Already Gone is the first book of the Laura Frost FBI series by Blake Pierce: a virtual factory of female, police procedural, serial killer investigatAlready Gone is the first book of the Laura Frost FBI series by Blake Pierce: a virtual factory of female, police procedural, serial killer investigations. Pierce is usually very good at creating a sympathetic lead with intriguing affectations that make a reader cheer for the investigator. In this first novel introducing this character, Pierce is unsuccessful. Laura Frost is prone to psychic visions and has elected to not share this with her partner. This, as one would imagine, is not conducive to a trusting work relationship.
Already Gone is a fast-paced novel of approximately 200 pages. In my opinion, it's far too short. There is insufficient characterization. I actually despise the main character. I don't understand how her partner would elect to continue working with her, when she really steamrolls over him without any consideration whatsoever for his opinions or thoughts. Frost, in fact, doesn't explain her process when electing to do something different from her stated next move. Her partners expecting a zig when she decides to zag.
During the investigation of a serial killer, Frost continuously is getting visions of a murderer's intentions. The visions are painful brain spikes that are sometimes physically crippling, which strikes me as the point in time that you communicate to your partner, "Sometimes I get visions of the killer we are hunting. Those visions are painful, so when you see me buckle, or cry out in pain, I'm kind of vulnerable. I might need you to watch my back when that happens."
Of course, Laura Frost is fearful of her gift. She is a recovering alcoholic and has even been "cured" of her disease by quacks. There are reasons why she is untrusting and maladjusted. However, her partner is practically a saint. Hopefully, Frost finds some equilibrium in her career, or else she will never get her daughter back. ...more
The Filigree Ball is a slow-burn, murder mystery, written way back in 1902 before Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and all of our great mysterThe Filigree Ball is a slow-burn, murder mystery, written way back in 1902 before Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and all of our great mystery writers had a chance to create their signature detectives. Anna Katherine Greene is considered the "mother of detective novels." I've reviewed her work previously, but this one is significant for its realistic portrayal of police procedure within the American milieu circa 1900. It is truly a classic in such a regard.
Here, our MC police officer, relays a weird mystery that he participates in the investigation, telling it in first person, where he witnesses the flash of a light in a manse that is shuttered due to its poor reputation. Several individuals have met their end within its doors. As he moves through the house, he finds that the house has claimed another victim. The dead body is of Veronica Moore, the owner of the house who had recently married within the walls.
The mystery navigates a complex plot involving the socialite who's wedding had been complicated by the discovery of a previous dead body. There are, of course, the usual trappings of a murder mystery, but she initiates some of what become mystery tropes herself like red herrings, courtroom questions and answer drama, and a confrontation ripe with intrigue.
Christie focused on illuminating British aristocratic culture. Green was focused on affluent American political culture. I found the story a definite slow crawl, but worth the narrative creep with intentional investigatory exploration via the q & a process. The novel unfolds through testimony and evidence to reach a satisfactory and unique (to me) conclusion. Good read....more
Unmasked is a unique murder mystery, Book #1 from the De-Extinct Zoo series written by Carol Potenza. The novella has a bit of a Jurassic Park vibe, aUnmasked is a unique murder mystery, Book #1 from the De-Extinct Zoo series written by Carol Potenza. The novella has a bit of a Jurassic Park vibe, along with an Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, out-of-her element, scientist as sleuth. I liked it a lot, except for the length of the story. It is too damn short.
Dr. Ludmilla (Milly) Smith is a veterinary doctor working at a Pleistocene BioPark, one of only two in the world, where her chief responsibility is tending to the newly created megafauna. Dinosaurs might have at one time been made extinct, but they have now been made De-Extinct. When dental surgery for one of the megafaunas was required, she and her team walked in prepared. Small problem, there are several people on the team with axes to grind.
Milly commences the surgery, but when the giant cave bear being operated on, wakes before the completion of surgery, emergency protocols are initiated. Sometime during the ensuing hubbub, Milly experiences a knock to the head. When she awakes, a member of the surgical team is dead, and the cave bear is the culprit. However, Milly insists that the animal was simply the murder weapon, and because she cares for the animal, she will find the actual killer regardless of who the actual killer might be.
I like the story pacing, but I really did not enjoy the story-length. I usually want more, but here there was plenty of room for depth. Characterization of the cast would have given more space for red herrings, misunderstandings and exploration of idiosyncrasies. I'm fully aware that this is just the first story in a series, but a quirk is introduced, and that affectation is never explored. The quirk would have given the reader an insight into Milly's character that was missing....more
Although I thought that Aunt Death would be a scarier read, I am satisfied that the novel written by Michael Richan provided enough tense moments whicAlthough I thought that Aunt Death would be a scarier read, I am satisfied that the novel written by Michael Richan provided enough tense moments which did not behave as, nor rely on haunted house tropes. One of my pet peeves is that all too often these narratives depend on knockings and creaks to take the place of actual peril and scares. There are few of those here.
Aunt Death is a horror novel tied to a paranormal mystery. Troy was just one of the nephews and nieces that liked the weird aunt with the Victorian house. Little did he realize that the aunt he favored, harbored similar feelings for him. When her will was read, all the other relatives shared in a monetary inheritance, while Troy received the house. The house is a taxidermist's museum, with shelves littered with bones and skins.
Troy was not certain whether he was receiving a gift or a responsibility. Aunt Scarlet clearly had some idiosyncrasies that pervaded the house, not to mention a roommate that also had a heart attack on the same day and at the same time as Aunt Scarlet, only Aunt Scarlet died, and Lida recovered. Along the way there is the possibility of paranormal encounters, unique characters, and some thoroughly cringy moments of horror.
Despite my enjoyment of this book, I don't wish to overstate the scares in this novel. This does not qualify as hardcore horror in my estimation. It has scares and gross outs. Far more enjoyable is the paranormal mystery aspect, along with the exploration of familial relationship dynamics, and how people often get exactly what they deserve....more
Bed and Breakfast and Murder is the Fiona Fleming series opening novel written by Patti Larsen. The story is prototypical of most cozy mystery novels Bed and Breakfast and Murder is the Fiona Fleming series opening novel written by Patti Larsen. The story is prototypical of most cozy mystery novels with a standard small-town setting connected with a business (cafe, bookstore, hotel, or bed and breakfast as in this case). Another thing that is pretty standard for cozy mysteries is the busy body investigator. Such is the flaw in this book and probably the series (although I can only speak to this book) Fiona is not such a great protagonist.
Here, Fiona Fleming is the owner of a Bed and Breakfast that she received when her grandmother died called Petunia's, named after her grandmother's dog and hotel mascot. Fiona feels privileged to have the place. It gave her the excuse to leave New York City, after finding out that her ex was cheating, and doors were closing. She returns to Reading, Vermont, the town of her childhood where Mom and Dad still live.
Owning Petunia's seems like the perfect place to turn the page on previous failures. However, when her inheritance is questioned by a local developer, and that developer turns up dead, Fiona learns that moving to Reading may not be the fresh start that she envisioned. Especially worrisome is not just the dead body on her property, but the fact that the prime suspect turns out to be Fiona. Can she clear her name, figure out who else wanted the developer dead, and why?
I like cozies when they are well done, but I really hate that the main character (usually the novice, non-professional armchair investigator) is usually a nosy neighbor. I've read some very good ones (cozies, I mean) where the MC is involved due to very organic story elements. Bed and Breakfast and Murder starts that way, but when Fiona is cleared early on, she has no business pursuing a resolution. Most people would consider their names cleared AS resolution. That is where my presumption of believability ended. So, my rating is just good as opposed to something better,...more
Most guys I know tell me that I know tell me that they don't care too much about cozy mystery novellas like these, but I will point them in this direcMost guys I know tell me that I know tell me that they don't care too much about cozy mystery novellas like these, but I will point them in this direction. Sure, Darcy does one of my least favorite character traits. She abdicates responsibility for her actions sometimes by claiming that she just has to. That is the stupidest reason in the world to do something. It means that you don't have agency o your own actions. Ugh!
Now, with that caveat out of the way, there are many more reasons to like this boxed set. The first being that it is a boxed set -- more bang (more stories) for your money. For the most part Darcy is likeable, interesting, with affectations that make her believable despite the paranormal elements.
Darcy is the owner of a bookstore, who also gets inclinations from beyond, little psychic nudges that compel her to specific investigatory actions. In the first novella, Darcy's cat plays a significant role in helping her become involved in the investigation, when she finds her best friend's corpse. From there, we learn that her sister, a police detective, has an attractive new partner. The sparks fly in disparate ways.
The characters are strong, likeable, and believable. There are strong psychic, paranormal vibes that permeate the books, but I didn't find them overly deus ex machina obnoxious. Some cozies, unfortunately make the paranormal a crutch for ghost stories. Emrick recognizes IMHO that first and foremost, these are mysteries, and she gives them that priority. I liked them a lot except for my tiny caveat. Entertaining....more
This is definitely an early Dean Koontz thriller read in one sitting the first time I borrowed it from the library when I was ten or eleven years old.This is definitely an early Dean Koontz thriller read in one sitting the first time I borrowed it from the library when I was ten or eleven years old. I remember my little brother pestering me to play with him that Saturday, and I told him I was busy. Since he was one year younger than me, he noticed how swept away I had been and borrowed it when I was done. He handed it back to me the very next day having finished it himself.
Shattered is a quick paced, amazingly short, Koontz, horror, thriller, stalker-slasher novel. The story basically involves a road trip from Philadelphia to California. Alex Doyle married Courtney who is the big sister, and guardian of Colin. Courtney flew to California in order to prepare the house that they are moving into, so she is really ancillary, but for one little thing. Her ex-boyfriend has decided to pursue her husband and brother to kill them on the road.
The man and boy are bonding throughout the character-study, when the stalker shows up. There are a few moments that are like the horror movies "Duel" and "Joy Ride", but those are too fleeting, if you ask me. The road trip could have had more instances of stalking and slashing, but like I said earlier, this is a quick-paced novel light on the meandering.
I really enjoyed the story, back then and even more now, but I still would have preferred more. I almost always do. I really believe that this is one of the books that Koontz built his thriller book reputation on. You don't want to miss this one. Available on YouTube as a free audio book....more
If you follow my reviews, you know I love Dean Koontz, and double Dean Koontz is even better, but if I didn't think he wrote compelling stories I woulIf you follow my reviews, you know I love Dean Koontz, and double Dean Koontz is even better, but if I didn't think he wrote compelling stories I would say. These are top tier stories although only one is really horror (The City) and the other is more uplifting coming of age. They both contain scary elements, but one works at scares, while the other is more incidental.
Innocence is a kind of mystical allegory that weaves beautifully lyrical music and verbiage with dream imagery to create a fable that skirts the fantastical into a fairy tale that has merit IMHO as a master work. Addison Goodheart and Gwyneth are a perfect Romeo and Juliet that have tapped the magic of traveling secret tunnels, putrid sewers, and the central library at night. Although things might appear safe while they stare into each other's eyes, there are always dragons looking to make their presence known.
Koontz rarely writes in first person, so immediately The City had a distinct, old-time flavor to the narrative which was being relayed by a 57-year-old, black, musician. I swear that I felt like I was sitting on the porch listening to Lou Rawls with that mellifluous yet reverberating baritone voice narrating salient moments of his career. I admit that during the final 100 pages, autumn hay fever kicked in and I had a difficult time reading the pages through the blurring vision of my allergies. Koontz is masterful at manipulating emotion, I mean allergies.
Either one of these novels is worthy of the five stars individually. Much more when you can get two high-quality Koontz novels for the price of one. This is a high recommend. If you feel I've steered you wrong, please let me know. Even more if I put you on a really smooth and entertaining path to two good novels....more
If I were a person that could write a quick review, I would say, "Disappointing!" Then, I would move on and never again think about this book. HoweverIf I were a person that could write a quick review, I would say, "Disappointing!" Then, I would move on and never again think about this book. However, succinct was never my jam. I am a teacher / preacher writing a review. There must be context, in order for you, my friends, to decide if anything here might interest you in a literary sense.
The Murder Game starts off in essence like a generic murder mystery. However, very quickly, the novel demonstrates a creative storytelling device of the dual timeline: flashing forward or back every other chapter. Our MC, Meredith, is a Canadian prosecutor with ten years' experience when she gets a blast from the past. Former schoolmates have run into a spot of trouble, and she must prosecute the case.
In the past, the schoolmates argued purely as a rhetorical exercise as to what it would take to get away with murder, and the murder accusation ten years into the future looks surprisingly similar to the plan devised by them as law school students. The story follows a very paint by the numbers mystery that winds up being not-very mysterious.
Overall, the characters are not very likable. Meredith is weak. When she appears to be strong, she is enacting trauma on a current relationship due to a past relationship that has returned to the picture. She still goes weak at the knees for a douche bag that holds no promise of change. She should have recused herself from the case due to her familiarity with the players and avoided the drama of trying to return to the past. An OK read, but not much more than that....more
All Night Long Is the third book in the Burke and Blade mystery series written by Michael Lister, a very talented writer who has written several ongoiAll Night Long Is the third book in the Burke and Blade mystery series written by Michael Lister, a very talented writer who has written several ongoing series and has kept them going over the course of years. Burke and Blade are not just a pair of Private Investigators, but siblings, products of the foster care system. In fact, the reason they formed their partnership was in response to a missing sibling that disappeared.
Lucas Burke is an explosive white, man (ex-con) with the day-laborer's ability to repeatedly work the investigation until he discovers the truth. Alix prefers to be called Blade. She is a black lesbian who has been traumatized enough to secret knives on her person, usually dressing in black leather to protect her body from scrapes and cuts. She is usually silently watchful, observing the questioned for nuances of misleading answers. She is also the person you want on your side during a physical encounter.
Although, Burke and Blade specialize in child abduction cases, one of their siblings (they have numerous kids they cohabitated with while in the foster system) that works for the sheriff's department has called them to become involved in the disappearance of a friend's fiancé. Brooklyn Hill was celebrating her bachelorette weekend when she failed to return from a pub crawl. Her fiancé is going nuts to find her, believing that harm has come to her.
Burke and Blade get involved to help out a sibling, but they have problems of their own stemming from previous cases. Burke's hair-trigger temper has him very close to returning to lockup, and it is believed that Blade killed a former girlfriend's abusive lover. Evidence is pointing to her actions and she's not talking.
Clearly, I love this series. Michael Lister is a great manipulator of emotion....more
There are many reasons that the word "disappointment" comes to mind when considering The Lair of the White Worm, not the least of which is that this iThere are many reasons that the word "disappointment" comes to mind when considering The Lair of the White Worm, not the least of which is that this is the final book written by Stoker the year before his death in 1912. I, also, don't consider it one of the worst novels ever written. I think the novel has merit, although I was extremely bothered by it.
Those of you familiar with my reviews would recognize as consistent that I believe that a writer's work is sacred even if said writer was a racist, misogynist, villain. If the work was published (my thoughts go) somebody liked it, and thought it had value. Fleming's work should go untampered with, regardless of Bond being a misogynist, Dahl being an @$$#013, and Lovecraft being a racist. Here, the N-word is used so often that I actually felt battered by it (which never happens.) So, I offer a Trigger Warning for those who may require such. I usually am not that sensitive, but here the word seemed officious and unnecessarily repetitive.
Adam Salton has made his fortune in Australia, when his elderly, British great-uncle, Richard Salton, contacts him to visit the estate to establish a relationship. They are the last of their family and the elder wants to make the younger his heir. When Adam arrives, he very quickly becomes embroiled in the town happenings, which are mysterious, macabre, and intriguing. His uncle's friend, Nathaniel de Salis has been serving as a guide of the environs when small town drama encroaches on the Saltons.
The Saltons have some strange neighbors trying to hook-up and Adam has set his eyes on one of the women in the love triangle, there's a black servant, Oolanga who is a troublemaker, a white worm monster, explosives to die for, and a scary, fun climax. Pretty good, although it takes a winding road to get there....more
First off, caveats: Lister is a go-to author for emotion-tapping stories. If you want to have ugly-cry moments, Lister can help with that. He taps intFirst off, caveats: Lister is a go-to author for emotion-tapping stories. If you want to have ugly-cry moments, Lister can help with that. He taps into the viscera of connecting with other humans, and how sometimes we are most unkind to those we love. IMHO, this is a fine Lister novel, with Lister doing what Lister does best.
The Night in Question is Book #2 in the Burke and Blade Mystery series. Burke and Blade are Private Investigators who specialize in missing children. They were foster children formerly unrelated, but became siblings bonding in the crucible of a system that repeatedly exacerbated their trauma.
Burke is a white ex-con, suffering from anger management issues, but extremely protective of his sister Blade. His ride-or-die. Blade is actually named Alix but prefers the name Blade because she's partial to knives. She is a black lesbian, who enjoys wearing leather clothing, and seems the more hair-trigger of the two, but not always. One of the reasons they formed a partnership is to find a disappeared foster sister.
Here, Burke and Blade are tasked by a millionaire to find a little girl who walked out of her home on a stormy night carrying a backpack. Her parents were passed out, inebriated from a swinger's event and so waited until the following day to report her missing. The case has gone cold over the years, but the millionaire neighbor has decided to use his financial resources to help with the child's recovery.
Good story. Fascinating characters. Cool partnership. Strong addition to the series....more
I really have enjoyed this Michael Lister Box Set. I read the first novel before, so I was familiar with the characters and his writing style. The triI really have enjoyed this Michael Lister Box Set. I read the first novel before, so I was familiar with the characters and his writing style. The trilogy was pretty strong. Lister has a great grasp of his characters, and although they behave in self-destructive ways sometimes, I enjoy the drama.
Lucas Burke and Alix Baker are adults who were foster siblings as children. They are not just brother and sister; they are best friends who have dedicated themselves to finding disappeared children. Their Private Investigator partnership is augmented by their other foster siblings who have their own careers but are disposed to help.
The first two novels involve the supposed abduction of a mother and infant daughter disappearing during vacation and the disappearance of a little girl during a hurricane while her parents were attending a hurricane party. Both of those stories are emotionally heavy due to the victims being children. Those novels are: The Night Of, and The Night in Question respectively.
The last novel involves the disappearance of a soon-to-be bride during her bachelorette party at a bar in All Night Long. I like the stories. Lister writes in a way that is emotionally impactful. The relationship between Burke and Blade is more ride or die than most blood siblings. I loved this collection which was available for free when the collection was recently published....more
The novel would best be described as a paranormal mystery with similar beats to the Frighteners, The Sixth Sense, and Necroscope. The trope is tried aThe novel would best be described as a paranormal mystery with similar beats to the Frighteners, The Sixth Sense, and Necroscope. The trope is tried and true, possibly overused, but I'm not sure that this is the element that caused my lowered rating.
Jo Wiley is an American who has chosen to live in Slovenia. She owns a teahouse with a close-knit circle of friends who sometimes share intimacies that make them closer than friends. When one of those "more than friends" is murdered during a party, Jo finds herself emotionally shattered. She thought that she had created a barrier against such emotional complications.
Exacerbating her turmoil is the discovery that she has had a latent ability to communicate with the dead. When she is visited by her former lover, the doorway to the paranormal is blown open and the restless dead require that Jo help them find resolution, because the possibility exists that they were killed as a consequence of their proximity to Jo.
The novel is not a poorly communicated story. The problem lies in the derivative nature of the MacGuffin. It was just OK, but I gave it the third star because of the exotic locale of Slovenia....more
I was 16 when I had my first real girlfriend. She and I were both readers, and because we only saw each other on weekends, we talked on the phone everI was 16 when I had my first real girlfriend. She and I were both readers, and because we only saw each other on weekends, we talked on the phone every day. She had read this book called Flowers in the Attic and asked me to read it. The name of the book was dumb, to a 16-year-old dude. However, I was learning that when your girl asked you to do something, it was a good idea to comply. Her intention was to use the book as a conversation piece, and boy was there a lot to talk about.
When I read about the horrors inflicted on these children, I was grateful for the opportunity to read it. It was chilling. Most fascinating for me was the fact that there is no monster in the book. Not in the sense horror fans typically mean. Sure, the grandmother behaves in monstrous ways, but she's not a monster, not really.
A tragedy occurs to separate a family of six. Father dies in an accident; mother with very few work skills must go home to her parents with her four children. There is a reason that the Dollanganger children are called abomination by grandmother; why they must hide in the attic like little mice. There is a family secret, a legacy doomed to be repeated, and the grandmother, serving as jailer, turnkey, and executioner watches ever vigilant of her youthful wards.
This is horrifying in a realistic way. I don't do spoilers so I will end this here. My rating reflects the fact that I read this wearing my nostalgia goggles, but I told you why. I recommend this book. There were times my allergies kicked in and I had to remove them goggles....more
Caveats first. What I expected from this novel was your standard prototypical FBI, murder mystery, police procedural investigation, and what I receiveCaveats first. What I expected from this novel was your standard prototypical FBI, murder mystery, police procedural investigation, and what I received was so much weirder and better. Think Scully and Mulder, and you might approach what Scudiere has done with the first book of the NightShade Forensic Files series. Mystery, Horror, Police Procedural make a nice blend like pasteurized milk.
Here, a hospitalized agent is prematurely signed out of a hospital, because a case requiring her unique skillset has hastened her discharge. She has been partnered with a former coroner who also has a distinct set of skills. They both believe that the FBI is unaware of these special skills, but in fact the NightShade division intends to capitalize on those idiosyncrasies.
Eleri and Donovan have partnered to find missing children, investigate a cult, and the cult leader who seems to be way worse than other cult leaders. Along the way, the investigation becomes way darker when Eleri gets a possible "kill" order from her boss, and she begins to recognize that she is not completely aware of the NightShade mission statement.
I really got an X-Files vibe, throughout. The supernatural, paranormal touches didn't smash you over the head with the oddity. I think the subtlety added to the believability. I will not spoil the spooky bits so that a reader might be surprised spontaneously, although the paranormal is predictable IMHO. I enjoyed it and might check out more from this series when I thin my TBR a good bit more....more
On the Knife's Edge is a compilation of three novels, all of which are paranormal mysteries, involving various aspects of investigation and things thaOn the Knife's Edge is a compilation of three novels, all of which are paranormal mysteries, involving various aspects of investigation and things that go bump in the night. The stories are all just OK tales that want to be better, but the stories all individually and collectively, fail. In a paranormal mystery, one of the most important things the writer must overcome is disbelief, and having three successive are a bridge too far.
Under Dark Skies has two unique FBI agents team up to investigate a cult leader, his flock, and the farm that they call home. Although the story is strong, and the characters are interesting, their similarity to Scully and Mulder are too on the nose. It kept interfering with the joy.
By the same token, the second book called Bluff City Butcher, is not just a hunt for a serial killer. The story is so complex that the writer must split the novel into four parts. It involves a "fountain of youth" type of medical situation bordering on super soldier chemistry.
Who By Water involves a regular person (Jo) that can communicate with the dead. Because the recently deceased are familial contacts, Jo feels impelled to investigate the murders. As you may see, these novels are really more derivative. It is really Bluff City Butcher that stands alone as more of an original story. I wish the author would have figured out a less complex way to tell that story.
Therefore, I can only give a rating of good for this compilation....more
This is a claustrophobic, apocalyptic, horror novel cloaked in mystery that begins to slowly elucidate not just the main mystery as to a cosmic dust tThis is a claustrophobic, apocalyptic, horror novel cloaked in mystery that begins to slowly elucidate not just the main mystery as to a cosmic dust that is affecting the world, but also how it has caused an extinction level event that plays out in a rock venue / club. Although I am unfamiliar with the author, I felt he had a good grasp of the escape room / apocalypse mash-up blend that creates this fascinating and fun dichotomy.
The six main characters are trapped in the New York City nightclub called the Academy when the apocalyptic event occurs. For weeks a cosmic dust has swept across the Earth affecting people in disparate ways. Some have respiratory issues, but most have a redness that is causing heavy peeling and even a cocooning side effect by the most serious cases. Fully a quarter of the world population is undergoing the transformation.
This was supposed to be Dani Pellerino's break out Punk Rock moment, but the world crisis has caused most people to want to stay home, and anyone that was planning on attending is impeded by a worsening situation that causes the bar staff and Dani's support team to stay inside the venue. Of course, at a certain point, the entire plot descends into a zompoc narrative that turns highly gory, and bloody graphic. Being locked into a club also gives a taste of claustrophobia that exacerbates the scares.
The escape room, puzzle aspect also gives a unique tinge to the suspense. Really fun book that I feel happy to have picked as a read....more
Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy is the first novel of the Amanda Lester, Detective series which overtly tries to homage young detective stAmanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy is the first novel of the Amanda Lester, Detective series which overtly tries to homage young detective stories like the Nancy Drew series, the Hardy Boys, and mash them up with Harry Potter's Hogwarts. (Berinstein cites that J. K. Rowling is a favored author so is it a stretch to believe that the secret detective school in the United Kingdom might be connected by some common threads?) The entire enterprise amounts to a good, fun, intriguing read, but for me it ends there.
Amanda is a twelve-year-old who not only knows what she wants to be when she grows up, but she is taking strides toward making the dream a reality. She wants to be a filmmaker, and she along with her theatre group have already made a few movies, established industry contacts, and are tossing around ideas for a new film to be released at a film festival as an entry for an award when her parents put the kibosh on that. Amanda has been accepted at a secret boarding school in the United Kingdom for wannabe legacy detectives.
One minor problem falls on the idea that Amanda does not wish to become an actual detective despite being a descendant of Lestrade, the infamous detective from the Sherlock Holmes novels. Point of fact is that the Lestrade ancestry embarrasses her. Unfortunately, she is twelve and twelve-year-olds do not command their own destiny. So, she acquiesces to being shipped off and finds the school fascinating and her skills may actually amplify her abilities as a detective.
Amanda attends class, makes friends with other students from her house, is just about to learn about a class project when a dead body is found, an explosion occurs, and another dead body is found. The story makes sense, but a suspension of disbelief must happen along the line. I don't know. If I'm to be honest, Hogwarts seems more believable. I'm not sure that I would send my sons to this school. The characters at this school are twelve and there's a lot of death and horror. It was a sore spot.
Good story, but I'm concerned about the age appropriateness of the subject matter. Hence that's why I'm calling it right down the middle with three stars. That's not bad, but I guess I'm a little old-fashioned with the content....more
I usually initiate my reviews with caveats as to why I rated the book a certain way. It seems like a useful way to begin. I have found that the opinioI usually initiate my reviews with caveats as to why I rated the book a certain way. It seems like a useful way to begin. I have found that the opinions on this book are varied between my circle of friends, but my opinion is not. I loved this book but understand why some do not. I will not reveal that reason here because it would require a spoiler and I do not do that.
The Haunting of Winchester Mansion revolves around a couple with a blog. Bodhi and Bailey Taylor move into a huge manse in Black Bay which they bought on the cheap to renovate, update, and sell it. Their extensive labors are documented in their blog, providing them with income regularly from the blog, but also when they flip the house. This is their fourth or fifth project.
Since the death of their daughter, they have experienced a restless lifestyle of transience because their marriage is imperiled by this heavy, weight hanging like a sword of Damocles. In addition, the Winchester house appears haunted, and Bodhi and Bailey can ill-afford to fail to flip this house. The murder mystery that ensues is intriguing with fascinating little satellite stories, red herrings, and dead ends.
The plot is good, although it is not completely original. The characters are endearing, although Bodhi is someone I originally disliked. (He grows on you.) There is pathos. (Of course, there is. They lost a child.) The ghost interactions contain moments that are truly horrific with some possession, blood, and gore, so a heads-up about the nauseating elements which honestly seems to be a staple tool in the Alexandria Clarke literary toolbox.
Winchester Mansion is a strong addition to Clarke's growing library. This one was a kick in the feels, and that hurt a lot physically and emotionally....more
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