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Merissa (11958 KP) rated Divorce is Murder (Toby Wong Mystery #1) in Books
Nov 5, 2019
Divorce is Murder is the first book in the Toby Wong series, and it introduces us to a female, family-lawyer whose client is a blast from the past. Toby had a major crush on Josh Barton when they were young, but bullies made sure it next happened. Now, nineteen years later, she's back where it all began.
I would class this more as mystery than romantic suspense as Toby isn't sure who she wants, although I'm not very clear on why! There is a police officer who is interested in her, he is not a liar and plays no games, but she seems more interested in a crush from nearly twenty years ago who has constantly lied to her. Hmm, I guess you can see who is my favourite, but I'm guessing this is a storyline for further into the series.
There is a great cast of characters - from a psychic, whimsy-loving mom, to the bullies from Toby's childhood. Some of the mystery was obvious (to me) and some of it, not. I thoroughly enjoyed the build up and the climax to this story.
With no errors that disrupted my reading, this was an enjoyable read from beginning to end, and I have no hesitation in recommending it for all fans of cosy murder-mysteries.
* 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!
I would class this more as mystery than romantic suspense as Toby isn't sure who she wants, although I'm not very clear on why! There is a police officer who is interested in her, he is not a liar and plays no games, but she seems more interested in a crush from nearly twenty years ago who has constantly lied to her. Hmm, I guess you can see who is my favourite, but I'm guessing this is a storyline for further into the series.
There is a great cast of characters - from a psychic, whimsy-loving mom, to the bullies from Toby's childhood. Some of the mystery was obvious (to me) and some of it, not. I thoroughly enjoyed the build up and the climax to this story.
With no errors that disrupted my reading, this was an enjoyable read from beginning to end, and I have no hesitation in recommending it for all fans of cosy murder-mysteries.
* 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!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Private: No. 1 Suspect: (Private 4) in Books
Jan 20, 2020
So good!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Unsolvable cases
Since former Marine Jack Morgan started Private, it has become the world's most effective investigation firm--sought out by the famous and the powerful to discreetly handle their most intimate problems. Private's investigators are the smartest, the fastest, and the most technologically advanced in the world--and they always uncover the truth.
Impossible murders
When his former lover is found murdered in Jack Morgan's bed, he is instantly the number one suspect. While Jack is under police investigation, the mob strong-arms him into recovering $30 million in stolen pharmaceuticals for them. And the beautiful manager of a luxury hotel chain persuades him to quietly investigate a string of murders at her properties.
The #1 suspect is Jack Morgan
While Jack is fighting for his life, one of his most trusted colleagues threatens to leave Private, and Jack realizes he is confronting the cleverest and most powerful enemies ever. With more action, more intrigue, and more twists than ever before, PRIVATE #1 SUSPECT is James Patterson at his unstoppable best.
My view
Oh that was so much better than the last one. Back in the states with Jack on a murder charge, the mob pulling in favours and a movie star in trouble. It was well written and flowed brilliantly. I do like this series. Jack needs to sort that brother of his out for good soon having Colleen killed was one step to far! I have a strong dislike for Tommy!
Recommended
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Since former Marine Jack Morgan started Private, it has become the world's most effective investigation firm--sought out by the famous and the powerful to discreetly handle their most intimate problems. Private's investigators are the smartest, the fastest, and the most technologically advanced in the world--and they always uncover the truth.
Impossible murders
When his former lover is found murdered in Jack Morgan's bed, he is instantly the number one suspect. While Jack is under police investigation, the mob strong-arms him into recovering $30 million in stolen pharmaceuticals for them. And the beautiful manager of a luxury hotel chain persuades him to quietly investigate a string of murders at her properties.
The #1 suspect is Jack Morgan
While Jack is fighting for his life, one of his most trusted colleagues threatens to leave Private, and Jack realizes he is confronting the cleverest and most powerful enemies ever. With more action, more intrigue, and more twists than ever before, PRIVATE #1 SUSPECT is James Patterson at his unstoppable best.
My view
Oh that was so much better than the last one. Back in the states with Jack on a murder charge, the mob pulling in favours and a movie star in trouble. It was well written and flowed brilliantly. I do like this series. Jack needs to sort that brother of his out for good soon having Colleen killed was one step to far! I have a strong dislike for Tommy!
Recommended
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Careless Whiskers in Books
Jan 22, 2020
Murder Takes the Stage
This spring, Athena College’s theater department is debuting a new play from a local playwright. Charlie Harris is looking forward to it since his daughter, Laura, is going to star in it, and her husband, Frank, is the director. While most of the cast and crew are college students, the college is bringing in a big name for Laura’s co-lead – Luke Lombardi. Unfortunately, he is arrogant, rude, and demanding. And those are his good qualities. Soon he is irritating many people in town. He is also the victim of some pranks, but when things turn deadly, Laura finds herself in the spotlight as a suspect. Charlie has sworn off sleuthing after a recent close call, but with Laura’s reputation and freedom on the line, he and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, begin searching for the real killer. Will they be able to clear Laura?
Fans are in for another great ride with this book. As if often the case, the murder takes place later in the book, but the time it put to good use introducing us to suspects, motives, and red herrings. I was never bored, and kept turning pages until Charlie figured everything out. All the characters we love are here, both two legged and four legged, and they are a delight as usual. The suspects are strong as well. I continue to enjoy watching how the police are portrayed in this series as smart and competent. This book will please Charlie and Diesel’s many fans and even earn them new ones.
Fans are in for another great ride with this book. As if often the case, the murder takes place later in the book, but the time it put to good use introducing us to suspects, motives, and red herrings. I was never bored, and kept turning pages until Charlie figured everything out. All the characters we love are here, both two legged and four legged, and they are a delight as usual. The suspects are strong as well. I continue to enjoy watching how the police are portrayed in this series as smart and competent. This book will please Charlie and Diesel’s many fans and even earn them new ones.
No
398. Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. A two hour long pitch meeting for a future Birds of Prey movie. Harley Quinn is probably the worst part about this movie, the character is super annoying. Right away you know you're in trouble, there is an animated beginning to tell how The Joker and her break up, then the movie begins and retells the tale of her breaking up with the Joker for another good portion of the movie. And because she's single, all the people she dicked over can now kill her. Gotham must be the training ground for the Galactic Empire's stormtroopers and bounty hunters, none can get the job done. To stay alive she agrees to help the crime boss Roman Sionis retrieve a diamond that was lost when it was pickpocketed on the street by a teen girl. Roman was a cool over the top character, but because the movie was so flat, his performance is muted. It depends on a lot of flashbacks, flash-sideways to fit all the other Birds of Prey characters. And the bean-bag assault on the police station was a cop out. Harley says a big FU to society, but even with the R-rating, that was definitely a PG13 sequence, reminiscent of the old 1960's Batman. Thanks for the blue lives matter public service announcement. Should have definitely included Phoenix's Joker in there, he probably would have shot her. Rosie Perez's Renee Montoya of course would have blown his head off afterwards, because she's awesome! Filmbufftim on FB
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated The Subject of Malice in Books
Jul 29, 2019
A Study in Malice
English professor Lila Maclean is attending an academic conference she has helped organize near her university in Colorado, and she is looking forward to presenting a paper, attending panels, and rubbing elbows with the publisher that has accepted her book. The downside is that her rival, Simone, and Simone’s twin sister, Selene, are also attending the conference and trying to make life miserable for her. The conference organizers have some surprises up their sleeves, but the dead body after the opening night dinner wasn’t one of them. Did someone’s academic rivalry boil over to murder?
In this book, Lila is approached by her boyfriend, police detective Lex Archer, about helping investigate because she knows the players and the motives. That stretched credibility a bit for me, but I was having so much fun I didn’t let it bother me too much. There is plenty of malice at the conference, not all of it connected to the murder, and that was enough to keep me turning the pages as quickly as possible until I reached the satisfying climax. Lila is once again a great main character who faces a couple of twists in her personal life in this book. We don’t see all of the supporting cast, but the ones we do see are great as usual, and the suspects are strong as well. The setting of the conference, an old movie studio turned into a resort, added a layer of fun to things as well. All told, I give this book a grade of A+.
In this book, Lila is approached by her boyfriend, police detective Lex Archer, about helping investigate because she knows the players and the motives. That stretched credibility a bit for me, but I was having so much fun I didn’t let it bother me too much. There is plenty of malice at the conference, not all of it connected to the murder, and that was enough to keep me turning the pages as quickly as possible until I reached the satisfying climax. Lila is once again a great main character who faces a couple of twists in her personal life in this book. We don’t see all of the supporting cast, but the ones we do see are great as usual, and the suspects are strong as well. The setting of the conference, an old movie studio turned into a resort, added a layer of fun to things as well. All told, I give this book a grade of A+.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Crypt Suzette in Books
Feb 25, 2020
Halloween Hit and Run
Val Deniston’s granddad has taken on another boarder, a young woman named Suzette Cripps. Suzette spends most of her time in her room, but she is planning to participate in the literary themed costume contest to celebrate the town’s new bookstore. The morning after the contest, Suzette is dead, killed by a hit and run driver. The police are investigating, but they think it was an accident. Val can’t help but think it was more than that. Is she right?
The mystery starts out quickly, and it is easy for us to share Val’s suspicion that this wasn’t an accident. There are plenty of suspects, and I felt like it took a little while for me to keep them all straight. This is a minor complaint, however, as they did get developed as the book went along. I’m in awe at how the clues were sprinkled into the book, and as Val used them to piece things together at the end, I felt foolish for not picking up on them myself. The book is set at Halloween, and the fall atmosphere is a lot of fun. We get a creepy Halloween inspired scene near the end as well. Val’s granddad is a hoot, and I really enjoyed his sub-plot involving ghost hunting. There are five more five-ingredient recipes at the end of the book. While it would be fun to read this book at Halloween, it works well at any season of the year. I enjoyed it in February, after all.
The mystery starts out quickly, and it is easy for us to share Val’s suspicion that this wasn’t an accident. There are plenty of suspects, and I felt like it took a little while for me to keep them all straight. This is a minor complaint, however, as they did get developed as the book went along. I’m in awe at how the clues were sprinkled into the book, and as Val used them to piece things together at the end, I felt foolish for not picking up on them myself. The book is set at Halloween, and the fall atmosphere is a lot of fun. We get a creepy Halloween inspired scene near the end as well. Val’s granddad is a hoot, and I really enjoyed his sub-plot involving ghost hunting. There are five more five-ingredient recipes at the end of the book. While it would be fun to read this book at Halloween, it works well at any season of the year. I enjoyed it in February, after all.
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