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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2566 KP) rated The Ghostway in Books

Oct 30, 2025  
The Ghostway
The Ghostway
Tony Hillerman | 1984 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Hunt That Takes Chee to Los Angeles
It all starts with a confrontation in the parking lot of a laundromat. By the time it is over, one of the men is dead, and the other flees further into the reservation injured. While Chee is tasked with helping find the injured man, he isn’t the lead on the case. The FBI is handling it since they say it ties into a case back in Los Angeles. But then a teenager goes missing, and Chee follows a lead to L.A. hoping to find her. Can he figure out what is happening?

This is another complex mystery. I figured a couple of things out, but I was still mostly in the dark when we reached the satisfying climax. We also got to know Chee a bit better, especially thanks to a sub-plot that ties back to the fourth book. The book came out in the 1980’s, and it’s amazing to realize just how much things have changed since then. I did find a missed the reservation when the action moved to Los Angeles, but it wasn’t too bad. My biggest complaint is an issue that would get into spoiler territory, but even that is minor overall. This is an entertaining final solo entry for Jim Chee.
  
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David McK (3791 KP) rated Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) in Movies

Aug 14, 2022 (Updated Dec 20, 2025)  
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
2022 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
5
6.5 (16 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Insect park?
Jurassic Park (the original) is a masterpiece of cinema.

Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World has it's moments (the raptors in the long grass), but also has the annoying-kid-doing-gymnastics-while-a-Raptor-watches.

Jurassic Park 3 takes some scenes from the original novel (most noticeably the aviary) that were left out of the previous films, but also has the stupid ringing phone that a dinosaur has swallowed that remind the viewer too much (and not in a good way) of Peter Pan and Captain Hook crocodile.

Jurassic World follows the same format as Jurassic Park, except goes larger. It's not a bad movie.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom goes in a completely different direction, going the haunted house route in the second half, and ends with the dinosaurs released on the mainland.

Which is where Jurassic World: Dominion picks up, roughly four years on from the ending of Fallen Kingdom. Lots have been made of the fact that this also reunites the original cast - Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum - alongside the newer duo of Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.

The problem, however, is that more is quite often less, which I found to be the case here - plenty of action (and dinosaurs), yes, but also, well, just missing something :(
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2566 KP) rated Written in Blood in Books

Jan 30, 2025  
Written in Blood
Written in Blood
Sheila Lowe | 2021 | Mystery
3
3.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Needed a Rewrite or Two
When hand writing expert Claudia Rose takes on a case for recent widow Paige Sorensen verifying her late husband’s signature, Claudia doesn’t expect anything beyond the court case. But she gets pulled into Paige’s world, including the fighting with her step children and the happenings at the school where Paige is headmistress. But when two people go missing from the school, Claudia wonders what is really happening. Can she figure things out?

I enjoyed the first in the series enough to pick up this book, but I didn’t enjoy this book at all. Yes, some of it was the content in the Kindle version I purchased last year. There was more language, violence, and other stuff that made it hard for me to really enjoy the book. Plus, the mystery really took too long to get going. When we reached the climax, too much was thrown at us without truly explaining why or how it was happening that way. And, I feel like some of the things at the end contradicted the facts we’d gotten earlier in the story. On the other hand, I did like Claudia as a character. I’m not sure that will be enough to pull me further into the series even though I’ve already purchased some of the books.
  
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Merissa (14003 KP) rated The Guardians (Gargoyles Den #1) in Books

Apr 25, 2023  
The Guardians (Gargoyles Den #1)
The Guardians (Gargoyles Den #1)
Lisa Barry | 2013 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
You just have to love a book about gargoyles! There are few of them about and I do enjoy them. This one is slightly different which makes it all the more enjoyable. Sloane sees colours around people and also understands what those colours mean. She has learnt not to speak to anyone about this as she fears being put away in an institute.

Through happenings and occurrences, she finds a group of people who not only accept her for who she is but also recognise and appreciate the talent she has. However, things are not all sunshine yellow as Guardians are going missing. Different aspects of this book all tie together to give a thrilling ride and satisfying conclusion.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book is that it is action/adventure with a hint of romance. Really, the romance is only alluded to and really does play second fiddle to the main story.

I loved the ending, complete with Liam's choice, which I thoroughly understood and approved of! Can't wait to read more in this series. Definitely recommended.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
 
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 15, 2015
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2566 KP) rated The Lessons We Learn in Books

May 21, 2022 (Updated May 21, 2022)  
The Lessons We Learn
The Lessons We Learn
Liz Milliron | 2022 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Betty Must Clear Her Friend
As winter reluctantly gives way to spring in March of 1943, Lee Tillotson’s father goes missing. Betty Ahern is surprised that her friend isn’t more concerned, but Lee keeps pointing out how much better his family’s life is without Mr. Tillotson around since the man had become a drunk. That comes back to haunt Lee when his father’s body turns up in the Buffalo River. The police are looking at Lee as a suspect, and Lee is clearly hiding something, even from Betty. Can Betty figure out what is going on?

Since Lee’s family situation has been a subplot in the first two books in this series, this book is able to jump right into the action. The result is a story that never waned. I was hooked from the first page and never wanted to put the book down. I enjoyed getting to see more of the supporting characters in this book, and the development that came with their expanded page time. Likewise, I enjoyed seeing some of the relationship growth from the previous book stick around. I hope it continues in future books. The writing helps pull us into the story, and the historical details are fantastic, as well. This is the strongest book in the series to date, and I can’t wait to visit Betty again.