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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 7, 2022 (Updated Aug 7, 2022)  
True crime buffs, come read an excerpt from CODE OF SILENCE: INSIDE THE CASE THAT LED TO THE FIRST FEDERAL JUDGE TO BE IMPEACHED by Lise Olsen on my blog, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win an autographed copy of the book - three winners.

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/08/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-code-of.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Code of Silence tells the story of federal court employee Cathy McBroom, who had to flee her job as a case manager in Galveston, Texas, after enduring years of sexual harassment and assault by her boss-US District Judge Samuel Kent. Following a decade of firsthand reporting at the Houston Chronicle, investigative reporter Lise Olsen charts McBroom’s assault and the aftermath, when McBroom was thrust into the role of whistle-blower to denounce a federal judge.

What Olsen discovered by investigating McBroom’s story and other federal judicial misconduct matters nationwide was shocking. With the help of other federal judges, Kent was being protected by a secretive court system that has long tolerated or ignored complaints about corruption, sexism, and sexual misconduct-enabling him to remain in office for years. Other powerful judges accused of judicial misconduct were never investigated and remain in power or retired with full pay, such as US Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski and Kozinski’s mentee, Brett Kavanaugh.
      
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2425 KP) rated A Christmas Candy Killing in Books

Oct 19, 2022  
A Christmas Candy Killing
A Christmas Candy Killing
Christina Romeril | 2022 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sweetly Festive Debut
Identical twins Alex and Hanna have made a life for themselves in a small Montana town, where they have opened Murder and Mayhem, a combination mystery bookstore and chocolate shop. In the time they’ve been here, Alex has become friends with Jane, one of their neighbors. Jane invites Alex over to view a true crime show because she believes that one of their neighbors is the killer still at large at the end of the episode. But when Alex arrives, she finds Jane’s dead body. The police think it was a robbery gone wrong, but Alex wonders if Jane was really onto something. Can she find the killer?

Between the culinary cozy theme and the Christmas setting, I have to give this debut a chance. I’m glad I did. The first couple of chapters had a bit too much background on Alex and Hanna, but once the murder happened, things picked up. I appreciated how the clues were folded into the story. Not that I figured out the killer using them. The characters are good, but they could be a little stronger. Likewise, the setting is good, but could be a little stronger. Both of these are minor complaints since I am definitely ready to visit my new friends and this location again soon. I enjoyed the Christmas timing as well. This is a delicious debut.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2425 KP) rated Mastering the Art of French Murder in Books

Nov 22, 2023  
Mastering the Art of French Murder
Mastering the Art of French Murder
Colleen Cambridge | 2023 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Chef’s Knife of Crime
Tabitha Knight has decided to live with her grandfather in 1949 Paris as she tries to decide what to do with her life after the end of the war. One of her new neighbors is Julia Child, and the two quickly become friends. After a party at Julia’s apartment one night, one of the guests is killed with Julia’s chef’s knife. Naturally, the police think she did it, but Tabitha knows it had to be someone else at the party. Can she prove it?

While I know little about Julia Child, I did feel what we saw here rang true to her personality. But she is just one of many enchanting characters we meet here, and I can’t wait to see them again. The suspects were strong, and the mystery kept me guessing. I thought I’d picked up on a clue early on, but it turned out to be a red herring that got me. I did feel one aspect of the plot was left up in the air, but the rest was explained to my satisfaction. While there are no recipes in this book, there is tons of talk about food. You’ll definitely be hungry when you read. I’m glad I finally read a book by this author, and I’ll be looking for more.
  
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Darren (1599 KP) rated Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (2015) in Movies

Jul 25, 2019  
Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (2015)
Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (2015)
2015 | Action, Drama, Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Story: Kidnapping Freddy Heineken starts as we follow our five criminals Cor Van Hout (Sturgess), Willem (Worthington), Cat (Kwanten), Spikes (Eeuwen) and Brakes (Cocquerel) who have always been looking for a way to make money quickly instead of getting real jobs in Holland. Their latest plan is to kidnap beer tycoon Freddy Heineken (Hopkins) and collecting the ransom.

With the plan in place the kidnapping goes well the wait for the ransom is what takes the time and tests the strength of the kidnappers over the victims as we follow what could be the undoing of the men.

 

Thoughts on Kidnapping Freddy Heineken

 

Characters – Cor Van Hout is the leader of the gang, he brings his men together to complete the jobs with some failing and others not, he comes up with the latest job while his personal life is about to hit the highs a father could experience. Willem is the hot head of the group who will go past the marks to make the job get done and he could become the biggest problem involved. Freddy Heineken is the beer tycoon that has become the target of this men and he stays extremely calm through his ordeal trying to friend his kidnappers too.

Performance – Jim Sturgess is strong in the leading role of this film throughout feeling like the rest would listen to his every word. Sam Worthington is good in the loose cannon role too. Anthony Hopkins is as always the star of the show here as you want to see all of his scenes.

Story – The story is based on the true story of what happened when a group of criminals kidnap the tycoon and how they were not completely sure things would work and how things could go wrong. This is good because it doesn’t go down a slick as the best heist movies but is also calm enough to feel like it is based on real people human errors through the heist.

Action/Crime – There are a couple of good car chases through the film which do make up the action side of things while the whole story is about the crime being committed.

Settings – The streets involved in Amsterdam show us how tight the car chases can be and escape routes by more than just road, we do feel like this is authentic with how everything unfolds during the crime.

Scene of the Movie – Freddy’s orders.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – The clear choice for a problem is having some Dutch cast members but the leads are not.

Final Thoughts – This is one of the films that didn’t get much talk when it came out but I don’t understand why, it is an enjoyable and one film that is worth watching for all the heist fans out there.

 

Overall: Good heist film.