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Hazel (2934 KP) rated All The Rage (DI Adam Fawley #4) in Books
Dec 30, 2019
Highly entertaining
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and ate it up in super quick time. I read Close to Home, book 1 in the series, immediately before this one and I think this enhanced my enjoyment of this story as it gave a bit more meat to the characters but having said that, I think it would work as a standalone.
A young woman is attacked but doesn't want the police involved and then it happens again; both cases bearing a striking resemblance to an old case Fawley was involved in where the perpetrator was imprisoned ... could this be a copy-cat or has an innocent man been in jail for many years?
Once again, we are treated by Ms Hunter with her excellent characters, dark and gritty story line, intrigue and suspense all wrapped up in this fast paced, page-turning thriller with twists and surprises along the way. All this and the use of social media excerpts, court and interview transcripts woven, throughout make this feel current and relevant.
This will not be my last of reading Ms Hunter's books and I highly recommend to those who enjoy police procedural/thrillers with complex story lines which are easy to follow and that are highly entertaining ... can't wait for book 5!
Thank you to Penguin Books (UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
A young woman is attacked but doesn't want the police involved and then it happens again; both cases bearing a striking resemblance to an old case Fawley was involved in where the perpetrator was imprisoned ... could this be a copy-cat or has an innocent man been in jail for many years?
Once again, we are treated by Ms Hunter with her excellent characters, dark and gritty story line, intrigue and suspense all wrapped up in this fast paced, page-turning thriller with twists and surprises along the way. All this and the use of social media excerpts, court and interview transcripts woven, throughout make this feel current and relevant.
This will not be my last of reading Ms Hunter's books and I highly recommend to those who enjoy police procedural/thrillers with complex story lines which are easy to follow and that are highly entertaining ... can't wait for book 5!
Thank you to Penguin Books (UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated 2061: Odyssey Three (Space Odyssey, #3) in Books
Nov 8, 2019
Arthur C. Clarke was always keen on incorporating the latest scientific discoveries into his works, and when a flyby of the most famous comet of them all - Halley's Comet - by the probe Giotto revealed an icy surface ravaged by guysers of gas and liquids as the sun boiled away the water and hydrocarbons, Clarke saw a scenario that could get Dr Heywood Floyd out of retirement.
With the return of Halley's Comet in 2061, a luxury trip is proposed which Floyd's sense of adventure can't resist. However when things don't quite go to plan his resourcefulness comes to the fore - as well as his connection to long-lost astronaut Dave Bowman and computer HAL9000.
As a neat piece of science fiction, leaning heavily on the science, this books works well and it's a compelling read, especially the encounter with the comet, a world so utterly alien Clarke does well to capture it in his descriptions. As a sequal to 2001 and 2010 it works perhaps a little less well as it doesn't have a great deal to do with the future of mankind, as the first books do. The sequence around the comet would have worked with any protagonist, it didn't need to be Floyd, but would have been a shorter work. But it just about fits into the Space Odyssey ouvre and it's always good to meet up with old friends.
With the return of Halley's Comet in 2061, a luxury trip is proposed which Floyd's sense of adventure can't resist. However when things don't quite go to plan his resourcefulness comes to the fore - as well as his connection to long-lost astronaut Dave Bowman and computer HAL9000.
As a neat piece of science fiction, leaning heavily on the science, this books works well and it's a compelling read, especially the encounter with the comet, a world so utterly alien Clarke does well to capture it in his descriptions. As a sequal to 2001 and 2010 it works perhaps a little less well as it doesn't have a great deal to do with the future of mankind, as the first books do. The sequence around the comet would have worked with any protagonist, it didn't need to be Floyd, but would have been a shorter work. But it just about fits into the Space Odyssey ouvre and it's always good to meet up with old friends.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated The Last Dragon in Books
Nov 18, 2019
Fort’s Continued Hunt for His Father
It’s been six months since the attack that took Fort’s father from him, but the recent hope that his father might be alive has given Fort a goal. Rescuing him is all Fort thinks about, and now he has a plan to steal the magic book he needs. But complications come from unexpected places, including a new roommate he is expected to spend all his time helping. Then there are the nightmares where the Old One promises Fort his father back in exchange for the last dragon. Can Fort find the last dragon? Should he make the trade? Or will his original plan work?
For me, it had been six months since I read the first book in this series, so it was nice to see how this book eased us back into Fort’s world without slowing down the action. I was soon caught back up in his story. I do find the tone a little darker than author James Riley’s previous books and I miss the lighter tones those books had. Still, that’s a minor complaint as I raced through this book to find out what happened next. I enjoyed seeing Fort grow and his relationship with his friends change. In fact, I found those relationships something that helped ground the book since they dealt with some stuff realistically. I will definitely be back for more. How can I not come back after the ending of this book?
For me, it had been six months since I read the first book in this series, so it was nice to see how this book eased us back into Fort’s world without slowing down the action. I was soon caught back up in his story. I do find the tone a little darker than author James Riley’s previous books and I miss the lighter tones those books had. Still, that’s a minor complaint as I raced through this book to find out what happened next. I enjoyed seeing Fort grow and his relationship with his friends change. In fact, I found those relationships something that helped ground the book since they dealt with some stuff realistically. I will definitely be back for more. How can I not come back after the ending of this book?
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Wayside School #1) in Books
Mar 23, 2020
When I heard that another book in the Wayside School series was coming out, I had to reread the book that started it all. These books were my childhood! I found out that I still love this series even as an adult.
Each chapter tells a tale about each individual student, and there are three chapter dedicated to each teacher of the class on the thirtieth story of the school. Some of the time, the stories of each child/teacher don't make much sense, but that's the beauty of this book. It leaves you to ponder on what that chapter was about and come to your own conclusions. There are a couple of chapters that teach some good lessons too.
One thing I also loved were the illustrations of each character before their chapter started. They are drawn very well. It was a nice touch, and it made it easier to picture that person in the story. I think it's a great idea for kids who feel like they are too old for picture books, yet they still like some illustrations in their book.
This is such an easy and fun novel to read. It's not very long which is perfect for the intended age group. I believe kids ages 8 - 13 will definitely love these stories the most although it's a fun book for any age.
I would definitely recommend Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar!
Each chapter tells a tale about each individual student, and there are three chapter dedicated to each teacher of the class on the thirtieth story of the school. Some of the time, the stories of each child/teacher don't make much sense, but that's the beauty of this book. It leaves you to ponder on what that chapter was about and come to your own conclusions. There are a couple of chapters that teach some good lessons too.
One thing I also loved were the illustrations of each character before their chapter started. They are drawn very well. It was a nice touch, and it made it easier to picture that person in the story. I think it's a great idea for kids who feel like they are too old for picture books, yet they still like some illustrations in their book.
This is such an easy and fun novel to read. It's not very long which is perfect for the intended age group. I believe kids ages 8 - 13 will definitely love these stories the most although it's a fun book for any age.
I would definitely recommend Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar!
The Patagonian Hare: A Memoir
Adriana Hunter, Frank Wynne and Claude Lanzmann
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Born to a Jewish family in Paris, 1925, Lanzmann's first encounter with radicalism was as part of...
Blackpool Trams & Recollections 1972
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The 69th volume in this growing series taking a nostalgic look at Britain's transport heritage...The...
Climbing and Rambler Roses
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Climbing and Rambler Roses examines both Climbers and Ramblers in detail, outlining the refinement...
The Silence in the Garden
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The Silence in the Garden by William Trevor - a classic early novel by one of the world's greatest...
Tartine Bread
Chad Robertson and Elizabeth Prueitt
8.0
Rate It
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A master formula for basic bread with many variations forms the backbone of the book, which also...
Merissa (13169 KP) rated Tortured With Love The True Crime Romance of the Lonely Hearts Killers in Books
Sep 24, 2020
Tortured with Love is the sad yet horrible story of how a children's nurse gives up everything she has and becomes a killer, all for love.
Ray was married but his wife and children were in Spain. Martha was divorced with two children and felt old. Her life changed when her friend signed her up for a correspondence dating agency and Ray wrote to her. He was already scamming women at this point and Martha was next in line.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Martha Beck was an innocent. No, I think she knew perfectly well what she was doing. It's just her love and infatuation with Ray was too much and she would do anything for him.
I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this book. Written in such a way as to be educational and informative, it was such a gripping story I read it in one sitting. The thing I love about J.T. Hunter's books is he doesn't just go for the 'glory' story. Instead, every book I have read by him has been thoroughly researched, giving the reader more information about whichever subject he is talking about. This one is no different.
A fantastic True Crime read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
* 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!
Ray was married but his wife and children were in Spain. Martha was divorced with two children and felt old. Her life changed when her friend signed her up for a correspondence dating agency and Ray wrote to her. He was already scamming women at this point and Martha was next in line.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Martha Beck was an innocent. No, I think she knew perfectly well what she was doing. It's just her love and infatuation with Ray was too much and she would do anything for him.
I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this book. Written in such a way as to be educational and informative, it was such a gripping story I read it in one sitting. The thing I love about J.T. Hunter's books is he doesn't just go for the 'glory' story. Instead, every book I have read by him has been thoroughly researched, giving the reader more information about whichever subject he is talking about. This one is no different.
A fantastic True Crime read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
* 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!