Duh!

Don’t you just love that awkward feeling when you stop and ask Siri what the temperature is outside and then, realise with dismay that, you’re in the kitchen and Siri is in the bedroom …

Book Review: Dead Stop

DEAD STOP
Author: Barbara Nickless
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN: 9781503943384
Genre: Murder Mystery

DEAD STOP by Barbara Nickless is one hell of a twisted read full of taut drama, nail-biting tension, with a compelling plot that utterly blindsided me. But what sets this book apart from other murder-mysteries I’ve read of late is, Sydney Rose Parnell is the kind of character you not only root for but is someone you can identify with. I felt a real affinity for her because of her past, because of the baggage she carries.

Baggage that makes Sydney while not totally unique certainly different. Having done a couple of tours of Afghanistan she’s seen death on a scale we can only imagine. Working in Mortuary Affairs Sydney knows all too well what the true horror of war looks like. From the broken, twisted remains of soldiers blown apart by an IED, to collecting, identifying, and carefully piecing together her fellow soldier, bit by bit, by bit. The weight of the dead with her even after she returns to the US and back into civilian life, to work as a Special Agent for the DPC railway as a cop and dog handler.

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Random Thought

You would think at my age, I would have figure out by now what I want to do with my life. But nope. I have yet to grow up significantly enough to worry about stuff like that.

I am, after all, the age of my shoe size.

Forever 8. 🎈

Book Review: Resurrection Bay

RESURRECTION BAY
Author: Emma Viskic
Publisher: Pushkin Vertigo
ISBN: 9781782273912
Genre: Murder Mystery

First of all, let me just begin by saying this debut novel by Aussie author, Emma Viskic, is outstanding. Truly a remarkable novel on just about every level. It’s not long, at just 280 pages, so I read this in one frantic, page-turning day!

Let’s start with the well crafted, well delineated characters. I love Caleb Zelic who narrates the story. He’s such a great down-to-earth character, feisty and oh so different from the usual MC in that he just happens to be deaf. This makes for a wholly unique POV both in the visuals and descriptions, and more, the dialogue.

Choppy and jarring, we see the world how Caleb hears it. With broken sentences that obviously make for a few comic and laugh out loud moments. And, of course, because of this handicap, we feel every ounce of Caleb’s frustration. His determination to not to give in, stubborn to the last. Which inevitably causes clashes with both his work partner, Frankie—who, by the way, is another excellently flawed character—and his ex-wife, Kat. It’s only when we learn why Kat and Caleb spilt that we understand the weight of emotions involved.

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Week Notes

Week notes for May 26 – June 01, 2025

Things last week

I won’t go on about the continued shitty weather, as anyone who reads my rants rambling posts on Mastodon knows, the weather has been awful for weeks now. So let’s move along, nothing else to see here …

Last week saw me sort of resurrect the Snap Happy Me name over on my micro blog account (as the account has been dormant since Christmas). So now, I’m back using it to post my photos.

Also, R Scott Jones alerted me to the fact Micro Blog is hosting June 2025 Photo Challenge again, this year. So go check it out and join in.

This weekend I also started collecting links to various blogs and posts for #Junited 2025. Check it out: Junited2025

Watched

Oh, and before I forget, happy pride month to everyone who celebrates. Be safe out there people, and enjoy the month long party!