August 2nd's Weekly TV Thoughts

I was out of town last week, so I have two weeks to talk about.  Including a couple of season finales and a season premier.  Yes, this was a lot to get through in a week.

American Ninja Warrior (7/21) – Proving yet again that age is becoming a factor.  Yes, I get that some of my favorites are going to age out, but getting the teens on there earlier is forcing them out sooner.  So I’m always happy when one of the older Ninjas does well like Sean did.  And, I do have to say that there were some impressive runs by the youngsters tonight.  It’s not that I don’t appreciate them, it’s just that I miss those I’ve rooted for for years.

Lego Masters (7/21) – The wrong team went home.  It’s rare for me to feel that way, but the two teams that had issues had issues because of their ambition and storytelling.  The brother and sister team’s build was pretty safe.  Yes, they had the one hiccup, but seriously?  I could have done that.  I was really hoping no one was going to be eliminated.  But I can’t wait to see what the teams build for the finale.

Quiz with Balls (7/21) – I wish I could have heard what the rest of those questions were at the end.  But I knew he wouldn’t get very far based on how much time was left in the episode.  Most of those questions completely threw me, but there were a couple of questions I knew, which made me happy.  As to this week’s rivalry, I couldn’t decide who to root for since I grew up near San Francisco but now live near Los Angeles.

The Librarians: The Next Chapter (7/21) – Anyone surprised by the revelation of the family connection?  I thought not.  Not sure I liked what they did to the Round Table, either.  But there were some things I enjoyed in the episode overall.  A time travel episode that built in the paradox, too.

The Snake (7/22) – Nice to see the bro trio get broken up.  It will be interesting to see how things play out now with the power trio no more.  I couldn’t believe how much everyone was running and jumping for that rope.  Makes sense, but wow they were fast.

Destination X (7/22) – For some reason, I was thinking this was the finale.  But I’ll get there soon.  Not sure how I feel about gambling to move players and yourself around.  And I sure didn’t pick up on those clues.

The Challenge (7/23) – Kind of a wasted episode since I can’t remember who people are until half way through the episode and most of the point was to introduce the cast, especially the newbies.  But I guess next week is the official premiere.

Match Game (7/23) – It’s always interesting to see what everyone comes up with and if I would have thought of those answers at all.  I think I would have matched with more celebs this week, but that’s not always the case.

Press Your Luck (7/24) – Whammie was so good during the first round, but man he made up for it at the end.  Still, considering how much she won, it’s hard to feel sorry for him.

American Ninja Warrior (7/28) – I was really worried when they put Joe in the middle of the episode instead of at the end.  Yes, it was tough to see him not hit a buzzer, but I was glad he still made it past this round.  Some impressive finishes overall.  And I loved the shout out to the celebs, especially Stephen Amell.

Lego Masters (7/28) – I got spoiled for who the winners were, and obviously, based on my comments above, I wasn’t thrilled.  Yes, I would have preferred to see the brothers win since I’ve been rooting for them all season.  But Sage and Ian had a better build.  I can’t fault the judges for their choice.

Quiz with Balls (7/28) – I was impressed with how well the guy who won did as a whole.  He really did seem to know quite a bit on things.  I felt like the final questions were relatively easy.  I mean, I knew them all without any second guessing, which usually means they are easy.

The Librarians: The Next Chapter (7/28) – I feel like the character development has been fairly predictable, which has made it hard for me to truly care about the characters.  Still, they are continuing to grow on me.  I did like the team aspect of the story.  And that fight?  Completely silly but still so much fun.  I couldn’t keep myself from grinning as I was watching the cartoonishness of it all.

The Snake (7/29) – I seriously don’t see what Kathryn thinks she is doing.  If you literally lie to everyone in the game, they are going to figure it out, stop trusting you, and send you home.  I think she is on very thin ice, and I’m not sure how she can keep from being sent home next.  It will be interesting to see if she squirms her way out of it or not.

Destination X (7/29) – I was rooting for Peter, but I’m okay with Rick winning.  I felt so badly for Biggy.  I mean, he was so close.  Who knows if he would have really been a threat or not, but that really hurt watching what happened to him tonight.

The Challenge (7/30) – Nice to see the UK alliance take the first hit.  Especially when he got who he asked for.  I’m surprised they are changing teams already.  I honestly figured they’d go a few weeks before they did that.  It will be interesting to see how the politics plays out next week.  And when I start fast forwarding through the politics part.

Press Your Luck (7/31) – Wow, I thought the Whammie was active last week.  Ruined the bonus round again, although I get why she kept going.  I would have as well.  But so many in the first half, too.  Got to admit, I thought the winner might go into labor from all her jumping, but she made it.

Movie Review: Diagnosis: Murder - Without Warning

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: A few scenes of fun with characters we love

Cons: Depressing, some poor plotting, but plenty of lectures

The Bottom Line:

Last diagnosis

Gets more wrong than it does right

Fans should skip this one

“I Wouldn’t Want to Give You Readers the Impression That Bodies Just Wash Up At My Feet.”

I was hoping.  I really was.  Even though the first of the Diagnosis: Murder reunion movies was as bad as my memory of it had been, I was truly hoping that Without Warning, the second post series movie and final outing for these characters, was going to be better.  Sadly, it isn’t.

The premise this time involves a woman who washes ashore in the beach.  Dr. Mark Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) is present when her body is found.  As his son, Steve (real life son Barry Van Dyke) starts investigating, the trail leads him to a migrant camp and a deadly disease that could become a pandemic.  With all that medical drama, there’s plenty of story for Amanda Bentley (Victoria Rowell) and Jessie Travis (Charlie Schlatter).  We also get the return of young resident doctor Alex Smith (Barry’s son Shane Van Dyke) who had been in a handful of episodes of seasons 7 and 8.  Plus, there’s reporter Ellen Sharp (Kimberly Quinn) who reappears from a season 8 episode.

Obviously, this storyline is going to hit differently today than it did in 2002 thanks to Covid.  However, I remember not really liking it even back then.  It’s pretty stressful no matter when you watch it, and I was sure someone we knew was going to get sick.  Yes, watching them figure it out did make for a good medical mystery.

However, if that were the only problem with the movie, I could mostly move on.  Sadly, it is far from the only problem.

There’s way too much story for the hour and a half running time.  As a result, we get some resolution to storylines dumped on us in act three with no buildup.  Honestly, I’d forgotten about that storyline.  But when they just dropped that on us, it bothered me again.  There’s some interesting stuff in the other mystery storyline, with some deducting I enjoyed.  But it wasn’t enough to make up for the other short comings.

If you thought the last movie had lectures, wait until you get a load of this one.  We’ve got racism (again) in spades.  Then there’s the ethics of medical testing and new drug development.  And migrants/farm workers.  Yes, racism could cover that one, but it really needs its own category.  The result is this gives Mark Sloan a chance to lecture multiple characters.  Some of these issues are things that might be interesting to address, but not with the strawmen that are set up here.  And, it was time that could have been used to better develop the mystery.

We do get more lighthearted scenes in this movie than the last one, but most of them come at the expense of Steve.  Yes, he’s been the target of jokes in the past, but it wasn’t nearly as painful as it was here.  It didn’t help that they made him a complete idiot when it comes to detecting.  Yes, Mark is always the one solving the cases on the show, but Steve was never this clueless.

And the less said about the romance of this movie the better.

We do get some scenes with the characters together and in familiar sets, which I appreciated.  And the actors are all fine at bringing those characters to life.

It’s a shame to see the legacy of this show ruined by these extremely poor follow up films.  If you are a fan who wants to see a much better continuation, track down the tie-in novels.  There are eight of them, and they were written by one of the show’s former writers and producers.  Lee Goldberg picked up the novels after season six of the show, which was when he left.  But they actually feel like Diagnosis: Murder stories.  My only critic is that, after the first book, they focus a bit more on Mark than the ensemble.  But it’s a minor complaint.

If you are a fan of Diagnosis: Murder, I’m warning you away from Without Warning.  It’s sad that such a fun series has to go out on this note.

This movie is part of the Diagnosis: Murder Movie Collection.

July 2025's Reading Summary

 Welcome to the last day of July.  Time for another reading summary!

I got the index updated.  And the links take you to my full review.

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

 

Murder by Moonlight by Julie Mulhern (Freddie Archer #0.5) – 4

Freddie Archer is working as the nightlife columnist for Gotham Magazine in 1925 New York City. She loves her job, but things take a surprising turn when she runs into a boy she knows out on the street. She quickly realizes he’s in great danger trying to earn some money. Can she find a way to help him before it’s too late. 

This is a short story designed to introduce us to the star of author Julie Mulhern’s new series. And it’s a good introduction. I really liked Freddie, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with her. The story was a bit simple, even by short story standards, but it was still entertaining. The story is currently free from the author’s newsletter. It took an hour or so to read. I’m looking forward to spending more time with Freddie, and after reading this story, I’m sure you will, too. 

 

Mistaken Identity Crisis by James J. Cudney (Braxton Campus Mysteries #4) – 3

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. 

That storyline alone would have been enough for a mystery, but we are also facing some serious developments for the ongoing soap opera storyline, which leads to a book that is overstuffed. While the ending does answer my questions, I felt like it was a bit too convenient. There’s a large cast of characters, and tracking all their relationships takes a lot of concentration and the cast of characters at the beginning. I was glad to see some of the relationships were less contentious here, although one shifted a bit too abruptly for me.  The writing keeps us just a little outside the story as well. I do like Kellen and the rest of the core cast, so I will be continuing to see what happens next to them. Fans will want to see how things play out in this book. 

 

Frightened to Depths by K. B. Jackson (Cruising Sisters Mysteries #3) – 5

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 Orlean’s werewolf legend. Will finding the truth cost Charlotte her relationship with her sister?

I was excited to be back with these characters. While some of the supporting cast are in the background, the suspects are strong, and I enjoyed watching the main cast’s relationships grow. I have to give a special shout out to Charlotte and Jane’s relationship since their struggle is well represented. The plot is strong, with plenty to keep us engaged before the logical climax. If this is how these characters sail off into the sunset, I’ll be happy. But I hope they come back for more. 

 

The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper by Sally Carpenter (Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Mysteries #3) – 4

Sandy’s agent has booked his next job on the comeback trail.  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?

This is another fun mystery with Sandy.  The mystery could have kicked off sooner, but the setup was still entertaining and did set up some subplots.  Once it did get going, we had some nice twists before the logical solution.  I did figure part of it out a little early, but not too much before the big reveal.  I enjoyed watching Sandy develop more here, especially in his relationship with his sister.  And I liked how her blindness came into play in the story.  There was one reference to something that happened after the book is set, but it’s a minor issue.  I’m glad I finally started this series.  If you are looking for a new cozy series, you’ll be glad you picked it up as well.

 

Solid Gold Murder by Ellen Byron (Golden Motel Mysteries #2) – 5

When some guests find real gold flakes at Dee’s motel, it sets off a second gold rush in the area. Among those who show up are Sylvan Burr, a smug tech mogul who is looking to strike it rich again. When someone shoves him down a mine shaft, the question is who didn’t want the man dead. Can Dee figure out what happened?

I love the first book in this series, and I’m happy that this book is a solid follow up. The location is great, one I’d want to visit between murders. The mystery is strong with plenty to keep us guessing. And that’s not to mention several subplots that weave in and out of the story. I do wish we saw more of Jonas, Dee’s new boyfriend, but that’s a minor complaint. The rest of the cast are fun, and the suspects solid. We also get some great laughs. In the way of extras, there are some road trip tips and a recipe. This is another delightful mystery from Ellen Byron. You’ll be glad you picked it up. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Murder in the Tattoo Parlor by Elizabeth Perona (Bucket List Mysteries #4) – 3

Francine and Charlotte have agree to go with Joy to her appointment to get a tattoo. Yes, it’s on Joy’s bucket list, but she’s not so sure she’ll actually follow through. They show up for the late-night appointment only to find the tattoo artist dead. The new police chief wants them to stay far away from the case, but Francine can’t help but start investigating. Her biggest surprise is that none of her friends seems that interested in helping with the case since they all have their own distractions. Can Francine figure out what happened? 

I thought this series had concluded years ago, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the authors have self-published a couple of additional entries. I’d forgotten about a storyline that enters the paranormal realm that I wasn’t a fan of, yet I’m curious where it is going in the next in the series. While the plot started well, Francine spends a lot of time going in circles. Parts are obvious early, yet the climax still feels rushed. On the other hand, I still enjoy the characters and liked spending time with them again. I’ll probably pick up the next just to see where the story is going. The authors do have me curious about that. 

 

Killer Kung Pao by Vivien Chien (Noodle Shop Mysteries #6) – 5

All Lana Lee wanted on that particular Friday night was to leave work to go hang out with her boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau. Instead, she witnesses an auto accident in the parking lot of Asia Village. When the participants, June Yi and Millie Mao, start threatening each other, Lana wonders what is behind their animosity. 

But the next morning, Lana’s hair appointment gives her a ringside seat as the two start to go at it again in the shopping center’s salon. Then Millie is electrocuted. The whispers that June is guilty begin almost immediately, but Lana thinks that’s too easy. She may not personally like June, but she doesn’t want to see the woman sent to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Can Lana find the truth?

I started this book on a holiday weekend, so I didn’t have as much reading time as normal. I felt like it started a little slowly, but that might have been me. Either way, when Lana started investigating, I was hooked, as she tried to find viable suspects and motives. The ending made perfect sense. I liked getting to see more of the supporting players since we were in Asia Village for much of the action. We get growth in a couple of them, a scene that left me laughing hard, and a subplot that I can’t wait to see where goes. It’s easy to see why this series is so popular. Hopefully, I can get to the next one soon. 

 

Murder at Rough Point by Alyssa Maxwell (Gilded Newport Mysteries #4) – 4
It is September of 1896 and Emma cross has been asked to cover an artist retreat happening at Rough Point, a mansion owned by Frederick Vanderbilt. When she arrives, Emma is surprised by some of the people included in the retreat. But even more surprising is the death of one of the artists at the base of the cliffs. It looks like it could be an accident, or even suicide. But something about the incident doesn’t sit right with Emma. Could it be murder?

This is the first time a book in the series is set off season, and I found I missed the real-life characters we’d gotten to know, although we did get updates on them. Due to that, the focus is on the cast of new characters and the mystery. I liked the clues and red herrings, although another subplot or two to break things up would have been nice. The one we did get allowed Emma to grow, which was nice. And an ongoing storyline got more complicated here. Overall, I enjoyed this and am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

 

Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood (Marlow Murder Club #2) – 5

It’s been six month since our first visit to Marlow, and Judith is enjoying the hyphenation that comes in January. But when she gets invited to a pre-wedding celebration from Sir Peter, she decides to attend. She invites Suzy as her plus one, and Becks is there since her husband, the vicar, is performing the wedding. However, part way through the party, there’s a loud crash from inside the house. Judith is among those who rush in to discover Sir Peter’s body inside his locked study, crushed to death. All the evidence makes it look like it was a tragic accident, but Judith thinks there is something suspicious about it. Can she figure out what really happened?

This is a great locked room mystery. I thought I had things figured out, but I was wrong on the who and the how. Yet all the clues were there. I also enjoyed seeing the characters again and watching them and their relationships grow. The suspects were strong as well. The humor wasn’t as strong as the first book, although there were still some grins and laughs to be had. I’m glad I already have book three in this fun series. 

 

Engaged to Die by Carolyn Hart (Death on Demand #14) – 3

This book opens in January, and it involves a family that owns an art gallery on the island of Broward’s Rock. They are gearing up for an opening for a well-respected artist, but Virginia, the owner, is also going to use it to announce her engagement to a much younger man, much to her step children’s dismay. Naturally, Annie Darling is going to be there with her husband, Max. But when the time comes for the announcement, it gets postponed, and soon after, a dead body is discovered. Will Annie solve the latest mystery?

While I was reading this book, I was enjoying it. But as I thought about it later, I started to have issues. The subplot was front loaded, giving us more time before the mystery really got started. The ending felt rushed, with no explanation of how Annie fingered the killer, which means I’m struggling a little to see how it all makes sense. And one relationship had to devolved for us to get the usual antagonist relationship Annie has with the local police. Fans will still enjoy this visit with the characters even if it isn’t the strongest. 

 

Resort to Murder by Annie McEwen (Northwoods Mysteries #1) – 4

When her life takes an unexpected turn, Emmy Cooper heads to visit her family who runs a resort on the shores of a lake in Wisconsin. When she arrives, she learns that a developer is trying to buy up her family’s land and surrounding land to build a mega resort. While no one is interested in selling, he isn’t taking no for an answer. When he turns up dead on Emmy’s family’s property the morning after a public fight with Emmy’s father, he looks like the prime suspect. Can Emmy clear her dad?

I’ve been hearing lots of good things about this series, and I can see why. The setting is wonderful. It’s one of those places I’d love to visit between murders. The cast of characters are fantastic as well. You can tell just how much they all care for each other. The plot was strong, too, and kept me guessing until we reached the logical climax. Unfortunately, the dialogue was often summarized for us, which pulled me out of the book. I’m still looking forward to visiting this new group of friends again soon. 

Book Review: Resort to Murder by Annie McEwen (Northwoods Mysteries #1)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Emmy, the other characters, and a great setting

Cons: Dialogue summaries keep us out of the story

The Bottom Line:

Developer killed

Loved characters, setting

But dialogue quirk

Who Killed the Developer at Emmy’s Family Resort?

I’ve been hearing lots of good things about Annie McEwen’s Northwoods mystery series, so I was looking forward to diving in with Resort to Murder, the series debut. While I can certainly see the appeal, there was one quirk that bothered me. 

The book introduces us to Emmy Cooper. Her family has owned a resort on a lake in Wisconsin for decades.  With her life hitting a snag in Chicago, she’s come home for a visit. 

It’s only once she’s arrived that she learns Thad Houston, a mega developer, is trying to buy up her family’s land and surrounding land to open a mage resort. No one in the area is interested in selling, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping him from persisting. After her dad has a very public fight with Thad, she finds the developer’s dead body beyond the last cabin on their property. Can Emmy clear her father of the crime?

I love cozies set in resort communities, and this one really appeals. Emmy has a ready-made group of family and friends, and I bought all their relationships. These are a group of people I would love to spend more time with. 

And the setting? Sign me up for a week Emmy’s place. Between murders, of course. 

The mystery was well plotted, too. It starts strongly with some good suspects to keep us guessing before we reach a climax that makes perfect sense. 

So what was my issue? The writing at times summarized the conversations. I’m okay with it when it’s something like “we said our goodbyes.” Which we got at times. But we’d also get summaries of investigation conversations. When the book actually allowed us to see the conversation happening, I was fully invested. But otherwise, I’d feel like I was outside looking in at the action. 

I’m hoping this is a quirk that goes away as the series progresses because I enjoyed Resort to Murder overall. I do have the second, and I’ll give it a try at some point. 

Book Review: Engaged to Die by Carolyn Hart (Death on Demand #14)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Annie, Max, and the location are fun as always

Cons: Lots of little things that subtract from the book

The Bottom Line:

Happy ends in death

Not strongest series entry

Still good for the fans

Announcement Postponed by Murder

At times, I fear I am getting more critical when I’m reading. Of course, any long running series runs into a sub-par book occasionally. Whichever is the case, I enjoyed Engaged to Die, the fourteenth in Carolyn Hart’s Death on Demand series, but the more I thought about it, the more the weaknesses bugged me. 

The premise of the series remains the same. Annie Darling is the owner of the mystery bookstore Death on Demand on an island off the coast of South Carolina. It may be a vacation paradise, but Annie has also found that it is a hotbed of murder. 

This book opens in January, and it involves a family that owns an art gallery on the island. They are gearing up for an opening for a well-respected artist, but Virginia, the owner, is also going to use it to announce her engagement to a much younger man, much to her step children’s dismay. Naturally, Annie is going to be there with her husband, Max. But when the time comes for the announcement, it gets postponed, and soon after, a dead body is discovered. Will Annie solve the latest mystery?

The book is set in early January. How early? Early enough that a few places still have Christmas decorations up, and Annie’s part time Christmas employee is still on the island. Since Chloe becomes the prime suspect, I get the timing. And I get that we need to keep bringing in people to make Annie care about the case, but I did find Chloe’s presence a bit abrupt since we haven’t heard of her before. Still, I was mostly willing to let that one slide. 

However, we are missing quite a few of the regulars. Again, because of the just completed holiday. Even the ones around get far less page time than normal. Since that’s where much of the humor in the series comes from, I missed them. 

I still loved watching Annie and Max together. They aren’t as united in their efforts as normal, but they still make a great couple. 

Meanwhile, the pacing was off. A subplot takes up much of the first part of the book, so I was more than ready for the murder to take place. The ending works, I guess. It’s very rushed with no real explanation about how Annie pieced it together. Honestly, I had a couple of questions on exactly what was going on. I can work it out, but it isn’t the most logical. 

Then there’s a relationship that devolved here just so we could have Annie dealing with an antagonistic relationship with the local police. That is one trope of cozies I’ve enjoyed seeing lessen over the years. In this case, there were other ways those scenes could have been played that would have been in keeping with the relationships that have already been established. 

Honestly, I was enjoying the book as I listened to it. It was only once I finished that I thought about some of these things. 

Kate Reading is still the narrator for the audio books, and she’s still doing a good job bringing the story to life. 

The series has hit the sweet spot with the mystery references. We still get quite a few, but they don’t take over at times. I’m also enjoying catches references to some books I was reading when this one came out in 2003. 

I know I’m sounding negative here. Fans of the series will definitely still be glad they picked it up. But it would be nice if it were stronger. 

So, if you are a fan of the series, give Engaged to Die a chance. But don’t make this book the one you used to meet the characters. 

Here are the rest of the Death on Demand Mysteries. 

Book Review: Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood (Marlow Murder Club #2)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Good characters and a well plotted locked room mystery

Cons: Not as funny as the first

The Bottom Line:

Death before wedding

Impossible to be crime?

A fun mystery

Locked Room Murder on the Eve of a Wedding

When I heard that the second season of The Marlow Murder Club was coming to PBS Mystery later this summer, I bumped up Death Comes to Marlow to the top of my to be read pile. I’m assuming the new season will be based on this, the second book in the series. I wasn’t surprised to say that I enjoyed it. 

This series features three very different friends who met when a series of murders happened in their English village of Marlow. This book opens six months later, and Judith is enjoying the hyphenation that comes in January. But when she gets invited to a pre-wedding celebration from Sir Peter, she decides to attend. She invites Suzy as her plus one, and Becks is there since her husband, the vicar, is performing the wedding. 

However, part way through the party, there’s a loud crash from inside the house. Judith is among those who rush in to discover Sir Peter’s body inside his locked study, crushed to death. All the evidence makes it look like it was a tragic accident, but Judith thinks there is something suspicious about it. Can she figure out what really happened?

Yes, we are looking at a locked room mystery, and this is a doozy. Obviously, I figured out early on it was murder, but my theories on the how the crime happened turned out to be wrong. And the who? I was wrong there as well. But all the clues were there and I appreciated how the puzzle was constructed when I reached the end. 

I know my teaser focused on Judith, and she is the brains on the group as well as our viewpoint character the majority of the time. However, both Suzy and Becks provide some pieces of the puzzle as well. All three women get a subplot, which allows them to grow a little. I love their friendships. These are very different people, and they don’t always get each other, but they still have each other’s backs. We see another couple characters from the previous book as well. The rest of the characters might have been new, but they were well developed and helped keep me guessing. 

While this book does have some humor, I didn’t feel like it was quite as funny as the first book. It certainly doesn’t have the same number of scenes set up specifically for laughs. Yes, I missed that, but it’s a minor point. And, to be clear, I did still laugh and smile some as I was reading. 

As I hinted at earlier, we get some of the book from Judith’s third person point of view, although some passages come from other characters’ viewpoints. These changes are always handled well, so it’s never an issue following what happens. 

Death Comes to Marlow is a worthy follow up. I’m looking forward to seeing how this story is translated to the small screen. And I’m glad I already have book three. Now, to find time to read it. 

Enjoy the rest of the Marlow Murder Club’s cases. 

Movie Review: Gypsy (1962)

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Morality tale

Cons: More depressing than entertaining

The Bottom Line:

Overbearing mom

Obsession ruining lives

In depressing film

“Who Are You, Her Mother?”  “Yes.”

My quest to watch some more musicals I’ve heard of but never seen continued with Gypsy.  I wasn’t sure what I would think of this one when I sat down to watch it, but I was surprised at just how much I wound up disliking it.

The movie is inspired by the true story of Rose Hovick (Rosalind Russell).  She’s the mother of two girls, and she is driven to make them famous.  Fortunately, her younger daughter, June (Suzanne Cupito) is extremely talented, unlike her sister Louise (Diane Pace).  Working with promoter Herbie Sommers (Karl Maiden), Rose is able to form a touring stage show around June, but as the girls grow and times get hard due to the Great Depression, the market for that act begins to fade away.  Can Rose figure out a way to make her daughters (now played by Ann Jillian and Natalie Wood) famous again?

The reason I was concerned about this movie going in was because it is based on the true story of Gypsy Lee Rose, a stripper.  I figured for a 1960’s musical, it wasn’t going to show anything too risqué, and I was right.  I’m not sure I would show it to kids, but much of the adult content would probably go over their heads.  That part of the story doesn’t happen until very late in the movie, and I’m actually rather impressed with how they were able to handle it – we get what is happening, but it is all done with teases.

In many ways, this movie is a perfect example of a train wreck – you know you shouldn’t be watching, yet you can’t look away.  Now, let me be perfectly clear, I’m not talking about the writing, acting, singing, dancing, etc.   The acting from everyone is top notch, and there are some young performers in the cast.  Likewise, the cast does a great job with their song and dance numbers.

Instead, I’m talking about the story itself.  Rose takes being a stage mother and ups it tenfold.  This woman is insane, and you can see the end coming long before it arrives.  And yet, you can’t turn away, and you find yourself rooting for anything to happen to wake Rose up to what she is doing.  I’m not sure I completely buy the spin of the final scene, but I hope it is true.

So this isn’t one of those musicals that will leave you with a smile on your face and humming a tune as the final credits play.  I was actually left with a bit of a “Wow, what did I just watch” feeling.

Of course, the music itself isn’t particularly memorable.  Much of it revolves around the current stage show that Rose is working on, no matter which show that is.  There are a few songs that the characters sing to express their feelings, but they aren’t especially memorable, at least to me.  This is an early musical by Stephen Sondheim.  Given some of his other successes, I figured I would enjoy the songs more, but they just didn’t connect with me – probably because I was so focused on the train wreck happening in the story.

Whether intended or not, Gypsy really becomes a morality tale of the dangers of obsession.  As such, it is sobering, but I’m just not sure it is an enjoyable story.  I certainly have no plans to watch it again in the future.

TV Show Review: Tracker - Season 2

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Still some good, interesting episodes

Cons: Show takes some weird, dark turns; dragging out the Shaw family mystery

The Bottom Line:

Still hunting for lost

Show gives some weirder cases

Drags out big story

"Stranger Line of Work You Must Be In."  "You Have No Idea."

Having enjoyed the first season of Tracker, I was looking forward to another season of missing person mysteries with season two.  While there were definitely episodes I enjoyed, I continued to slide down my list of enjoyable shows as the season went on.  So much so that I don’t think I will be back for season three.

The show follows Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley).  His father and his past have made him an expert at tracking people down.  A bit of a loner, he makes his living traveling from place to place, trailer in tow, accepting rewards for information about people who have gone missing.  While he travels alone, he has a team backing him up.

And, that team is part of the problem.  We have a full season this time around, but we still know very little about them.  We don’t know how Colter met any of them.  They might get an episode or two to shine, but it is rare that is the case.

For the record, we have Velma (Abby McEnany), who appears to run the office for Colter, such as it is.  She’s usually the one who calls in and let’s Colter know about any potential assignments.  Since the actress who played her wife (Robin Weigert) left the show between seasons, we get a couple of references to her going to take care of a sick relative, and then we are just supposed to forget about her.  See what I mean?

Then there’s Bobby (Eric Graise).  He’s the technical expert.  Read: hacker.  He can get any technology to give up its secrets for Colter.  He goes to take care of some “personal business” for a few episodes, with his cousin Randy (Chris Lee) coming in to fill in the gap.  When Bobby comes back, Randy sticks around.

Rounding out the regular cast, we have Reenie (Fiona Rene), a lawyer who has gone out on her own, keeping Colter out of jail when needed and bringing a few clients his way as well.

So, what kind of cases does Colter deal with this season?  He looks for a missing high school baseball star.  When a missing dog is stolen from his truck, Colter is determined to find him.  The son of a cupcake bakery founder is kidnapped.  A woman disappears from a New York City store’s fitting room.  A teenage musician vanishes in New Orleans.  And a pair of sisters disappear in the Montana wilderness.

This show has always had a more serious tone.  This isn’t the light, comedic show that I typically go for.  Even so, we got some truly weird episodes.  We’re talking a show struggling to find new territory in season six type episodes.  All the episodes weren’t that way, but when a case turned in that direction, I was less than impressed.  Some of them were obviously going for shock value, and that’s a turn off to me, especially if it feels out of character or unearned.

There were also a couple of episodes that took a dark turn just to take a dark turn.  There was no need to do that, and I didn’t appreciate that either.

However, when the episodes were focused on a more standard case, I still enjoyed the show.

Then there’s the mythology of the show.  Back in the pilot, we learned a bit about Colter’s family history, and clearly there is a lot about what he thinks he knows that isn’t true.  The show has teased us with bits and pieces of that, but it was pretty much ignored this season.  I get it, this is something that they are going to bring out a little bit at a time and drag out for a long as possible to keep us coming back.  Sorry, but I’m not that interested.  Either keep giving us entertaining case of the week stories or give us more of this case each season.  We do get a revelation that serves as the season two cliffhanger, but it wasn’t enough for me.

I might have been more patient with it if they hadn’t introduced a shorter storyline.  In the season premier, we find out about Colter’s “White Whale” case, a woman he wasn’t able to find years ago and he revisits every so often.  At least that one did get resolved, although it turned into one of the weird storylines I didn’t care for.

Season two consisted of twenty episodes, so there are plenty of episodes to watch if you want to give it a try.

It’s a shame that the show has taken a dark, weird turn.  I was enjoying the show we got in the first season.  But there were enough misfires in season two to make me give up on Tracker.

Movie Review: Mystery on Mistletoe Lane

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: The movie was charming and heartwarming…

Cons: …After it got past the awkward start.  Romance felt tacked on

The Bottom Line:

Small town mysteries

Charming movie overcomes

Awkward beginning

“You’re the Fiscally Responsible Former Director?” “But You Can Call Me Ebeneezer.”

Most of the Christmas movies I recorded last year were 2024 premiers.  But there were a couple of older ones that caught my eye.  One of those was Mystery on Mistletoe Lane.  I mean, the title is going to catch the attention of this mystery reader, right?  This one took a bit of time to grow on me, but I wound up enjoying it.

Recently divorced Heidi (Erica Wicks) has found a new home in a small town in Massachusetts.  She is the new director of the historical society, but she quickly learns on the first day that the society hasn’t been doing much over the last couple of years.  The old director, David (Victor Webster), is sticking around, but only to help out.

One perk of the job is an old home that Heidi can move into.  Her two kids, Annie and Garrett (Juliette Hawk and Logan Pierce) start finding a series of clues leading them to little reindeer hidden around the house.  Meanwhile, Heidi is trying to figure out some other mysteries around the house – mysteries that might tie to David’s family.  Will anyone figure out what it all means before Christmas?

As you can see, this is not a traditional mystery.  Honestly, I didn’t figure it would be, and I was perfectly fine with that.  However, the beginning of the film was so awkwardly written, I almost turned it off by the twenty minute mark.  But I figured I would keep watching a little bit longer to see if things got any better.

Once the story was established, things did settle in.  Between the various storylines, there was plenty going on to hold my interest.  Yes, I was rolling my eyes at a few things that happened still, especially the storyline with the daughter.  But the movie started to pile on the charm, and I really found myself enjoying it and wondering exactly where the movie was going to go.  Okay, so I had the big turns figured out early on, but I still enjoyed seeing them play out and watching how the characters dealt with that.

One thing that never worked for me was the romance.  Yes, I knew to expect it, but it felt like an afterthought.  There was just too much else going on for the writers to have the time they needed to fully flesh that out.

And none of this is the actors’ faults.  They were doing the best they could with the material they had.

I’m glad I stuck with this one.  By the time this movie ended, I was enjoying it.  So if you happen to catch a rerun of Mystery on Mistletoe Lane, stick with it.

This movie is part of this three movie DVD set.

Book Review: Murder at Rough Point by Alyssa Maxwell (Gilded Newport Mysteries #4)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Emma in another compelling mystery

Cons: Not in season, and missed those characters

The Bottom Line:

Murder on retreat

Set during the off season

With good mystery

Murder Makes a Retreat Rough

I may have not be too far into Alyssa Maxwell’s Gilded Newport Mysteries yet, but I can tell I’m hooked. How can I tell? When I put number four, Murder at Rough Point, onto my nightstand under another couple of books, I couldn’t wait to get to it. And I enjoyed this trip back in time.

The series is set in the late 1890’s, and the main character is Emma Cross. A distant relative of the Vanderbilts, she’s from a poor branch and supports herself reporting on fashion for one of the local papers. But she’s trying to get taken seriously as a real reporter, something that’s been helped by the murders she’s had a hand in solving.

This book opens in September of 1896. Emma’s been asked to cover an artist retreat happening at Rough Point, a mansion owned by Frederick Vanderbilt. When she arrives, Emma is surprised by some of the people included in the retreat. But even more surprising is the death of one of the artists at the base of the cliffs. It looks like it could be an accident, or even suicide. But something about the incident doesn’t sit right with Emma. Could it be murder?

This is the first time in the series that the book takes place outside of the summer season, when the wealthy are visiting. Yes, we still get a couple of real people in the story, but I missed seeing those we’ve already met. We did get some updates on them, but it wasn’t the same as watching their lives unfold.

Because a storm comes up not too much after the first death, everyone is trapped at the house. That doesn’t allow much room for subplots period, and I found I missed them as well. I like the mental rest that comes from a break in mystery plot.

But we do have a good mystery here. Emma’s efforts made sense as she tried to figure out what was going on, and the clues and red herrings were good. The solution works as well.

The one subplot we do get involves those mystery guests I teased. I liked that it allowed for some growth in Emma and I liked how open ended it left things. Also, one ongoing storyline got a little more complicated here.

My critiques of the book are minor, overall. While I missed the elements I mentioned, I did enjoy this book. It looks like the next in the series will be a summer book, and I can’t wait.

While Murder at Rough Point might not be best place to jump into the series, fans will still enjoy watching Emma solve this case. I’m already looking forward to my next trip to visit her.

Pick up the rest of the Gilded Newport Mysteries.

Movie Review: A Novel Noel

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: The setting, friends, and some third act choices

Cons: The romance seems taken for granted by the writers

The Bottom Line:

Working in bookstore

Romance is weak in movie

Friends still add the charm

“Christmas in a Bookstore? That Could Work.”

When I was looking at Hallmark Christmas movies last year, there were two draws for A Novel Noel.  The first was the premise.  How could this reader not love it?  The second was that it starred Julie Gonzalo.  Got to support Veronica Mars alums, right?

Julie plays Harper, a New York editor who has lost her passion for her job after a rough year.  She is granted a few weeks off just as she gets an email that a position she’s volunteered for has opened up.  She’s going to be a guest worker at a bookstore in a small town for the holiday.  She considers it fate, so she quickly agrees.

When she arrives, she meets Sawyer (Brendan Penny), who manages the bookstore for his family.  However, they get off to a rocky start since Harper doesn’t agree with how Sawyer is managing things.  I mean, who puts a wine bar in a bookstore?  Can the two make it work?  Will they find they have more in common?

Naturally, as a reader, I loved the setting of this movie.  And there are some fun elements, like the traditions Sawyer and his friends have as well as the Christmas Bingo game that Harper plays with her best friend.

However, I struggled a bit with the romance in this one.  I felt like we were told the characters had fallen for each other more than we actually saw it.  It was the weakest part of the movie for me.

This isn’t anything against the actors.  They did a fine job with the material they had.  Yes, there is some low budget cheese, but that is baked into my expectations when I sit down to watch one of these movies.

There was some discussion about White Christmas in this film, which I thought was great.  I’ve recently become a fan of that classic, so I enjoyed seeing it mentioned.

What I was really impressed by was the third act.  They did some things that I wasn’t expecting.  And some things that I thought were healthy for the characters.  Yes, we still got the ending I was expecting, but it was nice to see how we got there.

A Novel Noel is a nice Christmas movie.  It’s not the best of the bunch, but it will keep you entertained while it is on.

Book Review: Killer Kung Pao by Vivien Chien (Noodle Shop Mysteries #6)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Delicious mystery and fun characters

Cons: Maybe pacing at the beginning (but that might be me)

The Bottom Line:

Beauty shop murder

With unpopular suspect

Killer fun entry

Did an Accident Lead to a Shocking Murder?

Since I’ve fallen woefully behind on Vivien Chien’s Noddle Shop Mysteries, I decided to focus a bit more on them this year, so I’m reading my second on for 2025. (Two instead of one in a year. I did say focus a bit more.) That’s what lead me to pick up Killer Kung Pao, the sixth in the series. I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed it. 

The series focuses on Lana Lee, who is running her family’s Chinese restaurant in an Asia focused shopping center in Cleveland, Ohio. It’s been a few books since we had a story that focuses on Asia Village, but that’s what we get here. 

All Lana wanted on that particular Friday night was to leave work to go hang out with her boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau. Instead, she witnesses an auto accident in the parking lot of Asia Village. When the participants, June Yi and Millie Mao, start threatening each other, Lana wonders what is behind their animosity. 

But the next morning, Lana’s hair appointment gives her a ringside seat as the two start to go at it again in the shopping center’s salon. Then Millie is electrocuted. The whispers that June is guilty begin almost immediately, but Lana thinks that’s too easy. She may not personally like June, but she doesn’t want to see the woman sent to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Can Lana find the truth?

When I started this book, it was an incredibly busy weekend, and I didn’t get as much reading time as normal. When something like that happens, it always makes me wonder when I feel the beginning of a book is a little slow. Is it just me? Or did the book take a little longer than it needed to before it fully picked up? My guess is I was being a bit picky. 

Either way, once Lana begins to fully investigate, I was hooked. Millie wasn’t well liked, but Lana still needs to find some concrete motives and suspects. Once she did, I was kept guessing until we reached the logical solution. All my questions were answered at that point. 

Since we spent so much time around Asia Village again, we saw lots of the regulars, which was fun. A couple of subplots provided some good growth for a couple of them, and one scene left me laughing. One subplot was left purposefully dangling, and I’m very curious where it is going to go in future books. 

While there are no recipes at the end of this book, there is plenty of discussion of food that will leave you placing an order from your local Chinese restaurant. 

It’s easy to see why this fun series has so many fans. Killer Kung Pao will leave you craving the next in this delicious series. 

Order the rest of the Noodle Shop Mysteries. 

Movie Review: Our Holiday Story

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Charming if predictable Christmas romance

Cons: A bit of low budget cheese

The Bottom Line:

Romance in the past

Framed with modern love story

Ultimately fun

“How Do You Intended to Find Her? And Don’t Say Fate.” “Okay, Destiny.”

When I was looking at Hallmark Christmas movies, I thought Our Holiday Story sounded like a fun twist on the usual Christmas movie formula.  But then I started to second guess myself when it came time to actually sit down and watch it.  As a result, I was pleasantly surprised with the result.

When the movie opens, there’s been a snafu, and Chris (Gavin Langelo) has arrived to meet his girlfriend’s parents, Dave and Nell (Warren Christie and Nikki Deloach), without his girlfriend, Joanna (Sydney Scotia).  As a way to break the ice, he asks how Dave and Nell met, not realizing it is a long story.

Ten years ago, Dave and Nell met on a train accidentally, but then are separated before they can even get their names right.  As they continue to meet and separate in the small town where it turns out they both live, neither realizes they are also fighting over the budget for a Christmas festival.  Can they overcome their differences?  Meanwhile, will Joanna ever arrive?  How will her first Christmas with Chris go?

While the majority of the time is spent back ten years ago when Dave and Nell are meeting, with some interference from a teenage Joanna, we do still have an ongoing story in the present.  I enjoyed how both stories played out, and I never had an issue switching from the past to the present and back again. 

It’s pretty obvious early what tropes the story in the past is playing with, but I didn’t mind.  As I always say, as long as I’m having fun, it doesn’t matter, and I was having fun.  The leads are fantastic, and their chemistry kept me engaged.  Not to mention the near misses.  And the resolution is heartwarming.

The contemporary story didn’t resonate with me quite as much, but that’s because it didn’t have nearly as much screen time.  The actors weren’t quite as good either.  Still, I found myself touched by this ending as well.

The movie does have some low budget cheese to it, including in some of the acting.  But you take that into account when sitting down to watch a Hallmark movie, right?

Overall, I enjoyed Our Holiday Story.  It was cute, charming, and festive.  If you want something a little different, pick this Christmas movie.

Movie Review: Diagnosis: Murder - Town Without Pity

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: The acting is really good

Cons: Depressing, obvious, and lecture adjacent

The Bottom Line:

First reunion film

Too depressing for franchise

Worth skipping this one

Depressing First Reunion Movie

Since I didn’t start watching Diagnosis: Murder until part way through its run, I missed the three original movies when they first aired.  However, I watched both of the reunion movies that aired in 2002.  I remember being less than impressed with them both, so I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to rewatching them to close out my rewatch of the series on DVD.  But, I thought time and lowered expectations might help them both.  That wasn’t the case with Town Without Pity, the first of these post series movies.

This movie brings back Dr. Mark Sloan’s daughter Carol Sloan, played by Dick Van Dyke’s real life daughter, Stacy.  She was introduced in one season four episode, but we hadn’t seen her on screen since then.  But the movie starts with her and a guy nursing their car into a town in the middle of nowhere California.  They are going to miss Steve Sloan’s (Barry Van Dyke) birthday party in LA due to the car trouble.

But things get even worse when Carol calls Mark, which ends with the sound of a fight.  He worries so heads up to try to find out what happen to her.  The town where she was last seen seems friendly, but they also don’t see to be telling the truth.  As first Steve, then Amanda (Victoria Rowell), and finally Jessie (Charlie Schlatter) make their way up there, will they learn the truth?

What went wrong with this movie?  Where to start.

First, Diagnosis: Murder was always a fun, light murder mystery show.  Yes, they had the occasional more serious episode, but it was never this somber.  But somber is the only appropriate word for what we get there.  Even the subplot, which features Barry’s son Carey, doesn’t do anything to make this any more enjoyable.

Second, the mystery itself just isn’t very well done.  Even though we aren’t shown what happened at the beginning, it’s still very obvious early on what happened.  And we aren’t having any fun following Mark around to prove it because it is so personal to him.  We aren’t supposed to know until the second half what actually happened, but we do.  And then, when we “learn,” they couldn’t be any more obvious about the clue that is going to solve things.

As I was watching this, I was thinking we were going to get a lecture.  While this movie is does have that, they do provide a motive for what happens, which I appreciated.  They don’t shy away from calling evil evil, and they shouldn’t.  But, again, we could feel the lecture coming a mile away, and that’s not why I sat down to watch this movie.

Finally, almost the entire movie takes place around this town, and I missed the usual sets.  I get that a story set outside the familiar is good for an episode of the TV show, but it’s harder for fans to enjoy in a reunion movie.  The few scenes we get at Community General and BBQ Bob’s just make this fan want more of the familiar settings.

I will give the actors their due.  Everyone does a good job with the material they have.  Dick Van Dyke in particular gets a couple of powerful scenes.

This doesn’t make me hopeful for the final movie, but I will be watching it soon.  If it is as bad as Town Without Pity, fans will want to leave these movies alone so they don’t tarnish the legacy of Diagnosis: Murder.

This movie is part of the Diagnosis: Murder Movie Collection.

July 19th's Weekly TV Thoughts

American Ninja Warrior – I was rooting for Jessie to make it to the buzzer.  We got a slow start, with some surprising non-finishers, but I was happy with the people who did make it.  Still not happy about racing finals, but I am happy to see the full semi-finals course back.

Lego Masters – I don’t know what was going on with my TV/DVR/Whatever.  I had to watch this on demand, but it was pixelating the entire time.  Would have liked to see the final results better.  Not surprised the mother/son team went home since they didn’t finish the bed.  But I give them credit for trying, although that did seem overly ambitious.

The Quiz With Balls – Still a few glitches but not nearly as bad.  I wonder if it was because I watched it a different night or what.  Anyway, that was amazing how well both teams did.  But then I was yelling when we got to the bonus round.  I would have liked to see if I could have gotten more of those questions.  I feel like I could have.  I definitely knew the first one.  Ironically, she went with the only author I had to look up.

The Librarians: The Next Chapter – I was rolling my eyes a bit when I saw the theme was vampires.  But they made it into a fairly interesting episode.  I like how they are playing into the six month thing.  I mean, obviously, the show is going to go longer (I think I read that it’s already been renewed), but they are using it to good effect for the characters.  Frankly, it’s hard to believe we only have three episodes left of this season.

Destination X – Nice to see them really exploring a region and taking a break from the format so far.  That game at the end worked out well for the alliance that was in there.  Two on one made it pretty unfair.  It would be interesting to know if the romance continues after the show.

Press Your Luck – I figured the woman would hit at least one whammy in the second round.  I mean, everyone was going to pass her their spins.  I did feel badly for her at the end, she just couldn’t get anything going.  But what a night the winner had.  I’m glad he walked away.  I would have as well.  But I’m not much of a gambler.

Movie Review: I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Good acting, some nice moments for fans

Cons: Pretty much everything else

The Bottom Line:

Similar premise

Without good execution

Fans should skip requel

“Nostalgia is Overrated.”

While Scream will always be my first love in the horror/slasher genre, I did enjoy the original I Know What You Did Last Summer.  The sequel?  Not as much.  And the less said about the straight to video third film, the better.  So when a new movie was announced, I started paying attention, especially when both original stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. signed on.  I couldn’t wait to see it, so I went to a Thursday opening film.  I’ve got to say, I am disappointed by it.

We are once again returning to Southport where we meet five friends.  Danica and Teddy (Madelyn Cline and Tyriq Withers) are having an engagement party, which means their high school best friends Ava and Milo (Chase Sui Wonders and Jonah Hauer-King) are back in town. Oh, and Ava and Milo were high school sweethearts as well, who have gone their separate ways. As the party winds down, the four friends decide to go out to their spot to watch the 4^th of July fireworks, at the last minute inviting the fifth member of their high school group of friends, Stevie (Sarah Pidgeon).

This being Southport on the 4^th, the five friends wind up being involved in a fatal accident while out on the winding roads.  And they decide to cover it up.  (Really, people just shouldn’t drive in the area on the 4^th.)

A year later, everyone returns to Southport for Danica’s bridal shower.  But one of her presents is just a card with a note inside.  Yep, it says “I know what you did last summer.”  So, who knows their secret?

Yes, Jennifer’s Julie James and Freddie’s Ray Bronson are part of this movie, in more of a supporting role.  This really is focused on the group of five friends and the killer dressed up as the fisherman who is stalking them.  I’m okay with that.  Yes, I’m here for the nostalgia, but I don’t need it to be front and center.  It’s fine to focus on a new group of characters and watch them try to figure out how to survive this.

And the movie tries to play into the mystery of who is could be.  But if you go back and watch the original, it is such a well-done mystery with some good misdirects and well-placed clues.  Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original, is a master at layering a who done it into a slasher.  Here, the mystery isn’t as well done, overshadowed by the action.

My biggest complaint with the original sequel is that the killer goes after everyone but the people he wants to kill.  I get it in the original he’s taunting them, but in the sequel?  Really?  The only reason he behaves like he does is because of the need to have a higher body count.  But that’s a different review.  I bring it up only because here, the killer actually does have a good motive for the order the bodies drop, which I appreciated.

Of course, the original has that iconic chase scene.  This one is missing the good chase scenes.  We get some build up to some of the deaths, but they are usually over all too quickly.  There’s really only one decent chase scene, and it’s a rip off with a new elements that worked well.

Then there’s the third act.  Let’s just say, I didn’t appreciate it.  Especially since I didn’t feel the motives were successfully established to make me buy into what happened.  Maybe with better writing I’d feel differently about it.

The original has a low body count, and the Fisherman toys with the kids before he starts in on them.  While it does take a lot longer for the build up to the kills, it really helped us get to know the characters, so we can find ourselves rooting for them because they don’t deserve what is happened to them despite what they did.  This movie is so focused on the action, that it misses that key character development.  As a result, I actually found myself rooting for the killer more than I should.

Not that what happens here is on the same level as the accident in the original.  They still should have gone to the police, but it’s on a different level.

I’m not blaming the actors for this.  The entire cast is very good at bringing their characters to life, including the franchise veterans.

Keep in mind, this is a hard R rating, mainly for the language and violence.  But, if you are familiar with the franchise, that’s no surprise.  I did feel the kills are more brutal.

There are some very nice moments for fans of the first two films.  Like me, we are pretending that third film never happened.  I never watched the TV series, but I’m assuming that is sitting outside the continuity of these films as well.  Anyway, some of the nods to the earlier films are brief mentions that I appreciated.  Others felt overdone, mainly because they went on too long.

Another thing that bothered me was the age of the characters.  They are all supposed to be in their late twenties, almost ten years older than the main characters in the original.  The set up works for me with just graduated from high school teens.  It really doesn’t work for me with characters who are supposed to be in their twenties.  Especially since they are still acting like teenagers too much of the time.

The original had a great 4^th of July small town feel to it.  That was also missing here.

And we can’t leave out the modern messages of the film, which also hurt it for me.  To say more is to spoil things.  Of course, I might have felt differently if those themes and messages had been better developed.

Frankly, that felt like much of the issue with the film.  There was just too much going on, so things were rushed.  The opening accident.  The time to the note.  The first kill.  And it never really settled into a groove at all.  For being the longest film in the franchise to date, it seems like they could have found some time to slow things down and develop a character or to.  Or maybe truly explore a theme instead of just touching on something before moving on to the next bit.  Even in a slasher, we need time to breath.

The film is clearly hoping for a sequel, even setting it up in the final moments of this film.  I’m not sure I will be back.  If I do come back, I doubt it will be in the theater.  Anyway, if you do see this movie, you’ll want to stick around until at least part way through the credits.

I reserve the right to change my mind as I’ve had more time to sit with this new I Know What You Did Last Summer.  But my immediate gut reaction to this movie is that it should have been given the hook.  What happened last summer should have been forgotten.