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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Cozy Up to Blood in Books
Oct 29, 2021
Hiding Out on an Island with…Vampires?
Murray Lee has wandered onto the island of Belfry off the coast of Oregon just as the rains wash away the bridge connecting it to the mainland. He’s just in time for the annual festival dedicated to the movies in the Evenfall series, a popular vampire themed series of books and movies which were filmed on the island. This means there are plenty of outsiders posing as vampires around town. Someone is taking advantage of the crowds by attacking some of the locals, stealing from them, and biting their necks. The local police think that Murray is a good suspect since he is new to town but obviously not part of the Evenfall crowd. But Murray doesn’t want the police looking into him or his past. He has a secret. And it might have something to do with the motorcycle gang sitting on the other side of the bridge waiting for the water to recede. Can he clear his name without revealing his past? Will he even get off the island alive?
There is a part of me that enjoyed the book despite the flaws. I do enjoy Murray’s character, and I want to see him succeed and be happy. The Evenfall books and movies, clearly a spoof on Twilight, were always funny when they were the focus of the story. And yet, the mystery of the book was weak, almost more a sub-plot in the middle of everything else. I’ve always struggled a bit with the overall premise of the series, but this time, it was extremely unbelievable. I am still hoping we get another book, especially since the ending set up another adventure. If you are interested in the series, I suggest you wait until you can get them cheaply.
There is a part of me that enjoyed the book despite the flaws. I do enjoy Murray’s character, and I want to see him succeed and be happy. The Evenfall books and movies, clearly a spoof on Twilight, were always funny when they were the focus of the story. And yet, the mystery of the book was weak, almost more a sub-plot in the middle of everything else. I’ve always struggled a bit with the overall premise of the series, but this time, it was extremely unbelievable. I am still hoping we get another book, especially since the ending set up another adventure. If you are interested in the series, I suggest you wait until you can get them cheaply.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated The Self-Working Trick (and Other Stories) in Books
Feb 2, 2022
Eli Faces Crime in This Short Story Collection
For the eighth book in the Eli Marks series, author John Gaspard decided to present a short story collection. While two have been previously released, the rest of the twelve stories here are new. Over the course of this collection, Eli must help his ex-wife and her new husband figure out what happened in a bizarre murder/suicide case. Eli finds himself being questioned by the police when someone who gave him a one-star review is found dead. Eli finds himself being sent in by the police to perform magic for a man who refuses to come out of his house. And Eli and his uncle Harry figure out what happened to a man shot in front of a crowd on Halloween night.
While a couple of the stories don’t feature a crime, they still give us a great chance to see Eli in action and let us get some insight into his character. The rest of the stories feature a crime, often with a perfect puzzle that only makes sense when Eli uses his knowledge of the principles of magic to solve it. If you want to be fooled by magic, you’ll be happy to know that these principles are discussed in such a way that the solution to the mystery makes sense, but the specifics of how a trick works aren’t ruined. I love that. Fans will love getting these small glimpses of what else Eli has been up to between the big cases we’ve already read about. If you are new to the character, you’ll find the information you need to follow these cases with nothing from the regular novels spoiled. Most importantly, these stories are fun, with a few laughs along the way as well. This is a completely enjoyable short story collection.
While a couple of the stories don’t feature a crime, they still give us a great chance to see Eli in action and let us get some insight into his character. The rest of the stories feature a crime, often with a perfect puzzle that only makes sense when Eli uses his knowledge of the principles of magic to solve it. If you want to be fooled by magic, you’ll be happy to know that these principles are discussed in such a way that the solution to the mystery makes sense, but the specifics of how a trick works aren’t ruined. I love that. Fans will love getting these small glimpses of what else Eli has been up to between the big cases we’ve already read about. If you are new to the character, you’ll find the information you need to follow these cases with nothing from the regular novels spoiled. Most importantly, these stories are fun, with a few laughs along the way as well. This is a completely enjoyable short story collection.
Murder by the Seashore
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Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Ellery Adams, Scarlett Gardner’s dream was to open a...
ClareR (5879 KP) rated Hard By A Great Forest in Books
Mar 10, 2024
I turned the last page of Hard by a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili, and felt like my heart had been well and truly put through the wringer. This is going to be one of those books - you know the ones: this book has broken my heart and destroyed me - here! You MUST read it!
Saba, his brother and father escaped the conflict in post-Communist Georgia when he was a child, leaving behind their mother because they couldn’t afford the bribes. Saba’s father never recovers from having to leave her behind, and when things in Georgia start to settle down more, he returns there. However he goes missing, Saba’s brother goes to look for him and he goes missing too. So Saba goes to look for them both.
Saba’s head is full of the voices of his past, people who are no longer living and stories that his mother used to tell him. His brother leaves Saba a paper trail of clues, including the play that their father wrote, and parts of fairy stories and Shakespeare quotations from their childhood.
This is an emotional novel. There’s the constant feeling of being watched, danger is around every corner. The police are corrupt, and you don’t know if friends are really friends or working for the police.
Saba’s journey is both cathartic and dangerous. It takes him and his friend into the danger zone through a military blockade. It was so tense. Throughout, Saba has to deal with the trauma of his childhood and it’s impact on his adult life. He may have survived the war, but will he survive the trauma and the quest to find his father?
I loved this. I was rooting for Saba throughout, and I feel that I learnt a lot about what has happened in Georgia (considering I knew nothing beforehand). It’s wonderful book.
Saba, his brother and father escaped the conflict in post-Communist Georgia when he was a child, leaving behind their mother because they couldn’t afford the bribes. Saba’s father never recovers from having to leave her behind, and when things in Georgia start to settle down more, he returns there. However he goes missing, Saba’s brother goes to look for him and he goes missing too. So Saba goes to look for them both.
Saba’s head is full of the voices of his past, people who are no longer living and stories that his mother used to tell him. His brother leaves Saba a paper trail of clues, including the play that their father wrote, and parts of fairy stories and Shakespeare quotations from their childhood.
This is an emotional novel. There’s the constant feeling of being watched, danger is around every corner. The police are corrupt, and you don’t know if friends are really friends or working for the police.
Saba’s journey is both cathartic and dangerous. It takes him and his friend into the danger zone through a military blockade. It was so tense. Throughout, Saba has to deal with the trauma of his childhood and it’s impact on his adult life. He may have survived the war, but will he survive the trauma and the quest to find his father?
I loved this. I was rooting for Saba throughout, and I feel that I learnt a lot about what has happened in Georgia (considering I knew nothing beforehand). It’s wonderful book.
Jessica Del Fino (15 KP) rated OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks in Apps
Jan 3, 2018
Puts your local library at your fingertips, literally. Use your phone to borrow books. (2 more)
You have a choice of formats for most books: Kindle, Ebooks, even Audio
No trekking through the snow, rain, heat to return overdue library books
I absolutely love this app, and use it almost daily! My favorite thing about it is that you can use it to read on your phone if you choose, i.e. if a book isn't available in Kindle format. I'm no longer afraid of the Library Police either, because the books are returned on their own on the date they are due! With my library and Overdrive, you can choose your lending period, 7, 14 or 21 days. You can put books on hold, create a wishlist, and view your reading history. Overdrive is a must for readers like me!
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Kill Me Again in Books
Jul 28, 2017
Hated the protagonist, but relatively good plot
Right up to the last five minutes I hated the main female character to the point of wanting to stop listening as it seemed she was weak enough to become an accomplice to hideous crimes. However, it was salvaged to a certain degree with the ultimate act.
The character of Frank was completely predictable, and I had assumed he was such relatively early in the story. The other killer/s seemed slightly waffley in the story - but it makes sense why they had little importance or explanation until the end. I found the idea that the police never checked anyone's computers for information not believable at all. Overall, while I thought the plot was dramatic, I spent too much time feeling irritated by idiotic nature of the female character.
The character of Frank was completely predictable, and I had assumed he was such relatively early in the story. The other killer/s seemed slightly waffley in the story - but it makes sense why they had little importance or explanation until the end. I found the idea that the police never checked anyone's computers for information not believable at all. Overall, while I thought the plot was dramatic, I spent too much time feeling irritated by idiotic nature of the female character.
SummerLGrant (185 KP) rated The Hate u Give in Books
Aug 20, 2017
The writing (3 more)
The sincerity
The understanding
Everything
Powerful, truthful, emotional
I've just finished it and mulling it around my head. The fact that the reactions and the outcome of the story wasn't surprising and is a reflection of what goes on today is awful and heart-rending but Angie Thomas is using her weapon, her voice, to make sure it gets heard.
Starr is an absolutely beautiful character with a beautiful family and is put in an ugly situation when she witnesses her best friend shot and murdered by a police officer. He was unarmed, unaggressive and terrified of what the officer eventually does do.
An astoundingly well written debut novel that explores a lot of important topics offset by the support and love of family. It's relevant today and will be for a very long time.
Starr is an absolutely beautiful character with a beautiful family and is put in an ugly situation when she witnesses her best friend shot and murdered by a police officer. He was unarmed, unaggressive and terrified of what the officer eventually does do.
An astoundingly well written debut novel that explores a lot of important topics offset by the support and love of family. It's relevant today and will be for a very long time.
Deano Arnott (28 KP) rated Peaky Blinders in TV
Jan 29, 2018
Fantastic cast (1 more)
Great story
Netflix continues to rule...
Your television set has been taken over by order of the Peeky F****** Blinders. Birmingham 1919 and this family want to rule the world. When ambitious head of the family, Thomas Shelby, returns home from the war, he wants the world to know that he intends to take charge. Wanting to get the family business into a legitimate bookmaking empire, Thomas finds himself locking horns with gangs up and down the country, all the time being pursued by a straighter than thou police officer who enforces the law with an iron fist. Clashing gang wars, street fights and some very colourful characters, this show is set for superstardom as it continues to keep audiences captivated with brute force and a strong political presence. Great show and keeps getting better.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir in Books
Feb 5, 2018
A human experience in the BLM movement
There has recently been an upswing of works relating to racism in the US, so it was only a matter of time that one of the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement spoke about this issue.
Patrisse Khan-Cullors is eloquent, and her experiences are truly harrowing. From watching her 12 year old brother being assaulted and harrassed by police officers, growing up in poverty, to being an adult and watching another brother being locked up for being mentally disabled. It is really quite horrifying to see the spectrum of violence that black bodies still endure even post-Jim Crow laws. Cullors will argue that this is but an extension of those days.
It is a timely piece, and one of the better writings on the topic, mixing activism and academia with her own memoir.
Patrisse Khan-Cullors is eloquent, and her experiences are truly harrowing. From watching her 12 year old brother being assaulted and harrassed by police officers, growing up in poverty, to being an adult and watching another brother being locked up for being mentally disabled. It is really quite horrifying to see the spectrum of violence that black bodies still endure even post-Jim Crow laws. Cullors will argue that this is but an extension of those days.
It is a timely piece, and one of the better writings on the topic, mixing activism and academia with her own memoir.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Musseled Out (A Maine Clambake Mystery, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
With fall in the air, Julia must make decisions about her future with the family clambake. Will she stay or return to her job in New York City? That gets put on the back burner when the body of a potential competitor is found on an abandoned boat and the police begin to question her brother-in-law, who is clearly hiding something.
The book started off strong and never slowed down. There are plenty of secrets, clues, and twists along the way to a fantastic ending. The characters were strong and that made me care about the solution to the mystery that much more.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-musseled-out-by-barbara.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book started off strong and never slowed down. There are plenty of secrets, clues, and twists along the way to a fantastic ending. The characters were strong and that made me care about the solution to the mystery that much more.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-musseled-out-by-barbara.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.