Devoted in Death (In Death #41) By: J.D. Robb

devoted-in-death

Devoted in Death (In Death #41) By: J.D. Robb

Plot:

When Lieutenant Eve Dallas examines a body in a downtown Manhattan alleyway, the victim’s injuries are so extensive that she almost misses the clue. Carved into the skin is the shape of a heart—and initials inside reading E and D . . .

Ella-Loo and her boyfriend, Darryl, had been separated while Darryl was a guest of the state of Oklahoma, and now that his sentence has been served they don’t ever intend to part again. Ella-Loo’s got dreams. And Darryl believes there are better ways to achieve your dreams than working for them. So they hit the road, and when their car breaks down in Arkansas, they make plans to take someone else’s. Then things get messy and they wind up killing someone—an experience that stokes a fierce, wild desire in Ella-Loo. A desire for Darryl. And a desire to kill again.

As they cross state lines on their way to New York to find the life they think they deserve, they will leave a trail of evil behind them. But now they’ve landed in the jurisdiction of Lieutenant Dallas and her team at the New York Police and Security Department. And with her husband, Roarke, at her side, she has every intention of hunting them down and giving them what they truly deserve . . .
Review:

Who doesn’t love a good spree killing story line? The entire book was very fast paced edge of your seat with few breaks. There is enough bad in the In Death universe that I didn’t know who was going to live or die which is a good thing. I did think that because of the nature of the spree killers that whenever Eve and Roarke had sex it was kind of weird. I get why she did it, it’s expected for them to bang like bunnies, and she was trying to show the differences between the good guys and the bad. Still it felt a little weird to me.

Whatever, I’m taking a break from the series for a little bit before finally catching up on the series.

4/5

Ghostbusters (2016)

ghostbusters-2016

Ghostbusters (2016)

Director:

Paul Feig

Starring:

Melissa McCarthy

Kristen Wiig

Kate McKinnon

Leslie Jones

Plot:

Following a ghost invasion of Manhattan, paranormal enthusiasts Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann, and subway worker Patty Tolan band together to stop the otherworldly threat.

Review:

Finally got around to watching this since I wasn’t able to see it in theaters. My husband is a huge fan of the first and had no desire watch and while I do love the first the idea of this was still appealing to me.

The beginning started off with promise but it quickly grew boring for me. McCarthy and Wiig were themselves as Ghostbusters and it honestly wasn’t that funny. McKinnon was either not crazy enough or too crazy, I’m not sure which. Jones was probably the only character that didn’t annoy me at any time during the movie, though I wish she’d pointed out more often just how weird the others were. The less said about Hemsworth’s character the better.

Looking for reviews and opinions on this movie was difficult, especially when talking with friends. People either felt it raped their childhood because no movie could ever compare to the first, or they acted like having an all-female cast was the worst idea ever or that it was just a money grab, or they thought it was amazing because it was an all-female cast. It was difficult to get an opinion on the movie that wasn’t clouded by a whole host of other things.

I wanted to like it because I like the actresses and I like the idea, but I didn’t find it funny, which made me sad. I thought the pacing was off at times and the continuity editing was 90s era WB bad. I really felt like this could have been so much better with just a bit more work.

I liked when it didn’t try and copy the original and could have done without the few call backs there were, though I do think it could have done with a montage in the middle to liven things up like the original.

It would take more time than I care to use to try and figure out what could have fixed the comedy for me, but every now and then I could see something better shine through which just makes me all the more disappointed.

2/5

Obsession in Death (In Death #40) J.D. Robb

obsession-in-death

Obsession in Death (In Death #40) J.D. Robb

Plot:

Eve Dallas has solved a lot of high-profile murders for the NYPSD and gotten a lot of media. She — and her billionaire husband — are getting accustomed to being objects of attention, of gossip, of speculation.

But now Eve has become the object of one person’s obsession. Someone who finds her extraordinary, and thinks about her every hour of every day. Who believes the two of them have a special relationship. Who would kill for her — again and again…

With a murderer reading meanings into her every move, handling this case will be a delicate — and dangerous — psychological dance. And Eve knows that underneath the worship and admiration, a terrible threat lies in wait. Because the beautiful lieutenant is not at all grateful for these bloody offerings from her “true and loyal friend.” And in time, idols always fall…

Review:

Sometimes you want a nice normal futuristic sci-fi mystery, other times you want something a bit more dramatic. Now this wasn’t clones or off planet stuff, but it was certainly dramatic with a great conclusion.

There weren’t a multitude of red herrings, in fact for most of the book the suspect was an almost complete unknown. It was exciting and kept me wondering just how many people would have to die to get to an answer.

5/5

Festive in Death (In Death #39) By: J.D. Robb

festive-in-death

Festive in Death (In Death #39) By: J.D. Robb

Plot:

Eve Dallas deals with a homicide—and the holiday season—in the latest from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Personal trainer Trey Ziegler was in peak physical condition. If you didn’t count the kitchen knife in his well-toned chest.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas soon discovers a lineup of women who’d been loved and left by the narcissistic gym rat. While Dallas sorts through the list of Ziegler’s enemies, she’s also dealing with her Christmas shopping list—plus the guest list for her and her billionaire husband’s upcoming holiday bash.

Feeling less than festive, Dallas tries to put aside her distaste for the victim and solve the mystery of his death. There are just a few investigating days left before Christmas, and as New Year’s 2061 approaches, this homicide cop is resolved to stop a cold-blooded killer.

Review:

I love a Christmas setting so I was excited to read this book. The fact that it was another relatively normal case with no world shattering outcomes was also welcome, however when things started to wrap up I felt dissatisfied. Eve really pushed the person she thought the murderer was and it never felt right. It didn’t feel right for her character or completely for the murder. The motive was there and the personality of the person fit, it just didn’t click. Thankfully things were settled by the end, but I started to worry.

Lots of visits from other characters and a few emotional moments, so the character development definitely outshone the mystery.

4/5

First Among Sequels (Thursday Next #5) By: Jasper Fforde

first-among-sequels

First Among Sequels (Thursday Next #5) By: Jasper Fforde

Plot:

It’s been fourteen years since Thursday pegged out at the 1988 SuperHoop, and Friday is now a difficult sixteen year old. However, Thursday’s got bigger problems. Sherlock Holmes is killed at the Reichenbach Falls and his series is stopped in its tracks. And before this can be corrected, Miss Marple dies suddenly in a car accident, bringing her series to a close as well. When Thursday receives a death threat clearly intended for her written self, she realizes what’s going on: there is a serial killer on the loose in the Bookworld. And that’s not all–The Goliath Corporation is trying to deregulate book travel. Naturally, Thursday must travel to the outer limits of acceptable narrative possibilities to triumph against increasing odds.

Packed with word play, bizarre and entertaining subplots, and old-fashioned suspense, Thursday’s return is sure to be celebrated by Jasper’s fanatical fans and the critics who have loved him since the beginning.

Review:

I took a break from this series because the last book came to such a perfect and logical conclusion I didn’t really think I needed to read more. However, since I love the series and the characters so much I had to see what Fforde did next and I wasn’t disappointed.

This book takes place fourteen years after the last and Thursday’s life is solid, for the most part. You get to see her in a comfortable relationship with her husband and be a mother who mostly has her stuff together. Then you start to see how that’s not really the case and it’s all done in Fforde’s usual awesome style.

I’m not sure if this book added much to the world or really even the characters, but it was great to be back and I loved every minute of it. The next book doesn’t sound quiet as appealing so I’m not in a rush to read, but I know I’ll get around to it and one day.

5/5