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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated Murder on Wall Street in Books

Feb 18, 2023 (Updated Feb 18, 2023)

High Finance Murder

Frank Malloy might not normally take on the case of investment banker Hayden Norcross, but when a friend hires him to look into it, Frank can hardly refuse. Hayden was shot in his office after hours, and the list of possible suspects in long. Enlisting the help of his wife, Sarah, and her parents, Frank must navigate society and the world of finance to figure out what happened. Working together, can they do it?

This book is a perfect example of why I love this series so much. All the regulars and supporting players are here and in top form. There were a couple of moments that were absolutely special for those who really know the characters. The plot was complex and kept me guessing right up to the page turning and fun ending. While the book does take on some serious subjects, it balances those with humor, mainly the interactions of the regular characters. The time period also comes to wonderful life. If you are a fan who hasn’t read this book yet, you will be in for a treat.

Kudos

Improper Mage

Taylor Westwood

10.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Liana Monroe considered herself the most talented mage in all of Triaedian. Too bad no one else did....

Paranormal Romance

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated Christmas Past in Books

Dec 15, 2022 (Updated Dec 15, 2022)

Christmas Past

Brian Earl | 2022 | History & Politics

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

A Look at Christmas Traditions Past and Present

Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Christmas the way we do? If so, this book is for you. It takes a look at four categories: food, entertainment, sights and sounds, and society. Each category gets several chapters that focus on specific things like mince pies or candy canes, Rudolph, lights, and Christmas cards. We get a look at the origins, the rise, and sometimes the fall, of these old traditions.

This book is purely looking at the secular, pop culture celebration of Christmas, although the religious aspect does pop up occasionally, most noticeably in the chapter on “Silent Night.” A couple of chapters seem a bit vague, and the writing can be dry at times, but those are minor complaints. On the whole, this was a fascinating look at where our traditions came from, both those we still use today and those that have faded over time. I am not familiar with the author’s pod cast, but my understanding is much of this material first appeared there. As a Christmas lover, I enjoyed learning more about the holiday. If that’s you, you’ll enjoy this book as well.

Kudos

The Phantom Glare of Day: Three Novellas

M. Laszlo

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

In this trio of novellas, three game young ladies enter into dangerous liaisons that test each...

Historical Metaphysical Fiction Coming of Age

The Garden Gnome (Theory of Magic #1)

Jeff McIntyre

8.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Where did magic go? Our world is defined by science, but history tells us that the world was once...

Contemporary Fantasy

David McK (3587 KP) rated The Matrix Resurrections (2021) in Movies

Feb 9, 2022 (Updated Oct 1, 2023)

Unnecessary sequel

Summer of 1999.

Pre Millennium.

Just at the start of our current high-tech always-on society.

And The Matrix was released, becoming hugely influential in the process and popularising the concept of 'bullet time'.

Both the sequels (Reloaded and Revolutions) were released during 'the year of the Matrix' in 2003, doubling down on the philosophical ponderings of the first movie (in particular, during Reloaded, with the whole still-to-this-day confusing Architect scenes), with Revolutions also seemingly leaving the trilogy with nowhere to go.

Until nearly 20 years later, when one of the two Wachowski siblings decided to resurrect both Neo and Trinity in this.

I's very much a film of two halves, with the first half in particular hugely self-referential (lots of nods and winks to the audience, and even clips from the earlier films shown on TV screens within the movie), while the second half settles down more into your standard action fare.

Whilst enjoyable enough, it lacks anything to match the sheer pizzaz of the first movie, or even the Freeway chase/burly brawl/chateau fight from the second or the Neo Vs Smith showdown in the third.