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Midge (525 KP) rated Keeping Faith in TV
Jan 3, 2019 (Updated Jan 9, 2019)
Actress Eve Myles (1 more)
Breathtaking Scenery
Fantastic Drama/Thriller!
Keeping Faith is a superb TV show with fantastic plots and wonderful actors. Each weeks' episode leaves you begging for the next one. Eve Myles, who plays Faith, was outstanding and you could really relate to her. I also particularly enjoyed the scenes including Hannah Daniel as Cerys Jones (junior associate at the family's law firm, Howells) who was very good. The show is set in Wales where the scenery manages to be both bleak but breathtaking, at the same time.
I loved watching Keeping Faith as it was gripping and kept me hooked all the way through. So many questions unanswered and so much more drama to come. Fantastic!
The closing song of Keeping Faith's first episode which melts me every time was written and sung by Grammy award-winning songwriter Amy Wadge.
This is a beautiful, wonderful drama and I'm ecstatic to hear that there will be a Series 2.
I loved watching Keeping Faith as it was gripping and kept me hooked all the way through. So many questions unanswered and so much more drama to come. Fantastic!
The closing song of Keeping Faith's first episode which melts me every time was written and sung by Grammy award-winning songwriter Amy Wadge.
This is a beautiful, wonderful drama and I'm ecstatic to hear that there will be a Series 2.
David McK (3600 KP) rated Ice Station Zebra in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Cold-War set thriller, by an author that (for some reason) I associate more with World War 2 settings, this concerns the journey of the Atomic submarine Dolphin to the Arctic, in order to rescue the survivors of the adrift Ice Staion of the title.
I also feel that this could be split into 3 very distinct sections - the journey to the Arctic, the search and rescue of the survivors, and the journey back, with it transpiring in the middle section that the Ice Station had been sabatoged, rather than just plain unlucky, and with it furhter being revealed in the final section that the saboteour is still alive and on the sub ...
While it may be slightly dated now (in that the USSR is no longer in existence) and in some of the state-of-the-(then)-art technology, this is still an enjoyable read once you put yourself into the right mindset!
I also feel that this could be split into 3 very distinct sections - the journey to the Arctic, the search and rescue of the survivors, and the journey back, with it transpiring in the middle section that the Ice Station had been sabatoged, rather than just plain unlucky, and with it furhter being revealed in the final section that the saboteour is still alive and on the sub ...
While it may be slightly dated now (in that the USSR is no longer in existence) and in some of the state-of-the-(then)-art technology, this is still an enjoyable read once you put yourself into the right mindset!
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Hudson's Kill in Books
Oct 25, 2019
Hudson's Kill
If you have seen Gangs of New York then you know the period this novel is set. This book is completely immersive, Hirsch has done an incredible amount of research, to the language used, the the style of buildings. I often felt myself drawn into the period, even dreaming about the city in my sleep, his descriptions become so vivid. Hudson's Kill has pretty much got a bit of everything for everyone. It's a thriller, it's a murder mystery, it's a political and corruption rollercoaster, it's full of action, it has heroes , villains and enough in every page to keep you turning. All this and written in a way that is very easy and absorbing. Hirsch is a master and it is very hard to believe this is only his second novel. Hudson's Kill deserves to be celebrated and loved, a rare book that will delight so many and deserves to be read. 4/5
ClareR (5938 KP) rated Forget You Know Me in Books
Jan 16, 2019
Talking is good!
This is my first Jessica Strawser book, and I don't think it will be my last. From other reviews, it would seem that this is a departure from the 'thriller' genre of her previous novels: it's definitely more 'Literary Fiction'. There's no real mystery (ok, just the one), and everyone's cards are pretty much laid out on the table. It's just that they all seem incapable of talking to one another: Molly and Liza, once best friends, become more and more estranged as they live so far from one another. Daniel and Molly, although they are married, seem to be growing apart, and due to the demands of work and children, do not seem to have any time for one another. The takeaway message in this seems to be - just talk to each other, for goodness sakes! Relationships need effort from all sides!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of this book to read and enjoy!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of this book to read and enjoy!
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Bongo Fury (Bongy Fury #1) in Books
Nov 8, 2019
Do you want to read a humorous thriller novella set in Northern Ireland? Of course you would, who wouldn't?
Bongo fury introduces Jimmy, a man who just wants to run his music shop in peace. But when a friend asks for his help he ends up plunged into a world of gangsters, organised crime and drug deals. He has to use all of his considerable wits to escape from this unscathed.
This story turns on the character of Jimmy, and fortunately he's a terrific narrator, regarding events with a world-weary black humour even when they turn very much against him. The plot is fairly slight but runs at a fast pace so that really doesn't matter very much. What matters is how much fun this book is to read, and it's a lot of fun. Even better is that there is a Bongo Fury 2 which carries the story on.
Note: Lots of bad language and some violence
Bongo fury introduces Jimmy, a man who just wants to run his music shop in peace. But when a friend asks for his help he ends up plunged into a world of gangsters, organised crime and drug deals. He has to use all of his considerable wits to escape from this unscathed.
This story turns on the character of Jimmy, and fortunately he's a terrific narrator, regarding events with a world-weary black humour even when they turn very much against him. The plot is fairly slight but runs at a fast pace so that really doesn't matter very much. What matters is how much fun this book is to read, and it's a lot of fun. Even better is that there is a Bongo Fury 2 which carries the story on.
Note: Lots of bad language and some violence
saheffernan (157 KP) rated How We Became Wicked in Books
Nov 9, 2019
If you want a spooky book recommendation this is it. I got thriller, Halloween vibes from this book from the start. A disease has consumed most of the world leaving behind 3 types of people. The wicked, the true and the vexed. The wicked are something a little like zombies in the book their described like children with no impulse control and a want to kill. Astrid, a vexed young girl curious about the world & the only other young person in her community Henry is who we mostly follow throughout the story as they try to figure out what's beyond their world of Goldsport. I can say that I definitely didn't see the twist coming. It was a good book with a decent storyline maybe a bit lacking here and there mostly of how the disease came about. Quick read with a Walking Dead world full of wicked people and survival feel.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated A Deathly Silence (DCI Helen Lavery #3) in Books
Nov 10, 2019
Authentic, plausible and engaging
Having read a few of Jane Isaac's books and thoroughly enjoyed them, I had no hesitation in picking this despite not having read the previous 2 in the series and I wasn't disappointed.
This is an excellent police procedural/crime thriller with believable and, mostly, likeable characters and a completely absorbing story line. Unlike some police procedural stories which, I feel, try to include different threads and mini-plots within the central story which can cause confusion, this one had a main theme and stuck to it which made the story unravel and develop naturally; this made is seem more authentic, plausible and engaging.
There is plenty of action and twists to keep any reader engaged and I definitely recommend to anyone ... in fact, I am happy to recommend any of Jane's books; you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
This is an excellent police procedural/crime thriller with believable and, mostly, likeable characters and a completely absorbing story line. Unlike some police procedural stories which, I feel, try to include different threads and mini-plots within the central story which can cause confusion, this one had a main theme and stuck to it which made the story unravel and develop naturally; this made is seem more authentic, plausible and engaging.
There is plenty of action and twists to keep any reader engaged and I definitely recommend to anyone ... in fact, I am happy to recommend any of Jane's books; you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Good Liar (2019) in Movies
Nov 13, 2019
Roaringly bonkers British movie probably thinks that it's a dark and convoluted psychological thriller but is undone by a couple of overcooked lead performances and a frankly ludicrous script. Career con man Roy Courtnay (McKellen) sets his sights on rich widow Betty (Mirren). But as his activities draw near to their climax, could it be that the old rogue is suffering from pangs of conscience? Can he bring himself to go through with it?
Sounds fairly ordinary, but this does not take into account quite how nutty the various twists in the tale turn out to be, nor the sheer relish with which the stars attack their roles: to say that McKellen, in particular, carves himself off a thick slice of ham is probably to understate things considerably. Still, very easy to watch (though it has an unexpectedly hard and vicious edge to it in places), and a lot of fun, provided you don't take it too seriously.
Sounds fairly ordinary, but this does not take into account quite how nutty the various twists in the tale turn out to be, nor the sheer relish with which the stars attack their roles: to say that McKellen, in particular, carves himself off a thick slice of ham is probably to understate things considerably. Still, very easy to watch (though it has an unexpectedly hard and vicious edge to it in places), and a lot of fun, provided you don't take it too seriously.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Sacred Art of Stealing in Books
Nov 25, 2019
A daring bank robbery in broad daylight puts detective Angelique De Xavier on the trail of a highly intelligent, highly motivated and highly unusual thief. The closer she gets the more she both admires him and wonders at his real motives.
This is classic Brookmyre; plenty of Scottish patois and references, clever and imaginative situations and well drawn characters. Nobody in a Brookmyre novel is black or white, everyone has shades of grey, sometimes more than one shade and this book is no exception.
As would be expected this is a thriller with a wry twist of humour running through it; the bank robbery itself is both tense and a hoot to read as the police are completely outmaneouvred. As the real pursuit by De Xavier continues through the rest of the book the reader is drawn in and exposed to every twist as she experiences it.
A thoroughly good read and highly recommended.
This is classic Brookmyre; plenty of Scottish patois and references, clever and imaginative situations and well drawn characters. Nobody in a Brookmyre novel is black or white, everyone has shades of grey, sometimes more than one shade and this book is no exception.
As would be expected this is a thriller with a wry twist of humour running through it; the bank robbery itself is both tense and a hoot to read as the police are completely outmaneouvred. As the real pursuit by De Xavier continues through the rest of the book the reader is drawn in and exposed to every twist as she experiences it.
A thoroughly good read and highly recommended.
Vegas (725 KP) rated You Cannot Hide in TV
Feb 2, 2020
Builds to a satisfying ending (1 more)
The story
A very jumbled start (1 more)
Takes a few episodes to work out what's going on.
Good, eventually
A mother and daughter flee from Mexico to Spain on witness protection and far from being a settled safe life for them it all goes wrong.
The first episode is quite confusing, with so much seemingly unrelated stuff going on it is a lot to take in especially who is who and what part of the story they are connected to.
In my opinion it remains a bit of a jumble through a few episodes and I almost gave up on it after episode 4, however I persevered and I'm glad I did, it all calmed down and once you knew who was who, it made much more sense. Leading to a reasonably worthwhile viewing with some parts feeling a little like 24 in story progression.
Not the best I have seen recently but worth watching if you like action thriller type series.
The first episode is quite confusing, with so much seemingly unrelated stuff going on it is a lot to take in especially who is who and what part of the story they are connected to.
In my opinion it remains a bit of a jumble through a few episodes and I almost gave up on it after episode 4, however I persevered and I'm glad I did, it all calmed down and once you knew who was who, it made much more sense. Leading to a reasonably worthwhile viewing with some parts feeling a little like 24 in story progression.
Not the best I have seen recently but worth watching if you like action thriller type series.