In A Dark, Dark Wood - My review

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While well written and entertaining, I can't say that loved the book, since it had a too familiar feeling about it and the murderer could be guessed at before the last few chapters.

A small group of people , consisting of friends of the bride-to-be, are invited to a 'hen' or what we could call in the states a bridal shower of sorts. It is to take place in the isolated home of a relative in the titular dark, dark wood. Once they arrive it is discovered that there is little if any cell phone reception and the only landline seems to have gone out at some point the first night. Tempers begin to flare and old grudges come out as time passes, eventually leading to an event that is hinted at from the beginning.

I think my biggest problem with the book is that I was reminded, not in a good way, of both Gone Girl and The Girl On The Train. By which I mean that the book is peopled with folks who are generally unlikable and whose ultimate fate, for the most part, doesn't really effect me. In this book, as in Girl On The Train, the main narrator is suffering from a temporary loss of memory which allows the 'mystery' to gone for longer than it otherwise would.

If we can judge from the other two best-sellers, we'll soon see this one headed for the big screen.


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Book Review - Ambassador of the Shadows (Valeian & Laureline series)

I wanted to like this book more, but really found it more confusing than fun. Originally published in 1975, maybe I've just seen so much that similar that this has lost the charm it once had. It seems that a Valerian & Laureline film will be released later this year, and the trailers look pretty cool. If it's successful I'm sure that the graphic novel series will be doing quite well.

In a distant time and space, 'spatio-temporal' agents Valerian, the clean cut hero, and Laureline, his beautiful assistant (and really the brains of the operation) move through time and space as the only humans in a very, alien environment. A mix of Barbarella and pulpish space opera, it's amusing and maybe in a better frame of mind I'd have enjoyed it more.





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Review - Girl On The Train

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Reminded me in a way of Gone Girl, in that there really isn't a character I found likable. You might sympathize with them but, as the killer states at one point, they brought it on themselves to a degree.

Rachel travels by train each day to London and back, imaging the life of what she wants to believe is a perfect couple she glimpses as she passes. One day she witnesses something unexpected that shatters her illusion. When the woman disappears shortly thereafter, Rachel can't help,but to,try to insert herself into the investigation.

Told in the words of not only Rachel, but also by two other women effected by the unraveling events. The book is well written with believable characters, but it does seem padded a bit and seeing the same events from different perspectives doesn't always add to the suspense. Once the killer is revealed the book actually drags on for several more chapters before the inevitable resolution. As with Gone Girl, I'm at a loss as to why this was such a huge hit.


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Review: Adam Strange/Future Quest #1

You don't need to have read either the Future Quest mini-series, featuring the Hanna Barbara action character, or the recent Adam Strange/Hawkman adventure to enjoy this stand alone story.  Writers Marc Andreyko and Jeff Parker give us enough backstory so that we don't feel lost. Adam Strange really fits into the Quest universe quite well.

Hurtled by The Zeta Beam into this alternate world, Adam finds himself in a lost valley where young, Todd known as Dino Boy and his Neanderthal pal, Ug search for Todd's parents. Able to contact Dr. Quest, aid arrives to try and help Adam return to his own world. A fun story that would have fit right into the old Jonny Quest series.

Add on a short tale featuring Top Cat and Batman, believe it or not, this is a nice book that ranks as my third favorite in this cross over series.

Review - Jughead: The Hunger

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Jughead: the Hunger #1 by Frank Tieri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not a part of the Afterlife With Archie series but like the Sabrina book, it takes place in a darker, more realistic Riverdale where the supernatural effects the characters.

Here we learn that a killer is stalking the town and some of the characters familiar to readers have already met a horrible end. We learn who the person responsible is and the end hints that a sequel could be possible.

If you don't mind a different take on Archie and his friends you might enjoy this. Also, as it isn't part of the ongoing series a new reader won't be lost.


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