Serio-comic thriller about a down-on-her luck woman who decides to make a quick buck as a bounty hunter. As you do.
She doesn’t know anything about boSerio-comic thriller about a down-on-her luck woman who decides to make a quick buck as a bounty hunter. As you do.
She doesn’t know anything about bounty hunting but never mind. Her first target is a "love-em and leave-em" old flame of hers. Trenton must be a really small town.
Enjoying this book required much disregard of logic but it was entertaining and a fast read. ...more
McEvoy returns with two chores to deal with, one a payback assignment as a consequence of the events from Plugged and the other a family matter.
The tMcEvoy returns with two chores to deal with, one a payback assignment as a consequence of the events from Plugged and the other a family matter.
The two plot lines converge nicely.
I liked this sequel more than the original book. Colfer upped the emotional stakes and got McEvoy in enough danger to overwhelm his serious skills and general bad-assery.
This is fun, light entertainment with adult humor and a charismatic narrator/protagonist.
If Colfer writes more stories about McEvoy, I would read ’em. ...more
Inside the Last House on Needless Street lives Ted, a lonely man with mental/substance abuse problems, with his daughter and his cat. Outside of the hInside the Last House on Needless Street lives Ted, a lonely man with mental/substance abuse problems, with his daughter and his cat. Outside of the house lurks Dee, a young woman looking for her sister, who went missing many years ago.
These storylines converge in an unexpected way. It's hard to discuss the book without giving anything away. I will say that both stories have family issues and childhood trauma.
I admired the way that Ward kept me intrigued and surprised. There were many unexpected twists and she gave out just enough information in each chapter so that it was never boring.
In retrospect there were some hints to the eventual big reveals. It would be an interesting experience to read it again and see how different the book comes across when you know.
Once I reached the end, I realized it wasn’t a thriller in the conventional sense. It wasn’t a deep character exploration of (view spoiler)[DID either, though the afterward made me think perhaps this was Ward’s intention. She wants us to empathize with Ted so much. I would have enjoyed it more if he was a little less innocent and victimized. A little more bite to the character would have put this over the edge for me. (hide spoiler)]
A reverend with a teenage daughter gets a position in a small town chapel in the U.K. and the two prepare for some truly rustic living. Reverend BrookA reverend with a teenage daughter gets a position in a small town chapel in the U.K. and the two prepare for some truly rustic living. Reverend Brooks does very little "reverending" and acts more like an amateur detective, uncovering scandal after scandal.
Meanwhile daughter Flo stumbles directly into a tumultuous social life, pissing off the town princess and hooking up with the town oddball.
I liked the themes of historical religious persecution and misogyny that continued to affect people in the present day. There is also a suggested message of not making assumptions based on superficialities.
For the most part this was an entertaining read, with well-paced discoveries and tense moments. The Reverend was a sympathetic narrator, funny and frequently irreverent (for a clergy person). The final confrontation chapter was well done.
It was a bit like The Whisper Man by Alex North. A thriller with supernatural touches.
Tudor often used the Reverend's narration as a vehicle to share “deep thoughts” to the point that it left the reader without room for their own.
She also relied on surprise reveals and twists way too often. It stretched the believability to the breaking point. The story also suffered from a high concentration of (view spoiler)[psycho/sociopaths (hide spoiler)] for such a small area. ...more
Just as much fun as The Price You Pay. I really admire characters who know how to do some fast talk. It occurs to me that Jack Price is a more violentJust as much fun as The Price You Pay. I really admire characters who know how to do some fast talk. It occurs to me that Jack Price is a more violent version of Moist Von Lipwig.
It expands on Jack’s story as a leader of the newly reformed Demons but doesn’t really add anything more astonishing than we got from the first book. It does not have a deep, heartfelt message, but some thinking is required to stay on top of the plot, especially as delivered through Jack’s hyperkinetic communication style.
If I had a wish for another book in the series, it would hopefully add a little more depth to the demons. They are brilliantly weird, as seen through Jack’s eyes, but they still remain opaque. This applies even to The Doctor, the Demon that Jack knows best. ...more
Continuing Ernest Cunningham’s adventures in mystery solving. It’s a metafiction style book with much discussion of the traditions and expectations ofContinuing Ernest Cunningham’s adventures in mystery solving. It’s a metafiction style book with much discussion of the traditions and expectations of mystery stories.
Ernest gets on a train with a small group of other writers, in the middle of struggle to write his next book. There is a lot of literary world commentary, including GoodReads. The writers are jealous of each other, competitive, and critical. Things you would expect.
“You want the difference between pulp and literature? Between a real writer and just a writer? I’ll tell you: adverbs.” “Adverbs?” “You use too many of them,” he said, derisively.”
Ernest talks directly to the reader, filling us in on his underdog take, and admitting with humor when he is awkward and out of this depth. He’s a likable narrator and as a reader you are on his side and know only what he knows.
“You read people’s books, and you think you know them. They’re having a conversation with you for hundreds of pages, and there’s an intimacy there that you develop on your own.”
Not as intense as the first book. Maybe the stakes are just lower since it’s about not his family this time. I could have lived without the (view spoiler)[ #MeToo subplot. It seemed like required content. (hide spoiler)]
A fun and fast read. I hope there are more of these to come. ...more
As with the first book, a television-friendly mystery with charismatic characters and an outlandish plotline.
Oddly, though this storyline has (view spAs with the first book, a television-friendly mystery with charismatic characters and an outlandish plotline.
Oddly, though this storyline has (view spoiler)[spies, the mafia, and diamonds, (hide spoiler)] I found the mystery aspect more credible in this book than the first.
Joyce remains an entertaining and relatable character....more
I think this was more about the detective, Cormoran Strike, than the mystery itself.
The mystery itself was pretty standard; neither the victim or theI think this was more about the detective, Cormoran Strike, than the mystery itself.
The mystery itself was pretty standard; neither the victim or the killer were as interesting as Strike.
All of this takes place in the world of the rich and the pretty, so only Strike and Robin are relatable, with Strike just skating on the edge of that world himself.
I enjoyed reading this and yet I don't know if I'll be in a rush for the rest of the series. ...more
Gothic crime thriller with a touch of romance set in the early 19th-century English countryside.
A young orphaned woman named Mary has to go live withGothic crime thriller with a touch of romance set in the early 19th-century English countryside.
A young orphaned woman named Mary has to go live with her aunt after her home and farm are sold off to pay debts.
Her aunt, who she remembered as a cheerful and bright woman is now neurotic and worn down thanks to her abusive, drunken husband who is also involved in (view spoiler)[smuggling, murder, and is just your basic all around scum. (hide spoiler)]
It’s a good story, interesting characters, twists and turns and lots of rainy, gloomy atmosphere.
Mary has a strong will and is pretty sharp so it’s frustrating to see her stuck for so long in the situation at Jamaica Inn. It is mostly because she can’t leave her broken-spirited aunt, which makes sense but sometimes tried my patience with the characters.
Mary spends a lot of time thinking about how love is something that can’t be helped and yet it’s really bad for women. Her aunt exemplifies this on a daily basis.
The ending seems a little odd given (view spoiler)[Mary’s cautious attitude regarding Jem throughout most of the story. Personally, I would have preferred to see her live out her plan to go back to her hometown. (hide spoiler)]...more
All of the Dublin Murder Squad series are a bit dark, but wow, this one really hit me.
It’s a bit of a change in structure, because rather than solely All of the Dublin Murder Squad series are a bit dark, but wow, this one really hit me.
It’s a bit of a change in structure, because rather than solely focusing on a detective and how their issues connect with those of the case they’re on, this one switched perspective to the murderer/victim’s world.
The backstory is immersed in the realm of teenagers, someplace most of us are probably glad to be done with. French captures the feelings, the fear of everything, including your own body and how others perceive your body, and the way teens are separated from adults but not protected like children. Also, the sexuality issues, especially for girls, if you do it you’re one “bad” thing if you don’t you’re another. Then of course the characters must face pressure from their peers, parents, and the calling of an uncertain future.
As for the detective, Stephen Moran gets less time than those from the previous novels. His emotional connection to the novel centers around his lack of close friends. He prioritized his need to get out of his old neighborhood and economic situation as well as his ambition above making friends. Moran doesn’t know what it’s like to be close like the four girls in the story but from observing, he can imagine what is special about it. He also has to navigate his tough and moody temporary partner.
Four residents of a retirement community with interest in solving murders get involved in a case very close to their home. Two women, Elizabeth and JoFour residents of a retirement community with interest in solving murders get involved in a case very close to their home. Two women, Elizabeth and Joyce, and two men, Ibrahim and Ron, each have their various useful experiences and skills to contribute to their club. They also work loosely, and with reluctance on both ends, with Donna and Chris from the local police.
The best thing about this was the characters. All of them are charming and interesting in their own way. We get to know the most about Joyce, the newest member of the club, because some chapters are her diary entries. She’s one of those characters with lots of bright energy going off in all directions that make her lovable and fun. Elizabeth is the character readers get to know second best, but the details of her past remain a bit vague. She is clearly a little dangerous, which is cool. We don’t get to know the male club members too well but since this is first in a series, hopefully they get a little attention in later books.
As for the mystery itself, that left a little to be desired. (view spoiler)[ The author used many red herrings and a lot of plot threads which turned out to be entirely separate plots in order to keep the reader guessing. I would have been more impressed with a mystery that maintained a singular focus, with complicated threads that related back to the main story directly. I did enjoy that one of the murders took place in front of many witnesses. The audacity! (hide spoiler)]
For the most part, I really enjoyed reading this and would read more from the series, even if it’s just to spend more time with the Club itself. I’m a fool for these U.K. writers, they get me nearly every time. Love the touches of humor. I’m not always familiar with the locations the author refers to, but it’s nothing that spoils my enjoyment of the book. ...more
Absolutely batshit crazy. I haven’t read a book like this in a while. So much fun, I had a big smile on my face for a while after I closed the book.
ThAbsolutely batshit crazy. I haven’t read a book like this in a while. So much fun, I had a big smile on my face for a while after I closed the book.
The story is filled with action, violence, moral ambiguity, and sex but is also intelligent and funny. If you are looking for something thoughtful, tender, and sensitive, maybe try a different book.
The star attraction is the first-person narration by Jack Price. The author tells the story in his stylized voice which also includes some unique punctuation choices. This made it a bit challenging to read at times.
The unreliable narrator thing is used to good effect, misleading the reader into thinking things have gone one way, and then surprising us with the real events. This reflects the way Price is dealing with his adversaries and therefore reinforces the unpredictable nature of the main character. ...more
Eye-catching title, eh? Murder mystery with humor and lots of family drama. Dark comedy.
The gimmick is that the narrator is sort of an expert on the Eye-catching title, eh? Murder mystery with humor and lots of family drama. Dark comedy.
The gimmick is that the narrator is sort of an expert on the rules of conventional mystery writing and he uses his “knowledge” to solve several (view spoiler)[connected mysteries from his family’s infamous history (hide spoiler)] along with a “locked room” (more like an isolated resort) murder in their present.
It’s entertaining and well structured. Some things are a tad implausible but nothing to spoil the overall experience. ...more
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