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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2352 KP) rated Easter Basket Murder in Books
Jan 25, 2024 (Updated Jan 25, 2024)
Here’s to a Deadly Easter
Kensington has called on their go to trio for three new holiday themed mysteries, this time featuring Easter. Up first, Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone gets involved with a promotion for the local businesses leads to the theft of a golden Easter egg. Then Lee Hollis’s Hayley Powell finds the Easter Bunny dead at a community Easter egg hunt. Finally, Barbara Ross’s Julia Snowden’s Easter on the family island off the coast of Maine is interrupted when she finds a man in coat tails dead in the garden. Then, a few minutes later, he’s gone.
All three stories have fun with the theme, and present it in some clever ways. As is often the case, I found the first story the weakest, but the mysteries in the other two stories are strong. Still, I was engaged no matter which story I was reading. All three have some great Easter elements that made me feel like it was spring. And I love the community aspects we get. I’m only a regular reader of Barbara Ross’s series, and I was interested in the updates we got on the characters there. If you are looking for some new dishes to serve this year, you’ll be interested in the recipes we get with the second and third story. Each story is roughly 100 pages, so you can read them in a sitting or two. Overall, this is a fun anthology you’ll be happy hopped on to your to be read pile.
All three stories have fun with the theme, and present it in some clever ways. As is often the case, I found the first story the weakest, but the mysteries in the other two stories are strong. Still, I was engaged no matter which story I was reading. All three have some great Easter elements that made me feel like it was spring. And I love the community aspects we get. I’m only a regular reader of Barbara Ross’s series, and I was interested in the updates we got on the characters there. If you are looking for some new dishes to serve this year, you’ll be interested in the recipes we get with the second and third story. Each story is roughly 100 pages, so you can read them in a sitting or two. Overall, this is a fun anthology you’ll be happy hopped on to your to be read pile.
ALilLacey (2 KP) rated Frankie Dupont And The High Seas Heist in Books
Mar 4, 2019
Such a fun read for young readers. The age range of 8-12 is perfect for this book, boy or girl. Frankie Dupont is just like a young modern day Sherlock Holmes trying to solve a mystery along with his dad, a few friends and his trusty sidekick dog. This was a fun mystery as it involved two mysteries that end up being surprisingly related. The book is a simple but a fun engaging read. I was trying to figure out the clues and who-dun-it as i read along. I love how Frankie's mind works and his fun gadgets and scientific knowledge he uses to solve the mystery. Sure made me want some chocolate too. A recommended read!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2352 KP) rated Mr. Monk Helps Himself (Mr. Monk #16) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Natalie's new self-help guru commits suicide in the middle of a public event, but she's convinced it is murder. Meanwhile, Monk is hired to find the killer of a clown, one of his top 100 phobias. This is going to be the biggest test of their new partnership.
This is the first tie in novel not written by Lee Goldberg, but since Hy was a writer on the show, he already knows the characters. He's picked up from where Lee left off, and fans of the show and the books will love it. Laughs, good mysteries, and great characters.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-mr-monk-helps-himself-by-hy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is the first tie in novel not written by Lee Goldberg, but since Hy was a writer on the show, he already knows the characters. He's picked up from where Lee left off, and fans of the show and the books will love it. Laughs, good mysteries, and great characters.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-mr-monk-helps-himself-by-hy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
JBannerman (1 KP) rated Caraval in Books
Jul 4, 2018
Kept my attention (1 more)
Quick read, but not fluffy
Let the Game Begin
Ever wonder what it would be like to play a game directed by a man people only know the name of? Enter the wold of Caraval, a game like no other.
This book really had my attention from the beginning. There were some surprises along the way; however, some parts were a little predictable.
I gave this book 8/10 because I feel like the characters could be more developed and I didn't care for some of the predictability.
I would definitely recommend Caraval, especially to those who like mysteries. It was fun to play along with Scarlet and she enters the crazy wold that Legend has created.
This book really had my attention from the beginning. There were some surprises along the way; however, some parts were a little predictable.
I gave this book 8/10 because I feel like the characters could be more developed and I didn't care for some of the predictability.
I would definitely recommend Caraval, especially to those who like mysteries. It was fun to play along with Scarlet and she enters the crazy wold that Legend has created.
Gripping from the start
This Ed James book has a very different feel to his usual murder mysteries. From the first page the reader is trying to piece together scant clues about the links between apparently distinct kidnappings as tortured and bewildered victims turn up. The combined efforts of DS Corcoran and Dr Marie Palmer, a criminal psychologist, are needed in order to work out what may have driven someone to kidnap and torture people in different ways.
The pacing of the book is superb as the reader is barely given a moment to catch their breathe before the next twist to the story, or revelation. Some good characters and interesting back stories come together for a truly gripping page-turner.
The pacing of the book is superb as the reader is barely given a moment to catch their breathe before the next twist to the story, or revelation. Some good characters and interesting back stories come together for a truly gripping page-turner.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated Shadow of a Doubt (1943) in Movies
Feb 19, 2020
Does Alfred Hitchcock do anything else?
Right now, I'm in a film class for school and it's all about Alfred Hitchcock. We're watching most of his collected works and honestly, I feel like once you've seen one, you've seen them all. It's clear through his films that he's very into murder and murder mysteries and thrillers. He likes stairs and birds and shadows. He's batshit about symbolism and irony and cyclical plots, something always turns back around.
This is my fourth or maybe fifth Hitchcock film and I don't know how I am supposed to continue to watch them. I feel like I'm watching a bad show that should've ended seasons ago but hasn't had the guts to call it quits yet. It's so disappointing!
This is my fourth or maybe fifth Hitchcock film and I don't know how I am supposed to continue to watch them. I feel like I'm watching a bad show that should've ended seasons ago but hasn't had the guts to call it quits yet. It's so disappointing!
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