Book Review: The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley (Flavia de Luce #9)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Flavia; updates on her

Cons: Very weak mystery

The Bottom Line:

Holiday setting

Gives updates on Flavia

With weak mystery

Fishing for Bodies

Cliffhangers work.  Oh, I don’t like them, especially in books, but they make coming back for the latest in a series a complete priority.  It’s why I was anxious to read The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place, the latest Flavia de Luce mystery.  After how the last one ended, I had to know what was going to happen to Flavia next.

For those who haven’t met Flavia, she is now a twelve-year-old chemist in 1952 England.  And if you haven’t met her, you could easily jump in here.  Yes, the ending of the last book would be ruined, and you wouldn’t have the complete background on some of the character relationships, but you would get what you need here.

In order to help her family deal with their grief, Flavia, her two older sisters, and the family’s servant Dogger have been shipped off on holiday.  They are supposed to be enjoying several peaceful days of boating, and Dogger has just happened to pick a location where a vicar poisoned three ladies in his congregation with the communion wine.  While Flavia is thinking about this crime, she is letting her hand drift in the water and suddenly grabs something.  Instead of the fish she thinks it might be, she discovers it’s a body.  Was there foul play?  Can Flavia figure out what happened to the corpse?

Maybe it was because I had to wait for this book while I’ve read the others closer together (I started this series late), or maybe it is because the series is still uneven, but I found this one a bit weak.  The plots tend to wander even at the best of times, so I wasn’t too surprised when that happened here.  However, I found a part where Flavia envisions what happened when the three women were poisoned to be preposterous instead of cute, which is how I’m sure we were supposed to find it.  When it came time for the climax, things were just too rushed, with surmises and guesses being treated by fact.  And if Flavia’s view of the villain’s motive was the case, it was extremely weak.

Fortunately, we have the characters to pull us through.  Yes, fans like me wanting to know what happens next will be glad to get the updates Flavia gives us early on in the book.  There are some developments in other relationships as well, which I appreciated; I especially loved the new side we got to see of Dogger.  But this is still Flavia’s show, and she is in top form.  She meets a wild assortment of suspects that entertain as always.

I’m continuing this series on audio.  Seriously, if you haven’t given Jayne Entwistle’s efforts a change, you really need to do that.  She brings Flavia to vivid life, and considering she’s our narrator, that can’t be easy.  The other characters are good, too.  And Jayne does all this without taking over the book.  It truly is marvelous.

With how this book ends, I’m curious to know what will come next for Flavia.  I could see the series progressing in a new direction from here.  Or I could imagine the series ending here.  That final scene plays well either way.

The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place is entertaining, but as a mystery it is weak.  This book is best read by fans wanted to know what is next for Flavia.

Check out the rest of Flavia's adventures.

Book Review: Death al Fresco by Leslie Karst (Sally Solari #3)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Strong characters, good mystery

Cons: Sub-plots a little too strong at times

The Bottom Line:

Fisherman in kelp

Ties to family restaurant

Gives us fun third book

Corpse in the Kelp

Despite being a California native, I haven’t spent as much time on the California central coast as I would like.  I’m not quite sure why Santa Cruz in particular has had such a pull for me, but at least I can visit it virtually with the Sally Solari series.  Death al Fresco is the latest in the series, and it’s another good book.

Since inheriting Gauguin from her aunt, she has attempted to leave her job at Solari’s, the restaurant her father owns.  Just when she thinks she is out, her father manages to pull her back in.  Right now, he has agreed to put on a dinner for the visiting dignitaries from Santa Cruz’s sister city in Italy.  It’s a great honor, and he needs her help.  How can she say no?

On top of all this, Sally and her friend Eric have signed up for an outdoor painting class visiting various locations round town on different Saturdays.  This particular Saturday, Sally has brought her dog along since they are painting at a dog friendly beach.  When Buster wanders off, she tries to stop him from playing with the kelp he’s found only to realize there is a body in the kelp.  The man was a regular at Solari’s, and as his last days are pieced together, the circumstances don’t look good for Sally and her family.  Can she figure out what happened?

As you might have guessed from my synopsis, this book has a lot going on with a couple of very strong sub-plots.  I did feel that slowed down the main mystery a little, but I enjoyed these sub-plots.  The mystery does have good suspects and kept me guessing until the very end.  Of course, everything made sense by the time we reached the ending.

One reason I didn’t mind the sub-plots so much is that they involved some of the series regulars.  As a result, they allow us to see them and get some great character development for them.  I enjoy this cast of characters, so that’s a very good thing.  Sally is a strong main character as well, and it is a pleasure to spend time with her.  The suspects hold their own with the series regulars.  I felt they were all real and viable suspects.

With a book set partially in two different restaurants, it’s no surprise that we get some recipes in the back.  They are more gourmet than what we find in many culinary cozies, as well.  After reading this book, you can try your hand at such recipes as Duck a la Lilikoi, Black Cod with Miso and Sake, and a spinach salad.

Sally is a wonderful host to Santa Cruz.  Truly, this is the next best thing to being there in person.  So if you are looking for a coastal get away, you’ll want to pick up Death al Fresco.

You can't stop with just one taste.  Here are the rest of the Sally Solari Mysteries in order.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Movie Review: Despicable Me 3

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Laughs and fun

Cons: Sub-plots feel tacked on

The Bottom Line:

Gru, Minions are back

Sub-plots distract from story

Still fun overall

A Bit Busy, but Mostly Fun

I’ve been surprised at just how charming the Despicable Me movies have turned out to be, so I was looking forward to catch up with Gru and the rest of the gang in Despicable Me 3.  This movie suffered from a few too many storylines, but overall, it was still enjoyable.

The movie opens as Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) and his new wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) are on their latest mission for the Anti-Villain League.  Their target is Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker), a former childhood actor who turned to villainy when his show was canceled.  However, things quickly go wrong, and Gru and Lucy both wind up fired.

While Gru is still processing this bit of news, he gets the surprise of his life – he has a twin brother named Dru (also Steve Carell).  Dru wants to start on a life of crime, and he hopes to team up with Gru to do it.  Will Gru return to villainy?

This story alone would be enough to carry the movie, and it is a great plot.  I figured out where they were going with it fairly early on, but I didn’t care because watching them get there was a lot of fun.

But the problem is they decided to water things down with several sub-plots.  Admittedly, these sub-plots allow some of the other characters to shine, but they feel like they are there more as padding than as part of the film.  True, two of the sub-plots, Lucy’s attempts to be a good mother to the three girls and the majority of the minions striking out on their own, both factor into the main plot’s climax, so it’s only Agnes’ hunt for a real live unicorn that really doesn’t come into play at the end.  Don’t get me wrong, I love all of the characters, but I feel like they could have been worked into the main plot better.

Now this isn’t to say that the movie isn’t entertaining.  I laughed quite a bit and smiled even more.  The film entertains, which is the entire point, right?

Like with the other movies in the franchise, the animation is very stylized.  It isn’t going for the hyper realistic look of other animated movies, but it certainly works for these movies.

And the voice cast continues to be wonderful.  They bring their characters to life in such a way that you get caught up in the story.

My issues with the plot aside, Despicable Me 3 will entertain fans of the franchise.  If you are one of them, you’ll definitely want to check this movie out.

Play Review: Godspell at Glendale Centre Theatre

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun with music and a strong message

Cons: A major theological point that would have made the final better

The Bottom Line:

70’s stage play

Excellent production

Quirky but still fun

Wonderful Night at the Theater

Over 20 years ago, I first saw Godspell in the theater, and I very quickly fell in love with this quirky musical.  I’ve bought two different versions of the soundtrack and the movie in the intervening years, but I haven’t gotten to see it in the theater since.  When I saw that Glendale Centre Theatre, my favorite theater here in Southern California, was going to put it on, I immediately put it on my calendar.

If you aren’t familiar with this musical, it was originally produced in 1971 Off Broadway and is an early musical from Stephen Schwartz, composer of such musicals as Wicked and Pippin as well as songs for such Disney movies as Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted.  This musical tells the story of the life of Jesus, and the “book,” aka the script, consists almost completely of texts from the Gospels.  There are only 10 members of the cast, with many of them taking on various roles.  Jesus is played by one person, but the rest of the characters help him act out what he is teaching.  This is especially true when it comes to the parables.  They transition into the songs are various times.  A few of these songs are taken from the Bible, but most are completely original.

I cannot emphasize enough that this play is certainly something different.  The first clue is Jesus’ costume.  In this play, he is wearing a Superman hoodie and suspenders.  The rest of the cast wear costumes that harken back to the 70’s.  The acting is a mix of improve and vaudeville.  Even knowing that, it still takes me about 20 minutes to fully get into the play or movie.  But once I do, it is a ton of fun.

Obviously, the play walks a fine line of having fun and still being respectful of the source material, especially for those of us who are Christians.  This production does a great job of that.  There are a couple of moments I don’t like, but they are in the script and pass quickly.

And the singing.  This cast is absolutely amazing!  They were belting out the songs with gusto, and I was floored at the voices some of them had.  While only two of the characters have names, every member of the cast gets his or her moment to shine, and they make the most of them.  Some of the cast members even played instruments on stage, which I believe is a first, at least in the plays I’ve seen at this particular theater.

One reason I love Glendale Centre Theatre is because it is a theater in the round.  The cast makes outstanding use of the stage.  There are minimal sets and props, and they are constantly moving around the space.  Because the audience is right there, they even get to involve us a couple of times, which adds to the fun.  The choreography is top notch, and they even have added a few more modern jokes that the audience loved.  My favorite adlib came in the song “Turn Back, O Man” and played off one of the lines in the song.

One of the oddities of the play is that the only other actor playing a certain part starts the play as John the Baptist and then becomes Judas after that.  This is in the script, but why the script didn’t have two different actors play these two critical parts is beyond me.

It has been years since I saw the first production back in college, but as I recall, they included Jesus’ resurrection.  The movie, famously, does not.  This production also leaves it out.  As a Christian, I found that very troubling.  To quote Paul in I Corinthians 15, “If Christ has not raised from the dead, we are of all men most to be pitied.”  I get what they were trying to say with the ending they did here, but I think it would have been more powerful with a resurrected Jesus.  Apparently this version is truer to the script, so my issue is with the script.  Still, I find it very disappointing.

That complaint aside, I loved it.  The scripture coming to life in front of me touched me in a new way.  I know the passages, but there were reminders I needed to hear yet again.  The songs are wonderful; I have many of them memorized, but I loved seeing them performed again.  While the first act is filled with fun, the second act gets more serious as the death of Jesus nears, and I was surprised I was almost crying at the end.  The cast is that good.

The theater is normally dark Sunday through Wednesday, but they are putting on Godspell those days during the month of March.  It is well worth making the extra effort to go it the play on these non-traditional days.  Heck, if money weren’t tight right now, I’d certainly go back to see it again.

Candy Review: Hershey's Carrot Cake Kisses

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: The first few remind you of carrot cake

Cons: After that, they just taste sweet

The Bottom Line:

Carrot Cake Kisses

First few good, then lose flavor

Makes easy to pass

Tasty Treat in Limited Quantities

Walking down the candy aisle is dangerous.  I was looking at the Easter candy recently, hoping to run across a season treat I enjoyed in years past.  While I didn’t find it, I did stumble across Hersey’s Carrot Cake Kisses.  I did a double take.  Intrigued, I had to give them a try.

These kisses are orange with a white center.  Pop one in your mouth, and you’ll find they do a decent approximation of a carrot cake.  The flavor is heavy on the frosting side of the cake, but let’s face it, that is the best part.  There is a hint of the carrot cake flavor as well.

However, what I’ve discovered is that after about the fourth one, they start to lose their flavoring.  After that, they just start to taste sweet.  It’s not bad, but when there is no connection to carrot cake, what’s the point?

And that’s probably a very good thing.  I doubt there is anything remotely healthy in these candies.  I’m sure they use white chocolate in them, and then artificial flavors.  Yes, I’ve glanced at the ingredients, but they don’t mean anything to me.  And the nutritional information is downright scary.

All sweets are best consumed in limited quantities, but that is especially true for Carrot Cake Kisses.  Since the flavor isn’t distinct for long, these are best just skipped.

March 10th's Weekly TV Thoughts

We only just came back from the Olympics, and already a couple of these shows are taking breaks.  Yes, I know I get to the point where I am ready for a break, but I wasn't quite there yet.

But pretty much everything was airing this week.

Once Upon a Time (3/3) – I’m shocked they killed off Victoria.  I really expected her to stay until the end of the season.  And because they tried to wrap up her story line so quickly, it felt rushed.  Plus it means that Gothel finally was able to defeat Rapunzel.  That doesn’t seem like the show.  It was cool see Leota.  I wonder exactly how she is going to fit in to everything.

Legends of Tomorrow – As dark as the season has gotten, I’m glad they just discussed torture.  Still, why kill the guy with the lab?  Glad Wally is officially on board, I think he will add a nice dynamic to things.  I wish they hadn’t gotten so dark, however.  This used to be the lightest of the shows.

The Flash – As annoying as I find the set ups like tonight’s episode, I didn’t mind as much.  I think it was because we only had 9 minutes to catch up to the bomb going off.  Oh, the actual scene with Barry and Iris didn’t come until later, but it wasn’t a stretch to know when it was going to happen.  Creative episode with some great character moments.  And I love Barry and Iris.  Truly, I do.

Lethal Weapon – As much as I haven’t enjoyed this arc, I really liked tonight’s episode.  And not just because it resolved things.  So glad that Trish was able to talk her way out of the situation.  I was rolling my eyes up until that point.  However, I did feel that the whole jump out of the airplane was absolutely stupid.  There’s no way that would have worked.  So happy with Molly, however.  She is completely right about what Martin needs to do next.

This is Us – This is the problem with the show at times.  I didn’t need this much background on Deja, especially since next week is the season finale.  I feel like we’ve stopped the rest of the world to focus on a minor character.  Plus, we’ve got the weird flashes of the rest of the characters showing how similar she is to the rest of them.  The final act was good since it moved us forward, and I’m wondering where her mother is going.  She’s not going to be happy when she wakes up in the morning.

Survivor – Ghost Island saved the day.  I’m sure that’s the only reason that we didn’t have the disadvantaged team lose another member.  And what is with the tribe swap so soon?  That really surprised me.  I wonder if we will have another one before the merge.

Designated Survivor – That is it?  I’d heard so much about Kim Raver’s guest starring role on the show, and she was in three scenes.  Still, it was fun for this 24 fan to see her.  Definitely more interested in the developments this week.  Hopefully, they can keep this trajectory going through the rest of the season.

The Big Bang Theory – So nice to see Barry again!  And I enjoyed seeing Howard and Bernadette thinking about staying home.  In fact, I found that to be the funniest part of the episode.  The rest was amusing, but their scenes were just so much fun.

Arrow – 3 week break already?  No!!!  I always loved Roy, so it is nice that he is back.  And, as much as I love Thea, if the two of them left together, I’d be perfectly okay with that.  Heck, if she joins the league (teaser for next time/cliffhanger at the end), that would give them both a happier ending than just being on the run.  Did I miss something, however?  How was Felicity able to figure out what really happened to James so quickly?

Ninja Vs. Ninja – In the preliminary rounds, I was rooting for both teams that make the finals.  I love Lance, but I’m okay with either team winner.  And considering how well Jessie’s team did, I can’t fault them at all.  Although I don’t remember the final two teams doing all 9 obstacles until the relays at the end last week.  Either that was new or I wasn’t paying close attention.

Book Review: Cry Fowl by Sandy Dengler (Valley of the Sun #5)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Two good stories with old friends

Cons: Not much connects the two stories

The Bottom Line:

Joe, Tommy travel

Still find myst’ry and mayhem

Engaging stories

Murder Across the Pond

I have finally caved.  For years, I have resisted buying ebooks, but I just bought my first one (not counting freebies I’ve downloaded).  But you see, I had to read Cry Fowl by Sandy Dengler.  Sandy Dengler has long been a favorite author, and this continues a series that I first enjoyed 25 years ago, so I needed to know what Joe and Tommy are up to now.

For those who haven’t met them, Joe Rodriguez and Tommy Flaherty are homicide detectives in the Phoenix Police Department.  However, this book takes them away from that familiar setting as they go to the UK to visit family.

In Joe’s case, it’s actually his late wife’s parents.  His two kids are in tow as they finally get to meet their grandparents.  However, the day they arrive, Joe’s father-in-law is called to his office because his business partner has been found murdered.  The murder seems to be related to the business, but what is happening?

Tommy, meanwhile, isn’t finding things any easier in Ireland.  Visiting his father is still awkward, and someone seems determined to kill Tommy’s uncle.  Can he get the local police to listen to him before it is too late?

Instead of one mystery, this book is really too novellas connected by the series’ two main characters visiting family.  Tommy’s story is introduced early in the book, but it really doesn’t get much development until the second half.  By that point, Joe’s mystery has been solved, and he is able to go help Tommy.

Both stories are entertaining with plenty to keep you engaged.  There are complications, action, and surprises before things are resolved.

Joe is really the main character of the series.  Even though he is out of town, there are some developments in his personal life.  I’m actually perfectly okay with one of them, the other still needs to grow on me, but it could happen.

Yes, I missed some of the gang back in Phoenix, but we get some fine new characters to replace them.  I enjoyed getting to meet them and see different sides of Joe and Tommy.  There’s a Tommy story here that will definitely make you smile if not laugh, and we learn quite a bit about his past.

I’m still not ready to jump fully into the ebook revolution, but buying Cry Fowl was definitely worth it for me.  I was glad to get to spend more time with Joe and Tommy.

Visit Joe and Tommy in their native habitat with the rest of the Valley of the Sun mysteries.

This review is part of this week's Friday's Forgotten Books.

March 9th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

Here we are - Friday!  So let's get to some Book Beginnings and Friday 56.

This week, I'm featuring Death al Fresco by Leslie Kurst.

                                                


This is the third book in a series, and I enjoyed it.  Assuming I get my review written, I will post it on Tuesday, which is release day.
In the meantime, however, here's how the book begins:

Eric was late.  Not at all surprising, but it irritated me nonetheless.

Since I read an eARC, let's skip ahead to 56% into the book, where we find this:

I lowered my voice to convey that what I was about to tell him was important - and perhaps even confidential - and the man leaned in to hear what I had to say.

Have a great weekend.

Movie Review: Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Action with a decent plot

Cons: If they were there, they are impossible to find

The Bottom Line:

Fast paced action film

As Hunt hunts the Syndicate

Light entertainment

“Join the IMF.  See the World.  On a Monitor.  In a Closet.”

Despite the fact that I didn’t like the first Mission: Impossible movie (and someday, I should rewatch it and review it here), I have really grown to love the franchise.  The plots and action can be out there, but there is something very fun about them as well.  Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is a perfect example of that.

We join Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the rest of his team mid-mission as they are trying to stop a plane with a mysterious package on it from taking off.  They manage to get the package, but this is used as the latest example of the team being more lucky than good at what they do.  Thanks to Alan Hunley’s (Alec Baldwin) testimony, the IMF is disbanded and folded into the CIA.

However, Ethan doesn’t get the message.  He’s too busy getting captured by the Syndicate, an evil organization he’s been trying to take down.  He escapes with the help of Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson), a mysterious woman.  Can she be trusted?  With Ethan now wanted by his own government, will he be able to take down the Syndicate?

Now let’s be honest, the plot is just an excuse to string together some wild action sequences, and this movie is no exception.  The stunts and effects are absolutely out of this world.  They stretch credibility to the hilt, sometimes beyond it even, but I don’t mind.  They are very fun and made it impossible to look away from the screen.  It’s obvious that special effects help with what we are seeing on the screen, but you’d never know it since you buy everything you are seeing on the screen.

But the plot is better than it can be in an action movie.  Despite the twists and double crosses, it holds together and makes sense from start to finish.  That’s saying something for an action movie.

Action movies aren’t known for the wide range of emotions required of the cast, and that’s true here.  However, the cast is uniformly great and I bought their performances complete.  One thing I have really started to enjoy about the franchise are the returning supporting players, and we see more of Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, and Ving Rhames here.

Mission: Impossible -Rogue Nation is nothing but a fast-paced action movie, but since that’s all it sets out to be, I’d say that makes it pretty much perfect.  Pop this one in today, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

Ornament Review: Christmas Cutter Christmas #6 - Decorating the Tree - 2017 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Cute decorating scene

Cons: Not much background detail

The Bottom Line:

A stocking cutter

Filled with decorating scene

A cute ornament

Stocking Cookie Cutter Hung on the Tree with Care

I know I say it each year, but I really do love the Cookie Cutter Christmas series.  The creativity to fit a scene inside a different Christmas (or at least winter) shape is just outstanding.  2017’s entry was no different.

This year, the cookie cutter is a stocking.  And the scene inside is closely related.  No, our mouse friend isn’t hanging his stocking by the chimney with care, but he is decorating.  In this case, he’s standing on a stool to put a topper on his tree.

Another reason I love this series is the creativity that is shown in creating the scene.  This is a simpler one as far as background goes because there isn’t really anything but the mouse, the stool, and the tree.  However, artist Nina has outdone herself with the food elements in this scene.  The tree is made up of three different sized gumdrops with frosting between them.  The star topper looks like a cookie.  And the mouse is using a piece of peppermint candy as his stool.  All that adds up to a very cute scene.

This series is hit and miss with being able to display as a free-standing piece.  This one is more of a miss since the rounded bottom on the stocking doesn’t provide a very steady base.  However, the ornament hangs straight.  Those looking for the series marker will find a six in a Christmas tree next to the cookie cutter handle in the back.

This series continues to charm.  Fans of the Cookie Cutter Christmas series will not be disappointed in the slightest with this latest entry.

Be sure not to miss an entry in the Cookie Cutter Christmas series.

Original Price: $12.95