Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

Thursday, July 4

Happy 4th of July!

To all my US folk....Happy 4th of July!! Couldn't resist sharing this picture I found randomly on Google.

Wednesday, July 3

Book Review: The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

Author: Goldy Moldavsky

Title: The Mary Shelley Club

Genre: Horror, YA, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

Format: paperback

Pages: 468

Published: April 13, 2021

Where I Got It: Borrowed from friend

Summary:

New girl Rachel Chavez is eager to make a fresh start at Manchester Prep. But as one of the few scholarship kids, Rachel struggles to fit in, and when she gets caught up in a prank gone awry, she ends up with more enemies than friends.

To her surprise, however, the prank attracts the attention of the Mary Shelley Club, a secret club of students with one objective: come up with the scariest prank to orchestrate real fear. But as the pranks escalate, the competition turns cutthroat and takes on a life of its own.

When the tables are turned and someone targets the club itself, Rachel must track down the real-life monster in their midst . . . even if it means finally confronting the dark secrets from her past.

Review:

A friend suggested I check out this book so I borrowed it from them.

Here we follow Rachel Chavez. She is eager to make a fresh start at her new school but she is a scholarship kid so she struggles to fit in. After getting caught up in a prank gone awry, she finds herself with a lot of enemies. However, this also gets the attention of the secret club called the Mary Shelley Club. This is a club with one objective: come up with the scariest prank to orchestrate real fear. As the pranks escalate....someone starts targeting the club itself and Rachel must track down the real-life monster.

I struggled a lot with this one. Things got better after the halfway-mark, but man that first half had me nearly DNFing it. I felt guilty since it was a book I borrowed from a friend who really liked it so I decided to keep on it and keep pushing to at least finish it. Lucky for me the last half was a bit better.

The big twist was good. I had my original suspicions and it turns out I was right, but I changed my thoughts a few times.

The biggest issue I had with this book was Rachel. Yes, she is young and has some trauma. BUT O.M.G shut up about your horror movies for two seconds. She was barely sympathetic or likeable.

TBH the whole club was unlikeable. I couldn't stand any of them. Sure, there are bullies that needed a piece of humble pie, but some of the pranks were not pranks at all. They were cruel.

All-in-all, I wish I had liked this more but the characters bothered me. The last half was much better but still not really my cup of tea. Dang. I wish I had liked this as much as my friends. 2 stars.

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Unsatisfactory

Challenge(s):

- Cloak and Dagger - #17

Tuesday, July 2

Audiobook Review: The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Richard Armitage

Title: The Murder on the Links

Series: Hercule Poirot #2

Genre: Murder Mystery, Thriller, Classic

Format: Audiobook

Published: January 1, 1923

Where I got It: Audible

Summary:

When Hercule Poirot and his associate Arthur Hastings arrive in the French village of Merlinville-sur-Mer to meet their client Paul Renauld, they learn from the police that he has been found that morning stabbed in the back with a letter opener and left in a newly-dug grave adjacent to a local golf course.

Among the plausible suspects are Renauld's wife Eloise, his son Jack, Renauld's immediate neighbor Madame Daubreuil, the mysterious "Cinderella" of Hasting's recent acquaintance, and some unknown visitor of the previous day--all of whom Poirot has reason to suspect. Poirot's powers of investigation ultimately triumph over the wiles of an assailant whose misdirection and motives are nearly--but not quite--impossible to spot.

Review:

Been for sure itching to read some Poirots lately! Especially after learning Richard Armitage did some narration for the series ;) There is something about his voice and performance that is amazing.

Poirot and Hastings arrive in Merlinville-sur-Mer to meet their client. However, when they arrive they learn that their client was literally stabbed in the back with a letter opener. There are a few plausible suspects which include his wife, his son, their neighbor, and more. The two will have to dig and figure out who committed the murder. They will soon learn that not everything is as it seems.

It is so interesting seeing some of the early works of the series.

Love Poirot so much. He's a gem.

Hastings is on my last nerve. His whole romance is silly. However, I did adore that Poirot is secretly a romantic and matchmaker. Adorable, but Hastings? Ugh.

There was a character I actually ended up really, really liking...especially after a certain scene. Adorable.

The mystery was fantastic. I really had no idea!!! Twist, after twist. So good.

The narrator was Richard Armitage? Should I even say more? LOL

All-in-all, Hastings was annoying but it didn't ruin the story fully for me. Good mystery. Poirot is great. And I was surprised by the end! 4 stars.

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Twisty