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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated A Literal Mess in Books

Jan 14, 2019

A Literal Mess

J. C. Kenney | 2019 | Mystery

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Strong Debut

Allie Cobb has returned home to Rushing Creek, Indiana for her father's funeral. While his death wasn't a surprise, it has still hit her hard. She's not prepared for tragedy to strike her small town a second time when the body of Thornwell Winchester is found. He was one of Allie's father's literary clients, and also the father of Allie's best friend, Sloane. When Sloane becomes the police's chief suspect, Allie steps in to find out the truth. Can she do it?

This book is more serious in tone than many of the cozies I read, but given what brings Allie home, that is completely appropriate. I never found that overwhelming, and the book doesn't dwell on it. After all, this is a mystery, and it isn't long before we are off meeting Thornwell and the potential suspects. I was intrigued by the red herrings and enjoyed the twists as we headed toward the logical climax. The suspects are strong, but I was really impressed with the series regulars. They have pasts and baggage that brought them to the page fully formed. I'm interested to see how that dynamic plays out as the series progresses.

Kudos

Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Sprout Mask Replica in Books

Nov 26, 2019

Sprout Mask Replica

Robert Rankin | 1997 | Biography, Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy

7.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

I always use this book to illustrate just how off the wall Rankin's writing is. Purportedly his autobiography, he gets run over by a bus and killed halfway through. That really ought to give the reader some some of idea that this is not entirely serious.

Telling the "stories" of various family members then moving onto his own life this is less a coherent novel with a plot than the literary equivalent of an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus; a series of sketches with some recurring characters and ideas which don't behave according any of the accepted standards of story telling.

The result is an absolute hoot as a stream of consciousness experience, especially as Rankin re-uses his well-tested recurring gags. However it is by no means his best work; the lack of a plot means that the book just sort of ends and it does rely a little too much on knowing nods to previous works.

Not a bad read, and certainly worth a go if you like something that's unusual and bursting with odd ideas but there are better Rankin books to read.

Kudos

Night Reader Reviews (683 KP) rated Here, There Be Dragons (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, #1) in Books

Jan 9, 2020

Wonderful book. I was unsure about picking it up at first but fell in love with it within the first few pages. It ties other famous authors and locations from both history and well known fantasy worlds into a story all its own. At first I did not notice some of the references made in the beginning of the story but once I started paying attention, it was amazing just how much James A. Owen researched to provide readers with an amazing, one of a kind experience. The author writes so wonderfully that readers feel as if they were actually in the Archipelago of Dreams, a place that I am sure most anyone who loves myth and fantasy would like to visit at least once in their lives.
I am a part of a book club at my local library, and plan on recommending this book to my fellow members, most of who are teachers and would appreciate not only the literary references but the historical ones as well found in this book. I also plan on reading the rest of the series.
<b>This is a highly recommended book in my opinion.</b>