Movie Review: The Christmas Quest

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Decent romance with good Christmas elements

Cons: The quest part of the plot is undercooked

The Bottom Line:

Iceland at Christmas

Treasure hunt does not quite work

Makes it average

“Is This Everyone You Imagined It Would Be?”  “No.  I Imagined You Being Chased by a Bolder.” “There’s Still Time.”

When I was looking at Christmas movies to record in 2024, The Christmas Quest caught my eye for a couple reasons.  The idea of a Christmas treasure hunt sounded fun, plus I was fans of the stars from their mystery movies.  Sadly, the movie didn’t live up to my expectations.

Stefanie (Lacey Chabert) has followed in her mother’s footsteps.  She’s become an archeologist who tracks down long lost or forgotten treasures.  Her mother spent years trying to track down one particular treasure, the legendary treasure of the Yule Lads.  She spent many Christmases in Iceland looking for it.

So when a stranger (Derek Riddell) shows up in Stefanie’s office saying he has a new clue for the Yule Lads’ treasure, she jumps in to find it.  However, it quickly becomes apparent they need an expert in the Norse languages, so Stefanie turns to her ex-husband, Chase (Kristoffer Polaha).  As the two follow a trail of clues in Iceland, will they find their old spark?

The problem with his movie was it didn’t quite know what it wanted to be.  Was it trying to be a typical Hallmark Christmas romance?  Was it looking to be a treasure hunt movie?  Did it even want to squeeze in Christmas elements?  It did the romance pretty well.  Some of the Christmas moments seemed genuine, while others felt forced into the story.  And the treasure hunt?  That was the biggest disappointment of the film.  It had the elements there, but they were all undercooked.  It was doubly disappointing since that was the main thing I was hoping to enjoy with this film.

I was also left wondering, given the theme of the movie, why was it Chase was okay with leaving his parents behind for Christmas to go off with his ex-wife?

This is really Lacey and Kristoffer’s movie, and they do a great job with it.  The rest of the cast all have very small parts.  They mostly work, although a few didn’t quite pull it off for me.

The real star here is Iceland.  Yes, the movie was filmed on location, and it makes you want to travel to Iceland.  Maybe not in the winter (I hate the cold), but it is absolutely beautiful.

I feel like there is a version of this movie that does a better job of balancing the elements so everyone is satisfied when they finish watching this movie.  But that’s not the movie we got.  If you want to fill 90 minutes, The Christmas Quest will do that, but don’t expect the quest to be an equal part of the story.

Book Review: The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper by Sally Carpenter (Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Mysteries #3)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Sandy and the rest of the characters in a fun mystery

Cons: Slow to start; one out of time reference

The Bottom Line:

Cruising for murder

Can Sandy find the killer?

Another fun book

Sandy’s Cruising Toward Another Murder

While the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Mysteries were on my radar for a while, I finally gave the first one a try last year, and I enjoyed it.  It’s been a delight revisiting him, and The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper, the third, was another enjoyable book.

As the series title implies, Sandy was big in the 1970’s, when he had a singing career as well as a TV show where he played a teenage detective.  But now, it’s 1993, and Sandy’s career has faltered, in part due to his lifestyle.  But newly sober, he’s trying to rebuild his life, taking any job his agent can book for him.

Which is how Sandy finds himself on a cruise ship.  He’s joined by his sister and a band, and his job is to provide two shows a night on a week-long Caribbean cruise.  It should be easy enough, right?  Complicating things is the dead body that Sandy finds in his dressing room the first night of the cruise.  The victim was part of another show on board the ship.  Sandy doesn’t feel like the cruise ship’s security is taking the murder seriously, especially if they consider him a suspect.  Can he figure out what really happened before the cruise ends?

The book gets off to a bit of a slow start, giving us more of the set up than we really needed.  Yes, some interesting subplots are introduced here, especially for Sandy’s sister, who is blind and had a very small singing career of her own.  It was still entertaining to read, but I do wish it were a little faster to get going.

But once Sandy finds the victim, the plot picks up.  There were plenty of great twists and turns to the story, and I was kept guessing until near the end.  Yes, I did figure things out a little before we were supposed to, but not by much.  And I’m not complaining, either, especially since I only knew the big picture.  Naturally, I found the ending logical, and I appreciated how all the details were wrapped up.

Since Sandy is rarely in one place for long, going wherever he can get a job, we are slowly getting to know about his world.  That’s definitely the case here since this is the first time we get to see him interact with his sister.  I really liked that relationship, and I appreciated how her blindness was used in the story and what it showed us about both of them.

Yes, Sandy is continuing to develop as a character, and I enjoyed seeing that again here.  We get a couple of supporting players who show up on the ship, one of whom is a bit of a surprise.  Not that I’m complaining.  The suspects were good as well.

I mentioned earlier that these books are set in 1993.  Unfortunately, the author drops in a pop culture reference for something that came later in the decade.  It’s just one line, but it did throw me.  Still, that’s a minor complaint.

Spending time with Sandy continues to be fun.  I’m glad there are several more books for me to read.  I can’t wait to see how else he finds murder on the comeback trail.  If you are looking for a fun cozy, you’ll be glad you picked up The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper.

Check out the rest of the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Mysteries.

TV Show Review: Home Improvement - Season 8

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Laughs with a good family sitcom

Cons: Randy really is missed, show is showing its age

The Bottom Line:

A cast departure

Sitcom still providing laughs

As the show bows out

“Couldn’t You Have Some Kind of Special Blooper Show?” “Dad Already One.  It’s Called Tool Time.”

By the time season 8 of Home Improvement originally aired in 1998 and 1999, I knew it was the final season before they officially announced it.  No, I don’t have any inside information or a psychic ability.  I could just tell they were running out of story ideas.  And an original cast member leaving certainly didn’t help.

If you’ve missed the show, it was a sitcom from the 1990’s and a huge ratings hit for much of the decade.  It featured Tim Allen as Tim Taylor.  His job was hosting Tool Time, a show on a local access station that talked about building, remodeling, do it your self projects, cars, and anything that would appeal to men.  His cohost on the show was Al (Richard Karn) with Heidi (Debbe Dunning) their assistant.

On the home front, Tim was married to Jill (Patricia Richardson).  They had three boys, Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan), Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), and Mark (Taran Noah Smith).  Rounding out the cast was the Taylor’s next door neighbor, Wilson (Earl Hindman) who used his knowledge of obscure tribes and ancient philosophers to offer Tim and Jill advise with whatever issues they were facing.

As I teased earlier, Randy didn’t stick around for long this season.  Jonathan Taylor Thomas wanted off the show to focus on his schooling, so they sent his character off to Costa Rica on an exchange program focused on environmental issues.  He did come back for the Christmas episode, but that was the last time we saw him.  We only saw him in flashbacks during the finale.  Honestly, his departure left a hole in the show since his character got some of the best sarcasm and laughs of the three kids.

In order to help deal with the character loss, Tim’s younger brother, Marty (William O'Leary) became a larger presence this season.  Still only a recurring character, Marty moves in with the Taylors after his marriage implodes, even bringing his twin daughters along for a few episodes.

Yep, a show bringing in young characters since their main cast is getting older.  A sign a show is going to be winding down.

Over the course of this season, Brad tries to focus on soccer and his grades so he can get a scholarship to college.  Jill works on her thesis to graduate with her master’s degree in counselling.  Al gets closer with his girlfriend, Trudy (recurring guest star Megan Cavanagh).  And, of course, we get another epic Christmas decorating episode.

Rewatching the earlier seasons, there is a clear formula to this show.  Tim does something stupid.  It causes an issue with Jill.  Wilson sets him straight, and Tim and Jill make up.  Fortunately, the show began to grow beyond that as it went along.  The boys growing up certainly helped.  Yes, we still get episodes like that in this season, but they aren’t as plentiful.  And Jill makes a few mistakes of her own that need Wilson’s help.  Could it have done better in not falling into the stupid man trope?  Yes.  But it was still better than it used to be.

While I’ve bemoaned the loss of Randy, the show was still very funny this season.  Yes, even when the show went for the obvious joke, the actors brought their best to it and made me laugh.  And there are some unexpected laughs over the course of the season.  Watch this season compared to some of what passes for sitcoms on TV these days, and you can tell that the genre is in serious trouble.  (Not all of the shows on today are bad, but a lot of them are.  That’s a topic for another review or two.)

The actors all know their characters at this point, and they work well together to bring the laughs out of the scripts they are given.  I enjoy watching the group of them together.

We even get some great laughs from the serious two parter when Jill has to get some pretty major surgery.

The show does delve into some more adult jakes than you might expect from a family sitcom.  Part of me wishes they’d left things cleaner.  On the other hand, most of these comes from Tim and Jill talking to each other, and I do appreciate them showing a couple that is married and still attracted to each other.  And, compared to most of what was on TV then and definitely what is on today, the show is still fairly tame.  Still, adults might want to brush up on what was on the show so they know what their kids might be asking them about.

Which brings us to the multi episode finale.  Officially, there are three episodes in the finale, which aired over two weeks, but I feel like the episode before the official finale should be included since it sets up the multiple episode arc.  It starts when new rules from Tool Time’s sponsor leads Tim to decide to quit.  Jill gets a job offer that would require the family to move.  And Al decides to get married.  One of those episodes is a clips show, but the rest all deal with these storylines.  I really liked how Tim handled Jill’s job offer.  Quite possibly the most mature he was in the entire run of the series, even if he did still have to get a nudge from Wilson.

In with the episodes on these discs is the original retrospective that aired immediately after the series finale back in 1999 with bloopers and interviews with the cast about the show.  This gets the episode count for the season to 28, all of which are preserved in this set in their native full frame and stereo sound.

In the way of extras, we get a season long blooper reel and a 45-minute reunion special that aired a couple of years later.  It just has Tim, Richard, and Debbie before a live audience introducing clips of the show.  Honestly, between that, and the clips episode of the show, we get a lot of duplicates.  Still, it is fun to watch.

While not one of my all time favorite sitcoms, there is a reason people look back at Home Improvement fondly.  While season 8 might not have the best episodes of the show, it still serves up plenty of genuine laughs before we leave the Taylor family.

Book Review: Frightened to Depths by K. B. Jackson (Cruising Sisters Mysteries #3)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Characters we love in another strong mystery

Cons: All cons frightened away

The Bottom Line:

Victim a werewolf?

Puzzling, fun mystery

With great characters

Nothing to Be Frightened About Here

It’s been six months since the release of the third Cruising Sisters Mystery, and the fact that I’m just now picking up Frightened to Depths is only a reflection of how many other books have been calling my name this year. It was certainly worth the wait since I enjoyed it. 

When this book opens, it’s been a year since Charlotte McLaughlin’s husband died, leaving her a cabin aboard a luxury full time cruise ship. No, she knew nothing about this cabin since it was where he’d meet up with his mistress and their child. But Charlotte and her sister, Jane, have moved in and enjoyed exploring the world in style. 

When Charlotte and Jane’s cruise ship docks for a couple of days in New Orleans, they run into an old crush of Jane’s. He joins them aboard the ship, along with a band reuniting with a former member. But when that band member is shot with a silver bullet under a full moon, Jane’s new beau looks like a suspect. After all, he is writing a book about New Orleans's werewolf legend. Will finding the truth cost Charlotte her relationship with her sister?

While the set up may sound complicated, the book does a good job of easing us back into Charlotte and Jane’s world while introducing us to the suspects and victim. It isn’t long before the murder happens, and the plot introduces us to some nice twists before we reach the logical climax. 

Even though we are on a cruise ship, we don’t see too much of some of the supporting players. It was a bit disappointing, but only a small disappointment. The main characters are all here, and I appreciated the growth we saw in some of their relationships. The suspects were just as strong, and did their job keeping us guessing perfectly. 

I have to give a special shout out to Charlotte and Jane’s relationship in this book. While the story is told from Charlotte’s point of view, Jane’s point of view is well represented. We understand where both of them are coming from as they try to navigate the strain they go through here. I really enjoyed it and what it showed us about both of their characters. 

The only thing I’m frightened of at the end of this book is that this might be our last visit with the characters. If Frightened to Depths does turn out to be the end of the series, fans will be happy with how they sail into the sunset. But I’m hoping we will get more with them. 

Movie Review: Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Home Again

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Strong story for Norman and Rita in the middle of intriguing mail mystery

Cons: Nothing worth bringing home

The Bottom Line:

Lost vase in the mail

Put POstables in action

Franchise still charming

“Is That a Joke?” “Maybe.”

I’ve never been one for binging a series because I find that I start to see plot points coming even sooner than I should.  (And yes, I’m watching these movies and writing the reviews much faster than I am putting them up on my blog.)  So I was pleasantly surprised when Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again managed to surprise me a couple of times on the way to the climax.

We joined the POstables with a couple of changes in their lives.  While The Mailbox Grill is no more, it’s last owner Ramon (supporting player Zak Santiago) has opened a new restaurant.  Meanwhile, their office has been moved.  As Shane (Kristin Booth) is trying to decorate their new office, she accidentally knocks a hole in the wall, revealing a hidden room with a stack of mail from 1999.  Sadly, the room has a leak in it, so the mail is damp and partially damaged.

But in the middle of the mail is a package containing what appears to be a valuable vase.  The gang quickly tries to figure out who sent it so they can return it.  Where will this lead?

Meanwhile, Oliver (Eric Mabius) must deal with the changes in his routine and Norman (Geoff Gustafson) tries to make a good impression on Rita’s (Crystal Lowe) parents when they arrive in town as a surprise.

I really do love all four members of this team, so it was nice to see Rita and Norman have a prominent storyline.  Oliver and Shane still feel like the leads to me, but the storyline with Rita’s parents is much stronger than those two often get.  While the ending was a bit predictable, it was still wonderful.

As I teased earlier, I didn’t find the main mystery predictable.  They zigged a couple of times when I thought they would zag.  Maybe some other day I would have picked up on those things early, but not today.  Yet, these twists were logical given everything else going on in the story.

As always, the movie is going to pull at your heart strings several times during the almost 90-minute run time.  But if you are watching this movie, it’s probably no surprise since almost everything this franchise has produced has had that effect on me.  It still doesn’t feel like manipulation, which is saying something.

Among the guest cast for this movie are Kim Delaney, Barry Bostwick, and Colleen Camp.  Whether a recognized name or not, the cast does a good job here, and I enjoyed seeing them bring this story to life.

Once again, this franchise will find you uplifted and encouraged.  That alone is reason enough to watch Home Again.  Combine that with character you can’t help but love and an engrossing story and you’ll be glad you spent time with it.

This movie is part of the Signed, Sealed, Delivered Movie Collection Volume 3.

July 6th's Sunday/Monday Post

Time again for a Sunday/Monday Post.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

I hope everyone here in the States had a good Independence Day.  The friends who host my monthly game day had some friends over.  Yes, we played some games, but just generally hung out.  Stayed way too late playing Mario Kart 8.  As in, I need to take a nap if I know what's good for me.

Other than that, this last week was month end close at work.  We should have closed on Thursday like normal (day 3), but there was an issue with the system, so we weren't able to.  It's been postponed until Monday, that is assuming the IT people get the system working again over the long weekend.  Definitely feel for them, but glad we got a bit of a reprieve.

Joke of the Week:

My friend kept nagging me about pretending to be a flamingo, so I had to put my foot down.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - June 2025 Reading Summary

Tuesday - Novella Review: Murder by Moonlight by Julie Mulhern

Wednesday - Movie Review: Jaws

Thursday - Book Review: Mistaken Identity Crisis by James J. Cudney

Friday - Movie Review: Jurassic World: Rebirth

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Movie Review: Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Home Again

Tuesday - Book Review: Frightened to Depths by K.B. Jackson

Wednesday - TV Show Review: Home Improvement - Season 8

Thursday - Book Review: The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper by Sally Carpenter

Friday - Movie Review: Christmas Quest

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

I've got some ebook deals to talk about this week.  Most of these are older deals I snagged, but they are all still on sale if you hurry.  At least they are as of Saturday afternoon.

This first one I just snagged on Saturday.  I've eyed Iris Crawford's long running series of catered murders for years.  But that's as far as I've gotten.  The first, A Catered Murder went on sale for 99 cents, so I couldn't pass that up.

You know what's better than that?  A freebie.  Body in the Books was featured Friday in a weekly email I get from an author about one of her friend's books that is on free.  This is the first in a series from Heather Huffman, and sounds good.  And it's hard to pass up free if it sounds good.

Next is A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina.  I wish I remembered how this one crossed my radar recently, but I went ahead and got it when the ebook went down to $2.99.  It featured an "old maid" of 26 in Regency England and sounds like it could be good.

Then comes Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose.  This is the first in a series about an heiress solving her grandmother's murder.  Yes, that can be quite depressing, but in this case, the book sounds more fun than series.  We'll see when I get a chance to read it, I guess.  Not passing up $2.99.

Next up is Off the Air by Christina Estes.  It's another debut from this year, and this time the main character is a reporter in Arizona.  And this one is still currently $2.99.

We jump to 99 cents with The Mysterious Case Missing Motive by Michele Pariza Wacek.  This series features a woman who winds up getting roped into helping her great aunt solve mysteries.  Sounds like it would be fun.

Finally, for $1.99, you can get The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood.  This is the third in his Marlow Murder Club series.  I loved the first and already bought the second, so I grabbed this while it was on sale.

This should keep me busy for a while.

What I'm Currently Reading:

I've barely started Killer Kung Pao by Vivien Chien.  Too busy having fun for the holiday weekend.  This is book six in a series I generally enjoy, so I'm expecting to like this one.  But I'm only one chapter in as I type this.  So maybe I'll post this so I can get some reading done.

Have a great week, everyone!

July 5th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Fox decided not to air new shows this week, which surprises me since the 4th wasn't until Friday.  But since that's about half of what I watch these days, my list is very short this week.

American Ninja Warrior – Bummed about Lance.  He’s another I always root for, although he’s not the most consistent on the course.  The brothers were pretty amazing.  Whenever they start talking someone up, it makes me nervous when they run, even if they are running last, when we typically get someone who finishes.  Speaking of which, I was so happy the woman who kicked things off finished.  It’s rare we see someone finish so early.  And yes, I do think they choose which order to show us the runs in.

The Librarians: The Next Chapter – It was nice to get to know Connor a bit better.  And talk about a head trip.  They really had me going for the final third there.  I knew something was coming when they got the crown back so easily, of course.

Destination X – Wow.  This is the problem with alliances if everyone knows.  And for some of them to be so off with the year.  Not that Peter was close, but he was closer.  Good move to get rid of the one person who knew.  But that’s a brutal twist.

Movie Review: Jurassic World - Rebirth

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Action sequences, some effects

Cons: Characters and acting are okay at best, predictable

The Bottom Line:

Hunting dino blood

Excuse for more monster thrills

Film’s okay at best

“I Can Guarantee Your Safety.  More or Less.”

Back when Jurassic World: Dominion came out, they told us that it was going to be the end of the franchise.  But life, or in this case a profitable franchise, finds a way.  Now, just three years later, we get Jurassic World: Rebirth.  While it has its fun moments, it is just average overall.

While it’s only been three years for us, it’s been five years in Jurassic World time.  During that time, the dinosaurs that were unleased on our world have mostly died off.  (I guess the writers like that particular storyline from Fallen Kingdom as much as I did.)  The atmosphere had changed enough that they can only survive in a band around the equator.  And that area is off limits to humans as a result, something rare that all governments agree on.

Our McGuffin of a plot involves a medical company needing blood from the three largest dinosaur species across water, land, and air to use in their research for a new heart medication.  Really, it’s just an excuse to get a group of characters on an island with dinosaurs, right?  Anyway, as far as characters go, we have Zora (Scarlett Johansson) as the mercenary hired to try to provide some security.  Mahershala Ali is Duncan Kincaid, a friend of Zora’s whose boat they use to get to the island.  Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) is the scientist along since he is an expert on dinosaurs.  And Rupert Friend is the head of the pharmaceutical company funding all of this.  Since this is Jurassic Park/World, we need some kids to be in danger as well.  We get those in the form of a father, his two daughters, and the older daughter’s boyfriend (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, Audrina Miranda, and David Iacono), who are swept up into the madness against their will.

You’ll notice that there is a lack of characters we already know.  We get a reference to Dr. Grant, but that’s it.  The producers decided to work with completely new characters here.  So, in many ways, you could jump in here.  Honestly, given the times they flashed on the screen at the beginning of the film, I’m not even sure how this truly fits in with the other movies.  The five years post Dominion is the official log line, but it feels like it should have been longer to me.

If you’ve seen any of the films in the franchise, or most creature horror films in general, you pretty much know how this is going to go.  And the film does little to surprise us.  Yes, there were a couple of small ones along the way, but nothing earth shaking.  (Well, except the large dinos).

That’s not to say it is bad.  I got caught up in quite a few of the action sequences.  And there are some good ones.  There are also scenes that aren’t as developed as they could have been.  There are a lot of characters to juggle, and the movie’s run time is just over two hours, so I’m sure some things were truncated.  Honestly, I’m thankful because too many long chase scenes and this would have started to feel bloated.  But there are a couple of standout scenes you’ll enjoy.

One thing that made is hard for me to care about the movie was the characters.  They feel pretty generic.  The attempts to give them some backstory fell flat, mostly because it was predictable.  And the character arcs we got were just as shallow and predictable.  If they tried to give us any arc to the characters at all.

The acting didn’t help.  While the cast did okay with the action and the one liners, any time they had to show any depth, it felt forced.  Not all of them were bad, but there were several that really struggled.

The special effects were also a mixed bag.  Some of the scenes were jaw dropping gorgeous, and I bought everything I was being sold.  Others?  Pardon me, but your green screen is showing.

For good measure, we also get an anti-drug company message.  Given the McGuffin of the plot, it wasn’t surprising.  But the writing was so clunky that it was almost comical.

Speaking of laughs, we do get some get one liners and other purposefully funny moments to break the tension.

As has become the case with the franchise, we get some new monsters.  Honestly, I wish we’d done without them.  They didn’t add anything but some gruesome images.  The velociraptors are reduced to a cameo.  And the prologue?  We could have lost that and not lost anything from the movie.

Jurassic World: Rebirth isn’t the worst the franchise has to offer.  It’s also far from the best.  It’s just kind of average.  If you are anxious to see the film, you’ll be glad to see it in the theater.  But if you decide to wait until it is available to watch at home, that’s a fine alternative as well.

Book Review: Mistaken Identity Crisis by James J. Cudney (Braxton Campus Mysteries #4)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Kellan

Cons: Weaker writing, overstuffed story

The Bottom Line:

Death in cable car

Other situation, too

Overstuffed story

Can Kellen Identify Another Killer?

Those who have been reading the Braxton Campus Mysteries know that we’ve had a storyline building toward a climax. Going into Mistaken Identity Crisis, I was hoping we’d get some resolution to that particular story. Sadly, a split focus meant the book turned out to be just okay. 

For those new to the series, it features Kellan Ayrwick, who has returned to his hometown in Pennsylvania. He’s teaching at the college in the area, a place his family has worked at for years. 

This book picks up within days of book three ending. Summer session is about to get started, and Kellan is teaching one class on documentary making. He’s also been the official liaison with the man working on the cable car that unites the two parts of the campus. When he goes to check in one morning, he finds the contractor dead. Quint had been friends with Kellen’s younger brother years before. Still, Kellen vows he isn’t going to investigate. But he can’t help but poke around when his brother starts to become a suspect. 

Meanwhile, that ongoing situation I mentioned? It’s definitely heating up. I’m not going to tease anything from it because there is no way to do so with revealing some spoilers. But let’s say that I’ve felt this particular storyline, while intriguing, has also had some pretty serious soap opera elements to it. 

Unfortunately, the two combine for a book that is over stuffed with story. The mystery of Quint’s death would have been enough for a full novel. But throw in the other storyline, and there’s a bit too much. While we do get answers and everything is explained at the end, I feel like the ending is a bit too convenient. At the same time, I was certainly glued to the book as I was reading the climax to see how everything would play out. 

There’s a large cast of characters. Frankly, a little too large. And with all the connections going on, it was a struggle for me to keep all those connections straight as I read. The cast of characters at the beginning only helped with that a little. 

I’ve complained in the past about how some of the relationships are a little too contentious for my taste. I was glad to see that toned down here. In fact, I think one relationship progresses a little too quickly away from contentious, especially given where things stood in the previous book, which was just a few days ago for the characters. 

And let me be clear, I do like Kellan and many of the recurring characters. I enjoy rooting for them to figure out how to handle everything that is being thrown their way. 

The writing is a little weak, thanks in part to the author’s habit of summarizing large sections of dialogue. It just doesn’t pull us as fully into the story as I would like. And yes, I also recognize that this would make an overstuffed book even longer. I’m nothing if not hypocritical. 

This is an eight-book series, so I’m half way through. I’m curious enough about where the characters are going to wind up that I will keep reading. It helps that I’ve already bought the ebooks. 

Those who have been intrigued by the first three books will want to pick up Mistaken Identity Crisis. Personally, I’m curious to see where the story is going to go from here. 

Here are the rest of the Braxton Campus Mysteries. 

Movie Review: Jaws

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Acting, most of the effects, some scenes build tension well

Cons: Overall, tension and pacing are uneven

The Bottom Line:

A very big shark

In famous monster movie

Uneven tension

“If You’re Looking for a Shark, You’re Not Going to Find Him on the Land.”

I remember hearing about Jaws from a young age.  It’s a movie that people talk about all the time for its place in cinema history.  I remember getting a chance to watch it on TV not too long after I got out of college and being excited to finally watch it only to be disappointed.  But with all the talk about the movie’s 50th Anniversary, I decided to give it another chance.  I still wasn’t super impressed.

For those who don’t know, the movie takes us to the island of Amity.  The local community thrives on summer tourists, so the upcoming 4th of July weekend is very important.  When the new sherif, Brody (Roy Scheider), thinks there’s a man-eating shark in the waters around the island, the news isn’t welcome.  The mayor (Murray Hamilton) is insisting that everything is going to keep going as normal.  The only way that Brody appears able to end things is to go out in a boat with shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) and a scientist who studies sharks, Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss).  Will they be able to kill the shark?

This is Stephen Spielberg’s second movie as director.  Rather crazy to think about, isn’t it?  Even though I don’t find this one of his best films, it is easy to see why he became the beloved and celebrated director he is today.

I think most of my issues with the film are due to its age.  Movies from 50 years ago are just different than they are now.  For better or worse.  In this case, some of the scenes that people praise, the scenes that give us character development, are some of the scenes that bother me.  They slow down the pacing.  Not to mention that when we get on the boat for the second half, that still feels too long.  I think there’s also the issue that, for a movie about a menacing shark, we spend so much time on land in the first half where you know everyone is safe.

Much has been made over the years about Bruce, the mechanical shark, and all the issues they had with it during production, changing how some of the scenes were shot, especially the opening.  I realize I’m in the minority here as well, but I think a few more shots of the shark would have helped.

That is one aspect that definitely has aged well.  Yes, a few times we can tell he’s a special effect, but most of the time, I buy him as a real shark when I see him.

Yes, the movie did give me one jump scare (even though I knew it was coming), and the adrenalin does get going a few times, especially at the climax, but it’s not a consistent build up.

As much as the pacing feels off to me, the acting is good.  The actors bring their characters to life wonderfully, and the three leads have such great chemistry, which is important since they have to carry the second half of the film.

This is one of those cases where the movie isn’t bad.  It’s just not good either.

But here’s the crazy thing.  Most people agree the sequels aren’t good at all.  But I’m curious about them, so I’ll probably wind up watching them even though I wasn’t impressed with this movie.

Do remember that there was no PG-13 rating when this movie came out.  I feel like it should be rated that.  While most of the violence is implied, we do get a few shots of the aftermath of the shark attacks.  And the tension does build in certain scenes.

I’m glad I gave Jaws a second chance.  I might not be a fan, but it is nice to have that confirmed.  If you haven’t seen it yet and are curious, I definitely recommend you give it a shot since most people seem to enjoy it.

Novella Review: Murder by Moonlight by Julie Mulhern (Freddie Archer #0.5)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Freddie looks to be a fun, new character

Cons: Even for a short story, plot feels a little thin

The Bottom Line:

Helping a young friend

Introduction to Freddie

Look forward to more

Short Introduction to a Promising New Sleuth

I keep saying I’m going to catch up on Julie Mulhern’s books, but I haven’t made the time to do so. But with her starting a new series in December, I decided to read the introductory novella now. And it worked. Murder by Moonlight hooked me. 

For this series, we are visiting the New York City of 1925. Freddie Archer is a nightlife columnist for Gotham Magazine. An heiress, she doesn’t need to work, but she loves her job. 

While out visiting a speakeasy one night, she runs into a boy she knows. Bony is the son of her family’s former housekeeper, the woman who practically raised Freddie. When she realizes what Bony is doing, she tries to intervene in his life. But will it make any difference? 

This story is designed to introduce us to Freddie and her world and whet our appetite for the first book in the series. And it worked.  I really like Freddie and am looking forward to spending more time with her. I’m not sure that we will see too many of the characters introduced here, but they did a good job of showing what Freddie is like. 

The story could have been a little better. Now, I know what you’re saying. “Mark, this was a short story.” And you are right. I don’t read enough short stories for my brain to quickly and easily jump over to them, and I often find myself expecting the twists of a novel in short story sized bites. But here, I feel like we spent as much if not more time on Freddie’s love life at the expense of the mystery element. But I know that Julie Mulhern can write a great mystery novel, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy the first book. And what we did get is entertaining. 

As far as I know, this story is currently only available to Julie’s newsletter subscribers. That’s how I got it. And it’s free. Hard to complain about that. 

The story itself took me maybe an hour to read, if that. The file also contains the first two chapters of the debut novel. 

This freebie worked. I’m looking forward to spending more time with Freddie when her first novel debuts in December. For now, check out Murder by Moonlight for a fun introduction story. 

June 2025's Reading Summary

 Last day of June.  Half way through the year.  I lowered my reading challenge at Goodreads for the year, but I'm still on track for my normal 120+ books read this year.

My blog index has been updated for this month's reviews.  So let's take a look at what I read this month.  The links will take you to my full review.

All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).

 

Home is Where the Murder Is by Rosalie Spielman (Hometown Mysteries #2) – 5

Tessa Treslow is settling into her hometown in Idaho after retiring from the Army.  She’s happy to be back for Pioneer Days, a local festival to celebrate the founding of her town.  But the weekend takes a turn when a stranger shows up claiming to be the long-lost cousin of Tessa’s best friend, Freddie.  Then the woman is murdered with all evidence pointing to Freddie.  Tessa knows her friend didn’t do this, but can she prove it?

I was happy to get to revisit these characters, and this book didn’t disappoint.  Several of the characters were more fully developed, which I appreciated.  And I enjoyed seeing the quirky characters again.  The mystery might have started a little slowly, but the further I went, the more I was hooked until I struggled any time I had to put it down.  The climax answered all my questions.  I appreciate how Tessa’s time in the army is handled and the fact that Tessa is middled aged.  It’s nice to see some variety in main characters.  If you are looking for another cozy series to add to your reading list, you need to check this one out.

 

A Rogue’s Company by Allison Montclair (Sparks and Bainbridge Mysteries #3) – 3

It’s August 1946, and Lord Bainbridge has returned from his latest trip to Africa.  That means that Gwen’s life has once again turned complicated as she attempts to wrestle her life back from her father-in-law.  Lord Bainbridge is insisting that Gwen’s six-year-old son is ready to attend the boarding school that the Bainbridge men attend, and she doesn’t have custody to stop him.  Can she figure out how to get control of her life back?

Those following this series will be absolutely hooked by this storyline.  I was anxious to see how it was going to play out.  But this is a mystery series, and the mystery was lacking, starting too late with some key elements feeling forced or rushed.  Don’t worry, Gwen’s business partner, Iris Sparks, gets plenty of page time and some nice development, and all the usual supporting players are here.  We also get the usual banter that makes me laugh.  The paperback I bought recently contains a bonus short story that I feel like was pieced together from a subplot in the previous book, but I don’t remember for sure.  While the mystery may have been weak, fans will still be glad they picked up this book.  I’ll be continuing on with the series soon.

 

Murder Italian Style by Diane Vallere (Samantha Kidd #16) – 4

Samantha and her husband thought his father was treating them to a vacation to visit family friends in a small Italian village over New Years. When they arrive, however, they learn that Samantha’s ability to solve crime has been requested. Twenty-six years ago, a murder occurred in the village, and their hostess’s boyfriend has been serving time for the crime ever sense. While reluctant at first to figure out what happened, Samantha soon becomes intrigued. Can she overcome the language barrier to find the truth?

Since we are out of the country, we don’t see most of the usual gang, but the new characters make up for it. We come to care for them enough to make us care about the outcome of this cold case. There are a couple of small things that could have used a little more explanation, but the main questions are answered satisfactorily. We may be in a foreign country, but we still get Samantha’s usual wit and breezy narration. And her love of snack foods takes an Italian turn, which left me hungry. Fans will enjoy this trip abroad. Pack your bags for another fun mystery. 

 

Note: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Big Fat F@!k-Up by Lawrence Allan (Jimmy Cooper #1) – 5

Jimmy Cooper was a cliché of a child actor, but he’s turned his life mostly around and is now a PI in LA, working freelance as well as cases for his mother’s law firm.  When his latest case ends with him in a pursuit around the city, he gets another dose of fame, which leads him to some new clients.  One such client is Alicia Crowley, a young woman about to get her inheritance.  But she thinks someone is attempting to kill her and wants Jimmy to keep it from happening.  When the prime suspect, her uncle, turns up dead, Jimmy must figure out how to keep Alicia out of jail.  Is Jimmy in over his head?

Yes, the title does give a clue about the content of the book.  Although I will say, it felt like it was used appropriately and not as a writing crutch.  If that kind of thing doesn’t bother you, you’ll find yourself loving this book.  The story takes a little time to set things up, but it never feels like it is dragging.  The mystery is entertaining and reaches a logical climax.  The characters are strong, especially Jimmy, who gets some great development in the book.  Yet there is a nice layer of comedy, too.  It’s an addictive mix that I breezed through faster than I thought I would.  I’ll definitely be back for more.

 

Throne of Threats by Sarah E. Burr (Court of Mysteries #5) – 4

Jax is just days away from the event we’ve been waiting for almost as much as she has – her wedding to the youngest son of a ruler of a neighboring kingdom. With friends and family coming in a couple of days before the big event, and a couple of days before the rest of the guests, Jax is hoping for some relaxing before she has to play hostess and politics with her guests. But when Uma, her lady in waiting, goes to pick up the flowers a couple of days before, she is kidnapped. With only a cryptic clue to guide her, can Jax find Uma and rescue her? And will this latest case hurt her relationships with those she loves most?

Any fan of the series has been looking forward to the events of this book. The beginning takes a bit of time getting to the story. Part of that is set up, but some is just general updates on the characters and the realm. Once the kidnapping happens, the pace doesn’t let up. I loved how things came together. I also loved getting to spend time with these characters again. They truly are fun. Reactions to the events of the story felt realistic, and part of that is because of elements from the past books that are mentioned in passing. It feels like we’ve turned a page in the series, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next. 

 

The Gatehouse Mystery by Julia Campbell (Trixie Belden #3) – 5

When Trixie and Honey find a diamond in the gatehouse on the Wheeler property, Trixie is certain that there is a thief around. Could it be one of the new Wheeler servants? We also get to meet Trixie's two older brothers and the five new friends form the Bob-Whites of the Glen. While the mystery isn't strong, the characters are great and this remains one of my favorites in the series.

 

Thrown for a Scoop by Dana Mentink (Shake Shop Mysteries #4) – 4

Upper Sprocket is celebrating its centennial, and Trinidad Jones has created a special freak shake to celebrate the milestone.  But before the celebration kicks off, a stranger wanders into her shake shop.  He’s a true crime podcaster trying to track down clues on a fifty-year-old case, and he thinks that Trinidad’s soon to be brother-in-law, Doug, might know something about it.  Since Doug isn’t good with strangers, Trinidad tries to warn him only to find that the stranger is dead when she arrives.  Despite vowing to stay out of it, she can’t help but try to clear Doug.  Can she do it?

I was pleased to see the author was self-publishing a fourth book in the series.  It does a good job of updating us on the characters while also kicking the story off.  We are treated to a well plotted story that kept me guessing until we reached the logical climax.  And the characters are as quirky and charming as always.  There were some continuity issues early on that felt like things left over from earlier drafts of the book, but once things really got going, I didn’t notice any more of them.  This book will definitely make you crave ice cream, and I am curious what was in the breakfast ice cream that is featured in a fun subplot.  Fans of this series will scoop up this book.  I know I’m glad I did.

 

Playing it Safe by Ashley Weaver (Electra McDonnell #3) – 3

With the Blitz now a nightly reality in London, Ellie is happy to be contacted by Major Ramsey with a new assignment. She is headed to the port city of Sunderland with only a book on birds as a clue to what her assignment is. She’s hardly arrived when someone’s she’s just met dies outside her boarding house. Is it connected to her mission?

While I’ve enjoyed the first two books, this one wasn’t as good. There is too much to the plot. While the ending makes sense, it is very rushed because of being overly ambitious. There’s also a focus on the love triangle, a storyline I’m not invested in since I know the outcome won’t be one I like. I also missed the regulars, although we did still get updates on some ongoing storylines. The book isn’t all bad. Ellie is enjoyable to spend time with, and the story kept my attention when it was the focus, allowing us to see another part of life in England in 1940. This is a book for fans of the series. Everyone else should start at the beginning. 

 

No Hallowed Ground by Steve Hockensmith (Double-A Western Detective Agency #2) – 4

The team of Diehl, Hoop, and Eskaminzim are back on the trail.  This time, they are heading a bit further east than normal when they are sent to Missouri.  According to their client, some thieves have just made off with the cash for a local bank, and if it isn’t returned quickly and quietly, it would cause the bank to close.  Not that our heroes believe that.  But when they learn the truth, the realize that the stakes would impact the entire country.  And they realized just how outnumbered they truly are.  Can they win against overwhelming odds?

If you are looking for an action book, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.  There are some entertaining twists to the story, and the plot is strong enough to hold the action scenes together.  The characters are good, but they could be a little stronger.  Still, they are developed enough to make you care about the outcome.  I appreciated how the changing points of view were used to increase the suspense.  I also appreciate how the politics of March 1894 was brought into the book.  It informed the action without ever being preachy.  While we got some language, I was more bothered by some of the violence, so know that before you pick up the book.  But if you want a historical action story, do pick up this book.

 

Big Bend by Sandy Dengler (Jack Prester #9) – 4

A reporter has gone missing in Big Bend down in Texas, and Jack is asked to help find him. However, when Jack arrives, he finds some auditors have arrived to monitor everything going on in the park. And when out searching for the reporter, Jack finds someone else out there.  The results of that encounter are tragic. What is happening in the vastness of this park’s wilderness?

It is always nice to revisit Jack and the supporting characters we’ve met along the way. Yes, Ev is involved as well. There is a plot point that will be hard for fans of the series. Overall, the plot bites off a bit too much and so a few of the connections feel forced and rushed. Likewise, a few of the minor players fade into the background and are hard to keep straight. The writing is still magical, and I love how the location came to life. I’m hoping we get more books with Jack soon. 

 

Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X #10) – 2

One of Evan’s few friends is Tommy, who also happens to be his weapons dealer.  But after discovering some of Tommy’s weapons on an assassin that Evan was fighting, he is mad at his friend for not following Evan’s strict code.  Their initial conversation doesn’t go well, but things get complicated with other assassins and a young man that Tommy is trying to help.  Will the two be able to solve their differences?  Or will they wind up killing each other?

This series is a definite break from my cozy diet, but one I usually love despite the rather graphic violence we get.  In this case, the book has too many flaws.  The entire plot could have been resolved with a couple of conversations.  There are great stretches in the middle where nothing really happens – we’re just dealing with repetitive scenes that don’t go anywhere.  Evan is more evil than usual.  I get that it was supposed to lead to some growth, but it didn’t work for me.  And the ending?  I really felt like it let me down.  We get some ripped from the headline politics in this book, but it leads to cliches and doesn’t feel like there is much point to it.  I feel like the series is marking time in some ways since the initial arc was resolved, and this is worse than normal.  The writing is still wonderful.  Lots of others seem to still love it, but this one is best for only the diehard fans.

June 29th's Sunday/Monday Post

It's the weekend!  That means it is time for another Sunday/Monday Post.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Why yes, I did miss this post last week, but I had a very good excuse.  I was out of town with friends at Trixie Camp.

What's Trixie Camp, you ask?  Excellent question!  It's a gather in fans of the Trixie Belden Mystery series.  The short version is that this is a Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew type series only more realistic.  If you want to read more about it, here's a guide I wrote years ago.

Back in the early days of the internet, I found a fan site dedicated to the series.  That soon lead to a message board, and the regulars started forming friendships.  We decided to meet up in person, and thus the first camp/convention was born in 2000.  Yes, we do talk about the books (informally), but we also talk about other things.  We've become friends over the years, so, while Trixie is what brought us together, we talk about much more than that.

Our main activities are always touring the area where we met up.  Sometimes, where we meet is directly inspired by locations in the series.  Other times, the connection is loose at best.  This year, we met in St. Louis, the setting of book 15 in the series, Mystery on the Mississippi (which was also the first book I read).  We went to the arch and took a river boat cruise on the Mississippi.  Then we did a dinner murder mystery.  Finally, we spent some time exploring St. Charles, a nearby historical town.

I spent an extra day in the area since the friends whose wedding I was in last year live nearby in Southern Illinois.  They were gracious enough to drive over Sunday, and we went out to Hannibal, Mark Twain country.  I enjoyed touring the Mark Twain stuff they have set up.

The one thing about the trip is that it was hot.  Close to 100 with humidity.  I'm use to those temps here in So Cal, but NOT the humidity.

I haven't been to a Trixie Camp since 2017 thanks to real life getting in the way.  But it was nice to be back, reconnect with friends, and meet lots of people who have started coming since then.

Blog Spam Comment of the Week:

I've got another fun blog spam comment to share.  Presented without any corrections to spelling or grammar:

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The best part of this?  Once again, they went after one of my ornament reviews.  And yes, after that stopped, they shared lots of links.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Movie Review: Diagnosis: Murder - A Twist of the Knife

Monday - Book Review: No Hallowed Ground by Steve Hockensmith

Tuesday - Book Review: Big Bend by Sandy Dengler

Wednesday - Movie Review: A Season to Remember

Thursday - Movie Review: Pie to Die For

Friday - Book Review: Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - June 2025 Reading Summary

Tuesday - Novella Review: Murder by Moonlight by Julie Mulhern

Wednesday - Movie Review: Jaws

Thursday - Book Review: Mistaken Identity Crisis by James J. Cudney

Friday - Movie Review: Jurassic World: Rebirth

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

It's been two weeks.  Of course, I have books to talk about.

For starters, I picked up two books on the trip.  There was a bookstore in downtown St. Charles, and when I stopped in, an author was doing a signing.  Magestone is the first in a middle grade fantasy series.  I know, not my normal fair, but I do enjoy it.  Of course, I got David Burleyson's signature in the book.

I also had to get some Mark Twain book while I was in Hannibal.  I wasn't sure what I might or might not have of his books, so I settled on The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain as collected by Alex Ayres.  Mark Twain is always good for a quote, right?

I've also started to collect some ARCs again.  A Murder Most Fowl is the first in a new series by Carmela Dutra. The main characters are twins who are running a chicken themed food truck they just inherited from their aunt.  It's set in the San Francisco area, and that appealed to me, too.  I mean, I can't pass up a culinary cozy as it is.  It comes out in September, so I'll read it closer to the release day.

Meanwhile, I also got Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine, the newest from Liz Ireland.  I love this series, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the characters are up to in this book.  It also comes out in September.

Rounding out the list for this week, I have an ARC that comes out much sooner.  Solid Gold Murder is the second Golden Motel Mystery from Ellen Byron.  This one will be out at the end of July.

What I'm Currently Reading:

Which is why I am currently reading Solid Gold Murder.  I'm planning to review it mid-July, so I'm reading it now.  This series is set at a motel in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains.  I loved the first in the series, and I'm enjoying this one as well.

That's it for me.  Hope you have a great week.

June 28th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Lego Masters – So happy for the mother/son team.  To win this week of all weeks was so special.  Sorry for the team that went home; I was really enjoying them.  Some pretty creative builds.  I wouldn’t know the differences in the eras well enough to do well with that challenge.

American Ninja Warrior – Not one but two made it up the mega wall!  Very nice to see people finally doing it this year.  I feel like I should have remembered the falls they highlighted, but I only remembered one of them.

The Librarians: The Next Chapter – Very creative episode.  While it ultimately was only sort of a murder mystery, I liked that aspect of the plot.  And some nice jokes as well.  Character development was predictable, but on the whole, a fun episode.

The Quiz with Balls – Pretty lopsided game.  And after that smack talk, too.  I was impressed that the one team kept as intact as they did – that’s hard to do.  And then to go out on the first bonus question.

The Snake – I don’t see how you can really control this game at this point.  Too many people with too much chaos and too many changes to be bitten.  I don’t see how anyone could expect a huge plan like that to work.  And, frankly, I feel like it was a little naïve to have thought the plan would stick together.  Interesting to see where it goes next time.

Destination X – If I’d had a map, I probably could have been close.  I get that they are going to be in a major city, and I would have guessed south of Germany based on the clues.  Throwing the challenge to get guaranteed red herrings was actually kind of smart early on.  But in the game like this, you need someone to bounce ideas off of and get more information.  Going solo got Kim eliminated.  Oh, and I love how Rick had nothing but apples in his basket even though he was the only one switching.

Book Review: Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X #10)

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Writing is excellent as always

Cons: Murky message, few thrills, conversation could have resolved most of the plot

The Bottom Line:

Face off with a friend

Unusually messy

Even fans can skip

Orphan Versus Friend

I’m realizing I’m reading more and more non-cozy mysteries these days.  But one non-cozy author I’ve been reading the longest is Gregg Hurwitz.  I started when he was doing standalones before he came up with his Orphan X series.  Nemesis is the tenth book in that series, and I was hoping for another great thrill ride.  Sadly, it was very disappointing.

As in introduction if you haven’t started the series yet, it features Evan Smoak.  He was chosen as a teen and trained to become a highly skilled assassin for the US government.  After years of crossing the globe to take on these highly secretive operations, he removed himself from the program, hiding out and fulfilling missions for those who have no other hope.  But he still lives by the strict moral code his trainer instilled in him as he tries to find a way to be a man despite all his training to kill.

Which brings us to this book.  One of the few friends that Evan has made in his life after leaving the Orphan program is Tommy Stojack.  Tommy also happens to be his supplier of weapons, and he’s very good at his job.  So Evan is naturally very upset when he realizes that the assassin he was facing in the previous book was using weapons supplied by Tommy.  Since this is violating one of the rules Evan lives by, he knows he must confront his friend.  Which might turn deadly.

Especially after their first meeting doesn’t go as planned.  But things quickly get complicated when Tommy leaves town to help the son of a navy friend and Evan is ambushed by a group of assassins.  Will the two be able to resolve their differences peacefully?  Or are they destined to have a fight to the death?

So why doesn’t this book work?  There are many reasons, unfortunately.

Let’s start with the fact that this book is a slog, especially for a thriller.  I feel like much of the middle of the book is filler.  Yes, we get a few interesting scenes and a couple of twists, but they could have been condensed into far fewer pages.

Not to mention the fact that a couple of good conversations between characters would have resolved much of the conflict.  And I can see no reason why they didn’t sit down and have those conversations.

Then, there’s the fact that Tommy is an arms dealer.  The way Evan jumped to thinking his friend was evil based on Evan’s code of ethics was a head scratcher to me.  First, why would Tommy have to abide by this code.  Second, how could Tommy vet all his clients?  And that’s just for starters.

Not to mention the fact that Evan is pretty evil at times in this book as well.  He thinks he is following his code of conduct, but he isn’t, and it’s frustrating to watch.  I get the character development we were supposed to be seeing, but it just didn’t work for me.  There were other ways for the situation to be resolved.

Or maybe that was because we were getting this book equally from Tommy’s point of view.  It’s not the first time the third person point of view has included people other than Evan, but it’s the first time it was so much of the book.  That gave us a different perspective on things and made us view Evan’s actions differently.

Tommy leaving town leads us to a story within a story that takes a lot of page time.  Unfortunately.  A ripped from the headlines story that involved politics and cliches.  Tons of them.  And the attempts to develop the characters involved in that story just make the cliches worse, which was just more annoying and made me less invested.  By the end, the political point was very muddy.  It’s not that we get something to think about.  It’s that what we get makes little sense, especially considering a subplot that another character has.  Instead of thinking about something, we’re left wondering what the point was.

All of this leads us to a climax that I found unsatisfying.

This series contains some of the most graphic violence I read.  I feel like it is getting worse in each book, although maybe I’ve just forgotten how violent the early books in the series were.  Either way, I normally can overlook that because of the fun of the story.  Obviously, here, that bothered me as well.

I will give the book this.  Gregg Hurwitz is a talented wordsmith, and he continues with that here.  But it wasn’t enough to save the book.

The series has felt adrift to me for a few books now.  Evan had a clear mission in the early books, but since that arc ended, I’ve been wondering exactly where the series is going.  This book might be the result of the lack of a clear plan.

Honestly, this book was so disappointing I’m debating about continuing with the series.  Lots of others seemed to enjoy Nemesis.  But I would only recommend this one for fans of the series, and even then, reluctantly.

Do check out other books in the Orphan X series.