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Monday, September 13, 2021

Review: The Hawthorne Legacy

The Hawthorne Legacy The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After finishing the first book in the series, I immediately pre-ordered this, there two different versions of the ebook, one cheaper, but came out 2 days later.
Eagerly looking forward to it and hitting a nearly DNF-reading-slumb in The Crime Trade, which is no page-turner, I was in for something better.

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Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Review: Wahre Lügen

Wahre Lügen Wahre Lügen by Andreas Adlon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not as good, as the first one.
3.5 star rounded down to 3.
Probably not available in English translation, so a few words in German as a short review.
Nicht ganz so spannend, nette Auflösung, aber ein echter Fall mit deutlich weniger Familienproblemen, die nichts mit dem Fall zu tun haben, und vor allem weniger Sport, Fussball interessiert mich nicht, hätte das sowieso schon kurze Buch evt. zur Novella gemacht, aber das währe kein Verlust.
Über Kindle Unlimited / Prime immerhin ohne Aufpreis zu leihen.
Technik und Lokalitäten sind gut, hätten aber eine etwas ausführliche Rolle spielen können.
Kann ich noch empfehlen, wer gerne komplette Serien liest, muss aber nicht sein. War Jahre her, daß ich den 1. Band gelesen habe. Den ich auch mit 3.5 Sternen bewertet, aber als 1. Band aufgerundet auf 4. Werde in den nächsten Band reinlesen, ob die Serie besser wird, und dann ggfs. aufgeben.
Gerade mal noch so zu empfehlen.

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Review: Wahre Lügen

Wahre Lügen Wahre Lügen by Andreas Adlon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Thursday, August 12, 2021

Review: 42 Grad

42 Grad 42 Grad by Wolf Harlander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

German! Hatte dies länger auf meiner Checkliste von Büchern, wo ich auf einen niedrigeren Preis spekulierte, und endlich war es soweit, statt den üblichen 9-10 Eur sank der Preis des EBooks auf 1,99 Eur, aber nur kurzfristig als Promotion.
Buch wurde mir von Antje empfohlen (meiner Mutter).

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Friday, August 6, 2021

Review: Ankermord: Ein Rügen-Krimi

Ankermord: Ein Rügen-Krimi Ankermord: Ein Rügen-Krimi by Katharina Peters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Schiffsmord: Ein Rügen-Krimi

Schiffsmord: Ein Rügen-Krimi Schiffsmord: Ein Rügen-Krimi by Katharina Peters
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Review: For the Best

For the Best For the Best by Vanessa Lillie
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Lent with Kindle Unlimited.

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Review: The Whispers

The Whispers The Whispers by Heidi Perks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Chaos on CatNet

Chaos on CatNet Chaos on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The Jigsaw Man

The Jigsaw Man The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Das Echo dunkler Tage: Inspectora Amaia Salazars erster Fall

Das Echo dunkler Tage: Inspectora Amaia Salazars erster Fall Das Echo dunkler Tage: Inspectora Amaia Salazars erster Fall by Dolores Redondo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Zerrissen

Zerrissen Zerrissen by Michael Tsokos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Abgefackelt

Abgefackelt Abgefackelt by Michael Tsokos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Doll's House

The Doll's House The Doll's House by M.J. Arlidge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Fischermord

Fischermord Fischermord by Katharina Peters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Abrechnung

Abrechnung Abrechnung by Katharina Peters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Deichmord

Deichmord Deichmord by Katharina Peters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Leuchtturmmord

Leuchtturmmord Leuchtturmmord by Katharina Peters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Schneeweißes Sylt: Friesenkrimi

Schneeweißes Sylt: Friesenkrimi Schneeweißes Sylt: Friesenkrimi by Thomas Herzberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Review: Vampire Academy: The Untold Stories

Vampire Academy: The Untold Stories Vampire Academy: The Untold Stories by Richelle Mead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bought the Vampire Academy 10th Anniversary Edition (pre-ordered it!).
Read it a few years later complete (the first book again) 2021.

Highly recommended, the short stories are good additions.

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Review: Vampire Academy: The Untold Stories

Vampire Academy: The Untold Stories Vampire Academy: The Untold Stories by Richelle Mead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Monday, August 2, 2021

Review: The Coroner

The Coroner The Coroner by M.R. Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Low price, promo?

Rated 3.8 stars from 5, rounded to 4.
Recommended.

Filmed as TV-series, but with quite a few changes.

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Review: The Coroner

The Coroner The Coroner by M.R. Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Low price, promo?

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Review: The Fear Index

The Fear Index The Fear Index by Robert Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bought with a birthday coupon for Thalia from my mother, Antje, thanks!
Gekauft mit einem Geschenkgutschein von Antje zu meinem Geburtstag, danke!

Story is about a hedgefond which operates with computer generated AI trades.
Just as up-to-date near-SF as when it was published. A little knowledge about stock trades and computers does not hurt, but is imho not required to understand the implications and questions which the book asks. Heavy stuff.

Very highly recommended!

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Review: The Fear Index

The Fear Index The Fear Index by Robert Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bought with a birthday coupon for Thalia from my mother, Antje, thanks!
Gekauft mit einem Geschenkgutschein von Antje zu meinem Geburtstag, danke!

Story is about a hedgefond which operates with computer generated AI trades.
Just as up-to-date near-SF as when it was published. A little knowledge about stock trades and computers does not hurt, but is imho not required to understand the implications and questions which the book asks. Heavy stuff.

Very highly recommended!

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Review: The Fear Index

The Fear Index The Fear Index by Robert Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Sunday, July 4, 2021

Review: Hostage

Hostage Hostage by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wanted to check, wether this is better, than the dreadful Falling.
Characters are a little better, but again, too much background, at least not simply black and white (good or bad).
But also currently not the promised page-turner, a little world-building and way too much family problems of the MC. Instead of turning pages to find out what's going on, I tend to skipp or skim passages which do nothing for the for main part of the stoy (I hope) add nothing to the promised suspense.
Currently I see myself rating this 2 stars, also, with being at 18%, the story should now get more interesting soon, or I see myself DNFing this one after the disaster of the last one.
Here's hoping for a crash, at least!

Hard to describe what went wrong for in this book without spoiling it, so if this is not clear, that is the reason.

Changed my rating to 3 stars after finishing the book, some of it in FF (fast-forward)-skimming-mode. Parts are ok, parts boring, parts get clearer in the end, and also the last 20% maybe a little less are realy good. Still this is no recommendation from me and also I am surprised that it got so may 4 and 5 star ratings, also this is still no page-turner and it took too long to get interesting.
(rebooting my old mac mini, will write more later)

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Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Review: Falling

Falling Falling by T.J. Newman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

About 77% in, so a little late to DNF, will read fast or fastforward to check the ending -
should have DNFed early on.
Had all the promising reviews and blurbs of a page-turner, even a few twists.

But it also has something, which I find incredibly boring: flashbacks to "normal" family life, which does nothing for the suspense, the story, and the characters are too good to be interesting.
Cardboard-like even the villains.

A N D also, I hate it, that a police-officer/Agent/whatever (paid for non-private-person) plays the lone hero, against his training and in this case also against the order from his immediate superior - without rime or reason.
In this case (chapter 27) even with disregard for people's lives (civilians get hurt). Also given Theo's injuries, the scene is way over the top, and does not feel very real.

Cherish the rare book where the "good" people stick to the rulebook.

From the beginning there is only one obvious solution, which is not even considered:
the MC should commit suicide to pull himself out of the equation.

Given all this, currently I expect this to get 1 star from me, but will consider more, depending how it ends.
And to think, I had this pre-ordered it and was looking forward to it and started it the day it was published - I shudder to think about it, and also the wasted money!

Stand by my 1 star rating: after the - expected and forseeable - ending, I got bored with research of the MC into the things that happened in the land of the villain. The MC and his wife are too good to be true, would have liked more of a gray thinking, like thinking of the MC to crash the plane elsewhere.

Although the action scenes are way over the top, they are well written and the technical details of avation and flight control seem real to me (I am no pilot). On a different day that might warrant 2 stars for a good idea, but I do not feel it today.

Not enough death, and the wrong people died in this book.
Might still consider reading her next book, as I like reading books from female authors, and I was surprised to learn after that fact after the end, as the book felt male (sorry for that).

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Review: Falling

Falling Falling by T.J. Newman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

About 77% in, so a little late to DNF, will read fast or fastforward to check the ending -
should have DNFed early on.
Had all the promising reviews and blurbs of a page-turner, even a few twists.

But it also has something, which I find incredibly boring: flashbacks to "normal" family life, which does nothing for the suspense, the story, and the characters are too good to be interesting.
Cardboard-like even the villains.

A N D also, I hate it, that a police-officer/Agent/whatever (paid for non-private-person) plays the lone hero, against his training and in this case also against the order from his immediate superior - without rime or reason.
In this case (chapter 27) even with disregard for people's lives (civilians get hurt). Also given Theo's injuries, the scene is way over the top, and does not feel very real.

Cherish the rare book where the "good" people stick to the rulebook.

From the beginning there is only one obvious solution, which is not even considered:
the MC should commit suicide to pull himself out of the equation.

Given all this, currently I expect this to get 1 star from me, but will consider more, depending how it ends.
And to think, I had this pre-ordered it and was looking forward to it and started it the day it was published - I shudder to think about it, and also the wasted money!

Stand by my 1 star rating: after the - expected and forseeable - ending, I got bored with research of the MC into the things that happened in the land of the villain. The MC and his with wife are too good to be true, would have liked more of a gray thinking, like thinking of the MC to crash the plane elsewhere.

Although the action scenes are way over the top, they are well written and the technical details of avation and flight control seem real to me (I am no pilot). On a different day that might warrant 2 stars for a good idea, but I do not feel it today.

Not enough death, and the wrong people died in this book.
Might still consider reading her next book, as I like reading books from female authors, and I was surprised to learn after that fact after the end, as the book felt male (sorry for that).

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Review: Falling

Falling Falling by T.J. Newman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

About 77% in, so a little late to DNF, will read fast or fastforward to check the ending -
should have DNFed early on.
Had all the promising reviews and blurbs of a page-turner, even a few twists.

But it also has something, which I find incredibly boring: flashbacks to "normal" family life, which does nothing for the suspense, the story, and the characters are too good to be interesting.
Cardboard-like even the villains.

A N D also, I hate it, that a police-officer/Agent/whatever (paid for non-private-person) plays the lone hero, against his training and in this case also against the order from his immediate superior - without rime or reason.
In this case (chapter 27) even with disregard for people's lives (civilians get hurt). Also given Theo's injuries, the scene is way over the top, and does not feel very real.

Cherish the rare book where the "good" people stick to the rulebook.

From the beginning there is only one obvious solution, which is not even considered:
the MC should commit suicide to pull himself out of the equation.

Given all this, currently I expect this to get 1 star from me, but will consider more, depending how it ends.
And to think, I had this pre-ordered it and was looking forward to it and started it the day it was published - I shudder to think about it, and also the wasted money!

Stand by my 1 star rating: after the - expected and forseeable - ending, I got bored with research of the MC into the things that happened in the land of the villain. The MC and his with wife are too good to be true, would have liked more of a gray thinking, like thinking of the MC to crash the plane elsewhere.

Although the action scenes are way over the top, they are well written and the technical details of avation and flight control seem real to me (I am no pilot). On a different day that might warrant 2 stars for a good idea, but I do not feel it today.

Not enough death, and the wrong people died in this book.
Might still consider reading her next book, as I like reading books from female authors, and I was surprised to learn after that fact after the end, as the book felt male (sorry for that).

View all my reviews

Review: Falling

Falling Falling by T.J. Newman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

About 77% in, so a little late to DNF, will read fast or fastforward to check the ending -
should have DNFed early on.
Had all the promising reviews and blurbs of a page-turner, even a few twists.

But it also has something, which I find incredibly boring: flashbacks to "normal" family life, which does nothing for the suspense, the story, and the characters are to good to be interesting.
Cardboard-like even the villains.

A N D also, I hate it, that a police-officer/Agent/whatever (paid for non-private-person) plays the lone hero, against his training and in this case also against the order from his immediate superior - without rime or reason.
In this case (chapter 27) even with disregard for people's lives (civilians get hurt). Also given Theo's injuries, the scene is way over the top, and does not feel very real.

Cherish the rare book where the "good" people stick to the rulebook.

From the beginning there is only one obvious solution, which is not even considered: the MC should commit suicide to pull himself out of the equation.

Given all this, currently I expect this to get 1 star from me, but will consider more, depending how it ends. And to think, I had this pre-ordered it and was looking forward to it and started it the day it was published - I shudder to think about it, and also the wasted money!



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Thursday, May 13, 2021

Review: Garnethill

Garnethill Garnethill by Denise Mina
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very well written debut, nice twists and turns I did not see coming.
In the end one crucial questions stays open, unanswered.
Could have used a little more suspense or action, but is maybe more real this way.
Can see other people or me on different day rate that 5 stars.
Highly recommended, standalone. First and so far the only book from Denise Mina I read, although this was bought and on my TBR since 2015 (nearly 6 years).

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Review: Garnethill

Garnethill Garnethill by Denise Mina
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very well written debut, nice twists and turns I did not see coming.
In the end one crucial questions stays open, unanswered.
Could have used a little more suspense or action, but is maybe more real this way.
Can see other people or me on different day rate that 5 stars.
Highly recommended, standalone. First and so far the only book from Denise Mina I read, although this was bought and on my TBR since 2015 (nearly 6 years).

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Review: Garnethill

Garnethill Garnethill by Denise Mina
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Review: Die Eishexe

Die Eishexe Die Eishexe by Camilla Läckberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bought this in German when the price was lowered and I received an iTunes info-mail (but bought it at Thalia). Forgot to put it on my TBR/owned. And just checked it after reading an answer on my favourite GR-group "What's the Name of That Book???" - message 10.
Lately I was rather lazy, both writing reviews and reading less. If there is a review I will first write it in German, as I will read the German translation, German being my first language.


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Saturday, January 9, 2021

Review: The Coast-to-Coast Murders

The Coast-to-Coast Murders The Coast-to-Coast Murders by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Had to think about this for a while, the story was twisty and complicated, but very interesting - but the epilogue?
Well, I thought that was a flashback and not necessary for the story.
Then I read a few reviews or question/answer about the book here on Goodreads.
And read the epilogue again.
Not sure what to make of it.
Rating books and reviewing them I regard the ending as significant, and the epilogue if it is not a flashback would warrant a "2 star, not recommended" from me, as it ruins the book.
As it is, I have not further investigated, what the authors say about it, and my advise is:
disregard the epilogue or do not even read it.

Without the epilogue or as a flashback I stand by my 4star rating, which is also a recommendation.
Might investigate further, if I find the time. Please comment or link to something, if it helps.

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Review: The Drowned Girls

The Drowned Girls The Drowned Girls by Loreth Anne White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lent with Kindle Unlimited, 3,5 * rounded to 4 for the first book in the series, not enough suspense, too long. And as often, the personal problems grate on my nerves, although some are part of the story.
Might look into the second book in the series if it is also on KU, and then decide wether I like the series or not - currently I am not sure, more leaning to "not" maybe it gets better?!
Also the first book I finished in 2021.

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