Showing posts with label thriller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thriller. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

[Review] — NOT THE KILLING KIND is an Intriguing Crime Thriller



Crime thrillers are everywhere, often with similar titles and cover designs that make it hard for readers to choose a specific one. What caught my eye about NOT THE KILLING KIND by Maria Kelson was not just the title but the cover art—it reminded me of the famous show "Twin Peaks.” However, the book itself is different from "Twin Peaks,"—nothing in common at all—and that’s not a bad thing.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

[Review] — Tom Clancy's DEFENSE PROTOCOL is a Heart-Pounding Espionage Thriller


Tom Clancy's military thrillers have electrified readers for generations, and the excitement continues to buzz even after his passing. His estate, in collaboration with publisher Putnam, has ensured that his legacy lives on by bringing in exciting new voices to expand his universe. A standout is last year’s explosive release of DEFENSE PROTOCOL, the thrilling 25th installment in the Jack Ryan series, co-penned by the dynamic duo, Andrews & Wilson—Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

[Review] — Leigh Whannell's WOLF MAN Lacks Bite


Why is it so hard to restart the Universal Monster Universe? The 2010 remake of The Wolfman bombed at the box office, even though I found it enjoyable. Then there was The Mummy in 2017, starring Tom Cruise, a total flop. This pretty much stopped any plans for a shared Dark Universe. However, 2020 brought us The Invisible Man, written and directed by Leigh Whannell and produced by Blumhouse. That one did well both financially and critically, giving fans a bit of hope for the future. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed with this year's release of WOLF MAN. Despite being co-written and directed by Whannell and produced by Blumhouse, the film fell flat and struggled at the box office. It’s now trying to make a comeback with its recent digital release and an upcoming physical release—LIMITED EDITION STEELBOOK, 4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ & DVD coming on March 18, 2025.

Saturday, February 1, 2025

[Review] — BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN: A Compelling Yet Unnecessary Companion Sequel!


I’m back! Well, sort of—I am attempting to reignite my habit of writing reviews for this blog. Admittedly, I've been a bit of a recluse lately, but everything is all right—at least as good as it can be under the circumstances. For those who remember, last year I reviewed Richard Chizmar's gripping fictional true-crime thriller, Chasing the Boogeyman. I found it thoroughly engaging and ended up giving it a five-out-of-five-star rating. Since then, I dove into its sequel, BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN, and I'd like to share my thoughts on it.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

[Review] — DAWN TO DUSK is an Exciting Sequel


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DAWN TO DUSK by Ellis K. Popa Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Thursday, December 26, 2024

[Review] — Clive Cussler's DESOLATION CODE is Impossible to Set Down


A stunning cover art for a book is essential in capturing my attention. I find myself deliberating over the artwork for DESOLATION CODE, the latest thriller in the Clive Cussler legacy, ghostwritten this time by Graham Brown. While the term ghostwriter often implies anonymity, in this case, readers can see Brown's name prominently featured on the bottom of the cover, signifying his contribution to this thrilling tale.

Monday, December 2, 2024

[Review] — Leaphorn, Chee, & Manuelito Return in Anne Hillerman's LOST BIRDS


I am a latecomer to the world of Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee series, now known as the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series. My journey into this captivating universe began after I watched the first season of AMC's Dark Winds in 2022. Strangely enough, I stumbled upon several of Hillerman's novels at local thrift stores around the same time the show premiered. I can't help but wonder if I had encountered his books in the past but simply overlooked them. Given my strong memory, I find it hard to believe I wouldn’t have recalled seeing those distinctive covers.

Thursday, November 28, 2024

[Review] —THE HOUSE OF LAST RESORT is a Tumultuous Blend Cloaked in a Haunted House Yarn


In my possession for far too long is a copy of Christopher Golden's THE HOUSE OF LAST RESORT, which was published earlier this year by St. Martin's Press. The delay in getting this review out has nothing to do with forgetfulness; I devoured the book right after receiving an advanced reading copy (ARC). However, life threw me a curveball, and my procrastination spiraled out of control. So, I am penning this review on Thanksgiving night, hoping to articulate my thoughts on this intriguing novel.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

[Review] — Brad Thor's SHADOW OF DOUBT is a Riveting Thriller


A while ago, fueled by my passion for military thrillers, a reader recommended the works of author Brad Thor. Although I was familiar with Thor's name—having seen his books displayed in various bookstores—I had never taken the plunge to read any of them. However, after that recommendation, a curious phenomenon began to occur; I started discovering Brad Thor's novels in thrift stores and even encountered several titles available for free at my local library. Naturally, I couldn't resist adding these finds to my ever-growing home library, which now boasts byzantine of his works. Nevertheless, despite having amassed a collection of his novels, I had yet to delve into them until I finally picked up his latest release, SHADOW OF DOUBT, which was published earlier this year by Emily Bestler Books / Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

[Review] — THE BOYFRIEND is an Underdeveloped Psychological Thriller


Take a close look at the recent releases in bookstores, and you'll notice an overwhelming abundance of psychological thrillers. Many of these books feature simplistic titles, paired with strikingly similar cover art designs. Among the new authors making waves is Freida McFadden, a talented physician specializing in brain injury. She made her literary debut by self-publishing her first novel in 2013, but it was her gripping thriller, The Housemaid, published in 2022, that propelled her to international stardom. Her latest offering, titled THE BOYFRIEND, hit the shelves on October 1st, released by Poisoned Pen Press.

Monday, November 25, 2024

[Review] — Tom Clancy's SHADOW STATE is Technical-Less Jack Ryan, Jr. Outing


What is it about the striking image of a military boat on a book cover that instantly sends a rush of adrenaline through me? There's something inherently thrilling about the connotations of power, strategy, and high-stakes conflict that draws me in.

Thursday, November 21, 2024

[Review] — The Gray Man is back in the Pulse-Pounding Thriller, THE CHAOS AGENT


Mark Greaney's highly anticipated 13th installment in the Gray Man series, titled THE CHAOS AGENT, is set to grace bookstore shelves in paperback on November 26th, courtesy of the Berkley Publishing Group. This announcement sparked a memory of the hardback sitting on a shelf; lingering there, waiting for a review. In the spirit of honesty, I must admit that I read the book several months back; however, to refresh my thoughts and dive deep into the narrative, I decided to reread it.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

[Review] — James Patterson's LIES HE TOLD ME is an Intriguing, Mindless Fluff


James Patterson novels are plentiful—trust me, my visits to thrift stores have confirmed this. You can easily find at least one new title every month, and for dedicated fans, it is often a challenge to keep up with the latest releases. His most recent thriller, LIES HE TOLD ME, was co-authored with David Ellis and published by Little, Brown and Company.

Thursday, November 7, 2024

[Review] — WILLIAM is a Horrifying AI Tale


Thanks to recent technological advancements, the idea of artificial intelligence going awry is no longer a far-fetched concept. The new thriller WILLIAM—spelled W1LL1AM on the cover—by Mason Coile, a pseudonym for the award-winning author Andrew Pyper (known for The Demonologist and Lost Girls), adds his own horrifying twists to this theme.

Monday, November 4, 2024

[Review] — Clive Cussler's GHOST SOLDIER is an Entertaining Thriller Despite Many Flaws



Clive Cussler, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, had his adventure and sea thrillers continue to hit bookshelves long after he died in 2020. While this isn't a ghostwriting situation, other writers were hired to continue Cussler's series, with their names appearing on the covers to credit their work. The latest addition is GHOST SOLDIER, the newest installment in the OREGON FILES series, written by Mike Maden. Maden is known for his DRONE series, four of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Jr. thrillers, as well as Clive Cussler's Hellburner and Fire Strike.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

[Review] — TWISTERS Storms onto 4K ULTRA HD


This year's surprise summer blockbuster, TWISTERS, is now available on 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY, and DVD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The "hard-hitting disaster spectacle" (Impulse Gamer) has earned Certified Fresh & Verified Hot designations on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore, making it the best opening ever for a disaster film. TWISTERS is an adrenaline-pumping, thrilling experience that puts you in direct contact with one of nature’s most wondrous and destructive forces. Get the all-American action-packed adventure with exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus content featuring the cast and crew when you purchase from participating retailers nationwide, including Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Microsoft Movies & TV.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

[Review] — THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL is a Thriller Written for Alfred Hitchcock Fans


I'm a lifelong horror fan, and Pyscho, directed by the late great Alfred Hitchcock, is my second favorite slasher movie—right behind John Carpenter's Halloween. So, it should be no surprise that I was eager to read THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL by Stephane Wrobel, the USA TODAY Bestselling Author of DARKLING ROSE GOLD.

Thursday, September 5, 2024

[Review] — "THREE-INCH TEETH" is a Grizzly Read


Have you ever been so upset that a television series got canceled that you delayed reading the newest book, which inspired the show, out of spite? Well, that's what happened to me with Joe Pickett. Paramount Plus canceled the streaming series in late 2023 after two seasons. (Side note: the first season aired on Spectrum.) It was a well-made modern-day Western series similar to Yellowstone and should have done better in ratings if marketed correctly.

Saturday, August 17, 2024

[Review] — "TWISTERS" is a Mindless, Entertaining Popcorn Blockbuster


TWISTERS (PG-13; 122 minutes), the summer's unexpected box-office blockbuster, is now available for rent or purchase on digital platforms from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Recipient of an A- CinemaScore and a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the "hard-hitting disaster spectacle" (Impulse Gamer) has made history as the biggest opening for a disaster film ever. Exclusively available for purchase from select nationwide retailers, such as Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly known as Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Microsoft Movies & TV, is the all-American action-packed adventure with a never-before-seen gag reel and deleted scenes.

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung Munyurangabo and written by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant)—based on a story by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick)—TWISTERS is a standalone sequel to the classic 1996 disaster film TWISTER. Standalone means an in-name-only sequel with zero connections to the original. There are no returning characters and no name drops; only a similar plot with updated technology with a brand-new cast: Glen Powell (Anyone But YouTop Gun: Maverick), Daisy Edgar-Jones (Where The Crawdads SingFresh), David Corenswet (Pearl, “The Politician”), Anthony Ramos (In The HeightsHamilton), and Brandon Perea (Nope). 


The protagonist of this quasi-reboot is Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who gave up pursuing tornadoes across the Oklahoma prairies to safely study them on screens in New York City following a tragic tornado experience. Kate is drawn back to the field by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) and a once-in-a-lifetime scientific chance, where she meets Tyler (Glen Powell), a charming daredevil and self-proclaimed tornado wrangler whose appetite for tornado-tracking escapades has made him a social media sensation. As the storm season increases with horrific occurrences unlike anything before, Kate and Tyler realize they must work together to tame and survive an unprecedented outbreak of destructive tornadoes.


The original TWISTER is what I would describe as a "summer blockbuster," it has a special place in my heart because I was a loner midwest teen when it hit theaters in 1996. I was unimpressed when I saw the 30-second TV spot for TWISTERS during the Super Bowl LVIII and automatically labeled the film a "flop." To my surprise—and many others—TWISTERS received generally positive reviews from mainstream critics and grossed $81.3 million during its opening weekend. It's now surpassed the $300 million mark at the worldwide box office. 

TWISTERS is surprisingly better than expected, though you can see the best thrills in the trailers. The actors do their best with their two-dimensional characters. The plot is as thin as possible, but I imagine disaster movie fans want to see less story and more destruction. And there's plenty of destruction, but the CGI effects were underwhelming, only saved by the outstanding sound effects. 
 
Overall, TWISTERS is a mindless, entertaining popcorn blockbuster. Is it flawed? Yep! Enjoyable? Sure! ╌★★★★✰

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

[Review] - 'Down Range' by Taylor Moore


A Down Range paperback (published by William Morrow) had been sitting on a Walmart shelf collecting dust for nearly two months when I finally bought it. What lured me in was the back-cover quote from Providence Journal - "A masterwork of classic storytelling: a man defending his own in the best tradition of John Wayne or Clint Eastwood film." I'm in no way a John Wayne fan, but I love anything Eastwood-related.