Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again
3.7
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If the Bible isn’t a science book or an instruction manual, then what is it? What do people mean...
The Woman on the Orient Express
Book
Hoping to make a clean break from a fractured marriage, Agatha Christie boards the Orient Express in...
The Brief (Charles Holborne #1)
10.0
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The legal thriller series you need to read! Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Robert Bailey, Michael...
London 1960s
Sixteen Horses
7.0
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Near the dying English seaside town of Ilmarsh, local police detective Alec Nichols discovers...
Literary Fiction Trigger Warning: Animal Cruelty and Dismemberment
Alien Domicile (2017)
3.0
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Movie
After decades of conspiracy theories and shrouding secrecy, the CIA finally acknowledged the...
David McK (3623 KP) rated Murder on the Orient Express (2017) in Movies
Apr 21, 2022
I also watched this after recently watching the semi-sequel 'Death in the Nile' on Disney+, thinking then that - as that was a sequel of sorts - I might as well go back and watch the original.
The problem, of course, as with all murder mysteries is that once they are solved (in either print or on screen), then they lose nearly all sense of drama or suspense. That, I think, is a fault of the genre as a whole and is perhaps the reason why it is generally not my favourite type of story: I prefer works that you can rewatch or re-read and discover something new each time through.
Anyway, the fact that I already knew the ending might have spoiled my enjoyment of this movie, even if I'm aware it takes liberties with the source material. Not obvious liberties, though! (Or, at least I didn't think they were).
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Encyclopedia Brown Shows the Way in Books
Jul 15, 2024
The ten stories in this book are fairly short, which makes them easy to breeze through. I still find I rarely solve the case before Encyclopedia does, but that’s okay. I have fun with them. There isn’t time for much in the way of twists here, and the characters are fairly thin. I don’t think kids will mind either one. What they might find off putting is the dated elements of the books. Like, what’s an encyclopedia? Still, if they are willing to pick it up, they’ll find these stories fun.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Sugarplum Dead in Books
Jul 27, 2024
This book seemed to wander a bit with the set up, and I was wondering when it was going to get to the point. But when it did, it was great with several twists that surprised me and an ending that wrapped everything up well. We didn’t see as much of many of the regulars, but Laurel has some fantastic scenes. We also get to know some of the suspects better than is often the case. The Christmas element was subdued, but the references to other mystery authors and books was toned down, which was great. This is another book that fans of cozy mysteries will love.
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies
3.0
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All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Contesting the Wool in Books
Oct 29, 2025
This series was my introduction to Diane Vallere’s books, so it’s always nice to revisit the characters. They are as sharp as always, and I enjoyed seeing the next chapter in their lives. The mystery was great with several surprises along the way. I had no clue where things were going, but everything made perfect sense when it was all stitched together. There’s a nice, humorous tone and fun Easter Eggs for fans of Diane’s Costume Shop Mysteries. If you are looking for a strong mystery with entertaining characters and a light tone, this is the book for you.