Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (789)

Content

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2426 KP) rated It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder in Books

Oct 29, 2021 (Updated Oct 29, 2021)

Enjoy Christmas with The Family

The Belle View Catering Hall is busy with events as Christmas approaches, but Mia Carina gets distracted when the Boldano family asks for her help. Someone has shown up claiming to be Jamie’s long-lost brother. That’s a shock since Jamie didn’t even know he was adopted. Things get even more heated when Mia finds a dead body in her neighborhood. Can she figure out what is going on?

Those new to the series are in for a treat. Yes, this is a different cozy series since we have mobsters as characters and it is set in Queens. Yet these elements don’t overwhelm, and this feels like a cozy series. That’s mostly thanks to the characters, who come across as very real and likeable. In addition to the puzzling mystery, there are multiple sub-plots, which keep things hopping as we read the book. I did feel the climax didn’t quite work. Our questions are answered, but it was just a bit much. There’s plenty of Christmas spirit in this book, including a hilarious sub-plot about a Christmas light display contest. We get seven recipes and a couple of event tips at the end of the book. Fans new and old will enjoy spending this Christmas with Mia.

Kudos

Murder on Pleasant Avenue

Victoria Thompson

9.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

When midwife Sarah and detective Frank Malloy’s friend and new partner Gino Donatelli is accused...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2426 KP) rated Murder on Pleasant Avenue in Books

Oct 13, 2022 (Updated Oct 13, 2022)

Did Kidnapping Lead to Murder?

When Gino’s sister-in-law shows up at the detective agency Frank Malloy now owns, she is looking for help. One of the volunteers at the settlement house where she volunteers in her neighborhood of Italian Harlem has been kidnapped by the Black Hand. Soon Sarah has joined her husband, Frank, and Gino is trying to figure out what has happened. But just as they think they’ve gotten a handle on what is happening, a murder happens and Gino is the only suspect. Can they clear him before the Black Hand decides to take revenge on him?

It was a pleasure to jump back to 1900 once again and visit these characters. The action unfolds quickly. While I figured a few things out before the characters, I didn’t have the entire picture put together until they did. I did feel the final chapter felt forced into the book, but that was a minor complaint. I love spending time with these characters. We don’t see all the supporting players, but I was happy with some of the advances we saw for the core characters. I also enjoyed the seeds planted for some upcoming historical events. I’m so glad I’ve spent the time reading this series. Anyone who enjoys a good historical mystery will enjoy it as well.

Kudos

Pocket New York City

Regis St. Louis, Lonely Planet and Cristian Bonetto

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet Pocket New York City is your...

Terror in Meeple City

6.7 (3 Ratings) Rate It

Tabletop Game

In Terror in Meeple City (formerly known as Rampage), you arrive in Meeple City as a gigantic,...

Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) in Movies

Oct 27, 2019

The title probably says it all here, but here goes. The female high school basketball team decides to have a party complete with pizza and talking about boys. After quite the lengthy group shower they decide on the guest list and arrange for the fun times to begin. No one likes the new girl so she is not invited.

Even before the party begins the audience is alerted to the escape of a mental patient who is now on the loose wreaking bloody havoc in the neighborhood. Soon he shows up at the school and starts taking care of his own business using a very large drill with an extended drill bit.

After the party begins, he slowly starts to pick off the attendees as they manage to find themselves alone with the killer or in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The thing I found the most odd was the reveal of the killer almost right away. In most slasher/horror films of this type, the killer is almost always shown in shadows, from behind or partially revealed under the end of the movie where the unmasking happens. Not in this film. He is shown pretty much at the onset and chases the girls around almost the entire film with his lengthy power tool.

Passable action and suspense along with enough good kills to keep me interested for 75 minutes.

Kudos

Lindsay (1779 KP) rated The Statue of Anubis (The Decoders #5) in Books

Oct 29, 2019

The Statue of Anubis (The Decoders #5)

Alba Arango | 2018 | Children, Fiction & Poetry

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

The three children find out is that they are to find a missing statue. They seem to be into this mystery apart. They believe that is haunted. But once they start on their mystery and finding the clues. They seem to be met with two thugs.

Who are these to thugs and what do they want. Somehow they are convinced to find the statue for them. Who do they work for? You will be surprised as to who they work for. The mystery letter that Steve gets at the end. You will not believe who they so happen to free.

The author does wonderfully with them having to travel their neighborhood, and solve the mysteries. What they are doing and enjoy getting out and about. Their parents do not know what they do with their time.

If you are looking for books or a series for your children to read. Well, this series is good for them as they enjoy adventure and enjoy solving mysteries. This time they adventure to an island beach and though some more caves along with being underground.

Will Steve, Matt, and Jenny be able to solve the mystery of the missing statue of the Egyptian god. We seem to learn a few new words and their Spanish translations. We also learn about monks a bit as well. What way to entertain and enjoy the story and learn at the same time.