Groosham Grange Review

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(More customer reviews)Anthony Horowitz today is better known for his successful Alex Rider series (which have also been turned into movies) but back when I was a kid he wrote the best comedy thrillers and comedy horror junior paperbacks you could find. Groosham Grange first published back in 1988 is easily up there with the best of his career's work. I just reread it today and it is even better than I remembered it. You definitely don't have to still be a kid either to enjoy it.
I guess the closest comparison to this storyline would be the first book of the Harry Potter series although this is a lot less magicy and more kid monsters/horror. Obviously J.K. Rowling read this book as a kid herself before coming up with her successful series.
In Groosham Grange 12 year old David Eliot is expelled from school. His abusive father isn't too pleased, nor does his mother stick up for him either and goes along with his dad's evil plans usually while being the victim of domestic violence herself. When a letter addressed to his father seems to magically arrive just when he is thinking up punishment explaining that a school located on an island off the Norfolk (part of the UK) coastline is heavily into discipline and doesn't expect the parents to ever visit at all he decides to send David there.
On route to the school David meets two other new classmates, Jeffrey and Jill. They decide to stick together no matter what. What is however not anything they could have expected! From the train station they are driven in a hearse to a rusty boat which takes them to the island. There they made to sign onto the registry with their own blood, the teachers are weird, the history teacher is old, bald and wrapped in bandages. The French teacher disappears every full moon, the Latin teacher teaches in darkness by candlelight with the blinds closed because he doesn't like the sun and why does the headmaster's door's sign say The Heads? The food doesn't resemble any animal they used to eat and where do all the other students disappear to after midnight? Why does everyone keep mentioning how fortunate David is to be born the seventh son of a seventh son? These are just some of the weird things going on at Groosham Grange. David and Jill want to leave but you're never supposed to leave Groosham without graduating. The school even has its own cemetery!
Horowitz is a great author. Another book you absolutely must read is called Granny. It's the story of the evilest Granny on the planet who plans to attend the Golden Granny Awards where she can compete for awards such as making everyone at the post office wait for the longest amount of time, the longest time to get on bus, most difficult shopper, the most unnecessary visits to a doctor and many other awards. The evil grannies of the world also have a new invention that will make them young again, all they need is the enzymes of a young boy and what better boy to use than her own grandson!


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The Second Siege: Book Two of The Tapestry Review

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(More customer reviews)Wow. What a great story. For those of you who read Neff's first installment, "The Hound of Rowan", you will really enjoy this book. Right from the beginning, the story line grabs you as we find a more mature Max McDaniels using his newfound powers to get out of a tight situation. Max now has more control of his formidable physical gifts and immediately demonstrates why he is such a threat to "The Enemy". And the book doesn't slow down from there. The battle of good versus evil pitched in Neff's first book intensifies as Max, David Menlo and the rest start a quest around the world to gather critical resources to aid their fight. As the enemy closes in and starts to reshape the world around them, Max and crew must travel to Europe, relying on a network of allies to stay hidden, all while Max continues to learn more about himself, his family, and his responsibilities for the future. After a variety of toe-to-toe interactions with the enemy, a visit to Rassmussen's Workshop, the Second Siege culminates in an epic standoff in the fight for who will control earth as we know it.
This story has the epic feel of "Lord of the Rings", the youthfulness of "Harry Potter", and the sophistication and modernity of "Mission Impossible." I highly recommend this to readers of the first book and encourage new readers to pick up the Hound of Rowan to get started with this great new series.
I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens...

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Tarantula Tide (Kelpies Prize Winner) Review

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(More customer reviews)The title is a mystery and the story is also a mystery involving two children Jack and Izzie (Isabel) set in Shetland, a group of islands off Scotland. The theme is animal smuggling and the story starts with Jack and Izzie discovering a tarantula whom Izzie calls Octavia. Though the main characters don't realize who the culprit is, the readers can guess by the middle of the book and it is satisfying to know that one's surmise is correct. The real mystery in the book is about Jack's dad and that comes as a surprise. The story has a happy ending with Jack and his photographer mother vowing to come back to the enchanted place.
The story is well written and is not too fast nor too slow. The style is good and the book is generally well edited. However, some sections slipped through the editor's watchful eyes and I will be sharing the same with the author for correction in future editions.
All in all, a good read.

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Winner of the Heart of Hawick Children's Book Award 2010. Smugglers. Vikings. Shetland should be a fascinating place for a holiday, but Jack is harbouring a secret and is less than enthusiastic to be there. Then he meets Izzie and her exotic pets and things soon start to get more interesting: Jack finds an unexpected visitor underneath the fridge; the wandering tramp is not what he seems, and each night a mysterious person waits on the beach outside Jack's cottage. But what do all these have to do with an unusual visitor named Octavia? Jack and Izzie unwittingly find themselves in the middle of a dangerous adventure, wondering what the next tide will bring to the land of the Viking Fire Festival. Tarantula Tide was the winner of the Kelpies Prize 2008.

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Nomadin Review

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(More customer reviews)Nomadin is Mr Cormier's first published novel, which I could not quite believe when reading the book. The prose flows with an expert's hand and the pacing is excellent throughout. The characters are well rounded and not typical stereotypes of the genre, which would be an easy trap to fall into in a tome that sits comfortably with its peers in the YA market upwards. Mr Cormier scatters similes throughout his work to good effect, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind, making the read thoroughly engrossing.
A liberal amount of humour is written into the book which serves to entertain the reader in this 'young boy coming to power' novel. It is this and the storytelling ability of the writer that keeps the reader wanting to read on. And, when the end is reached, wanting to read book two, which the author informs us is on its way.
The book ends with a few tangled webs still left to resolve. Usually, this would disappoint me, but Mr Cormier manages to end on a feel good note with all the major plot lines addressed while opening new ones for book two.
Nomadin is well worth a read and I would recommend it to all those that enjoy feel-good books. It is well written, holds a good plot and has enough hooks and twists to keep the most critical reader happy. Shawn Cormier is a welcome new talent in fantasy.


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Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse Review

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(More customer reviews)My son Timothy, age 11, devoured a book this week, a magical mystery featuring a boy wizard written by Kaleb Nation, age 20. The book, Bran Hambric: The Fairfield Curse, was published in September, and, judging from sales and Timothy's enthusiasm about the book, I suspect we have, if not the "next Harry Potter" (how many times have we heard that prediction?), perhaps another Artemis Fowl or Percy Jackson. Which would be very good news indeed.
The recommended age range for the book is 9-12 so I thought you might be interested in Timothy's thoughts about the book which is touted as a book by a very young man. Timothy wrote the review as a Hogwarts Professor dot com guest post. He read all 464 pages of Bran Hambric in three days and has this to say:
Timothy's Bran Hambric Review
When I first saw the book, Bran Hambric, I did not think, frankly, that it was anything I would be interested in. But then, when I asked Dad what the book was about, he read the back cover to me and I was immediately curious. I mean who is not intrigued when they hear the questions, "What if Your Mother was a Criminal? What if Her Crime was Magic? What if Magic ran in the Family?"
So I started to read the book and found that it reminded me of Harry Potter, the books along with Redwall, Eragon, and Artemis Fowl, that I know best. In the beginning, for example, Bran's only parent dies, he has his mother's eyes, and Bran is taken into the care of two of the meanest people in the city. These parents give their greedy little children everything they wanted (except, of course, the MEGAMES MAXIMAS that Balder wanted so much). Bran can do magic, but he does not know it. Just like Harry, right?
In the second chapter, my Dad told me who he thought that the Shambles character would turn out to be. He was right, though I was surprised when it was revealed much later in the story (it wasn't obvious). I guessed correctly that there was something like a Horcrux in one of the major characters (I don't want to spoil the story for you) but when it turned out I was right, I confess I was still surprised, again.
The story, though, is not just Potter echoes like surprise identities and boy wizards.
The best part? The 'Missives of Magic.'
Netora the Physical, Comsar the Mental, Archon the Elemental, Illian the Illusional and Drimra the Mortal: these are the five Missives of Magic mentioned in Chapter 10 of Bran Hambric. Without giving too much away, each of the Missives is a certain type of magic.
If you have Netora magic, then you are master of things that can be touched. If you have Comsar magic, then you are master of the mind and can control other people. If you have Archon magic, then you can control the four elements; fire, water, earth and air (and as a favorite character says in Chapter 20, "Yes, always good to keep a flowerpot handy for the miniature tasks"). If you have Illian magic, then you have the power of illusions; you make images of yourself or of other people, but if you are Drimra, then you have the power over life and death and can place your very soul in another body. The variety of magic in Bran Hambric is unique and very well done, I thought.
Best, if you have all five kinds of magic, then you are more powerful than any of them. But with great power comes great hardship, as Bran finds out. Fortunately he has good friends like Adi, Astara and Polland. I enjoyed reading their conversations and about their adventures.
Do I look forward to the next book in the Bran Hambric series? Yes, I do. The first book was amazing; it was full of new friends, mages, magic books and much more. Some of the reasons that I would like to read the next book is to see what really happened to Baslyn and Shambles. Could anyone have survived the finish in Fairfield Tower? I would really like to find out, too, what the `S' on Astara's bracelet stands for. I'm assuming that it is not the first letter of her last name, as she thinks.
One of the many things that I like about this book are the "Forty Winks." I love their detecting powers that give them the ability to reveal things about the Mages (read the book to find out what!). When I first heard of the `Fairfield Curse,' I had two ideas of what it might be. The first idea was that it was a plague of some sort that would make you burst into flame or age really fast. The second idea was that it was a sentient being of fire, shadow and energy. What I did not guess it could be - was what it turned out to be! Kaleb Nation wrote a very satisfying and surprising conclusion.
I recommend Kaleb Nation's Bran Hambric to readers my age who like wizard stories and mysteries. A fascinating book filled with magic and mystery, Bran Hambric is guaranteed to cast a spell over you that you will never forget!
Timothy


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Midnight Magic Review

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(More customer reviews)Avi weaves an intricate web of political plots and magical suspicions. In a Renaissance country that resembles Spain or Portugal, a reported magician named Mangus and his servant boy Fabrizo are brought to the king. A ghost is haunting the young Princess Teresina, who is to be wed to villainous Count Scarazoni in a few days time. All the while, the possibility that the ghost is the murdered Prince Lorenzo hangs over them.
Fabrizo soon is submerged into a twisting tale of treachery and power, spirituality and trickery. Avi's characters are intriguing and real, especially weary Mangus, independent Fabrizo, and mischievous Teresina. Some of the characters are a bit flat, including the queen and Scarazoni, but it does not detract much from the story; Lorenzo's whereabouts are somewhat obvious after a while. However, Avi's imagery and dialogue are wonderful, and the magic woven into the words makes this an interesting and enjoyable read.

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Unwritten Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity Review

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(More customer reviews)Mike Carey is one of the many British comic writers to make his name at DC's Vertigo imprint. Carey began his North American writing career with his famous "Lucifer" series (a spinoff of Neil Gaiman's "The Sandman"), as well as a run on the longrunning "John Constantine, Hellblazer". Subsequently he's spent some time at Marvel Comics, most prominently with a lengthy period on "X-Men", which has met with quite a bit of fan acclaim. Now he returns to Vertigo with his next big indie project, "The Unwritten", which revisits a passel of familiar Vertigo themes and should prove very popular among literary enthusiasts. This trade paperback collections issue 1-5 of the series. Some spoilers follow.
Our protagonist is Tom Taylor, the now-adult son of the famous author Wilson Taylor; much like A. A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin, Wilson integrated his son into his writing, making him the hero of a thirteen-volume fantasy series that (the series helpfully tells us) is popular enough to make Harry Potter look like, ah, I guess the hero of "Eragon" by comparison. The now-adult Tom makes a living at fan conventions and the like, while his father vanished without a trace years before. At least, that's what Tom believes. But after an encounter with a mysterious woman inquiring into his past, the question of exactly what Tom is comes to the fore. This kicks off a strange and as-yet-largely-unexplained journey into conspiracy and metafiction.
In comparison to past Vertigo series, one can very easily see many similarities with "The Sandman", which was also very much concerned with the nature of story and the interactions between fiction and reality. Carey's writing demonstrates quite a wide range of literary influences, with the core of the series being quite obviously based on Harry Potter, the defining literary product of the first decade of the 21st century. But perhaps the most impressive work comes in issue five, a standalone story focused on Rudyard Kipling, the great imperial poet, where Carey manages to reinterpret Kipling's entire literary output and personal life in the context of the series' ongoing plot. It's quite a bravura piece of writing. Peter Gross, the artist, does a terrific job rendering the world of Tom Taylor, and he doesn't miss a beat in the skips between different storytelling styles.
An interesting, if still somewhat inscrutable, start to a new property at Vertigo.

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The Hound of Rowan: Book One of The Tapestry Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the start of a series (not unlike Harry Potter - but thankfully different) that follows a group of children who are recruited (by mysterious means) to attend a spooky, wonderful, unique school in New England. The characters are well defined - you really get a feel for each different person - and the non-human characters are inventive and interesting. The author manages to weave in some celtic mythology, fairy tale creatures and beasts totally from his imagination (which are pretty scary). This may be a book published for teens but it's a great read. It keeps you guessing with twists and turns, goodies, baddies and strange mystic happenings. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well told tale of adventure and magic. Plus the illustrations are beautiful. I wish the author all luck for this series - I think he's filling J.K. Rowlings shoes admirably.

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You Are Next Review

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(More customer reviews)The Serial Killer sub-genre is very popular with readers. Maybe it's the fact that we can get close to such inhuman evil and still be able to walk away when we put the book down. Maybe it's a fascination with what humans are capable of. For me both these ideas play a part, but what I most enjoy is the chase - working with the investigators to solve the puzzle and catch the bad guy. You Are Next is a promising debut from a new voice in this popular sub-genre.
Katia Lief's writing is direct, with very little unnecessary description and padding. This style suits the story she has set out to tell and exposes the stark reality of the investigation and the killer's actions. There isn't time for pretty words when lives are at stake. I did, however, think that the pacing of You Are Next was off. The book started strongly, immediately drawing me into the story, but then the pace near the middle of the book before picking up again for the climax. This lag frustrated me. I know that a story needs to ebb and flow, but the downtime in You Are Next was too long. It should have been broken up to keep the reader engaged in the story.
I did like the games and clues that the Domino Killer leaves for the investigators. They let me feel like I could help the case if I could just figure them out. The use of dominoes, which are in themselves such harmless objects, added an extra level of malice to the crimes.
Karin Schaeffer is something different as far as protagonists in this sub-genre go. She is broken. The Domino Killer murdered her husband and child and we meet her as she is trying to hold herself and her life together in the wake of this tragedy. But she's failing. Lief's exploration of Karin's suicidal thoughts and grief are well handled and the play a large part in the plot. It's difficult to write about these topics and keep the character from alienating the reader, but Lief manages it capably.
You Are Next is a thriller about the effects of a serial killer's actions as much as it is about the hunt. It's a different approach to this kind of story and I liked it. I'll be keeping an eye on this author.

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The Throne of Fire (The Kane Chronicles, Book Two) Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, let me say that this is no Percy Jackson, in case you're going into this with vaulted expectations. However, these books do have their place, but the pacing is slower, the back stories a bit more longwinded (particularly in the first book in this series), yet the characters in both Percy and Pyramid are equally well drawn. Go figure. If you haven't read the first book, don't worry, the author does a decent job of catching you up on important details and plot points that lead to this book.
This time around, the book opens with a bit of action, as the kids, along with their new "special recruits" sneak into a museum and try to steal an artifact. This is typical, as a first book in any series tends to start off slow or include a lot of exposition and foreshadowing. Since we more or less know the characters in this book, the action plays out on a grander scale without sacrificing character development. There is another world-at-stake scenario in this book, via the chaos snake Apophis, who is a major threat to the Kane family, and he is planning to conquer the world once he is freed from his prison. But of course there is a plan to stop him. While not exactly a rehash of the events that involved the defeat of Set from the first book, you can tell that these books are in the same series, and take place in the same Red Pyramid world.
We get a lot of action and adventure in this book and loads of Egyptian myth that is presented in a fun way. But for my money, the book lacked a certain something. For one thing, it is drawn out in spots, and I'm a believer in tighter more streamlined storytelling. Another book series I started reading recently, which involves ancient temples and a thrilling artifact hunt, actually tells a rather compelling, tightly woven story. It also involves characters with unique abilities. Check it out here: The Crisis Artifact (The Crisis Trilogy) So while The Red Pyramid series can stand a bit of tightening up and trimming in spots, there are currently less well known epic series on the market that are begging to be read!


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In this exciting second installment of the three-book series, Carter and Sadie, offspring of the brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane,embark on a worldwide search for the Book of Ra, but the House of Life and the gods of chaos are determined to stop them.

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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Review

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(More customer reviews)A 24-year-old computer hacker sporting an assortment of tattoos and body piercings and afflicted with Asperger Syndrome or something of the like has been under state guardianship in her native Sweden since she was thirteen. She supports herself by doing deep background investigations for Dragan Armansky, who, in turn, worries the anorexic-looking Lisbeth Salander is "the perfect victim for anyone who wished her ill." Salander may look fourteen and stubbornly shun social norms, but she possesses the inner strength of a determined survivor. She sees more than her word processor page in black and white and despises the users and abusers of this world. She won't hesitate to exact her own unique brand of retribution against small-potatoes bullies, sick predators, and corrupt magnates alike.
Financial journalist Carl Mikael Blomkvist has just been convicted of libeling a financier and is facing a fine and three months in jail. Blomkvist, after a Salander-completed background check, is summoned to a meeting with semi-retired industrialist Henrik Vanger whose far-flung but shrinking corporate empire is wholly family owned. Vanger has brooded for 36 years about the fate of his great niece, Harriet. Blomkvist is expected to live for a year on the island where many Vanger family members still reside and where Harriet was last seen. Under the cover story that he is writing a family history, Blomkvist is to investigate which family member might have done away with the teenager.
So, the stage is set. The reader easily guesses early that somehow Blomkvist and Salander will pool their talents to probe the Vanger mystery. However,Swede Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is no humdrum, formulaic whodunit. It is fascinating and very difficult to put down. Nor is it without some really suspenseful and chillingly ugly scenes....
The issue most saturating The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is that of shocking sexual violence primarily against women but not excluding men. Salander and Blomkvist both confront prima facie evidence of such crimes. Larsson's other major constituent elements are corporate malfeasance that threatens complete collapse of stock markets and anarchistic distrust of officialdom to the point of endorsing (at least, almost) vigilantism. He also deals with racism as he spins a complex web from strands of real and imagined history concerning mid-twentieth century Vanger affiliations with Sweden's fascist groups.
But Larsson's carefully calibrated tale is more than a grisly, cynical world view of his country and the modern world at large. At its core, it is an fascinating character study of a young woman who easily masters computer code but for whom human interaction is almost always more trouble than it is worth, of an investigative reporter who chooses a path of less resistance than Salander but whose humanity reaches out to many including her, and of peripheral characters -- such as Armansky -- who need more of their story told.
Fortunately, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in English translation will be followed by two more in the Millennium series: The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Air Castle that Blew Up. I can't wait. Larsson also made a 200-page start on a fourth book, but sadly he succumbed to a heart attack in 2004 and his father decided the unfinished work will remain unpublished.
I recommend this international bestseller to all who eagerly sift new books for challenging intellectual crime thrillers, who luxuriate in immersing themselves in the ambience of a compellingly created world and memorable characters, who soak up financial and investigative minutiae as well as computer hacking tidbits, and who want to share Larsson's crusade against violence and racism.

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Endymion Spring Review

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(More customer reviews)Although I had read partial reviews that were somewhat negative saying this wasn't the next big thing or certainly not "The Da Vinci Code for kids", I have to admit that I expected more.
The story is told in two parts. One is the creation of the spectacular book around which this story revolves, and then the story itself, told in present time at Oxford University.
I had two main problems: I wasn't terribly intrigued by the "spectacular book", and I enjoyed the medieval "back story" more than I did what I believe to have been the main story.
The main character and supporting characters from the 15th century were considerably more tangible than the brother and sister team from present time. Honestly, I didn't care much for either of the latter. The boy, Blake, was too whiny, grumpy and downtrodden to really root for, and his sister was too much of a pain to be likable. Sometimes pain-in-the-rear characters are immensely likable, but I didn't find myself rooting for either.
Also, this was written from a "third person limited" point-of-view. In each part - medieval and present day - there was one main character. In third person limited, the narrator is generally limited to what that one character could theoretically observe. Therefore, I was puzzled as to several usages of British English. To cite one example, when Blake thought of a flashlight, it was always referred to as a torch. In third person limited, it would be referred to as a flashlight - because Blake speaks American English.
Perhaps it was my dull brain, and this is entirely plausible, but I'm not sure that the mystery of the book was entirely resolved. Perhaps it was and I missed it. If so, it's probably because I was a lazy reader at times, frustrated with the material in front of me and looking to push forward and finish the book so I could move on to the next one on my stack.
Somewhere in here was a terrific story dying to be told. But somewhere within Delacorte was an editor not doing a very good of tightening things up.
Honestly, I don't believe the fault lies with the author. Every great writer will admit that they would be lost without their editor. This book was one good editor away from being a terrific read.


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Sapphiry Rose and the Journey to the Inner Core Review

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(More customer reviews)I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Sapphiry Rose is a delightful and intriguing story of the life changing experiences of a young girl who lives in one world but belongs in another. The author's detailed description of Sapphiry's life as she knows it, her realization of her true identity and where she belongs gives the reader a vivid picture of the differences between the world she knows and her adjustment to the world of the inner core. A fascinating story that is hard to put down.

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Stone (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)Robert DeNiro plays a parole officer about to retire and Edward Norton is cast as a convicted arsonist, trying to convince him that he should get an early release from prison in this gripping "noirish" thriller from director John Curran.
Rather than "convince," the wily Norton is, actually, trying to "manipulate" DeNiro into writing a favorable assessment. He even goes so far as having his beautiful, off-the-wall wife (Milla Jovovich) seduce the corrections official in order to accomplish that.
Though Angus McLachlan's screenplay sometimes tends to meander, it is populated with a quartet of fascinating multi-dimensional characters, none of which are particularly likable, yet all who are seeking some sort of spiritual enlightenment.
DeNiro, in a loveless marriage (to Frances Conroy), finds that his church going cannot help him avoid his darker impulses, while Norton, after he witnesses a fellow prisoner being murdered, claims to have had a religious epiphany. The operative word here is "claims," because we're never quite sure if he's telling the truth or if this apparent change is simply a ruse to get what he wants.
What makes STONE so compelling is its performances. DeNiro, in one of the most complex roles he has had in years, plays a man fighting the evil within him, while Norton utilizes his unique talent to bring to life a chameleon-like sociopath. Though she does not have a lot to do, Ms. Conroy is brilliant as the mostly silent, religious wife who has bargained away her life out of fear.
Certainly Ms. Jovovich, cast as the bold, sexy wife who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, delivers the most colorful and surprising performance. Part bimbo and part seductress, this is one of those women of film noir who would give Barbara Stanwyck's "Phyllis Dietrichson" (DOUBLE INDEMNITY) a run for her money. And, it is also prime evidence that Ms. Jovovich is capable of doing material much more interesting than the RESIDENT EVIL franchise.
The DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment contains a "Making of" featurette.© Michael B. Druxman

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Academy Award winner Robert De Niro and Oscar nominee Edward Norton deliver powerful performances as a seasoned corrections official and a scheming inmate whose lives become dangerously intertwined in this 'gritty and engrossing thriller" (Steve O'Brien, WCBS-FM).Jack Mabry (De Niro), a parole officer days away from retirement, is asked to review the case of Gerald 'Stone" Creeson (Norton), in prison for arson. Now eligible for early release, Stone needs to convince Jack he has reformed, but his attempts to influence the older man's decision with his wife Lucetta (Milla Jovovich) have profound and unexpected effects on them both.This tale of passion, betrayal and corruption skillfully weaves together the parallel journeys of two men grappling with dark impulses, as the line between lawman and lawbreaker becomes precariously thin.

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Rosemary & Thyme - Series One Review

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(More customer reviews)I enjoy both Pam Ferris and Felicity Kendal in several other presentations. This one is my particular favorite because they work as a team! I love it because of the light mystery format, the wonderful settings and the ladies are just delightful! The reason I give five stars is because no higher ones are allowed. I long for fun things to watch, not the prevalent gory stuff out today. These are "real" women. Finally, something for people who don't enjoy always seeing unbelieveable young girls, sometimes with little acting ability, in the spotlight. Thanks for this series. Well worth the price.

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Laura Thyme, a former policewoman and garden-loving housewife, has just lost her husband to a much younger woman when she meets Rosemary Boxer, a plant biologist who has just lost her university teaching post. A suspicious death brings them together, and they combine their gardening skills and natural curiosity to dig deeper. Despite the success of their first "case," Laura and Rosemary hope their blossoming friendship will lead to gardening commissions, not detective work. But mysteries have a habit of following them around in this appealing series that combines two British specialties: gardening and mystery. Shot on location in stunning countryside settings, Rosemary & Thyme stars the dynamic acting duo Felicity Kendal (Good Neighbors, The Camomile Lawn) and Pam Ferris (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Matilda). DVD special features include an interview with Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris, production notes, photo gallery, and more.

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Cracker - The Complete Third Season Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all, I want to say straight out that every Cracker episode prior to this one definitely deserves 5 stars. This one, however, is the final compilation (in UK, it's released as series 1 and 2-- not divided into 3 seasons) and, it's a complete let down to the earlier episodes. White Ghost, the finale (not including the 2006 episode that also has nothing to do with earlier episodes)is the poorest conclusion for a character-driven series that I've ever seen.
During the series, we met Fitz, a brash, alcohol-guzzling, chain-smoking psychologist. He is brilliant. He understands everything going on around him and can read a person like a book. Watching him is an experience. The stories are so well-written and the characters so intense, that this entire series (up until what is sold here as the Third Season) is a joy.
But, the third and final season just doesn't tie up any of the loose ends. It gives some suggestion, but nothing really. And, by Fitz' mention of Penhaligan in the last episode here, any question that you might have felt had been answered was obviously incorrect.
In the episode just prior to White Ghost, we find out Penhaligan has given her resignation. We find out how Cracker truly feels about his wife (well, kind of-- as he walks out of the hospital leaving her standing alone). And, that's that.
In the last episode, we never see any closure. And, Fitz calls home, too, and his wife lives there! And, he asks for Penhaligan to be sent to Hong Kong to help with his case, and she can't come. But, that's all. So, we never find out how these three are now interacting with eachother and that's the biggest letdown after all this character buildup from the prior episodes.
The last episode here is a good episode-- but it belonged somewhere in the middle-- it deserved to be a much earlier episode. For those of us who watched these faithfully, I believe this is a letdown.
Obviously, I still recommend watching it if you've watched the other 2 sets. It's acted well, the writing is excellent, and the plots are tight. It's just a let down since we want some relationship closure.


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