Sunday, November 18, 2018

"The Rounders" (1964 version)

My husband and I are often saying "Whatever suits you just tickles me plumb to death."  That line comes from this movie, "The Rounders."  Since it came out in 1964 and my husband was in the Navy at the time, I'm not sure we saw it then but we did see it and that line has stuck with us.

Recently, we decided it was time to view "The Rounders" again so checked out a copy from our local library.  It stars Glen Ford as Ben Jones and Henry Fonda as Howdy Lewis - a couple of modern day cowboys who arrive at their job (working at a ranch owned by a guy named Love) in a pick up truck.  They're bronc riders hired initially to tame wild horses but they've met their match in "Old Fooler."  He's a roan that sometimes calmly walks around with a rider on his back then decides to buck him off.  This movie is pure entertainment so if you're looking for something relaxing to watch, I'd recommend it.  pazt


Wednesday, November 14, 2018

"Let Me Lie"

I've discovered a new mystery author in reading "Let Me Lie" by Clare Mackintosh.  Clare has written two previous mysteries after serving 12 years on the police force in England.  She's also written for the Guardian, Good Housekeeping, as well as other publications.

"Let Me Lie" is the story of Anna Johnson's family.  Last year her father committed suicide off Beachy Head although his body was never found then her mother followed suit in the same location on the anniversary of his death and her body was never discovered either.  As an only child and the mother of an infant daughter herself, Anna is struggling with her grief but a series of incidents leads her to question the circumstances of her parent's deaths. 

Against her boyfriend's advice, she decides to ask the police to investigate.  She ends up talking with a retired detective, Murray, who now works the front desk at the police station.  Murray doesn't see the need to get the detectives on the case until he does a little exploration of the background of the case himself to see if something might have been missed or if it is straight forward suicides.  In the meantime, his wife, who has been in and out of mental institutions throughout their marriage as a result of suicidal tendencies, is back in the hospital and coming home for the holidays so he has his hands pretty full on the home front.

Mackintosh does an amazing job of spinning this story leading you from one believable twist to another as the story unfolds to a climax that came as a surprise.  This is an author to watch and, if you love mysteries like I do, I highly recommend you check out this book.  I'm now in search of her previous ones.  pazt

Friday, November 2, 2018

"Death In Ecstasy"

"Death In Ecstasy" is the 4th book in Ngaio Marsh's Roderick Alleyn detective series and I had no better luck discovering whodunnit than in her previous mysteries but I had fun trying.

When Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn's friend, Nigel Bathgate is looking out the window of his flat one evening, he notices a sign for the "House of the Sacred Flame" and it intrigues him enough (or is he just bored?) that he decides to go down the street to check it out.  Little did he suspect that one of the worshipers is about to be murdered and he'd have to call his friend, Alleyn, to investigate the case.  He's also a witness to the murder but figuring out who the culprit is and what the motive is will not come easily.  Cora Quayne died in full view of Nigel and the other worshipers  but how her poisoning occurred is not so easy to ascertain.  Clues to why she had to die come from several sources including some outside England.  pazt