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The Bloody Inn
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France 1831: In a remote corner of Ardèche, the little village of Peyrebeille sees numerous...
Clair (5 KP) rated My Sister's Bones in Books
Sep 29, 2017
Thank you to Penguin UK as part of an Instagram promotion of this book.
Kate Rafter is a journalist who works in some of worst places in the world, seeing some of the world's worst atrocities. She returns home on the death of her mother. Her sister Sally has never left Herne Bay and is an alcoholic, who hates Kate. The book is split between the main events of the story and scenes in a police station where Kate is being assessed on her mental health. We know that Kate keeps hearing and seeing a young boy in the family garden - but her experiences in Syria which have left her traumatised means that no one believes her.
Marketed as a rival to The Girl on the Train (I wish they wouldn't do that), I enjoyed this book and would ideally have given it 3.5 stars.
Negatives first...I didn't think it was that well written, there were plot holes that annoyed me and I found the characters one dimensional.
BUT the story was fast moving and intriguing and then there is a major twist which I didn't see coming which made me gasp.
Kate Rafter is a journalist who works in some of worst places in the world, seeing some of the world's worst atrocities. She returns home on the death of her mother. Her sister Sally has never left Herne Bay and is an alcoholic, who hates Kate. The book is split between the main events of the story and scenes in a police station where Kate is being assessed on her mental health. We know that Kate keeps hearing and seeing a young boy in the family garden - but her experiences in Syria which have left her traumatised means that no one believes her.
Marketed as a rival to The Girl on the Train (I wish they wouldn't do that), I enjoyed this book and would ideally have given it 3.5 stars.
Negatives first...I didn't think it was that well written, there were plot holes that annoyed me and I found the characters one dimensional.
BUT the story was fast moving and intriguing and then there is a major twist which I didn't see coming which made me gasp.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017) in Movies
Nov 12, 2017 (Updated Nov 12, 2017)
Tremendous and hugely tragic
David France’s finely wrought documentary seeks justice for a pivotal figure in queer history from the beginning of Stonewall, whose death was said to have never been investigated properly.
Marsha P. Johnson was many things: outspoken LGBT activist, downtown superstar, model muse to Andy Warhol. In 1992, her body was found in the Hudson River, with police classifying her death as a suicide. The documentary is almost a resurrection of this transgender icon, but also a vivid portrayal of the immense suffering the community has faced over decades, even until this day.
The movie methodically explores who might have had cause to kill her - the local mafia, who were heavily involved in then-still-underground gay bar scene? A violent john or a passing group of straight men bent on hate crime? One of the most important characters in this film alongside Johnson was Sylvia Riviera, and her own tragic life just reflects the dire situation people are left to deal with.
Death is what leads the title and drives the movie. But it's her life - vibrant, pioneering, and much too short - that gives Marsha her flamboyant, beautiful heart. A truly moving portrayal.
Marsha P. Johnson was many things: outspoken LGBT activist, downtown superstar, model muse to Andy Warhol. In 1992, her body was found in the Hudson River, with police classifying her death as a suicide. The documentary is almost a resurrection of this transgender icon, but also a vivid portrayal of the immense suffering the community has faced over decades, even until this day.
The movie methodically explores who might have had cause to kill her - the local mafia, who were heavily involved in then-still-underground gay bar scene? A violent john or a passing group of straight men bent on hate crime? One of the most important characters in this film alongside Johnson was Sylvia Riviera, and her own tragic life just reflects the dire situation people are left to deal with.
Death is what leads the title and drives the movie. But it's her life - vibrant, pioneering, and much too short - that gives Marsha her flamboyant, beautiful heart. A truly moving portrayal.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Liar, Liar in Books
May 10, 2018
There are three buildings on fire in Southampton. A home and two businesses. The next night, the same thing happens again. There is no connection between any of these fires, so who is setting them and why? DI Helen Grace and her team have their work cut out for them. Not only are home and businesses being lost, but lives are too. Are the people being killed the target, or just a casualty of the fire? We have to find the culprit soon before the whole city is up in flames.
For me, this book wasn't as good as the previous books in this series have been.
In this book, Helen has a new boss, she has a new dominator, and her career is going well. With all these changes, it's difficult to see how things could go wrong now. But as these cases do, the clues lead to the wrong person initially and more fires happen while the police try to find out who could be doing these terrible things.
You will be surprised at the end at who the suspect or suspects are.
For me, this book wasn't as good as the previous books in this series have been.
In this book, Helen has a new boss, she has a new dominator, and her career is going well. With all these changes, it's difficult to see how things could go wrong now. But as these cases do, the clues lead to the wrong person initially and more fires happen while the police try to find out who could be doing these terrible things.
You will be surprised at the end at who the suspect or suspects are.
Jessica Cashen (1 KP) rated Tarnished in Books
May 16, 2018
Fantastic read. Well written, with a great plot and characters. It is a bit slow going at first, then a lot of action starts happening and you can't put it down. I was engrossed from start to finish. Tarnished starts were Pefected left off. Ella spends about one week in a Canadian safe house before watching Penn’s suffering on the news and cannot just sit by. Ella plans an escape and the last person she ever expected help from shows up as Ella is escaping. Thank goodness for her unlikely companion (Missy) she helps Ella navigate the darker black market where pets can be bought, sold, or paid very little for jobs. The more Ella discovers about the inhumane conditions these human pets are made to live in, and mutilated, dead bodies of pets are turning up. Which is kept quiet by bribed police departments, the more determined Ella becomes to do something about it.
Don’t miss the trilogy’s conclusion, ‘Unraveled’ available on April 3rd! I know i can't wait to read it! I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley.
Don’t miss the trilogy’s conclusion, ‘Unraveled’ available on April 3rd! I know i can't wait to read it! I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Touch in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Detective Inspector Charlotte Savage is investigating rape cases where the women were drugged and then dumped. When one of those victims, a student, who was supposed to be headed back home, is found dead, the case starts to change. When a second body turns up much like the first, DI Savage is none too happy. Now another girl has been reported as missing. Can Savage find her before it's too late.
I read Touch because the author was doing a Q&A with our group here A Good Thriller. I usually enjoy these types of books, but there was something about this book that just made it not as good as I was expecting. I enjoyed the story line, but there were a lot of characters and that detracted from the story. I think I counted at least eight different detectives or police officers involved, not to mention crime scene investigators and coroners. Then there were the different suspects in the case and the person who did the crime. He gave each of his victims another name. So it was all a little confusing.
I read Touch because the author was doing a Q&A with our group here A Good Thriller. I usually enjoy these types of books, but there was something about this book that just made it not as good as I was expecting. I enjoyed the story line, but there were a lot of characters and that detracted from the story. I think I counted at least eight different detectives or police officers involved, not to mention crime scene investigators and coroners. Then there were the different suspects in the case and the person who did the crime. He gave each of his victims another name. So it was all a little confusing.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Envy in Books
May 22, 2019
She wants your life and shell do anything to get it
Erica has always wanted to be exactly like her neighbour, Faye: beautiful, thin, and a mother. But Fayes life isnt as perfect as it seems she has a terrible secret, and slowly but surely, it is threatening to destroy her and everything she holds dear.
When Fayes daughter Tamsin goes missing after school, the police turn to Erica. But is Erica the only one who has been enviously watching Faye? Or is there another threat hiding in the shadows ?
Well this is a right tale of stalking,obsession, fury, longing and ENVY!
This story is very well written and flows easily.
The novel is broken down into several small chapters which makes this an easy fast read.
I really enjoyed the evolution of the characters throughout the book.
Be warned the story is told from 4 different POVs' which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I thought this was as an amazing thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed reading and can wholeheartedly recommend.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Erica has always wanted to be exactly like her neighbour, Faye: beautiful, thin, and a mother. But Fayes life isnt as perfect as it seems she has a terrible secret, and slowly but surely, it is threatening to destroy her and everything she holds dear.
When Fayes daughter Tamsin goes missing after school, the police turn to Erica. But is Erica the only one who has been enviously watching Faye? Or is there another threat hiding in the shadows ?
Well this is a right tale of stalking,obsession, fury, longing and ENVY!
This story is very well written and flows easily.
The novel is broken down into several small chapters which makes this an easy fast read.
I really enjoyed the evolution of the characters throughout the book.
Be warned the story is told from 4 different POVs' which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I thought this was as an amazing thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed reading and can wholeheartedly recommend.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated The Hangover (2009) in Movies
Jan 19, 2018 (Updated Jan 19, 2018)
Wolf Pack
Four guys embark to Las Vegas for their friends bachelor party. The four friends could not be better opposites of each other. Doug the groom is the normal one, Alan the brother in-law is kind of mentally unbalanced, Phil who is a good friend is the wild one and Stu the other friend is the safe and cautious one. Well one thing leads to another and we see them wake up all deranged and Doug is missing. They have to retrace their steps in trying to find them which leads them into crazy findings such as a baby, a stolen police car, a tiger, "iron" Mike Tyson, A kidnapped Chinese man and a marriage. Do they find Doug or don't they.
For what it was it was the the hardest I have laughed in a theater ever at that time. I don't think there was a moment where my gut did not hurt. If you watch make sure you watch the credits how ever we do see one of the cast getting a hummer which i could have done with out.
For what it was it was the the hardest I have laughed in a theater ever at that time. I don't think there was a moment where my gut did not hurt. If you watch make sure you watch the credits how ever we do see one of the cast getting a hummer which i could have done with out.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2173 KP) rated Blown Away in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Emmy Adler is living her dream, opening a kite shop called Strings Attached in Rock Point, Oregon, and living with her best friend Avery right on the beach. However, the morning her shop is due to open, Emmy discovers a dead body, that of Avery’s ex on the beach. With the police certain that Avery is the killer and the evidence mounting against her, Emmy jumps in to find the real killer. Can she do it?
I fell in love with the setting in the first chapter even with the discovery of the dead body by the end of it. The pace was off a couple of times, but everything did come together for the climax, and we got some good twists along the way. Emmy seemed to get angry easily, sometimes I understood and sometimes it seemed over the top. The other characters were a varied bunch and I enjoyed them. Overall, this was a good debut, and I look forward to visiting again soon.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-blown-away-by-clover-tate.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I fell in love with the setting in the first chapter even with the discovery of the dead body by the end of it. The pace was off a couple of times, but everything did come together for the climax, and we got some good twists along the way. Emmy seemed to get angry easily, sometimes I understood and sometimes it seemed over the top. The other characters were a varied bunch and I enjoyed them. Overall, this was a good debut, and I look forward to visiting again soon.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-blown-away-by-clover-tate.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2173 KP) rated Death of a Toy Soldier (Vintage Toyshop Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Liz McCall is helping her father run Well Played, a vintage toy shop. One day, a man walks in with a box of toys he wants appraised. However, a couple of days later, the man is dead in their shop, killed by a lawn dart, and the box of toys is missing. Liz’s father is a retired police man, and he begins to investigate the case unofficially with Liz helping him. Will they be able to figure out what happened?
Toys and nostalgia as a setting for a new cozy series? Sign me up! And I was as delighted with his debut as I thought I would be. The mystery is strong with some nice red herrings before we reach an ending that wraps everything up. The characters are strong and so much fun. If the store were real, I’d love to hang out for vintage board game night, but as it is, I’ll gladly return for the sequel.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-death-of-toy-soldier-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Toys and nostalgia as a setting for a new cozy series? Sign me up! And I was as delighted with his debut as I thought I would be. The mystery is strong with some nice red herrings before we reach an ending that wraps everything up. The characters are strong and so much fun. If the store were real, I’d love to hang out for vintage board game night, but as it is, I’ll gladly return for the sequel.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-death-of-toy-soldier-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.