. The...
Red Star Against the Swastika: The Story of a Soviet Pilot Over the Eastern Front
Book
'A gripping insight into the war's bloodiest campaign.' Military Illustrated This is the...
Strindberg: A Life
Book
Novelist, satirist, poet, photographer, painter, alchemist, and hellraiser-August Strindberg was all...
Supersub: The Story of Football's Most Famous Number 12
David Fairclough and Mark Platt
Book
David Fairclough started just 92 games in an eight year Liverpool career yet his standing as one of...
Cold War Command: The Dramatic Story of a Nuclear Submariner
Book
The part played in the Cold War by the Royal Navy's submarines still retains a great degree of...