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Becs (244 KP) rated I Know You Know in Books
Jan 4, 2019
Alright book
I received the audiobook version through a giveaway that Book Riot hosted.
So, anybody that knows me knows that I am not a fan of audio books. Well, I won this one from a giveaway and thought why the heck not. It's a thriller, so I should love it. I'll admit, there were good parts, there were bad parts, and there were parts that made me want to rip my face off.
The speakers were good, they helped with the different voices instead of having one person doing all of the voices. But man, the first half of the "book" was an utter bore that seemed to drag me through the dirt and into the burning pits of hell to rot away. I'm not kidding. I can't say anything on the writing style as it was told to me and not read by me. But from what I could tell, the author seemed like a good writer but just didn't deliver the punch that was needed.
Want to read more? Go to my blog: bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
So, anybody that knows me knows that I am not a fan of audio books. Well, I won this one from a giveaway and thought why the heck not. It's a thriller, so I should love it. I'll admit, there were good parts, there were bad parts, and there were parts that made me want to rip my face off.
The speakers were good, they helped with the different voices instead of having one person doing all of the voices. But man, the first half of the "book" was an utter bore that seemed to drag me through the dirt and into the burning pits of hell to rot away. I'm not kidding. I can't say anything on the writing style as it was told to me and not read by me. But from what I could tell, the author seemed like a good writer but just didn't deliver the punch that was needed.
Want to read more? Go to my blog: bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
A little gem
What a little gem this is - totally gripping, full of atmosphere, tension and general creepiness all set in the stunning but isolated Scottish island of Rum which creates a sense of trepidation all on its own.
This book can be likened to a classic who-dunnit story - a group of people trapped together in an isolated location with a possible murderer amongst them - it's your job to try and work out who it is from the drips of clues amongst the red herrings provided by the author and I have to give Ms Taylor a round of applause because I didn't figure it out until it was right in my face! and, to be honest, that doesn't happen too often.
Excellent characters - some nice, some not so nice - absolutely perfect setting, great story line and ideal pace makes this a great read and one I have little hesitation in recommending to all psychological thriller lovers out there.
A very big thank you to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
This book can be likened to a classic who-dunnit story - a group of people trapped together in an isolated location with a possible murderer amongst them - it's your job to try and work out who it is from the drips of clues amongst the red herrings provided by the author and I have to give Ms Taylor a round of applause because I didn't figure it out until it was right in my face! and, to be honest, that doesn't happen too often.
Excellent characters - some nice, some not so nice - absolutely perfect setting, great story line and ideal pace makes this a great read and one I have little hesitation in recommending to all psychological thriller lovers out there.
A very big thank you to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
Yet another of [author:Michael Crichton|5194]'s science-thriller turned-into-a-movie novel, in which the movie bears only the slightest resemblance to the source material.
While the basic outline of the plot is the same in both - discovery of the lost city of Zinj in the Congo, expedition to said city that includes a Gorilla taught American Sign Langauge - the particulars of both are different, with the movie (form what I remember - it's been a decade or so since I last saw it) making far more of the exploration of Zinj and the fact that it is guarded by a new breed of vicious gorillas specially bred for the purpose by the original inhabitants than the novel does.
The characters in the novel are also less sympathetic than those in the movie - it's hard to take Tim Curry seriously as a hardened mercenary - while it has, also, aged somewhat due to the reliance on (then) state of the art electronics explained therein - a computer has a whole 256k of memory! Wow!!
While the basic outline of the plot is the same in both - discovery of the lost city of Zinj in the Congo, expedition to said city that includes a Gorilla taught American Sign Langauge - the particulars of both are different, with the movie (form what I remember - it's been a decade or so since I last saw it) making far more of the exploration of Zinj and the fact that it is guarded by a new breed of vicious gorillas specially bred for the purpose by the original inhabitants than the novel does.
The characters in the novel are also less sympathetic than those in the movie - it's hard to take Tim Curry seriously as a hardened mercenary - while it has, also, aged somewhat due to the reliance on (then) state of the art electronics explained therein - a computer has a whole 256k of memory! Wow!!
David McK (3180 KP) rated Relic (Pendergast, #1) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
I think I first read this back in the early to mid 90's, after the success of <i>Jurassic Park</i> (novel and film), but before <i>The Lost World</i>.
I remember thinking at the time how it would make a good movie due to the way it is written (very 'Michael Crichton'ish); it was later converted into such. Unfortunately, that film completely veered off the track from the novel, sharing only the title and a few key characters and settings - it would have worked so much better had they stayed truer to the source.
The novel is set primarily in and around New York's Museum of Natural History, leading up to (and in) the grand opening of a major new exhibition on superstition. There are rumors of a 'museum beast' in the museum, and I think I'm giving nothing away when I say that these prove to be more than rumors ...
As already stated, this is very like Michael Crichton's blend of techno-thriller so, if you like that, you should also like this.
I remember thinking at the time how it would make a good movie due to the way it is written (very 'Michael Crichton'ish); it was later converted into such. Unfortunately, that film completely veered off the track from the novel, sharing only the title and a few key characters and settings - it would have worked so much better had they stayed truer to the source.
The novel is set primarily in and around New York's Museum of Natural History, leading up to (and in) the grand opening of a major new exhibition on superstition. There are rumors of a 'museum beast' in the museum, and I think I'm giving nothing away when I say that these prove to be more than rumors ...
As already stated, this is very like Michael Crichton's blend of techno-thriller so, if you like that, you should also like this.
David McK (3180 KP) rated Moonraker (James Bond, #3) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I know I've seen it, but I don't really remember all the much about the 1979 Moonraker film (incidentally, the year I was born), other than that it starred Roger Moore (in his fourth role as James Bond), and that James Bond went into space.
James Bond does not go into space.
At least, not in the novel on which that film is (very loosely) based - or, more accurately, from which they took the title.
Instead, we have a Cold-War era spy thriller, with the Moonraker of the title really more of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (an IBM) rather than the Space Shuttle of the movie. Nor is there CIA involvement, nor a battle-in-space, nor a madman setting out to wipe out all life on Earth ... you get the picture.
There are, however, elements of the novel that make it into future Bond movies, in particular the facial reconstructive surgery of 'Die Another Day' clearly picking up it's cue from the background given to the central antagonist of Drax, and just what happened to him during the war.
James Bond does not go into space.
At least, not in the novel on which that film is (very loosely) based - or, more accurately, from which they took the title.
Instead, we have a Cold-War era spy thriller, with the Moonraker of the title really more of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (an IBM) rather than the Space Shuttle of the movie. Nor is there CIA involvement, nor a battle-in-space, nor a madman setting out to wipe out all life on Earth ... you get the picture.
There are, however, elements of the novel that make it into future Bond movies, in particular the facial reconstructive surgery of 'Die Another Day' clearly picking up it's cue from the background given to the central antagonist of Drax, and just what happened to him during the war.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated From the Shadows in Books
Oct 25, 2019
From The Shadows
I'm not an avid reader of crime thrillers as I often find them unbelievable, predictable or rediculous. This is neither. I was gripped from the beginning and found it hard to put down. Just one more chapter was my continuous mantra. Like Jane Harper's brilliant novels, as well as the character, the setting itself shines like the main character. Here the cold Highlands of Scotland paint the bleak setting for the dark crimes unfolding.
Bravely, Halliday doesn't feel the need to add romance or standard go to characters to make it work. He relies on his storytelling and strong individuals and how refreshing to see a book featuring a social worker that isn't female or a do gooder.
I'm gobsmacked this is a debut, it reads like a hardened crime writer who is a master at their trade. I can imagine this becoming an ITV drama in the future and look forward to the next installment. An absolutely cracking read for any crime or thriller fan.
Bravely, Halliday doesn't feel the need to add romance or standard go to characters to make it work. He relies on his storytelling and strong individuals and how refreshing to see a book featuring a social worker that isn't female or a do gooder.
I'm gobsmacked this is a debut, it reads like a hardened crime writer who is a master at their trade. I can imagine this becoming an ITV drama in the future and look forward to the next installment. An absolutely cracking read for any crime or thriller fan.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Day Shall Come (2019) in Movies
Oct 15, 2019
Offbeat comedy-thriller from Chris Morris never quite coheres when it comes to raising a laugh or making a serious point. It feels like the story would have been more topical ten years ago: essentially it's a critique of the FBI for entrapping relatively harmless individuals on spurious terrorism charges, simply for the kudos and publicity involved - offering to give people guns and then arresting them for possession of firearms, for instance. In this case an unhinged Miami cult leader's need for cash results in him getting mixed up with the police and FBI.
Well, there is potential here, I suppose, but on this occasion Morris never quite shakes off the lingering traces of his background in TV comedy to make something that feels like an extended cinematic narrative, and too often the story is silly rather than funny. The story feels contrived and a bit manipulative, too. Anna Kendrick works incredibly hard to lift the material she's given, but in the end the film is wildly uneven and seldom more than mildly amusing.
Well, there is potential here, I suppose, but on this occasion Morris never quite shakes off the lingering traces of his background in TV comedy to make something that feels like an extended cinematic narrative, and too often the story is silly rather than funny. The story feels contrived and a bit manipulative, too. Anna Kendrick works incredibly hard to lift the material she's given, but in the end the film is wildly uneven and seldom more than mildly amusing.
Shelda (363 KP) rated After You’re Gone in Books
Dec 18, 2018
Suspense Thriller
Gigi missed dancing with her. Tara wanted to borrow that designer dress. Dimitri wanted to know when he’d see her again.
And she knew none of this because Nori was receiving all her messages.
Nori’s new phone number once belonged to a woman with a life much more exciting than her own. Almost immediately, she finds herself obsessed with the glamorous way in which Talia lived. But when Nori begins receiving her more urgent messages regarding missed prescriptions and late rent, it becomes clear that Talia abandoned her life without warning a soul. Driven by curiosity she can’t shake, Nori finds herself using Talia’s text messages like a map as she goes out in search for clues of where she may have gone. But as Nori becomes increasingly immersed in Talia’s job, friends, and romances, she finds their once separate lives too intertwined to untangle.
And Nori begins to see Talia may not have left of her own volition, she realizes her own life may now be in danger.
And she knew none of this because Nori was receiving all her messages.
Nori’s new phone number once belonged to a woman with a life much more exciting than her own. Almost immediately, she finds herself obsessed with the glamorous way in which Talia lived. But when Nori begins receiving her more urgent messages regarding missed prescriptions and late rent, it becomes clear that Talia abandoned her life without warning a soul. Driven by curiosity she can’t shake, Nori finds herself using Talia’s text messages like a map as she goes out in search for clues of where she may have gone. But as Nori becomes increasingly immersed in Talia’s job, friends, and romances, she finds their once separate lives too intertwined to untangle.
And Nori begins to see Talia may not have left of her own volition, she realizes her own life may now be in danger.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Cold Pursuit (2019) in Movies
Nov 8, 2019
Confused
Let's face it, any film released nowadays with Liam Neeson as the main character is likely to be very similar to everything else he's done recently and also pretty poor. And sadly Cold Pursuit is no different.
The plot isn't anything new. It's Liam Neeson getting revenge on people again. Admittedly the setting and scenery are beautiful, it's just a shame the rest of the film can't live up to it I found the entire film very confused and wasn't entirely sure if it was meant to be a thriller, an action or a black comedy - it had aspects of all three and sadly not all of them worked, especially the humour. It was all a bit weird. And I adore Tom Bateman but his American accent in this is far too odd and I cringed every time he was on screen. And then there's the wasted Laura Dern and the pointless cops.
This is vaguely entertaining, but it dips in the middle and sadly suffers from a few acting faults and confusion on what genre it seems to lie in.
The plot isn't anything new. It's Liam Neeson getting revenge on people again. Admittedly the setting and scenery are beautiful, it's just a shame the rest of the film can't live up to it I found the entire film very confused and wasn't entirely sure if it was meant to be a thriller, an action or a black comedy - it had aspects of all three and sadly not all of them worked, especially the humour. It was all a bit weird. And I adore Tom Bateman but his American accent in this is far too odd and I cringed every time he was on screen. And then there's the wasted Laura Dern and the pointless cops.
This is vaguely entertaining, but it dips in the middle and sadly suffers from a few acting faults and confusion on what genre it seems to lie in.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Blade Runner (1982) in Movies
Nov 25, 2019 (Updated Nov 26, 2019)
Cult thriller from Ridley Scott. In present-day Los Angeles, investigator Harrison Ford finds himself obliged to hunt down and destroy four androids who have illegally returned to Earth from colonies in outer space. Yes, yes: I know it's a timeless classic and a visionary piece of science fiction (if not a particularly accurate piece of prognostication), but it's not a film I've ever found myself able to particularly warm to.
One of the prettiest and most visually dense films you will ever see, of course, but Ridley Scott seems much more interested in the film's visual impact than the actual story (even so, much of the imagery is rather clunky). Harrison Ford doesn't get much to do in his drab and perfunctory section of the plot - the film only really comes to life when it concerns Rutger Hauer's oddly sympathetic homicidal android, who ends up dominating the movie. Most of the book's quirky sense of melancholy disappears, though. For all its strengths it just feels rather superficial and hollow to me.
One of the prettiest and most visually dense films you will ever see, of course, but Ridley Scott seems much more interested in the film's visual impact than the actual story (even so, much of the imagery is rather clunky). Harrison Ford doesn't get much to do in his drab and perfunctory section of the plot - the film only really comes to life when it concerns Rutger Hauer's oddly sympathetic homicidal android, who ends up dominating the movie. Most of the book's quirky sense of melancholy disappears, though. For all its strengths it just feels rather superficial and hollow to me.