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R13: SS Team 13 - 13 Going To 1st
Week 5, Spot 24Book Read: An Antique Murder by Norman Russell
Date Read: 02/20/22
How it Fits: This book is number 2 in the Oldminster series
Rating: **
Pages: 188
Review: The main characters here are British detectives in a small village. The village contains a senior citizens home for retired British actors, and several of the actors resident here have had stellar careers. One such man (at age 94) was found stabbed in the heart in his bed with a Nazi dagger. He had apparently anticipated his death and sent a local private detective a sum of money, along with papers, photographs, and memorabilia to investigate his death and bring his killer to justice. Too much more and it would spoil some of the twists and turns to this. I have to say, though, that I am sorry that I chose this one. I had read book #1 of this series and enjoyed it, but though I may try one more, I probably will not do so.
Thanks, Jeanne; I've added your review. It's sad that it was only a 2* read.
Just a reminder that Friday is coming up fast, Please try to get reviews in by tomorrow night, if possible.
If not, Friday is certainly fine as long as it's before 11:59 Central Time.
Here's a link to our List so far: Master List
Week 5 , Spot 24BOOK:
Mother LoadDate Read: 2/23/22
How It Fits: #4 in series
Pages: 190
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Anna and Lily met during a horrible earthquake. Many things have happened since that moment. They are trying to deal with the countries economic recession which really impacts Anna luxury car dealerships. Lily has to deal with problematic clients where she works as a lawyer. Sometimes its hard for them to find a decent balance between home and work. I still love their chemistry together. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.
Thanks, Alex! It's been added to the Master.
I just realized after I finished a book that they change the order of book from 4.5 to 5 in series. Sad, but lucky I found some short book which can fit for second in series and that is Mia. I will start to great it tonight and tomorrow will be done before deadline
That's a bummer, Darkness; sometimes the numbering system is a little crazy.But I'm glad you found another book! I'll look for your review tomorrow before 9:59 PM California (my) time (11:59 Central).
Week 5, Spot 24
The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
Date Read: 02/23
How it fits: #2 in series
Pages: 160
Rating: ****
Review: As usual, fantastic plot from Mr. Doyle, despite all the racism!
New thing I learned thanks to this book: in Victorian England, children of the urban poor who weren’t clean enough and wore raggedy clothes were called “street Arabs” even if they were 100% English 😳
My apologies, I finished this a few days ago, but had a few hectic days and couldn't remember that I needed to post except when I only had access to my phone lol
Week 5 , Spot 24
Mia
Date Read: 25.2.2021
How It Fits: #2 in seriea
Pages:187
Rating: 4
Review:
Mia always feel strange and she feels like she dont fits with other pople. Things happend and peopel came she feels big connection to two of them. They told her she is dragon and they are here to get her and got her to her sister Ice who is mc in first book. Steffan is good friend with Nataniel who is mate of Ice and Steffan promised him that he will protect and bring him Mia. He feels this connection but he wabt to be alone he dont wan to be mated again. Aiden dont want her after all Mia is from clan who he hates and he is afraid if he dose end up mating them taht he will eed to say home and not exploring . All of them want to be free.
Bouchra wrote: "My apologies, I finished this a few days ago, but had a few hectic days and couldn't remember that I needed to post except when I only had access to my phone lol"Thanks, Bouchra! I'm adding it in a couple of minutes.
Our next roll is 31Read a series book #1 or #3 or 31
Alternate 31: Set on an island
If we get the reviews in before deadline on Thursday night we can earn a free pass, always good to have just in case.
Here is the write-up about the Free Pass:FREE PASS
✸ Teams will have a chance to earn 1 Free Pass to roll. To earn your free pass your team has to complete their reads a day before the next roll (i.e. 11:59pm Thursday). Once your team has done this you will have 1 free pass. The free pass will allow a team to roll if they are missing a review(s) before the cutoff. Once you've used it, you can't earn another one. It's a one-time shot. NOTE:
✸ The free pass may not be used for the win.
✸ If the player whose review the free pass is covering for has already previously missed a deadline, they must submit the missing review within one day after the deadline if they wish to retain their place on the team.
Master List - Week 6, Roll = 31Meg - Murder, Plain and Simple review 4*
Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) - Ash review 3*
Bouchra - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder review 5*
Darkness - Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer review 4*
Jeanne - The Bloodied Ivy review 4*
Delitealex - Shadowshaper Legacy review 4*
Reading
#3 in series 320 pages
My library hold for
came in so I'm going to read that one instead. Book one in the series and is 264 pages.
Meg, after agonizing over so many alternatives, I have finally chosen The Tomb of Genghis Khan by Preston William Child. It is Book 1 (272 pp) in the Order of the Black Sun series. Have no idea how this will go.
Thanks, everyone! i'll get the list updated by tomorrow.
I'm going to be reading A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. Excited for a new series and interesting modern murder mystery after all those Sherlock Holmes books :)
Sorry Meg, I'm changing to The Bloodied Ivy by Robert Goldsborough. I've been an avid fan of Nero Wolf since I was a senior in high school (not saying which decade that was, of course) This is Book #3 by the author who has adequately taken over after Rex Stout's death, and one I haven't read. So I think I will enjoy this a lot more that good old Genghis Khan.
Jeanne wrote: "Sorry Meg, I'm changing to The Bloodied Ivy by Robert Goldsborough. I've been an avid fan of Nero Wolf since I was a senior in high school (not saying which decade that was, of course) This is Book..."No problem! I've only read the 1st Rex Stout so far, but I have the second one on the tbr for the spring.
Lol on the decade of high school. I won't say, either, so you have company there.
Week 6, Spot 31
Ash by Malinda Lo
Date Read: 2/27/22
How It Fits: #1 in the Ash series
Pages: 264
Rating: ★★★
Review: I really liked the plot of this and it is a very interesting retelling of Cinderella. The character of Ash was fine. Definitely not as fleshed out as she could’ve been but she was a character that I had no problem rooting for her. The writing was fine but there was something missing for me that didn’t quite make this a four star read but for what it is it’s a quick and fairly enjoyable read. Nothing special.
Week 6, Spot 31Book: The Bloodied Ivy by Robert Goldsborough
Date Read: 2/27/2022
Pages: 195
How it Fits: This is Book #3 by the author who has adequately taken over after Rex Stout's death, and one I hadn't yet read.
Rating: ****
Review: Professor Hale Markham rules Prescott University like an intellectual tyrant—until the morning he's found dead at the bottom of one of Prescott’s well-known ravines. The local police rule the death accidental. One professor, mentored by Professor Markham, became convinced that Markham was murdered, and found no listeners. Nero Wolfe, needled by his assistant, Archie Goodwin, to take the case, examines jealous professors, an emotionally involved graduate student assistant, and a university president with an ego of immense proportions. Every liberal on campus hated the man, but the question was, which one was responsible for giving the professor the final push. As in most Nero Wolfe novels, when he has solved the case, he invites all relevant parties to his home (including the police) and proceeds to produce the answer.
I enjoyed the book, but it was obvious that it wasn't written by Rex Stout. Rex published 47 Nero Wolfe books and his style seems to be difficult to imitate.
Wow, guys, this is awesome! I'll get the list updated tonight. I'll be finishing my book on Tuesday; I have a couple other challenge books that need to be done by tomorrow.
Darkness wrote: "Can this work Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer or that 1 its standalone,?"It looks like a standalone book, so it should work!
The way the rule is written is "Standalone books can be used for a 1 or a 0." I apologize, I should have said that when I announced our roll!
No i was wondering for secon is it will no work bc its nonfiction idk why but agin it was 4h in morning. And my questing is weird
Mod
Denise wrote: "Just to confirm: Yes, it works. Doesn't matter if it's fiction or nonfiction. :)"Thank you!
I've changed my book this week...I read
Murder, Plain and Simplel instead, #1 in series with 369 pages.
Week 6: Roll 31
{book:Murder, Plain and Simple|18457024]Date: 03/01
Pages: 369
How It Fits: Book 1 in series
Rating: 4
Review: Angie Braddock leaves Texas and her career behind after a broken engagement. She and her bird-fearing French bulldog, Oliver, head to Amish country in Ohio, where she used to live as a child and where she has inherited her late aunt's quilt shop. At the store reopening a boorish neighboring Amish store owner claims that he legally owns her shop.That night he is found dead in her storeroom. To take the heat off herself as possible lead suspect and to provide the sheriff with other suspects she starts to question different townspeople. In the process of inadvertently uncovering the murderer she reignites old friendships, forms new ones, and meets up with some periodic hostility.
This was a well written mystery with well-developed characters. I enjoyed the mixed population of Amish and English, and how, for the most part, they were able to coexist. I loved poor Oliver, who only knew life in the big city and now must contend with obnoxious farm geese and "stalker" backyard birds. For one of the few times ever I was able to figure out the killer partway through the book, but it was still an enjoyable journey to the end. I had a couple of small quibbles but not enough to interfere.
Hey, all, just a reminder that Friday is coming up fast! Still looking for three more reviews.Master List
Week 6 , Spot 31
Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer
Date Read: 2.3.2021
How It Fits: #1 standalone
Pages:304
Rating: 4
Review:
This book is about Ted Bundy who is a serial killer and he is talking to this reporter about his life and about murders. It's not too gruesome like it doesn't talk a lot about their death. For me, I think the tv show that adapted this book was better bc we could sow how he is and we have the original tape in the tv show which we don't have in this audiobook which I listen so that is disappointing but in the same side, we have some stuff which is not in tv show so it kind off gives you more to it bc this is just tapes, not other stuff just tapes. So you are kind of listening to a serial killer talking about himself and about murders. You kind off get into their mind but not fully bc he is not telling the truth
Thanks, Darkness! That is one creepy, scary guy.
Week 6, Spot 31Title:
Shadowshaper LegacyDate Read: 3/3/22
How It Fits: #3 in series
Pages: 320
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Sierra Santiago and her crew have been through so much and learned so much. I enjoyed learning more about her family. I was happy with how things ended. There were many twists that helped me not to lose interest. Definitely made me want to read Older's adult series set in the same world.
Hi everyone, sorry I’ve had a bit of a hectic week. I’m going to finish my book tonight so I can post first thing in the morning.
Meg wrote: "Thanks, Darkness! That is one creepy, scary guy."Yes, he is. The sad part is that he had a wife who trusted him and believed how he don't do it.
Darkness wrote: "Meg wrote: "Thanks, Darkness! That is one creepy, scary guy."Yes, he is. The sad part is that he had a wife who trusted him and believed how he don't do it."
That's heartbreaking for the wife.
Bouchra wrote: "Hi everyone, sorry I’ve had a bit of a hectic week. I’m going to finish my book tonight so I can post first thing in the morning."Ok, sounds good! I'll check for it then.
Week 6, Spot 31
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Date Read: 03/05 (just past midnight for me here)
How it fits: #1 in series
Pages: 433
Rating: *****
Review: Fantastic, fantastic book. It has been a while since I read a book where the murder plot thickened so much that I was confused as to who it might be, until it actually said so in the book.
I loved Pippa, she’s totally the kind of person I would be best friends with, and I loved the dynamic between her and Ravi. I’m used to all kinds of strange murder twists, and I had a hand over my heart worrying about whether Ravi might turn out to be the killer, but I’m really glad he wasn’t.
I don’t remember the last time I gave a book five stars. This is hands-down an original plot and really good storytelling.
My apologies for the delay, Meg. I tried to stay up last night to read but couldn’t, and wasn’t feeling so good this morning.
It's all good! I'll add your review and roll!Please feel better; a lot of people seem to be getting sick again.
Btw, I've put your book on my wish list!
Our next roll was an 8, so new totai = 39Read a book #3, #9, #39, or
Alternate 39: Three Word Title (excludes articles like A, An, The) Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone
Go team 13!!!
Master List - Week 7 - roll 39Meg - Fields' Guide to Voodoo review 5*
Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) Ophelia After All review 3*
Bouchra - City of Veils review 3*
Darkness - Lilly review 4*
Jeanne - Trio for Blunt Instruments review 5*
Delitealex - Love Lost review 4*
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Thanks! I didn't like it but it was a quick read. LOL."
😄🤣😄