A Review – Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalo

The other week, I came across a lovely little app called 'BorrowBox'. It's pretty much an online library. You create an account by linking your library card to it, and then can then borrow books (and audiobooks)!

There is a system in place that makes it more like a library, as there are not unlimited numbers of each book, so you can only borrow it if it's available, or you can be added to a waiting list to borrow the book.

I picked this book simply because it was the first one I came across that I recognised, and was available immediately!

I've never been much of an audiobook person as I zone out quite easily, but I drive to the horse yard twice a day. Granted it's only a 10 minute journey each way, but when you think about it, that's a potential 40 minutes of audiobook listening every day. So this book was sort of the tester to see how audiobook listening/driving would work, and it did go surprisingly well! I will definitely be going through the collection of books and choosing many, many, many of them to read.

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life. Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine.

When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her back to her own sheltered world. The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

Grab a copy!

My Review!

Life as a Lord’s daughter is not necessarily all it’s chalked up to be. Audrey Rose Wadsworth might be able to enjoy a life of luxury, and want for nothing, but she is not content to sit back and plan tea parties. She longs for purpose outside of the day to day life of an upper class woman. Her mind is switched on, and she has every intention of putting it to good use. Particularly when it comes to following in her uncle’s footsteps, and practicing the art of forensic medicine.

When Audrey Rose first meets Thomas Cresswell, he comes across as pompous, clearly thinking himself superior to those around him. He does not necessarily question her decision to sneak around behind her father’s back and spend her time in her uncle’s laboratory, dissecting corpses to determine the causes of their mortal end, but he does not keep it a secret that he does not believe she is that good at what she does. He is not afraid to tell her when she makes mistakes, nor does he hesitate when there is a chance to prove to her that he is right. But when corpses begin appearing in a similar manner, there can be no denying that there is a serial murderer on the loose, and Audrey Rose and Thomas have no choice but to work together if they want to discover the truth and find the murderer before too many more people lose their lives.

Jack the Ripper is an infamous name, belonging to a case that was never solved. Embellishing fact with fiction, the author has created a gripping murder mystery novel. This novel should not be taken as a true account of the murders, as is clearly stated in the author’s note at the end, but that does not mean it is not a story worth reading. The historical setting is well researched and portrayed with a close eye for the detail. Audrey Rose and Thomas live and breathe within the pages of a novel recounting Victorian England in an incredibly realistic manner. 

Audrey Rose is a woman who does not belong in the time she was born to. She is a woman who knows her own mind, and one who refuses to be caged. She knows she can contribute towards something, and she is not at all afraid to get to work, or to work hard to achieve what she desires. Despite many characters believing her incapable simply because of her gender, Audrey Rose is determined, both to prove herself capable, and to prove others wrong. She comes across as incredibly real in the telling, and is certainly a likeable character. She is not without fault, but she is human – she does her best, and puts her all into everything that she does, but is very much held back by what is deemed socially acceptable for a woman to do. She makes the perfect protagonist to tell this story, for she is not on the front line, such as those in Scotland Yard on the police force are, but rather working behind the scenes, following her own leads, and attempting to piece together clues that are left behind after the life of a victim has been lost.

The relationship between Audrey Rose and Thomas is one that is rather entertaining to follow. Audrey Rose may see Thomas as a rival for her uncle’s praise, but she can’t deny that she needs him to be able to solve the case. If Scotland Yard, and even her uncle, couldn’t solve it and find the murderer, how was she supposed to solve it by herself. With Thomas, the world opens up, and she has a partner in crime, as it were, in her investigation. With clues bouncing between them, and two different perspectives, they manage to get much further in their investigation than they might have without each other. Although it becomes evident to the reader that they clearly care for each other, neither of them are the type of person to admit so, and instead they fall to harmless but amusing bickering and often grow frustrated with each other. 

Being a murder mystery, this novel is full of twists and turns. Even though you may attempt to deduce who the murderer is by yourself, it is almost guaranteed that you will not be able to see what is coming next until you turn the next page and read on. This novel builds to a brilliant climax, and it is almost impossible to predict what will come next.

While this book is listed as young adult historical fiction, it is certainly aimed at the older end of the young adult scale. There are several scenes that are incredibly gory, and for those who are not necessarily accustomed to blood, gore, and the aftermath of extreme violence, this book may be the wrong choice. It is not a particularly censored book, so can easily be enjoyed by older readers, and unless you knew it was aimed at young adults, you would not be able to tell. 

Even if you have no idea who Jack the Ripper is, or have never read a historical fiction novel before, this book should still be considered. This is a novel that is sure to grab your attention within the first few pages, and keep you hooked until the final sentence. With plenty of twists, drama, and unexpected suspects, this is a novel that is quite unforgettable. 

And done!

Now to spend hours scrolling through BorrowBox, adding books to the list of books I want to read, and finding the next audiobook to accompany me back and forth on my daily car journeys.

I think audiobooks may be my new favourite thing...!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Vanished by Jade Madden

There's something I absolutely love about short stories, and that is that they always help me get back into reading after a reading break.

The last two days (before I'm writing this) I haven't been very well, and have been lying in bed, watching YouTube videos and napping. Today, though, I woke up feeling better, and wanting to read, but not wanting to dive into a long book because I don't have the brain power for one currently.

I haven't read a book in probably weeks, but after reading this short story, I can't wait to get back into reading more.

Let me introduce the book, and then I will share my review!

An FBI Agent. A missing hiker. And a secret to die for...

FBI Agent Faith Black was damn good at her job.

But considering the events of her last case, she is lucky to still have her badge.

Her latest assignment lands her in a sleepy backwoods town where people are disappearing.

She’s less than enthused.

She partners with the local sheriff who's desperate for answers. They agree that their only option is to retrace the footsteps of a college grad who recently vanished while hiking.

Together they scour the hiking trail over 87 miles through the thick mountain forest. They can't shake the eerie feeling they are not alone.

Whatever was lurking in the shadows wants them gone.

And nothing could have prepared them for what they find.

It was a secret that the ominous forest has been hiding.

A secret only the dead knew...

Vanished is the prequel to the Faith Black FBI Crime Files series; it can be read as a standalone.

Disclaimer: This book is for mature audiences and contains mild profanity and violence.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

June Robinson was eager to get going on her hike, but a downpour on the second day, and a chill that settles in her bones, slows her down. She finds her seven day timeframe destroyed as she grows sick, and has a difficult decision to make – does she press on, even through she barely has any energy, or does she try to turn back, even through the way back would be difficult. Without cell service, June is stuck by herself.

FBI agent Faith Black is lucky to still have a job after a mistake she made on a previous case, so she can’t complain too much when she is assigned a missing person’s case in a quiet town. The town has had multiple missing people reported, but none of the cases have yet to be solved. The most recent is a young girl, June Robinson, who was last heard from when she called her parents at the beginning of a hiking trail, before she inevitably lost cell service. Teaming up with the town’s Sheriff, James Hollow, Faith heads into the woods to retrace June’s path in the hopes of finding her alive and well.

I have an immense love for short stories, but there is one problem when it comes to writing reviews – there’s always so much I want to talk about, but I can’t because it’ll give away too much of the plot! There is so much packed into this book, with Faith trying to solve a mystery that the reader already knows the truth behind. I have always found crime/mystery books creepier when there is the perspective of both the victim and the law enforcement, because you know the dangers that the law enforcement characters are in, even when it doesn’t seem to them that they are in any trouble. There are certainly moments in this book when I was scared for Faith and James’ lives, and they had no idea about how concerned they should really be.

This book is not without some gore, but everything that happened, no matter how much it might make me cringe at the mental images, added immensely to the story and depiction of the characters. I felt like I thoroughly understood all the characters, not just the good guys. The author has done a wonderful job at adding backstory to everything, without overwhelming the reader in such a short amount of time. Every single character is perfectly fleshed out, and they all seem incredibly real, even though the realness of certain characters will creep you out.

This is only the prequel of a series, but it is more than enough to get you hooked on the characters. I can’t wait to read more about Faith, and her cases. The length of the book, along with the pacing, almost makes it feel like the first episode in a very binge-worthy television series – as soon as you finish episode one, you immediately want to click through to episode two. Except, this is a prequel, and book one isn’t out yet. You must wait for the next instalment, but it is a series to bookmark, so you can immerse yourself in the next part as soon as it is available! 

Faith is a wonderful character, who I connected with immediately. The reasons she has been assigned to this particular case, and what exactly went wrong before, are revealed slowly throughout the story, so you have time to get to know who she really is before you judge her on past mistakes. Even through she feels a missing persons case is beneath what she should be doing, that doesn’t mean she is any less dedicated to the case than any higher profile case she might’ve been assigned to. Finding June is her number one priority, and she puts her all into it. I really enjoyed following her, and definitely look forward to joining her again in future books.

This is an excellent start to a series that promises to be just as gripping, exciting, and well developed as this first book. I read this book in one sitting, in just over an hour. It is well and truly unputdownable. 

And done!

The next book in the series (Deceived: A Suspenseful Crime Mystery with a Shocking Twist (Faith Black FBI Case Files Book 1)) is due out on July 27th, so what better time to get your hands on this prequel, and introduce yourself to the series? It’s quite literally the perfect timing!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

Movie Review – Catch Me If You Can – A movie of genius unlawfulness

This film is one that popped up on my recommended a couple of times, but I always avoided it. This was actually because I am dumb, not because I didn't want to watch it. In my mind, I had somehow mixed up the title 'Catch Me If You Can' with 'Now You See Me', and I didn't want to watch a film about magic tricks.

Then, I sat down to watch a movie with my parents, and my Dad put this one on. I kind of sat back, annoyed that I would have to watch a film about magic, and then I realised how stupid I was.

I proceeded to watch this film three nights in a row, and have returned to it multiple times.

So, without further ado, let us take a look at this movie (which has nothing to do with magic tricks).

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may get paid or receive a commission if you purchase through my link.

Based on the autobiography of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a true-life story of the most successful bank robber and con artist in U.S. history. Successfully eluding the FBI for years, Abagnale (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a master of deception: posing as a commercial airline pilot, pediatrician, assistant attorney general and history professor - and a brilliant forger passing millions in bad checks both in the U.S. and Internationally. FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), has made it his prime mission to bring Abagnale to justice and pursues him relentlessly, eventually capturing him in Paris.

My Review!

Frank William Abagnale Jr. was a young man no different from everyone else. His mother and father were a lovely couple, and Frank could want for little. However, with his father in trouble about money, Frank’s life gets turned upside down when his family is forced to move to a smaller house. He has to change schools, and his parents’ relationship grows strained. It is when Frank is faced with the decision, which parent does he want to live with after the divorce, that he runs and doesn’t look back. 

The way Frank’s life goes seems to be that he has an idea, and rolls with it, without thinking anything through first, but thinking about it after he has made the decision of what to do next. When his checks start to bounce, it is clear he needs money, but the only question he faces is, where does he get it, especially when everyone stills treats him like a child. And so, his new life starts when he changes his birth date back ten years, and begins to force checks. 

The phrase ‘digging yourself into a hole’ certainly applies to this depiction of Frank’s life. He makes things up on the spot, says ‘yes’ to things without thinking about the consequences, and he bluffs his way through so much it’s incredible. Not to mention, he is incredibly smart. He does not manage to get his way through things by pure luck, he learns very quickly how the work of a pilot, a doctor, a lawyer goes, and follows it. He learns the trade, although considerable less so in some cases, and genuinely works his way through jobs he does not really have the qualifications for. When you think about it, especially considering he was under the age of 20 when he did all of this, it is astounding that people that smart really exist.

And yet, it is heartbreaking to know that, with everything Frank does, he is simply trying to put his family back together. He is trying to get his parents back together, to fix his father’s problems and mistakes, but along the way, his mistakes end up to be too much to simply put aside and, as it is said, two wrongs don’t always make a right. 

The irony of it all, of course, is that, having the knowledge about check fraud that he did, Frank ended up doing incredibly well for himself working to catch those using fraudulent checks – not that I’m saying check fraud is something we should all be pursuing, but it is ironic that Frank became what he spent years running from, and he found a job he didn’t have to pretend at, and that he, once again, excelled at. 

This film is the kind that you watch in amazement, wondering just how Frank is going to get himself out of the next situation, and what kind of strange scheme his next will be. There are many times that, while watching it, you are certain this will be the time that Carl Hanratty catches him, and yet, we know how the story ends before it begins. This isn’t a fictional story, but a depiction of real events. And Frank Abagnale was caught. 

I loved watching the developing relationship between Frank and Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent who is determined to catch the man who made him out to be a fool. Carl starts out despising Frank, and yet, as Carl gets closer to catching him, and with a yearly phone call from Frank, to wish him a Merry Christmas, their relationship grows from simply chaser and runner. Watching the realisation that these two people really only have each other, despite the fact that they are on opposite sides of the law, was wonderful.

I have watched this film at least five or six times now, and it is not the sort of film that you quickly grow bored of, and can’t sit through another time. It is the kind of film that holds your attention each time you watch it, and no matter how many times you watch it, you will still watch with rapt attention. I can predict what scene will come next, but I do not wish for it to hurry up, I sit and eagerly watch. This is the sort of film that fully entertains for the duration of it, and the pure genius of Frank’s mind, although it is not entirely put to good use for much of the film, is incredible to watch.

And done!

Everyone knows my lack of preparation at this point, so there's really no need to point out that I started making this post last night, and finished it an hour before it's due to be posted.

I'm so predictable!

That's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Ronstadt

Ronstadt
By QCODE, Wood Elf & Mythical
A Review

After being introduced to the world of podcast stories (I don't know if there's an actual name for them) through The Edge of Sleep (read my review HERE) I instantly wanted to listen to more.

In the Spotify playlist of The Edge of Sleep, there were two extra 'episodes'. These were both first episodes to two different podcasts. Episode one of Ronstadt was one of them. So, I clicked it, started listening, and the rest is history!

I'll introduce the podcast, and then we'll get into the review!

RONSTADT, starring Rhett & Link, is a supernatural noir comedy set on the mean streets of LA about a 9-1-1 phone jockey whose night job, along with a self-described “Craydar,” leads him deep into Side B - a world filled with magic, monsters, and all things Mythical. RONSTADT was created by Jonathan Strailey & Brandon Bestenheider and produced by QCODE, Wood Elf, and Mythical.

Apple Podcasts • Spotify

And now, my review...

Ronstadt's life has been a whirlwind, going from a job putting cherries on top of ice-creams to seeing supernatural creatures that no one else can see. With no doctor able to diagnose him, Ronstadt eventually gives up, and lets his ability to see the supernatural, and the voice talking in his head, land him a job that no one wants – to be given all the 9-1-1 calls that involve something freaky, strange, or simply unbelievable.

Amidst an onslaught of calls that do not involve actual danger, supernatural creatures, or any kind of emergency at all, Ronstadt finds himself on the phone with a young girl who is clearly terrified of something. Somehow, Ronstadt knows what the thing is the girl is describing, and tells her how to stay safe, how to stay alive. After saving the girl, it becomes clear that something is going on, and somehow, Ronstadt is mixed up in everything.

Ronstadt is the kind of character that you can't help but like. He's sarcastic, funny, and kind of strange at times, but overall he seems like a good guy. As he finally starts to make some friends, including Estevez, the new guy at work, and Faye, a girl who seems to be able to look past his weirdness, Ronstadt starts to get some answers – and they come in the form of Hattie Honeybutter, a witch who takes Ronstadt under her wing. Hattie may be the only mentor that Ronstadt has, but that doesn't stop her from holding him back at times. Ronstadt is powerful, clearly, and why his powers only recently started to show themselves is a mystery that they both must try to figure out.

As Ronstadt tries to learn everything he needs to know about Side B, the supernatural world hidden from the everyday lives of everyone without a connection to the supernatural, evil lurks around the corner. In particular, a dark corner. The Shadows are collecting people, marking them, and warding them off with light only keeps them away for so long. As Ronstadt tries to figure out how to keep the Shadows away from both himself and the people who are in danger, the Shadows seem to be one step ahead of everyone else.

The world that has been created is one that is both fun and intense at the same time. Ronstadt isn't an automatic hero, he's the kind of person who instantly gets the urge to do something as soon as he has been told not to. He is both relatable and entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his story. The world presented gives a glimpse into a world hidden, that normal people aren't meant to know about, much less learn about. Through Ronstadt's fumbling discoveries, and Hattie's guidance, we learn alongside Ronstadt about the world and the creatures inhabiting it.

There are certainly a few loose ends in the story, such as characters who come and go without a conclusion and scenes that could do with more explanation. Ronstadt seems to have forgotten his past, and there was never a true conclusion to the how and why of this. However, the ending was very open, with the introduction of a new character and a cliffhanger, opening a wide door for a second season to swoop in and pick up where Ronstadt left off. I must say, I hope there will be a second season, as I am excited to see where Ronstadt will end up next!

Finished!

I will add, I mentioned that I did some colouring while listening to The Edge of Sleep. I continued this, as I never finished the whole picture, some fantasy world autumn trees, and even after listening to this podcast as well, which, according to my addition of the episode lengths, is about 6 and a half hours long, I am still not done. Granted, I spent one episode out walking, another doing household chores...

I guess I'll just have to find another podcast so I can finish my colouring!

That's all I have to say for now...

Bye!

Movie Review – The Talented Mr Ripley – 99% compatible with my movie preferences

 

Movie Review

The Talented Mr Ripley

I watched this movie yesterday evening (from when I'm writing this) but I needed a little time to process it before I started writing about it. After it finished, I was speechless, and would've sat watching the credits if Netflix hadn't immediately tried to force another movie on me.

I'll introduce the movie, and then get into the review.

Side-note, why is it so difficult to find a movie cover, and why don't they have proper blurbs like books?

In 1958, the charming but penniless Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) is hired by a wealthy magnate to travel to Italy and rescue his son, Dickie (Jude Law), from a life of indolence. Upon arrival, Tom discovers that Dickie has it all - including a beautiful girlfriend, Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow) - and begins to covet his luxurious lifestyle. Although Tom is sexually attracted to Dickie, the latter soon tires of him, and when Tom begins to find himself excluded from Dickie's coterie, his envy takes a murderous turn. Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel which also provided the inspiration for the pre-New Wave French classic 'Plein Soleil' and Wim Wenders' 'The American Friend'.

Amazon UK

(Or it's on Netflix. And you can rent it on Prime Video.)

My Review

If you know me at all, or have read any of my reviews before, because I mention it quite often, I am a massive fan of thrillers. In particular crime thrillers, but I don't think I've mentioned that detail before. Anyway, I was seeing this movie everywhere, it was popping up on Netflix all the time, Prime Video kept showing me trailers to it, and, according to Netflix, it was 99% compatible with my movie preferences. Obviously, I got so intrigued by seeing it everywhere, I had to watch it.

So, the movie premise – Tom Ripley is an adept lier, and one little white lie is what sends him down a hole of pretending, learning and disaster. He fills in for a friend, playing the piano when his friend has hurt his wrist, and wears his friend's Princeton jacket to complete the role. Unfortunately, in the audience is a couple whose son, Dickie Greenleaf, went to Princeton, and Tom pretends to have known him. A conversation ensues and, upon meeting a second time, Mr Greenleaf asks Tom to go to Italy to bring his son home, offering him $1000 to do so.

Considering he is broke, Tom accepts, and starts to create his role. He knows Dickie loves Jazz, so he grows accustomed to Jazz, learns the songs and the names of the artists. He arranges meetings to go the way he wants, but when he actually meets Dickie and his girlfriend, Marge, Tom's determination wavers. He double-crosses Mr Greenleaf and grows close to Dickie and Marge. While outwardly considering Dickie to be a brother, it is clear Tom's feelings go deeper than that.

I must say, I wasn't sure whether I should like the characters. At the start, you can't help but like Tom, and even when events happen wherein you should turn against him and start to hate him, you can't help but feel sorry for him in a way. It seems that he gets easily overwhelmed when he gets scared, and lashes out, but it's his actions afterwards that make you feel sorry for him. I don't want to spoil anything, but those of you who have seen the movie know what I am talking about. He seems to lose who he is, the web of lies he has created extending from lying to others to lying to himself. He is a spider caught in his own web, with no way to escape.

Tom backs himself into many corners, although he seems to be an artist at managing to get out of things. There are times when you think this is the end, this is where he gets caught out, but in a twist of events, something else has happened to turn people's heads away from him.

I really liked Marge and Peter. Peter doesn't feature until nearer the end of the film, but he is such a lovely person, and if you've seen the film, you'll know why I was so shocked at the end (intriguing, right?! Go watch it!). Marge genuinely loves Dickie, even if he is unfaithful, and his interest in her comes and goes. To begin with, Tom is a wonderful friend to Marge, and the two get along well, but as the movie progresses, and events unfold... let's just say things take a bit of a concerning turn.

I don't want to spoil this movie for anyone who hasn't seen it, and I think everything I've said so far only skims over the surface, rather than delving into what's buried beneath. Netflix was right when they said this was 99% my type of movie. If you love crime thrillers (and/or Matt Damon...) then you'll probably love this film. There is certainly suspense, a sprinkling of death here and there, and a pinch of a guilty conscience. All the ingredients for a perfectly crafted thriller.

Also, I found out that this film was based on a book. Which means I need to buy a book. Yay!

I think I'm done!

I honestly recommend you find this film somewhere (preferably legally) and give it a watch. It certainly has the feel of a 1999 movie, if you know what I mean. If not, watch it, and then you'll understand.

If anyone cares, or knows what I'm on about, this movie was number 70 on the Movie List.

Okay, that's it.

Bye!

Movie Review – The Devil's Own – My favourite movie!

 

Movie Review

The Devil's Own

I am fairly sure at one point I said I would review both books and movies on here, and so far it has only books... oops.

I promise I watch movies! I actually watch quite a lot. When I write posts vs when I post them is a whole bag of cats I don't want to open, but as I write this, I am planning on writing a post about my relationship with movies. I may add in a link if it has already gone live.

As I'm writing this, I'm actually having a bit of a lovers tiff with books, and I can't think of anything to write about them, I don't particularly feel like writing my own stories and I'm not in the mood for reading. To movies it is!

What better to start off with, but my favourite movie?!

I can't actually find a 'blurb' for this movie, but I found this and it fits the bill. I don't know if it's a part of a review, or something else, but it'll do!

Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt star in this crime drama directed by Alan J. Pakula. When senior IRA member Frankie McGuire (Pitt) arrives in New York on a mission to buy Stinger missiles he uses the alias Rory Devaney and finds lodgings with NYPD cop Tom O'Meara (Harrison Ford). Despite liaising with fellow terrorists in New York to secure his deal, Frankie finds peace with Tom's family and a strong bond begins to form between the two men. How will Tom react when he finds out the true identity of his house guest?

Amazon UK

(Yes, I gave you a DVD link. Yes, I still watch things on DVD. It's also on Netflix right now, if that's preferable.)

My Review

First off, Brad Pitt.

Now, let's get into it properly. Frankie is a part of the IRA. He is also the main character. His entire goal is to travel to America to obtain Stinger missiles and sail them back to Ireland, to give the IRA the edge it needs to make everyone else listen. This would, therefore, suggest that you should not like Frankie.

This is not the case.

While he is technically the bad guy, I would call him an anti-hero (if that is the right term). He is a bad guy you can't help but feel sorry for and you find yourself coming up with reasons for why he is doing what he is doing, to excuse him. He saw his father gunned down in front of him when he was a child, and his actions from then seem to be in retaliation, to get revenge. He has people counting on him, and while his morals are not exactly in the right place, he is not one to break a promise.

His relationship with Tom is an interesting one. In America, Frankie calls himself Rory and is placed in the home of Tom O'Meara, a Sergeant at the New York Police Department. Tom has a wife and three daughters, the kind of family you wouldn't expect to be housing a terrorist, even if they didn't know it. The way Frankie fits into the home is almost like it was meant to be. The bond that forms between him and Tom is like that of a father and son, as if Frankie was finally learning what it is to have a father after so many years, what it is like to have someone care about you like that. He becomes like a brother to Tom's daughters, especially the youngest, Annie, who looks up to him like he is a saint. As you watch, you can't help but think that if Frankie abandoned his plans, he could fit in so well with this family, could start a new life for himself.

There is violence and action, which is another reason why I love this film so much. My favourite genres are action and thrillers, and I would pin this movie as both. I have watched this so many times, granted I only watched it the first couple of times because of Brad Pitt, that I have reached the point in that I no longer have to be paying attention to know what is going on. I can have it on in the background while I tidy, or sit down to start watching it half way through and know exactly what is happening at all times. Although, not much cleaning actually got done the time I tried that, because I kept getting distracted by the screen.

Nonetheless, I really enjoy watching this movie, although the first time I saw that ending, it had me rewinding and rewatching multiple times before I fully comprehended what had happened. My hand was over my mouth and I felt tears behind my eyes. I'm not one for crying at movies, so the tears never showed themselves, but I felt them there, ready.

So yeah, first movie review of my life. I think it went pretty well. There was no critical, in depth analysis of the actors or the script, and I have no idea who directed it, but I think I covered the basics!

Also, I am not sure entirely how good Brad Pitt's Irish accent was, I liked it (I am a sucker for an Irish accent) but others have said it wasn't great. Who knows.

That's it for now then.

Bye!

A Review – Poison in the Pills by August Raine

Poison in the Pills
by August Raine
A Review

I have a nasty habit of downloading way too many books, of which I do not have time to read. If you have read practically any of my reviews thus far, you probably know this.

I was initially offered a chance to read this book by the author in late February. Considering it is June (when this is posted, I actually wrote this last Saturday), obviously it was a good decision to say no to begin with – not that I didn't want to read it, I simply did not have time.

In late April, I had some free time coming up, so I got back in touch with the author, and asked if the offer still stood. I was so happy when it did!

You may be wondering – if I got my copy of the book at the end of April, how come it has taken me an entire month to read it? Is it a really long book?

No.

I started reading it yesterday, and finished it today.

My free time evidently wasn't as much time as I anticipated.

I'm going to stop talking now, introduce the book, and get to the review – it's been long enough coming already!

A new street drug is ravaging the UK. Users are being struck down by an incurable illness. Those suffering from the dreaded Itch are in so much pain they’ve peeled the flesh from their bones, desperate to relieve their symptoms.

Set in and around Manchester, the story follows Jack Bright, a scientist determined to help those affected. Whilst investigating a clinical trial that ended in tragedy, he uncovers a disturbing secret. Little does he know, someone will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried. Before Jack can find out more, he is framed.

Desperate, not only to clear his name but also to find the truth, Jack is forced to resort to increasingly questionable methods. Breaking and entering. Blackmail. Kidnapping. With every decision, his morals are tested. But he perseveres, motivated by a tragedy in his past.

Jack’s luck is constantly dwindling, until he finds himself racing against more than just the people who are after him. What will it take to cure The Itch?

Amazon UK • Amazon US

And after so long, my review!

I will start by pointing out, I read this book in two days – it would have been one, but I had to go out in the evening of the first day, so I couldn't sit down and keep reading like I wanted to. I love thriller and crime movies, and this love is slowly moving onto my bookshelf (or indeed, my eReader). Therefore, when I started reading this, I was almost immediately gripped.

With an illness, aptly called the Itch, causing so much suffering and fear, the company Jack Bright works for, Rathbury Holmes, a pharmaceutical company, is working to try and find a cure. After a previous attempt at a cure ended with seven people dead, Jack is desperate to find out what happened. Yet, his boss had already repeatedly told him to stop doing so. With no desire to do so, Jack plans on continuing anyway, when he is framed as a dealer of the banned drug Dose, the drug that was banned when it was identified as the cause of the Itch.

Jack is a very troubled person. He only wants to do good, to find out what caused the failure of the last 'cure' so that it won't happen again, and maybe lead to the development of something that can actually help, but when he is arrested, his ability to do so seems to dwindle. The situations he keeps finding himself in, which are usually his own fault, get increasingly less forgivable, yet his reasoning, and the guilt he feels afterwards, somehow make you feel sorry for him. He is not cut out to be a criminal, and solving the mystery might be the only thing that can prove his innocence.

Jack has several people helping him, the first one of his best friends from work, Lizzy, who has access to Rathbury Holmes, even after Jack can no longer show his face in public. The second is Erin, whom Jack is not particularly friendly with, and is a campaigner against the Dose ban. Unfortunately, Lizzy's boyfriend is part of the police force, so Jack has no choice but to stay with Erin, the two forced to put up with each other. Both Erin and Lizzy are incredibly sarcastic, and I really liked both of them. I preferred Lizzy, though, as Erin seems to get Jack into trouble just as much as he gets himself into trouble.

Now, I am no chemistry wizz, in fact I get easily confused by most science talk, but this book was easy to follow. As Jack theorises about the failed cure, and the Itch, there were some things that I had to read slower to understand, but this is just because I do not understand the concept of chemicals and how they work.

Being a thriller, there have to be some twists and turns. I saw one, in particular, coming, due to clues in the story that I picked up, but there is one at the end that I could not have foreseen even if it was a bus heading straight for me.

I wish I had read this book sooner, because it was absolutely amazing, and even better, believable. Jack does not go on the run and easily evade the police, nor does he have a particularly easy time trying to prove his theories, even when he is absolutely positive that he is correct. People have in their brains what they have been told over and over is the cause of so many things, and they are unwilling to believe anything contradicting this. I thought this perfectly sums up normal behaviour of the masses when someone has a different idea that no one wants to believe.

All in all, this is a great book and if you like thriller/crime books (or movies!) you are likely to enjoy this book.

And end review! It's a bit of a long one, but I think after so long between getting and reading this book, and finishing reading it not too long ago, I have a lot of thoughts about it.

Having finished my review, I am now thinking that this book reminds me a little of that movie Contagion, you know, the one about a global pandemic that was trending No.1 on Netflix about March time last year?!

Okay, that's all I have to say for now!

Bye!