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coca_reads's reviews
360 reviews
Dragons of a Vanished Moon by Tracy Hickman, Margaret Weis
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
The Shadow on the Glass: A Cthulhu by Gaslight Novel by Jonathan L Howard
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was kind of a wild little read. I don't really know what was going on for most of the book, but that's kind of the point when you're dealing with eldritch horrors, right?
This follows William and Lizzie in 1890's England, where they proclaim to be spiritualists. This is, of course, just an act they put on with the aid of some investigation and Lizzie's natural ability at cold reading.
When they are approached by a wealthy member of the nobility, they jump at the chance to perform a séance with him, to try to try to contact his deceased wife, but it doesn't go as anticipated and when Lizzie faints at the ceremony, she's not the one who wakes up the next day.
This was well written, amusing, and a fun little read. The time period was perfectly chosen, and the author clearly has a talent for writing in it. I hope he continues the series.
This follows William and Lizzie in 1890's England, where they proclaim to be spiritualists. This is, of course, just an act they put on with the aid of some investigation and Lizzie's natural ability at cold reading.
When they are approached by a wealthy member of the nobility, they jump at the chance to perform a séance with him, to try to try to contact his deceased wife, but it doesn't go as anticipated and when Lizzie faints at the ceremony, she's not the one who wakes up the next day.
This was well written, amusing, and a fun little read. The time period was perfectly chosen, and the author clearly has a talent for writing in it. I hope he continues the series.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This series is getting better and better.
Taking place just after Christmas, the Murder Club are pulled into another investigation as a friend of the club, is found murdered. While this investigation is taking place, we spend time in the relationships of the group members, Donna and Bogdan, Chris and Patrice, Elizabeth and Stephen, Ron and Pauline, and Ibrahim and his past.
This book dives more into how the group meshes and how they all fit in to the whole of each other's lives. There is so much love and appreciation between these characters, and above all, a "seize the day" spirit. They're all so determined to live every last second to its fullest.
The book also talks about grief in depth as well. The loss of a character had me nearly in tears. The language used and the feelings talked about were so beautiful and touching.
This entire series so far is so absolutely charming, and continuing to visit these characters is like walking in a room full of your favorite people to do nothing more than just sit, have tea, and enjoy each other's company and share in the stories of their lives.
Taking place just after Christmas, the Murder Club are pulled into another investigation as a friend of the club, is found murdered. While this investigation is taking place, we spend time in the relationships of the group members, Donna and Bogdan, Chris and Patrice, Elizabeth and Stephen, Ron and Pauline, and Ibrahim and his past.
This book dives more into how the group meshes and how they all fit in to the whole of each other's lives. There is so much love and appreciation between these characters, and above all, a "seize the day" spirit. They're all so determined to live every last second to its fullest.
The book also talks about grief in depth as well. The loss of a character had me nearly in tears. The language used and the feelings talked about were so beautiful and touching.
This entire series so far is so absolutely charming, and continuing to visit these characters is like walking in a room full of your favorite people to do nothing more than just sit, have tea, and enjoy each other's company and share in the stories of their lives.
Murder on the Pier by Merryn Allingham
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was just as charming as the 1st book in the series.
The story picks up a few months after the events in book 1. Flora is back in her bookshop, and Jack has recently finished his novel and begun work on the next. On a day out together in neighboring Brighton, they stumble across a body at the pier, and they know the victim.
These are cute little stories taking place in the 1950s, in the British countryside. The mysteries aren't very complex, and it's pretty clear who the killer is from early in the story, but their charm is more about the interactions between the main characters and the people they deal with in the town.
Great little pallet cleansers.
The story picks up a few months after the events in book 1. Flora is back in her bookshop, and Jack has recently finished his novel and begun work on the next. On a day out together in neighboring Brighton, they stumble across a body at the pier, and they know the victim.
These are cute little stories taking place in the 1950s, in the British countryside. The mysteries aren't very complex, and it's pretty clear who the killer is from early in the story, but their charm is more about the interactions between the main characters and the people they deal with in the town.
Great little pallet cleansers.
The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was a short, beautifully written, and depressing book.
The main character, Florence Greene, is trying to open a bookshop in a small, crumbling, seaside town. She buys a property, and renovates it, and immediately starts getting push-back from a bullish member of the community.
Most of the characters in this were nasty, small-minded people who were as spiteful as they were politically corrupt.
There was no satisfying conclusion to this. And the message behind this story seems to have been, "you can have a nice idea, and do everything right, and bad people will use everything in their power to tear you down and take everything from you, just because they can."
The main character, Florence Greene, is trying to open a bookshop in a small, crumbling, seaside town. She buys a property, and renovates it, and immediately starts getting push-back from a bullish member of the community.
Most of the characters in this were nasty, small-minded people who were as spiteful as they were politically corrupt.
There was no satisfying conclusion to this. And the message behind this story seems to have been, "you can have a nice idea, and do everything right, and bad people will use everything in their power to tear you down and take everything from you, just because they can."
Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert
Sleep Tight is another paranormal mystery from J.H. Markert.
This follows Tess Claibourne, a small town detective that is haunted by the investigation of her father's most famous case. The capture of the serial killer called "Father Silence."
With the last words at his execution though, Father Silence warned that things weren't done yet, and afterward, Tess's father and mother are found to have been murdered.
Markert is an interesting writer. You can feel each book getting better as they're released, and he becomes more comfortable in his storytelling. This is gritty, tense, and fast-paced. The characters are loveably flawed (except Danny and Eliza, who are just wonderful all around), and the story, while not mind-blowing, is interesting and engaging.
Solid and fun read.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sleep Tight is another paranormal mystery from J.H. Markert.
This follows Tess Claibourne, a small town detective that is haunted by the investigation of her father's most famous case. The capture of the serial killer called "Father Silence."
With the last words at his execution though, Father Silence warned that things weren't done yet, and afterward, Tess's father and mother are found to have been murdered.
Markert is an interesting writer. You can feel each book getting better as they're released, and he becomes more comfortable in his storytelling. This is gritty, tense, and fast-paced. The characters are loveably flawed (except Danny and Eliza, who are just wonderful all around), and the story, while not mind-blowing, is interesting and engaging.
Solid and fun read.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was exactly the kind of emotionally damaging story that I've been looking for.
This is the story of Patroclus and Achilles as told from the point of view of Patroclus, his companion, and, in this telling, his lover.
Miller uses Greek mythology as the basis for her story and weaves it together in a masterful way. The prose here is beautiful and poetic. The imagery is vivid, and it is easy to picture yourself walking through the scenes she paints.
The story she weaves of these 2 as they grow into manhood, and their relationship is both hopeful and heartbreaking, and it ended with me dying my eyes.
I can not recommend this highly enough.
This is the story of Patroclus and Achilles as told from the point of view of Patroclus, his companion, and, in this telling, his lover.
Miller uses Greek mythology as the basis for her story and weaves it together in a masterful way. The prose here is beautiful and poetic. The imagery is vivid, and it is easy to picture yourself walking through the scenes she paints.
The story she weaves of these 2 as they grow into manhood, and their relationship is both hopeful and heartbreaking, and it ended with me dying my eyes.
I can not recommend this highly enough.
Girl Gone Missing by Marcie R. Rendon
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Solid book 2 to the Cash Blackbear series.
This follows Cash, now in college, while still driving grain trucks, as she hears from her friend that someone in one of their classes has gone missing.
After poking around, Cash has a vision of the girl calling out to her for help, and she knows she's got to help find her.
These are great mysteries, but they're amazing at conveying the anger and frustration of the native people.
I can't wait to keep diving into these stories. Waiting on my book 3 to arrive now.
This follows Cash, now in college, while still driving grain trucks, as she hears from her friend that someone in one of their classes has gone missing.
After poking around, Cash has a vision of the girl calling out to her for help, and she knows she's got to help find her.
These are great mysteries, but they're amazing at conveying the anger and frustration of the native people.
I can't wait to keep diving into these stories. Waiting on my book 3 to arrive now.