The Word is Murder (Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery, #1) by Anthony Horowitz

My Rating: 5 Stars!

Here’s why!

I know I just rated a thriller 5 stars, and I’m not one to toss that number around, but this book honestly deserves 5 stars as well! Part crime, part mystery, this “semi-fiction” modern-day Sherlock Holmes had me laughing out loud, terrified, and thoroughly entertained.

The Word is Murder is unlike any book I have read before. Anthony Horowitz has found himself in the midst of a murder mystery…litreally. Hired as a “Watson” to a “Holmes,” Detective Hawthorne has asked Horowitz to write a book about him by following him along on his newest murder case. A woman walks into a funeral parlor one morning and six hours later is killed. Who did it? Why? and how will Hawthorne solve his case? Horowitz is timid at first about taking the offer, but finds himself enthralled with trying to solve this mysterious case, too!

First off, one of the main reasons I am giving this book 5 stars is the entire premise. An actual well-know author has written himself into his own fictional storyline. The crazy thing is, he combines fiction and non-fiction by talking about real-life actors, movies, books he has written, etc. with the created characters and plot. Multiple times during my read-through, I actually went onto IMDb to check and see if the facts that Horowitz was throwing out were true or not! It was that believable. And some of it was true!! I loved this so much.

He also talks about writing this book in the book! He makes comments like, “Maybe I should leave this part out or change this person’s name when I write the book.” It is so genius! We are essentially reading his thoughts and the way he processes the information he’s given before he actually writes a book BUT THAT IS THE BOOK! Ugh.

So good.

Another reason I am giving The Word is Murder 5 stars is the plot and characters. The plot is so creative and unique first and foremost. Plus, Hawthorne is a perfect modern-day Sherlock Holmes. Asked to solve a very unusual case, Hawthorne picks up on things, like Holmes, that no one else would notice or think was important. Plus, the slew of characters Horowitz introduces creates a great list of suspects. You could see this character committing the crime because of this motive, but could also see someone else doing it for an entirely different reason. Horowitz does a great job of leaving little hints and clues throughout, especially through Hawthorne, who seems to know everything before anyone else does, but doesn’t reveal HOW or WHY. It all unravels so well, but doesn’t catch you off-guard too much that you aren’t able to try and figure it out yourself/with Horowitz.

I could go on and on about the masterful work that Anthony Horowitz has created and the ease as which the book flows, but you’ll just have to go pick up your own copy of The Word is Murder to see for yourself! Especially since the sequel, The Sentence is Death, comes out November 1, 2018!!

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Crime/Fiction

The Lies We Told by Camilla Way

My Rating: 5 Stars!

Here’s why!

Wow. This book had all the elements of a good thriller: creepy antagonist, multiple narrators, and plot twists galore!

The Lies We Told follow two storylines.

Cambridgeshire 1986: Beth Jennings’ daughter, Hannah, has always been a little strange. Her lack of emotion, pleasure in hurting others, and odd behavior has Beth on edge, scared and uncertain of what Hannah is capable of.

London 2017: Clara and her boyfriend, Luke, are a match made in heaven. They both work for a magazine, hang around the same crowd, and Clara fits right into Luke’s family. But one day, Luke doesn’t come home from work and Clara gets worried.

…

When I was reading this book, I had NO clue how these two storylines were going to cross, but they do, in many different ways. I was so surprised when I found out how (NO SPOILERS!) and had to keep reading, only to discover there were more twists along the way. At one point, I thought all the cards were on the table, everything had been revealed, but I was mistaken. I audibly gasped multiple times!!

Were there a few moments I didn’t like? Yes. Did I feel like the author was trying to hint at some cultural issues in society a few times? Yes. Did I like that? No. Is Camilla Way my new favorite author? No.

HOWEVER.

All in all, this book has SO many amazing qualities a thriller should have that I can look past some of the “ehh” parts and really judge it as a whole. The concept is brilliant, the little ways each storyline intersected was so clever, and at one point I asked myself “What else can happen in these last 20 pages? I feel like everything has resolved.” Boy, was I wrong. This is why I am giving it 5 stars. Even with the hints at cultural issues, and a few typos/run-on sentences I caught in Way’s writing (which her editor should’ve caught), I have to look past that because of the plot. 

If you’re looking for a twisted read this Halloween season, check out The Lies We Told!

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Fiction

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

My Rating: 4 Stars

Here’s why!

C.S. Lewis is a household name for many families around the world. From his amazing literature about Christianity to the well-known Chronicles of Narnia series, Lewis has shaped the literature world for over 50 years. And I have to admit, this was my first Lewis read! I’ve been meaning to read a few of his works for a long time, but finally sat down and did it!

The Screwtape Letters is one of his most famous novels because of the way it is written. From the perspective of a demon named Screwtape, these letters are written by Screwtape to his nephew, Wormwood, a junior “tempter” who is asking advice on how to handle his Patient aka a British man. Screwtape gives Wormwood pointers in how to best tempt his patient and help him stay away from the “Enemy’s” grasp, solidifying the damnation of his soul.

Since we are in the perspective of a demon, it takes some getting used to Screwtape referring to God as the “Enemy” and Satan as “Our Father Below.” However, Lewis’ incredible insight and observations of human nature and the Christian doctrine is so spot on, you get used to the strange morally reversed world. Through this satirical lens, Lewis is able to pin-point flaws, reveal truths, and bring to light mindsets/beliefs that are undermining our true identities as humans, not just Christians.

Although C.S. Lewis is a Christian, and this book talks about some elements of Christianity, I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter their beliefs. He covers many different cultural issues such as moral standards, war, love, individualism, conformity, and many more.

This book is jam-packed, each chapter highlighting a different area that Wormwood could use to tempt his Patient, that I will have to keep continuing to go back to refresh my memory and read my notes/underlined sections. This is the reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5. The information and content was SO good, but SO deep; it was hard for it all to stick! But honestly, I think that can be viewed as a positive, not a negative, in the long run. All in all, I really liked it, I just didn’t LOVE it.

C.S. Lewis can slay a mindset with a single sentence, giving the reader a lot to digest. If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, but want to push yourself intellectually, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, give The Screwtape Letters a read!

I read a chapter/letter a day! Let it sink in, and enjoy 🙂

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

Genre: Fiction/Religion/Christianity/Christian Fiction/Classics/Theology/Philosophy

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

My Rating: 4 Stars

Here’s why!

SURPRISE REVIEW! SURPRISE REVIEW! SURPRISE REVIEW!

I honestly surprised myself at my last-minute decision to pump out Harry Potter and the Cursed Child after finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows earlier today! As this is technically NOT a part of the Harry Potter series, and is a play, I don’t usually read it with the others. Today, however, I was feeling inspired to give this play a second chance and I’m glad I did!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child literally picks up with the scene in the epilogue of HP7. Harry and his family are at King’s Cross station sending off another one of his children, Albus, to Hogwarts for the first time! Albus is excited, and nervous, especially about the Sorting ceremony, but Harry assures him that no matter what house he gets sorted into, he will do great!

However, being the son of the “famous Harry Potter” comes with a lot of responsibility and Albus finds himself struggling to live up to his dad’s name. Luckily he finds a friend in a boy named Scorpius who can relate to the struggles of having a famous family name.

Like Harry, Albus finds himself in some sticky situations that not only affect those closest to him, but could change the course of the Wizarding world, and its history, for good!

…

Now, I’m going to be honest. The first time I read this play was in 2016 when it first came out. My husband and I read it together, and we did not like it at all. There is a pretty big surprise that is revealed in this story that many HP fans did not enjoy or feel like it rang true with the rest of the series. We were/are those people.

Today, especially diving right into it after I finished the series, I feel like I have a different take on it. The “big surprise” that bothered me the first time really didn’t hold as much weight in the overall plot as I remembered from before. Since I knew what the surprise was this time around, I was able to pick up on the subtle hints and clues that were dropped throughout the play, making it seem less of a big deal than the first time. I also felt like I was able to focus more on the positives of what the playwrights were trying to create instead of criticizing it for not being like the novels. With novels, you’re able to dig deeper, get more details, etc. whereas a play is meant to be experience visually. While you can get a good gist of a play by reading it and all the stage directions, you won’t be able to capture the full picture without seeing it in action.

Harry and Albus’ relationship is a big element in this play and prior to today, I probably would not have be able to explain to you why. Honestly, the “big surprise” outweighed everything else in the play the first time I read it. It blinded me to the good things that were happening. I believe that Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, alongside J.K. Rowling, really did do a good job in recreating the characters we all know and love, bringing them to life in a new way, introducing new characters, and creating a plot that is entirely its own yet still gives us “glimpses” into the classic Harry Potter story.

Although I was definitely more receptive to Cursed Child this time around, I am only giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. But hey, maybe if I ever get to see it performed live I’ll change my  mind 🙂

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Children/Classics/Play

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #7)

My Rating: 5 Stars

Here’s why!

I’m not going to lie: I got emotional reading this last book. As I finished the final book today, I found myself welling up with emotions of hope, love, peace, and satisfaction as I turned the last page.

I remember reading this book for the first time and all the twists, turns, and surprises J.K. had planned along the way (some since the beginning of the series/before the series began!) captivated my heart and stimulated my mind in a way a series had never done before.

Although I know what’s to come now,  and could be tempted to give the book 4 stars because of this, I think one of the main reasons I continue to come back to this series year after year is because of HP7. Every time I read the series, I pick up on more clues/hints that Rowling planted throughout the entire series that she unearths in HP7, hence the 5 stars.

…

Now, I’m not going to give any form of synopsis for this book since it would have to include A TON OF SPOILERS! However, I will say, this book is full of Good vs. Evil: not only in two opposing sides, but that can also be found within characters that mirrors our own human instincts.

I know some people don’t want to read Harry Potter for many different reasons: it’s too dark, they’re not into the whole “magic” thing, they’ve seen the movies and think that’s good enough, or they were told that they were a “bad influence” when they were kids. I’m not here to make someone do something they don’t want to do, but I truly believe that this series reveals WAY more positive themes or lessons than negative.

Hope.

Love.

Friendship.

Family.

These are some of the central themes that Rowling talks about in each novel, and each are solidified in HP7.

My husband and I are planning on reading these books to our children someday and I hope that you give them a chance, too. They have changed my life for the better, not just intellectually because it’s good literature, which it is, but because of the beautiful representation of mankind, friendship, family and the power of love.

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

p.s. Thanks for coming on this journey with me in reviewing the Harry Potter series! If you missed any of my previous reviews, whether for HP or not, please check them out! 🙂

 

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Children/Classics

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #6)

My Rating: 5 Stars

Here’s why!

This has always been one of my favorites in the series and during this read-through, I think I have discovered that indeed it is my favorite! (But who knows what I will say after the next and final book of the series!) I read this book in less than a week and it’s 652 pages so you could say I liked it. 🙂

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are in their sixth year at Hogwarts. Things are really starting to get serious in their academics, as this year they will be taking classes specifically connected to their future careers and preparing for the final exams at the end of their seventh year called N.E.W.T.’s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests). A lot is happening for Harry: he is Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team; has private lessons with Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore; is learning how to Apparate (or disappear and reappear instantly from one place to the next); is getting mysterious help from someone named the Half-Blood Prince in his Potions class; and love is in the air!

However, Harry’s arch-nemesis, Draco Malfoy, is acting vey strange this year. He isn’t acting like the cocky, confident, annoying person Harry is used to. He’s not playing Quidditch, is found lurking in deserted corridors, and almost always is alone. Harry wants to know what Draco is up to, and why every time Harry sees him he looks like all the life is being drained out of him.

…

As this is the second to last book, I am starting to feel sad that this journey is almost over; however, I’m also very excited for the next book because that is when everything truly falls into place and the magnificence of J.K.’s writing is on full display. In HP6, though, the unraveling and revealing of certain information (NO SPOILERS!!) leads into the majority of what HP7 is all about.

This information, which Harry learns in his lessons with Dumbledore, is probably one of the main reasons I love HP6 as much as I do, and why I am giving it 5 stars. The importance of this book as it pertains to the entire series is vital. Without this book, there would be SO much information unknown to the reader. Sure, Rowling didn’t need to let the reader in on this information/history of a specific character, but she wanted to. This just adds to the depth of the story, the overall plot, and affects Harry’s journey moving forward.

In my previous review for HP4 (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) I stated that there is something that happens at the end of the book that drastically affects Harry’s life and the entire series. Since this specific event, the series becomes a bit more “dark.” People begin to get hurt, attacked, and some even die throughout the last three books (HP5, HP6, and HP7). HOWEVER, one main element that Rowling continually brings up is that love is more powerful than evil, and that is brought up yet again in HP6. In HP6, there is darkness/evil, but there is hope, joy, love, romance, and laughter! It really has a special place in my heart and deserves the 5 star rating!

Hopefully you’ve made it this far with me and will stick with me for the last book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!!! (sounds perfect for the month of October, right?)

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Children/Classics