This a prose novel which is part of the “Annika Bengzton” book series. It’s the second published in theReporting investigation as only in Sweeden!
This a prose novel which is part of the “Annika Bengzton” book series. It’s the second published in the series, but it’s the first to read in chronological order.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE WORD
The original title of the book is Studio Sex but it seems that everybody freaks out with the word “sex”, since almost only in Scandinavian countries you can find the novel with its original title “Studio Sex” (and some seldom American editions) but in United Kingdom, Canada and others, you have to read the book with titles such as Exposed, Studio 69 (that ironically I found as a kinkier option than the original one.
The book is about a dead stripper that was working in a sex club, so I can’t understand why so needed to change the book title if the content is totally adult oriented, even since I read a translated edition with a changed title, I am not totally sure if the book content wasn’t edited too, since the name of the sex club in the story is “Studio Six” (that I think some countries even used that name for book’s title) and it’s kinda weird using something subtle when anybody once inside they will know the nature of the club. (In the story is explained that the owner “steal” the name of a radio station program just to bother the program’s owner. But with some changes to the book title, I am not sure if the name of the club in the story is the real original one.)
SWEEDISH NOIR
This is the second book in the series but since it’s the first, chronologically, “introducing” the character of Annika Bengzton, showing her like eight years before of the first published book, and instead of an experimented newspaper reporter, she is still a summer intern in The Evening Post in Stockholm, Sweeden, where even she is kinda new in town.
Annika is checking the phone calls that usually are false alarms or pranks, but she got the tip of a murder in Kronoberg Park, just inside of the Jewish Cemetery, the body of a naked woman is found. She thinks that it’s a real tip and she had to fight to be chosen to be sent since she is still quite new in the newspaper.
Annika begins her own investigation and while keeping in touch of the lead police detective, it’s found that the murdered woman is Josefin Liljeberg, a stripper dancer that she was working in the “Studio Six” (a sex club). Annika formed a connection with Patricia, a friend of Josefin, and found out many information about the deceased woman, like Josefin was girlfriend of Joachim (club’s owner) and even that nearby Josefin’s apartment, there is another apartment of Christer Lundgren, Minister for Foreign Trade, but her investigation is affected since she is accused of harrasing Josefin’s family members, and even she needs to leave Stockholm for a while.
I won’t spoil the solution (obviously), but indeed this is quite an excelent book showing step-by-step how an investigative reporter (no wonder since Liza Marklund, the author, is a reporter in real life (and co-owner of a publishing house!)) does the field work about a murder case from the point of view of a newspaper reporter (instead of a police detective).
This a self-contained prose novel which is part of the “Fear Street Relaunch” book series
AWESOME COVER
It’sAnother great success by R.L. Stine!
This a self-contained prose novel which is part of the “Fear Street Relaunch” book series
AWESOME COVER
It’s said that you can’t judge a book for its cover but certainly this novel has an awesome cover that matches with its awesome story.
Usually the books by R.L. Stine have cool covers appealing to read them, but I think that this one can be one of the coolest covers that I’ve seen in the library of R.L. Stine.
In fact, this is my second book in the line of Fear Street Relaunch where the first one, Gimme a K-I-L-L is one of my favorite books by R.L. Stine, and since I had such a blast with this other book of that book series, it seems that Fear Street Relaunch while it took some elements of previous books of the original Fear Street, certainly R.L. Stine make very good improvements, making them a good choice to read.
TRUST NO ONE!
Lisa Brooks is new on Shadyside, her family moved from Shaker Heights, but soon the tragedy hits her when her dad dies in a car accident where her entire family including herself were onboard, she was left with mental trauma and now she is suffering nightmares and scary hallucinations.
As a form of therapy, Dr. Shein, her psychiatrist recommends her as babysitter for Mrs. Brenda Hart, to take care of her sweet kid named Harry, everything seems good, but…
…the Hart Family lives on FEAR STREET!!!
So, obviously something wrong will be happening, especially when Mrs. Hart gives a pivotal instruction to Lisa that Harry can be still awake after 8pm…
…he can’t STAY UP LATE.
Her boyfriend Nate Goodman, and her best friends Saralynn O’Brien and Isaac Brenner are there for her, but…
…can she trust them? Especially when Summer Lawson (former girlfriend of Nate) is appearing eveywhere giving some warnings about Nate.
Does she can trust in anybody in Shadyside?
Since soon enough gruesome murders will start to happen in the front door where Lisa is babysitting, and the worse of all is that the Shadyside Police thinks that Lisa is totally wacko since she is watching horrible monsters walking around but nobody else is watching them.
This is a prose novel from the “Point Horror” book series
I KNOW WHAT YOU WROTE SEVEN YEARS BEFORE, BUT WAIT!
OK, theJust an innocent prank…not!
This is a prose novel from the “Point Horror” book series
I KNOW WHAT YOU WROTE SEVEN YEARS BEFORE, BUT WAIT!
OK, they’re not the same stories in their developments, but it’s impossible when you read this, and not remembering the film I Know What You Did Last Summer, and while this book was written seven years before…
…the film was based on a novel from 1973!
So, I won’t bother to think who copy who, since as I told you, both are different stories in their developments, while both share the premise of a group of teenager causing a car accident and keeping quite about it.
I Know What You Did Last Summer is quite a lot better, since you have slashing and several deaths, and here you only get some creepy pranks, a car chase, but only one death, and not exactly who you’d like to die.
A cool thing is that the author, Richie Tankersley Cusick, is an “old acquaintance”, since I had read some stuff by her several years ago, her work on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer prose novels line. Therefore, that was a cool thing since I didn’t realize until I was already reading this book.
NOT SO INNOCENT PRANKS
Belinda, Hildy and Franks are teenager coming back from a party, and they’re drunk and driving a car, terrible combination, ending in a car accident and they didn’t check out what really happened.
A couple of weeks later, Belinda, one of the only two nice characters, is really stressed out about the accident, and she is hired to be tutor of a creepy kid named Adam, there she meets the Butler (the other nice character), along with the awful Mrs. Thorne (Adam’s stepmother) and Noel (Adam’s brother).
Hildy and Frank are really awful and they are just joking and not a little bit preocupied about who may injured in the car accident, and you’d wish that they could meet some justice about it, but you’re not so lucky.
And while the story lacks of some more blood, still is an engaging reading since the things aren’t what you may think, there are a lot more than meets the eye, and it’s not so easy to pick culprits.
This is a prose novel from the “Fear Street” original book series AND a sequel to the first book “The Wrong NumbeOperator! The line is dead AGAIN!
This is a prose novel from the “Fear Street” original book series AND a sequel to the first book “The Wrong Number”
FAIR SEQUEL ON FEAR STREET
Since I read The Wrong Number just a few weeks ago and I enjoyed it so much, I thought that it was appropiate to engage reading the sequel, and while it isn’t that good as the first novel, it’s still a fair good reading and it was cool to visit again the characters.
Deena Martinson is still in Shadyside High School, along with her best friend Jade Smith (even there is an extremely cool cameo of Corky Corcoran (heroine of the Fear Street Cheerleaders saga) during a basketball game, she is cheerleading the event), while Deena’s half-brother Chuck is on college…
…but soon that it will change since Chuck isn’t doing that great on college and he’s looking for making a trip to Los Angeles and trying to get into the movie business.
However, Deena and Jade will start to receive mysterious phone calls, threatening their lives, mysterious car chasing them, but…
…that’s not the real problem…
…but that the criminal from the first book is pulling some legal issue on the conviction to get release and be free again!!!
Deena, Jade and Chuck lives are in danger again…
…and they will visit again…
…FEAR STREET…
…for doing a treasure hunt about a large amount of money that it will mess even worse the scenario for our young heroes.
It was an entertaining reading, it was cool to visit again the character from the first book, but there were fewer prank calls, and no murders at all...
...but I have to admit that there is quite a bunch of twists...
...therefore, this isn’t as good as the first book (that I think it was truly great) but if you enjoyed the first novel, you will find engaging to read this sequel....more
This is a prose novel from the “Fear Street” original book series
PRANKS & MURDERS
This is a really good book by R.L.Operator! The line is dead!
This is a prose novel from the “Fear Street” original book series
PRANKS & MURDERS
This is a really good book by R.L. Stine, and I have to say that it’s one of the best that I’ve read written by him, not only from the Fear Street series but from his work in general.
Deena Martinson has a special phone (not, it’s a smart phone since this was written in the good ol’ days of 1990) with memory buttons and stuff, a gift from his dad that works in the Phone Company of Shadyside. First, she is teased by her good friend Jade Smith to make innocent pranks making anonymous sexy calls to cute boys, but when her half-brother, Chuck finds out about the prank calls, the level of pranks escalates to a risky one, making a dumb call doing a fake bomb threat…
…still it wasn’t anything to put them in real hazzard…
…until Chuck (that he was living in another city until some days ago) didn’t respect the danger of messing with…
…FEAR STREET!!!…
…Chuck makes a random call to a number of a house in the infamous Fear Street with such bad luck that he, her sister, Deena and her friend Jade, get involved in a murder!
They didn’t do it, but nobody believes them, and soon enough Chuck will be arrested and it’s up to Deena and Jade to find clues of what really happened…
…but…
…the real murderer is after them!
There are several things that I did see them coming quite sooner than the character were able to deduce, but still it was a gripping reading, entertained, intense and fast paced, that I enjoyed a lot.
Creator & Illustrator: TrisShocking modern masterpiece!
This softcover TPB recollects “Stray Dogs” #1-5.
Creative Team:
Creator & Writer: Toni Fleecs
Creator & Illustrator: Trish Forstner
Colorist: Brad Simpson
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
This can be easily, one of the darkest stories that I ever read, specially in a comic book, while I’ve read several graphic novels oriented for adults, definitely this is one that it’s not for everybody since it can be totally understandable that it can shock the sensibility of many people, even I was shocked in several moments.
The story is cleverly showing most of the most popular breeds of dogs, obviously choosing several iconic breeds used in dogs from popular media like movies and TV, therefore even if you haven’t dogs of your own, it’s impossible that you won’t click with at least one of two of the canine characters in the story, totally fitting described like…
…Silence of the Lambs meets All Dogs go to Heaven.
Warning has been made.
MEMENTO FUGIT
I don’t know how scientific supported is the element developed here that dogs have problems with the short-term memory, therefore, they depend of routine to keep in mind what is happening around, but if something dramatically changed, they can soon enough to forget who was their previous owner and accepted the new owner as the only owner that they ever had.
However, it’s something that you have to accept in this story since it’s the key of how the narrative works.
MAN ISN’T DOG’S BEST FRIEND
This very dark story, drawn with a very cute style (giving even more shocking impact to the darkness of events here), a man has a lot of dogs, and they thought that they been rescued from streets and therefore they are grateful with their owner, since he always is giving them food and shelter.
Sophie, a new dog is trying to get used to the new environment, and she doesn’t have recollection of her previous life before being in the man’s house. Rusty, one of the many dogs in the house is self-appointed to tell her how things works in the house. Eveything is working until…
…Sophie finds a red scarf that she at once remembers as property of her true female owner…
…therefore, since that moment, you know that something really bad happened…
…and the worst of all is that Sophie’s past isn’t unique…
…but an insidous serial pattern to be feared…
…and brace yourself since not everybody will survive this story!
Don’t be confused due the cuteness of the artwork, this is without a doubt a horror story, and definitely something not easily to digest.
But definitely a daring and bold masterpiece of modern graphic novels.
This is the first novel of “The Light-Whisperers of Kalevala” book series
SPECIAL BOOK
This is a Once you get to Pohjola, you won’t wanna leave!
This is the first novel of “The Light-Whisperers of Kalevala” book series
SPECIAL BOOK
This is a very special book to me, since it’s the first published novel by author Grace E. Robinson, and certainly I was thrilled to read it and even more of having it in my hands, since I ordered the paperback edition.
You can find this wonderful book in Amazon in its paperback form, but also you can buy it as e-book on several sites: Kindle, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Everand, Thalia, Smashwords, Angus & Robertson, Vivlio and Palace Marketplace.
You can contact her (here on Goodreads or in Facebook as “Grace E. Robinson – StorytellerGirl” and she’ll be delighted to tell you the options and links to buy the book.
You will enjoy the reading experience, I can assure you.
This novel is an outstanding epic adventure using the Finnish and Sami cultures, that they are wonderful and rich cultures, but not much known outside of Finland, so, this is a great opportunity of having an epic adventure that it doesn’t have anything to envy to popular sagas like Narnia or Lord of the Rings.
Another cool thing is that while the book is part of a series, the story in this novel is self-contained having a proper closure, in that way you can read it and later to decide if you wish to continue with the series.
The book includes maps of Finland and the magical land of Pohjola, along with an appendix explaining terms of Finnish and Sami cultures, including pronunciation (and I recommend to read the appendix before engaging with the story).
AWESOME ADVENTURE
In this adventure, you’ll travel not only to the farthest frozen regions of Finland, but also to the magical land of Pohjola, meeting wonderful characters, honorable heroes and ruthless villains.
One hundred and thirty of reindeer have dissappeared and the local authorities have no clue, therefore, they call for help of capital police, where Detective Lyylia Niiranen will manage the case, once there contacting American scientist Shaun Abernathy, part of a research post studying the northern lights, and also the owner of the missing herd of reindeer, Ávgos Heikkilä…
…but they never imagined that a police investigation will take them to a magical land, full of mythical creatures, good and evil…
…where Lyylia’s sister and Ávgos’ cousing will follow their trail, finding themselves in dangerous regions of Pohjola…
…but they won’t be exactly totally strangers to Pohjola’s people, since Earth is known there as Kalevala, and they will find out that magic isn’t totally strange to them!
Meet wise Queen Kuu, sorceress ruler of the good lands of Pohjola, populated by the noble Menninkäinen and the Gentle Beasts…
…opposite to the vicious King Hiisi-Hiisi, regent of Ice-Dark, the evil regions full of hissi and Näkki…
…but you will meet a lot of more great characters in thie epic aventure…
...where you will sing and dance along with the lights and...
…where the greatest mystery is what happened to the reindeer and why....more
This is the comic book issue #8 of the event “Batman: White Knight”, which it will be a miniseries of 8 issueBatman: White Knight comes to an end!
This is the comic book issue #8 of the event “Batman: White Knight”, which it will be a miniseries of 8 issues.
Creative Team:
Writer & Illustrator: Sean Murphy
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Todd Klein
ONE BIG EPILOGUE
Joker might have been responsible for terrorizing Gotham, but you weren’t necessarily making it better.
Due Batman: White Knight has been such a rush during the previous months, I expected something better for the final issue…
…since it was like an “automatic pilot” issue, where everything runs as expected according to how the story was left in the seventh issue…
…also it was dissapointing that the conclussion was forced to get back to the status quo, at least about The Joker…
…but I have to admit that there were some good changes in how the things were being done in Gotham City from now on (in this parallel universe)…
…and certainly, due stuff exposed in previous issues and a key sentence here, you can figure it out about what will be about, the next volume…
…since I am sure that Sean Murphy (the author) will return to his great new Batman universe, that I read that it will be included into the incoming DC Black Label line of stories.
Don’t get me wrong, since Batman: White Knight is without a doubt one of the best things that you can read about Batman.
My complain isn’t about the whole storyline, but about the necessity of this eighth issue that I think it could be fit (with some editing) and making the miniseries in a seven-issue thing.
Merged review:
Batman: White Knight comes to an end!
This is the comic book issue #8 of the event “Batman: White Knight”, which it will be a miniseries of 8 issues.
Creative Team:
Writer & Illustrator: Sean Murphy
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Todd Klein
ONE BIG EPILOGUE
Joker might have been responsible for terrorizing Gotham, but you weren’t necessarily making it better.
Due Batman: White Knight has been such a rush during the previous months, I expected something better for the final issue…
…since it was like an “automatic pilot” issue, where everything runs as expected according to how the story was left in the seventh issue…
…also it was dissapointing that the conclussion was forced to get back to the status quo, at least about The Joker…
…but I have to admit that there were some good changes in how the things were being done in Gotham City from now on (in this parallel universe)…
…and certainly, due stuff exposed in previous issues and a key sentence here, you can figure it out about what will be about, the next volume…
…since I am sure that Sean Murphy (the author) will return to his great new Batman universe, that I read that it will be included into the incoming DC Black Label line of stories.
Don’t get me wrong, since Batman: White Knight is without a doubt one of the best things that you can read about Batman.
My complain isn’t about the whole storyline, but about the necessity of this eighth issue that I think it could be fit (with some editing) and making the miniseries in a seven-issue thing....more
This is the TPB collecting the issues #1-8 of the comic book event “Batman: Beyond the White Knight” plus the two-parter of “BatmIt’s Beyond Time!
This is the TPB collecting the issues #1-8 of the comic book event “Batman: Beyond the White Knight” plus the two-parter of “Batman: White Knight presents Red Hood”.
Creative Team:
Writer & Illustrator: Sean Murphy
Writer for Red Hood two-parter: Clay McCormack & Sean Murphy
Illustrators for Red Hood two-parter: Simone Di Meo & George Kambadais
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Colorists for Red Hood two-parter: Dave Stewart & Simone Di Meo
Letterer: Andworld Design
STILL A MASTERPIECE BUT…
While this third entry of the White Knight is still a masterpiece compared with many other stuff in the comic book market, and as you could see I gave it a full 5-stars rate, it’s the one that I found more stuff to critize or that I’d like to be handled differently.
This is where Batman Beyond (the Murphyverse version) enters and I was expecting that Terry McGinnis would shine to the top but the story (including the complementary two-parter) keeps wasting time on Jason Todd and frankly that doesn’t add anything of value to the main story, even you can take out Jason Todd of the equation and basically you get the same story.
On the side-story book about Harley Quinn, set between Curse and Beyond, Bruce Wayne shows that not matter he was on prison, he still keeps tabs on anything relevant happening on Gotham City, however, here Bruce Wayne is totally ignorant that Derek Powers took over Wayne Enterprise and even rename it, along with not knowing about how the lives of his “family” were doing all this time, and I felt that it was like a continuity issue, since not matter he asked that nobody would visit him anymore at the prison, he is Batman after all, and Batman always knows what is happening in Gotham City.
Derek Powers is one of the best managed characters in the story, but I didn’t need that he’d become Blight, while logical to the evolution of the character, he was more interesting and intimidating as a ruthless and smart CEO than a radioactive monster.
Duke Thomas took the mantle of Robin and while it was an idea of Sean Murphy since the first book that he didn’t implement then, I think that now in the third book where the character is way old, it’s kinda weird to be a Robin, in my humble opinion and it’s not like he is cooler just because becoming a Robin, since Duke Thomas is a cool character on his own.
And while Jackie, Harley and Jack’s daugher has a prominent role in the story, Bryce is left aside not doing anything relevant here.
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE
Bruce Wayne has been on prison for like 10 years and now the GTO is keeping the peace using police state protocols even causing a separation from the GCPD, putting Commander Dick Grayson and Commisioner Barbara Gordon in opposite sides of how to uphold the law, there wasn’t a Batman for all that time…
…and now Gotham City will have TWO!!!
Terry McGinnis is being manipulated by Derek Powers to find a special Bat-suit, the “Beyond” suit, that Powers need for “The Project”, and once Bruce Wayne found out that what was his company now it’s managed by Powers, he got out from prison using another Bat-suit (one that uses low-tech and not electronics becoming kinda invisible for the city’s futuristic sensors).
However, Bruce Wayne won’t be alone…
…since a microchip on his brain will bring it a holographic Jack Napier!!!
That it will be quite useful in this now high-tech Gotham City, since this new Jack is having one heck of hacking habilities.
In the middle of that, Harley’s daughter, Jackie found out the truth of how Jack died and she goes in a teenage rampage that it will be stopped soon enough by Derek Powers, manipulating her for his own agenda.
And Sean Murphy already set key elements for the fourth entry of this White Knght saga, expanding the Batman universe to the rest of DC universe but in Murphyverse style.
This is the TPB collecting the issues #1-6 of the comic book event “Batman: White Knight presents Harley Quinn” plus the one-shot of Noir Puddin’!
This is the TPB collecting the issues #1-6 of the comic book event “Batman: White Knight presents Harley Quinn” plus the one-shot of “Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red”. This is set to be read after “Batman: Curse of the White Knight” but before of “Batman: Beyond the White Knigth”.
Creative Team:
Main Writer: Katana Collins
Consultant Writer: Sean Murphy
Illustrator: Matteo Scalera
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Andworld Design
Covers: Sean Murphy (artist) & Matt Hollingsworth (colors)
QUALITY PREVAILS!
I was worried about this spin-off of Batman: White Knight since it wasn’t a project done entirely by Sean Murphy as in the case of the main trilogy (so far) of White Knigth, because it was clear that this saga had been something quite personal by Sean Murphy in writing and artwork…
…BUT…
…I am truly glad of telling you that this TPB is the same as good as the main trilogy, where Katana Collins developed an engaging case to be solved by Dr. Harleen Quinzel; and Matteo Scalera presents an art style quite similar to the one of Seam Murphy, but adding an aquarel-like original finishing.
Therefore, this spin-off is the same as relevant to be read as the main trilogy, and it’s enjoyed the same as much.
GOLDEN AGE STARS FALLING
Two years after the events of Batman: Curse of the White Knight, Gotham City is safer as never before thanks to the GTO, but also because Azrael killed a lot of the main super criminals during his chaos spree, it’s when a mysterious character only known as The Producer is planning to fill the now empty spots of villainy with new rising criminals, and his first project is Starlet, a female murderer with the fetiche of killing golden age movie stars in melodramatic ways.
The FBI is involved and its criminal profiler, special agent Dr. Hector Quimby, is quite interested to get the consulting of Harleen Quinzel for the murders (along with the assistance of the GTO (mainly Duke)).
Harley isn’t too thrilled to get involved in the case (worrying about opening old wounds) but the pay will be useful since now she is mother of Jack Napier’s twins (Jackie & Bryce (named after (obviously Jack Napier) but also Bruce Wayne (the two main men in her life))).
Harley is struggling with her role of mother that she knows that she wasn’t cut to be a mom, but still she does her best to assume the role (along with the priceless assistance of her beloved hyenas).
In the case will be a golden age movie star that any Batman Animated fan will be thrilled to watched involved.
Harley soon enough will find out that this case is too close to her fellow partner FBI agent Dr. Quimby (for several reasons) doubting if she can trust him or not…
…and in a Gotham City without the protection of Batman, it seems that it will be up to Harley Quinn to do her best to face this new criminal menace.
This book is a tie-in prose novel of “Star Trek: The Original Series”.
GOOD BOOK BUT PREDICTABLE MYSTERY
This is a Star TElementary, Dear McCoy!
This book is a tie-in prose novel of “Star Trek: The Original Series”.
GOOD BOOK BUT PREDICTABLE MYSTERY
This is a Star Trek story but using a detective angle since Captain Kirk must investigate a couple of murders in not other than the Vulcan Academy Hospital…
…and the clock is ticking since Spock’s mother can be the next victim!
I enjoyed a lot reading this novel but since the beginning my prime suspect was at the end the real culprit (no, I won’t spoil it) and it’s not like I am such great detective but I guess that after reading Sherlock Holmes and Hercules Poirot, a murder mystery at Star Trek wasn’t the challenge that I expected.
However, as I told you, this a very well written book, where you can appreciate it as a “sequel” to the events of the classic episode “Journey to Babel” and “Amok Time” where you can enjoy to read how Sarek is already comfortable with Spock’s decision to go to Starfleet but also how Kirk and T’Pau can understand each other after their lastest clash. Also it’s cool to have Dr. M’Benga at least as a minor character here (that since his cast role in Strange New Worlds, he became a popular character) interacting a bit with Dr. McCoy.
An Enterprise crewmember is mortally wounded and his only option is an experimental medical procedure at the Vulcan Academy Hospital and since the Enterprise will be on repairs for several weeks, Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy take the crewmember to be attended there, but soon enough patients are starting to die at the Hospital and the unthinkable is happening…
…murders at Planet Vulcan!
And since Vulcan society isn’t used to have such violent crimes anymore, there isn’t any police force able to handle such kind of investigation, so Captain Kirk needs to become a detective.
This is the TPB collecting the issues #1-8 of the comic book event “Batman: Curse of the White Knight” plus the one-shot oThe Murphyverse expands!
This is the TPB collecting the issues #1-8 of the comic book event “Batman: Curse of the White Knight” plus the one-shot of “Batman: White Knight presents Von Freeze”.
Creative Team:
Writer & Illustrator: Sean Murphy
Illustrator for Von Freeze one-shot: Klaus Johnson
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Andworld Design
THE LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE!!!
After the huge success of The White Knight by Sean Murphy, opening the path to the new line of DC Black Label and fans talking about a “Murphyverse”, it was only logical to have a sequel and due the first one was so good, it was understandable if the second one wasn’t that good…
…BUT…
…it was the same as good!
Sean Murphy showed in the first White Knight his love for Batman, the Animated Series and Batman ‘89, still keeping that, in this second volume of the saga, he showed his influences of the rest of 90’s Batman films but also the 90’s comic book event of Batman: Knightfall, clearly showing his modern influences about Batman, making him a banner in a new generation of writers/artists for the universe of Batman.
Which one is better? Well, I think that’s losing time and enjoy both stories, since it’s like saying that “Empire Strikes Back” is better than “A New Hope” but you can’t have “Empire” without “New Hope”, you need one for the existence of the other, and while it’s clear that the whole Jack Napier thing in the first White Knight was managed awesome and you could say that the new antagonist isn’t that well psychologically developed, the bets in the second story are higher, Sean Murphy isn’t afraid of doing what’s needed for the whole picture of the story, taking true advantage that he has his own comic book universe, and the status quo in the Murphyverse is shaken so much that you have to recognize that Curse of the White Knight is as enjoyable and well written than the first entry of this modern masterpiece of the comic book industry.
KNIGHTFALL REIMAGINED
The Joker is back in prison and Jack Napier is inside of clown’s mind again, however Jack Napier did so much and exposed so much in the first entry of the story that Gotham City can’t be the same anymore…
…and that’s something that the rich elite can’t afford so The Napier Initiative needs to be stopped and if Batma doesn’t cooperate…
…well, he will need to be stopped too!
ENTER: AZRAEL aka Jean-Paul Valley
However, Sean Murphy reimagined this and offers a better solution to the eternal problem of Knigthfall…
…why Bruce Wayne chose a total stranger like Jean-Paul Valley as his successor over better choices like Dick Grayson?
And Sean Murphy did it quite easy, since the idea of a new Batman isn’t taken by Bruce Wayne but the very rich elite that needed a better pawn to keep Gotham City under their leash.
However, that it will the peak of the iceberh since the very existence of Jean-Paul Valley means to Bruce Wayne more than he ever imagined since in this reimagination, Jean-Paul Valley isn’t a stranger to the legacy of Gotham City!
Bruce Wayne, Harleen Quinzel, Jack Napier, James Gordon, Barbara Gordon and the entire Gotham City won’t be the same after the shaking events of this monumental story.
Also, you’ll get in this TPB a great chapter about the past of Victor Fries’ father under the regime of the Nazi Third Reich.
This a self-contained prose novel which is part of the original “Fear Street” book series
EMBRACE YOUR LIFE
Nicole isnIndeed a gripping reading!
This a self-contained prose novel which is part of the original “Fear Street” book series
EMBRACE YOUR LIFE
Nicole isn’t thrilled about how is her life nowadays and her best friend Lucy comes with an unexpected proposition…
…switching lives!
It seems that there is a “Changing Wall” (obviously it’s located on Fear Street) and if you jump along with somebody else over the wall, kapow! Your minds interchange bodies!
Nicole doesn’t medidate it much and embrace the proposition and interchange lives with Nicole… …but soon enough she’ll discover that it was the worst mistake of her life…
…that even it’s not longer her own life!
A HITCHCOCK ON FEAR STREET
This novel, Switched, you can find it on several lista round figuring between the best books by R.L. Stine and I now I know that it deserves to be on those lists since it’s a grippin’ reading that you just can’t put the book down trying to figuring out what the heck is happening.
Nicole soon enough is trapped in a Hitchcock-style thriller where bloody shocking things are falling around her and she can’t trust in anyone, always on the run, trying to understand what the heck is going on.
You are the same as lost as Nicole, but in my case, at certain point I started to suspect what is happening since I already read a decent bunch of R.L. Stine’s books where similar plots are implemented.
My only complain is where you reached the twist in the story, you realize that the story wasn’t that bloody as you think it was at the initial narrative, and I can’t understand why doing it in that way since in other books of Fear Street lines, R.L. Stine isn’t any shy about the amount of blood spilled along the plot.
If the body count was as I initially think it was, geez! Easily this book could positioned itself as the best R.L. Stine book that I read, but since it wasn’t the case, still the book was an awesome reading and I enjoyed it a lot and while it won’t reach the number one spot, it certainly there is still between my own top ten favorite books by R.L. Stine so far.
If you are wondering how the heck I could read in 1987, an edition published in 2009, well Elementary, dear fellow readers!
THE GREAT DETECTIVE
If you are wondering how the heck I could read in 1987, an edition published in 2009, well you don’t need to hire Sherlock Holmes to solve this mistery, the solution is quite simple, I read the entire collection of Sherlock Holmes back there in 1987, if you check my “Sherlock Holmes” shelf, you will find the separate books there, and even a two-volumes edition that I bought later too, but I needed one single edition to use it in my “favorites” shelf since I felt that I needed to show it there and this one was the best one that I found in Goodreads, also it was quite difficult to choose just one book above the rest, so I decided that this one was the best available option for my purpose.
It’s obvious that not all original Sherlock Holmes stories have aged well, even it’s not a matter of aging but that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ideas have been adapted in other works so much that some of his mysteries aren’t that great nowadays, but still Sherlock Holmes is the basic example to follow for any author interested in developing detective novels, bute ven the basis for developing characters out of the usual “nice person” since Sherlock Holmes was a character with as many flaws as virtues, making him a real human being along as an extraordinary detective able to analyze evidence like none other, always under the critic eye of his companion, Dr. John Watson, his most relevant link to humanity....more
I had great expectations of this book since I’ve heard that Holly Jackson is quite popular authoI expected something better
GOOD BUT OVERWORKED
I had great expectations of this book since I’ve heard that Holly Jackson is quite popular author. I know that I should begin with her most iconic saga of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (that I plan to read in the future) but since that was three novels and a novella, well I thought that it could be easier to engage in this stand-alone book.
It’s a good book but I think that some twists are overworked or too far-fetched. I won’t spoil and it’s kinda hard to explain my thoughts about the book without spoiling stuff, but I’ll do my best to explain.
The book has an entertained narrative style, so you are kinda hooked to the book while reading.
The characters could be better developed but they are easy to understand and to follow. The reason of why they’re in trouble is too easy to pinpoint right since the beginning, and while there several twists at the end impossible to guess, I think they’re impossible to guess since they’re quite far-fetched.
Redford “Red” Kenny (easily one of the oddest names to a female character that I’ve met) is traveling in a RV with her five friends: Maddy Lavoy (her best friend), Oliver Lavoy (Maddy’s brother), Reyna (Oliver’s girlfriend), Simon Yoo (RV’s owner) and Arthur (Red’s romantic interest). They’re travelling a lonf distance and when they’re in some woods, soon enough they are trapped and a mysterious sniper man demands that all of them must say their inner sins or they’ll be shot.
The premise is basic but it works, and most of the development is fairly good, but you guessed since the beginning why they’re being stalked, but the twists are so far-fetched that you can’t really appreciate the climax.
This is a stand-alone prose novel which is part of the “Fear Street Super Chillers” book series
LOVE, FAMILY & FRIENA Bloody Valentine indeed!
This is a stand-alone prose novel which is part of the “Fear Street Super Chillers” book series
LOVE, FAMILY & FRIENDSHIP
In this horror novel set on Valentine’s Day (actually covers two Valentine’s Days) you’ll get to know how intense are the feeling involving romance, family and friendship, where they’re put to the test just too much while dealing with a difficult situation.
The McClain sisters, Josie, Rachel and Erica, along with her good friend Melissa went to a horse stable and there was a terrible horse accident leaving Rachel with a mental problem where she needs to be attended at all times, even more troubling since Josie just doesn’t do her part to take care of Rachel.
Josie isn’t popular due her hard temperament which leaves the field to start to receive Valentine’s Day cards with awful threats, and the suspects are everywhere since Josie isn’t an easy person to treat.
I have to say that I didn't feel any empathy for Josie during the reading since while she tries to jutify why she isn't never around to take care of Rachel, I just didn't buy her.
I totally liked this novel and certainly is already one of my favorites by R.L. Stine since it’s quite entertained, and certainly isn’t easy to know who the culprit is, since there are several characters showing odd behaviors.
If you’re looking for a different kind of Valentine’s Day story to read on the season, definitely this one is a winner.
This is the fourth novel of the “Lockwood & Co.” book series
THE COUNTRY, FULL OF FRESH AIR AND… GHOSTS!!!
Lucy Carlyle is no Ghosts everywhere!
This is the fourth novel of the “Lockwood & Co.” book series
THE COUNTRY, FULL OF FRESH AIR AND… GHOSTS!!!
Lucy Carlyle is no more with Lockwood & Co. and she’s trying to pay the rent as a freelancer, even with big companies like Rothwell Agency, but it’s clear that maybe that’s a big company but that doesn’t mean better personnel and she has to emply all her cards to keep herself alive in the job.
Lucy deals with the illegal traffic of Sources that they were supposed to be destroyed but they end in the black market, and in the middle of that, she lost her most valuable paranormal possession, the Whispering Skull!
Lucy is missing her days at Lockwood & Co. but she won’t need to do that anymore since A.J. Lockwood himself presents at her door asking for her freelance services, and while she doesn’t know what to feel to work again with her friends, she accepts the offer.
Lucy then joins A.J. Lockwood, George Cubbins, Holly Munro, along with Quill Kipps, to go to a small town with big ghost troubles, where it’s clear that Rothwell Agency is doing some kind of mischief.
The biggest ghost there is The Creeping Shadow giving title to the novel.
Along with paranormal issues, they will face a nasty corporate war, where some of the leading ones aren’t who they supposed to be.
I won’t get deeper in the story since it would spoil the ending but I can tell you that the fourth book is as good as the previous ones in the series and definitely I recommend it!
This is the third novel of the “Lockwood & Co.” book series
NETFLIX DECIDED FOR ME
I wasn’t sure to engage the third book,The stakes got bigger!
This is the third novel of the “Lockwood & Co.” book series
NETFLIX DECIDED FOR ME
I wasn’t sure to engage the third book, not because I wasn’t enjoying the book series, but because it was possible that if I read the book, I wouldn’t get any surprise when I’d watch the second season of the Netflix TV adaptation, however…
…Netflix decided to cancel the series!
I don’t know why they take such decisions, since terrible TV series get more seasons but a cool and engaging TV series like Lockwood & Co. is canceled. At least, unlike other interesting TV series like Archive 81 that got canceled too, in this case I can find out what happens next thanks to the original book series.
Still, books or not, I am still sad of not being able to watch the next seasons of what could be a wonderful TV series.
SOMETHING BIG IS COOKING AT CHELSEA
A.J. Lockwood, Lucy Carlyle and George Cubbins are quite busy with cases all around in London but curiously enough while there is a major ghost outbreak at Chelsea, they hadn’t been asked to participate yet by DEPRAC there, however since they are barely been able to handle all their cases, their residence is suffering of poor attendance and Lockwood decides to hire a new assistant, not matter that Lucy is against the idea.
ENTER: Holly Munro
She is the first book canon dark skinned character while in the first (and seems only one) season of the TV adaptation there were several afro-american portraits of characters.
She was supposed to take care of the operations at the house but soon enough Lookwood asked her to help them at the field.
Lucy is quite jealous of her, since she seems to be all that Lucy would want to be. It doesn’t that the Skull in the jar enjoys to tease Lucy about Holly.
George is noticing that the quantity but also the intensity of the ghost cases that they are handling is quite unusual and it’s clear that all are connected to whatever is happening at Chelsea…
…and you can guess that he isn’t wrong since something really BIG is cooking at Chelsea, in a building that it was the center of several massive deadly incidents but there is something else boosting the intensity of the ghost activity, something familiar to Lookwood & Co. but is a larger scale.
In a side-story, Lockwood finally showed to Lucy and George what was behind a locked door in their house (AJ Lookwood’s family house) and it’s connected to a very personal Lockwood’s family tragedy linked to a ghost attack. (I’m not get into more details to avoid real spoilers)
The third book is as good as the two previous ones and definitely I recommend it!
This is the second novel of the “Lockwood & Co.” book series
FROM PAGE TO SCREEN
This second book was adapted into the first seHere we go again!
This is the second novel of the “Lockwood & Co.” book series
FROM PAGE TO SCREEN
This second book was adapted into the first season of Netflix TV series, most specifically in the episodes 4 to 8 (therefore episodes 1 to 3 were the adaptation of the first book).
While the first book was quite accurate adapted into the TV series, the second book got some differences in its adaptation but nothing deviating too much from the general impact, even including some new elements giving a little more of richness to the action.
Some differences (and without making any spoiler, don’t worry) are that like the character Albert Joplin in the book is treated as a female character in the TV series with the name of Pamela Joplin, but essentially the same character; Flo Bones has a more excentric personality in the book than in the TV series (at least that’s my personal perception), there is a new character exclusive from the TV series (at least he doesn’t appear in the first two books, maybe later I don’t know yet) known only as The Golden Blade; Lockwood & Co. engages into a wager against Kipps’ team but in the book is less impacting where if some team loses they have to publish an add giving acknowledge of the superiority of the other team while in the TV series they put in risk keeping on business (if I am remembering well), that after all, the wager isn’t of any consequence in the narrative anyway.
SKULLS & BONES
The book begins where the short story The Dagger in the Desk left off but you get enough info the second entry about the initial situatio, therefore isn’t necessary to read the short story to understand the beginning of the second novel of the book series.
Lockwood & Co. ends his job at the private school but needing the assistance of Quill Kipps and his team from Fittes Agency (most prestigious Ghost Hunting agency in England).
After that Lockwood & Co. got a job at a cemetery (that I can tell you isn’t any fun to do Ghost Hunting in a British cemetary during “The Problem” since almost any tomb can unleash a dangerous ghost if his/her death was violent), where they have to deal with a corpse that there isn’t record of why he was buried there and most important the ghost is a very dangerous type and in possession of a dark mirror (becoming a high profile target for relic hunters from all London). The mirror is lost from custody and the quest for it becomes a large part of the narrative, where Lockwood contacts a friend of his named Flo Bones, a ghost-related rlice hunter, but also they clash against the Winkmans, a extremely vicious and dangerous relic hunter marriage.
Lucy is able to hear a skull in jar (hence the title of this second book) that George got from his previous job at Fittes (not that they are aware of that) and the skulls is a high level ghost with astonishing intelligence and ability of communicating (but only Lucy due her “listener” gift is able to hear him) and the skull becomes a crutial help to the investigation but keeping at their toes since Lockwood & Co. knows that they just can’t trust in him.
This second book is also as good as the first one and I totally recommended it.
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