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Ross (3284 KP) rated Perfect Silence in Books
Oct 9, 2018 (Updated Oct 9, 2018)
Gripping and thrilling detective story
*** Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
This, the fourth DI Luc Callanach book, follows a familiar pattern - two crimes committed early on and parallel investigations into those cause conflict and tension, one being a more typical serial killer hunt, the other a more politically charged investigation.
Over the previous books it feels like Fields has grown bored of her French detective and has put a lot more focus into DCI Ava Turner. This is in no way a bad thing as she feels more real and likeable (less clichéd), but an odd progression for "The DI Callanach" series to have.
The action and cases in this book are quite compelling - young women being kidnapped and their mutilated bodies dumped a week later and a gruesome memento left in the locale of the next victim, with religious overtones; and a spate of drugged homeless people being branded in public places. As usual the killer leaves virtually no trace behind and it is quite some time before the detectives have any idea of who they are looking for.
I still have a few issues with the dialogue in these books, but the plot was solid here, with twists and turns along the way, with a very gripping, proper unputdownable final few chapters.
This, the fourth DI Luc Callanach book, follows a familiar pattern - two crimes committed early on and parallel investigations into those cause conflict and tension, one being a more typical serial killer hunt, the other a more politically charged investigation.
Over the previous books it feels like Fields has grown bored of her French detective and has put a lot more focus into DCI Ava Turner. This is in no way a bad thing as she feels more real and likeable (less clichéd), but an odd progression for "The DI Callanach" series to have.
The action and cases in this book are quite compelling - young women being kidnapped and their mutilated bodies dumped a week later and a gruesome memento left in the locale of the next victim, with religious overtones; and a spate of drugged homeless people being branded in public places. As usual the killer leaves virtually no trace behind and it is quite some time before the detectives have any idea of who they are looking for.
I still have a few issues with the dialogue in these books, but the plot was solid here, with twists and turns along the way, with a very gripping, proper unputdownable final few chapters.
Merissa (13398 KP) rated When Darkness Follows (Beyond the Grave #4) in Books
Oct 16, 2018
When Darkness Follows (Beyond the Grave #4) by Athena Daniels
When Darkness Follows is the fourth book in the Beyond The Grave series, and we reunited with both TSI and Debunking Reality. Rachel has called Debunking Reality because of a murder-mystery that involves her. Unfortunately she can't remember what happened, and wants to find out what happened to her friend, whilst clearing her other friend's name. Once Daniel hears she is involved, nothing will keep him away.
As is typical with Athena Daniels' books, nothing is quite as it seems. There is enough tension and paranormal activities to keep you both turning the pages and also on the edge of your seat. We see more of Pia, with Nate showing up occasionally. However, the focus of this story really is on Daniel and Rachel. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I was left with some unanswered questions.
The writing is superb, and pacing exceptional, and the transition from one scene to the next is flawless. However, for myself, the ending felt a bit rushed. That being said, I would still highly recommend this book. The whole series is outstanding, and so is this story.
* 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!
As is typical with Athena Daniels' books, nothing is quite as it seems. There is enough tension and paranormal activities to keep you both turning the pages and also on the edge of your seat. We see more of Pia, with Nate showing up occasionally. However, the focus of this story really is on Daniel and Rachel. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I was left with some unanswered questions.
The writing is superb, and pacing exceptional, and the transition from one scene to the next is flawless. However, for myself, the ending felt a bit rushed. That being said, I would still highly recommend this book. The whole series is outstanding, and so is this story.
* 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!
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated Halloween (2018) in Movies
Oct 20, 2018 (Updated Oct 20, 2018)
Atmosphere (1 more)
Great Performances
Very formulaic (1 more)
The ending was a little anticlimactic...
Strong Film, curious ending...
This is a very good Halloween movie, with a great atmosphere, some brutal kills, and some great performances.
However, there is very much a familiar feel to the original film, with some shots being used as an homage, but perhaps too often.
This is certainly a 'force unleashed' type of sequel, wearing it's love for the original openly, which isn't especially a bad thing, but the beats of the film do feel familiar and unsurprising.
The tension and atmosphere of the film are great, and most of the film is well paced, and ominous, and probably worthy of an 8 out of 10.
However, the ending largely left me cold.
There is nothing especially wrong with it, it just felt a bit anti-climactic...perhaps the pacing was off, but it felt a beat too soon, and was a bit disappointing.
It's a very good film, and one which I need to rewatch, and maybe I will change my mind about the ending with more viewings, but at the moment it does detract from my overall score.
Generally though this is easily in the top 3 or 4 Halloween movies, and if you are a Myers fan, you will find a lot to love here.
However, there is very much a familiar feel to the original film, with some shots being used as an homage, but perhaps too often.
This is certainly a 'force unleashed' type of sequel, wearing it's love for the original openly, which isn't especially a bad thing, but the beats of the film do feel familiar and unsurprising.
The tension and atmosphere of the film are great, and most of the film is well paced, and ominous, and probably worthy of an 8 out of 10.
However, the ending largely left me cold.
There is nothing especially wrong with it, it just felt a bit anti-climactic...perhaps the pacing was off, but it felt a beat too soon, and was a bit disappointing.
It's a very good film, and one which I need to rewatch, and maybe I will change my mind about the ending with more viewings, but at the moment it does detract from my overall score.
Generally though this is easily in the top 3 or 4 Halloween movies, and if you are a Myers fan, you will find a lot to love here.
Samantha Reece (16 KP) rated A Nerdy Holiday in Books
Nov 20, 2018
Contains spoilers, click to show
For starters, if you love Star Wars, read this! I absolutely loved all the references to one of my favorite things!
A Nerdy Holiday flowed so well from start to finish, and Leila is so relatable! A. She loves food. B. Did I mention Star Wars already? C. She does not fall into the cliche “get married when the guy first says sorry” that seems to be in a lot of romance novels and movies. Quinn is equally loveable! I’m smitten with him! (I’m going to add one more thing about him at the end that is a spoiler so here is warning number one!)
The tension between Quinn and Leila seems very realistic, and I really want to read a novel on Vincent and Amelia!
One more thing, you will laugh out loud! It is quite the fun read, and my husband gave me odd looks as I am laughing and reading. Of course, I explained the initial meeting between Quinn and Leila, and he also laughed! So, get ready for a fun and quirky novella that you must read!
*SPOILER BELOW*
Can we talk about that Darth Vader moment for a minute? I would have lost my anger right there! And can someone please tell me where I can find said Darth Vader costume? My husband desperately needs one!
A Nerdy Holiday flowed so well from start to finish, and Leila is so relatable! A. She loves food. B. Did I mention Star Wars already? C. She does not fall into the cliche “get married when the guy first says sorry” that seems to be in a lot of romance novels and movies. Quinn is equally loveable! I’m smitten with him! (I’m going to add one more thing about him at the end that is a spoiler so here is warning number one!)
The tension between Quinn and Leila seems very realistic, and I really want to read a novel on Vincent and Amelia!
One more thing, you will laugh out loud! It is quite the fun read, and my husband gave me odd looks as I am laughing and reading. Of course, I explained the initial meeting between Quinn and Leila, and he also laughed! So, get ready for a fun and quirky novella that you must read!
*SPOILER BELOW*
Can we talk about that Darth Vader moment for a minute? I would have lost my anger right there! And can someone please tell me where I can find said Darth Vader costume? My husband desperately needs one!
Michael Packner (32 KP) rated The Shining (1980) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
The atmosphere is perfect. (1 more)
Jack Nicholson gives the performance of a lifetime.
Some of the film is confusing and/or hard to follow (2 more)
Shelly Duvall is underwhelming.
The movie is a tad too slow at times, drawing unwanted attention to how long it is.
Ok, this is the second time I've seen this film. The first time I hated it, even though I really wanted to like it. I found it boring and just pointless, minus Nicholson's truly amazing performance. I decided to give it a second chance because it is considered the greatest horror film of all time, and the current polar vortex just felt like the perfect opportunity to get in the mood. I definitely enjoyed it more this time around. It kept my interest throughout this time around, and there actually is quite a bit to love, but alas, I still find this film highly overrated. There are still so many parts that either don't do it for me or just simply don't make any fucking sense. Maybe I'm just missing something obvious. If that's the case, fair enough, but I don't quite entirely get it. Nicholson is still a god in this film and the film is fantastic at building true tension, but the greatest of all time this film simply is not. Sorry.
Merissa (13398 KP) rated Adrian's Bodyguard (Vampires of Vadin #1) in Books
Dec 14, 2018
Adrian's Bodyguard (Vampires of Vadin #1) by Shelby Rhodes
Adrian's Bodyguard is the first book in the Vampires of Vadin series, and we start off with the vampire King himself, nearly 10,000-year-old Adrian. He survives an assassination attempt, and is more concerned about the hole in the wall, than his safety. Others are more concerned though, and he ends up with a bodyguard that he wants, but doesn't want! Xavier does his best to be professional around Adrian, but the tension between them just makes things hotter. Plus the fact, Xavier can't quite control his impulses to wind Adrian up.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mixture of contemporary and other-realm magic. They have cars, not run on fossil fuels, obviously!, and mobile phones, but magic is also an everyday act. The two joining together was great to read, and I loved it. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and I loved the dynamic between our two main characters. So many characters I would love to hear about now, first and foremost Asher and Kaiden!!!
Absolutely recommended by me.
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
* 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 thoroughly enjoyed this mixture of contemporary and other-realm magic. They have cars, not run on fossil fuels, obviously!, and mobile phones, but magic is also an everyday act. The two joining together was great to read, and I loved it. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and I loved the dynamic between our two main characters. So many characters I would love to hear about now, first and foremost Asher and Kaiden!!!
Absolutely recommended by me.
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
* 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!
Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated The Hate u Give in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Everyone needs to read this
Wow, what a stunning and unforgettable read/listen. I have been through a number of emotions with this book and most of those emotions have been extreme. This is a book of intense situations with tension pulling at the seams of the characters and therefore, the reader.
The protagonist, Starr, is as real as characters come, a black girl originally from The Projects, sent to a white, privledged school to try and protect her and her brother somewhat from danger. Her family and friends are more than background characters in this book and their connections are complicated. Starr finds herself in a situation that is heart-rending and there it all begins. The beginning of my tears, the beginning of my anger, the beginning of empathy so overwhelming. The emotional pain that Star experiences is utterly palpable; you cannot but help feel it.
The storytelling was exceptional with the ability to move from the profound to the ordinary and back seamlessly.
I don’t have eloquent words but I can recommend this to all and everyone, whatever genre you might normally read. This is for everyone. My daughter now has a copy, I am shoving it under my husband’s nose.
I listened to this on audio and the narration was superb in every way, bringing emotions to life.
Read it.
The protagonist, Starr, is as real as characters come, a black girl originally from The Projects, sent to a white, privledged school to try and protect her and her brother somewhat from danger. Her family and friends are more than background characters in this book and their connections are complicated. Starr finds herself in a situation that is heart-rending and there it all begins. The beginning of my tears, the beginning of my anger, the beginning of empathy so overwhelming. The emotional pain that Star experiences is utterly palpable; you cannot but help feel it.
The storytelling was exceptional with the ability to move from the profound to the ordinary and back seamlessly.
I don’t have eloquent words but I can recommend this to all and everyone, whatever genre you might normally read. This is for everyone. My daughter now has a copy, I am shoving it under my husband’s nose.
I listened to this on audio and the narration was superb in every way, bringing emotions to life.
Read it.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Home Again (2017) in Movies
Jun 23, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)
Mother of two, Alice Kinney, is turning forty. She's separated from her husband and has just moved back to her father's old home in Los Angeles to start again. While out with her friends for her birthday she bumps into the youthful Harry, and his friends George and Teddy, who've come to LA to pitch their movie.
After an awkward encounter the morning after, Alice's mum convinces her to let the three of them stay in the guest house while they're in town. The three of them become part of family life, helping her with work and the kids. When her ex shows up unexpectedly, Alice is left in a confusing position, and when tension builds between everyone things start to change.
Is this the best rom-com? That's a strong no. Is it a bad film? Also no. It made me chuckle, and it brought a bit of a tear to my eye. It was just a nice film. The conclusion seemed to happen very suddenly, but then I feel that about quite a few films that I see. Personally if I fancied seeing a Reese Witherspoon film then I'd probably pick Sweet Home Alabama, Just Like Heaven, or even Hot Pursuit. I read online that the conclusion was that everyone in this film has done something better, and that is definitely true.
After an awkward encounter the morning after, Alice's mum convinces her to let the three of them stay in the guest house while they're in town. The three of them become part of family life, helping her with work and the kids. When her ex shows up unexpectedly, Alice is left in a confusing position, and when tension builds between everyone things start to change.
Is this the best rom-com? That's a strong no. Is it a bad film? Also no. It made me chuckle, and it brought a bit of a tear to my eye. It was just a nice film. The conclusion seemed to happen very suddenly, but then I feel that about quite a few films that I see. Personally if I fancied seeing a Reese Witherspoon film then I'd probably pick Sweet Home Alabama, Just Like Heaven, or even Hot Pursuit. I read online that the conclusion was that everyone in this film has done something better, and that is definitely true.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Dragonsdawn (Pern: Dragonriders of Pern, #6) in Books
Nov 12, 2019
The first of the Pern novels that fills in the backstory of the main sequence of books, this tells the tale of the first few years of the colonisation of Pern from a delegation from Earth. They find a lush paradise full of interesting plants and animals and spread out across the warm southern continent. And then the Thread starts to fall...
Teased by the end of The White Dragon, this is a full-blown science fiction novel. The various plot points don't just cover the details of the human habitation and the devastating impact of Thread on an unprepared populace, but also provides dramatic tension in the greed of a small number of the colonists in trying to secure what riches there are on the planet.
This is a more-or-less essential read for anyone who enjoys the Pern novels, so much of the way the later society works, and the dragons themselves, are explained. It is not perfect, however. It is a pretty much by-the-numbers story, with a lot of the outcomes already known and some of the sub plots are superfluous and slow some parts down too much. Also the need to namecheck every Weyr and reference from the original novels is a little tiresome - and unnecessary.
Still, a solid entry on the impressive list of novels that does deliver what it promises.
Teased by the end of The White Dragon, this is a full-blown science fiction novel. The various plot points don't just cover the details of the human habitation and the devastating impact of Thread on an unprepared populace, but also provides dramatic tension in the greed of a small number of the colonists in trying to secure what riches there are on the planet.
This is a more-or-less essential read for anyone who enjoys the Pern novels, so much of the way the later society works, and the dragons themselves, are explained. It is not perfect, however. It is a pretty much by-the-numbers story, with a lot of the outcomes already known and some of the sub plots are superfluous and slow some parts down too much. Also the need to namecheck every Weyr and reference from the original novels is a little tiresome - and unnecessary.
Still, a solid entry on the impressive list of novels that does deliver what it promises.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated A Nearly Normal Family in Books
Dec 13, 2019
A pretty good read
I don't read a lot of legal/courtroom stories and even less so-called Scandi-Noir type books but, for some reason, the blurb caught me and drew me in and, overall, I was pretty satisfied with "A Nearly Normal Family".
The book centres around a seemingly perfect family (they are anything but!) and is separated into three sections each told from the perspective of a family member following the arrest of the daughter for the murder of a man; each of these sections provided insight into each of the characters and a different take on the situation they find themselves in. What it also did was make this a slow burner with the tension mounting gradually towards the great ending which I found very satisfying.
I did have a couple of problems with this book though; one being that I couldn't connect with any of the main characters and struggled to empathise with any of them, the other being that I think there were times when things seem to have got lost in translation which made the story not flow quite as well as I was expecting.
Overall though a pretty good read and definitely worth the time I invested in reading it.
Thanks go to the good people of Pan Macmillan via NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
The book centres around a seemingly perfect family (they are anything but!) and is separated into three sections each told from the perspective of a family member following the arrest of the daughter for the murder of a man; each of these sections provided insight into each of the characters and a different take on the situation they find themselves in. What it also did was make this a slow burner with the tension mounting gradually towards the great ending which I found very satisfying.
I did have a couple of problems with this book though; one being that I couldn't connect with any of the main characters and struggled to empathise with any of them, the other being that I think there were times when things seem to have got lost in translation which made the story not flow quite as well as I was expecting.
Overall though a pretty good read and definitely worth the time I invested in reading it.
Thanks go to the good people of Pan Macmillan via NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.