Stu’s Reviews – Page 27

Stu’s Reviews- #581- Book – “Shadows in Bronze”- Lindsey Davis

Genre: Book

Grade: B+

Notable People: Lindsey Davis

Title: Shadows in Bronze

Review: Who would have thunk that a gumshoe series set in ancient Rome would be a thing? Obviously, Davis does, and so do a million readers. This is the second in God knows how many in this series dating back to the late 80s (this one is 1991). Our reluctant hero, Didius Falco, resumes his nocturnal, clandestine activities and chases after his beloved maiden, Helena. These books will inform you more than you ever probably thought you wanted to know about all things of the Roman Epoch. Well written and dialoged, with compelling characters. A bit of challenge to get the knack of the language and terminology at first, but I’m moving on to number three.

Stu’s Reviews- #581- TV Series – “Bosch”- Amazon- 7 Seasons

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A

Notable People: Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Lance Reddick, Amy Acquino, Created by: Michael Connelly

Title: Bosch

Review: Really sad to write this review as it’s reflecting that this long running series has ended. We dragged out the final season for months to avoid the end, which never lost a beat and measured up to all that came before. LA Homicide Detective Hieronymus (Harry)Bosch and his partner J. Edgar tackle the truly gritty underbelly of life in LA. Connelly’s books are magnificent and the show does an amazing job of capturing the nuance of his characters. Welliver, who first appeared in a recurring role on NYPD Blue 30 years ago, sets the gold standard for lit to film character capturing. Reddick and Hector bring their grit from years starring on The Wire to bountiful roles here; Hector is a total 180 from his drug lord presence on The Wire and Reddick almost restoring the same role. The cast of characters is fabulous, the shoots are dead on LA mystique and the dialog leaves no room for snoozing. One of my favorite serials of the last decade. Hoping for some kind of follow up…but it seemed terminal.

Stu’s Reviews- #580- Book – “The Night Watchman”- Louise Erdrich

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Louise Erdrich

Title: The Night Watchman

Review: The veteran author hits pay dirt with this luminous novel based on the experiences of her Chippewa grandfather. The year is 1953 and a lunatic senator has decided to dispossess the Chippewa Indians from their adopted homeland in North Dakota. The book is a beautifully written treatise on the modern Native experience. Erdrich has configured wonderful truth- based fictional world populated with an endless array of compelling characters. We find a hodgepodge of personal stories and complex relationships set in the cultural context of the Chippewa- and explores themes of love and death with both lightness and gravity. It also asks the very specific question of how the American government consistently can abandon treaties with the Native American population, made in good faith, “for as long as the grasses shall grow and the rivers shall run”. Good question.

Stu’s Reviews- #579- TV Series – “Unforgotten”- PBS-Amazon- 4 Seasons

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People: Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Baskar, Peter Egan, Created by: Chris Lang

Title: Unforgotten

Review: Unusual BBC crime drama set in London focused on a special police unit that solves very old, cold cases. Walker (Last Tango in Halifax) is brilliant as the team plagued by conscience about the effects unsolved cases have on those left behind. The cast is wonderful. Each season’s new story arc is complex and totally believable. Atypical of crime shows as there is not much actual criminal activity or violence as the cold case team methodically identifies and tracks down suspects from 30-40-year-old cases. Walker’s relationship and interaction with her elderly father (Egan) is riveting and the level of compassion evidenced extraordinary. Early seasons are now on Netflix and the last season just finished on PBS. The show will not continue further, but is a well worth the time commitment. Direction and dialog are flawless.

Stu’s Reviews- #579- TV Series – “Line of Duty”- Amazon/Hulu 6 Seasons

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People: Adrien Dunbar, Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Created by: Jed Mercurio

Title: Line of Duty

Review: Extremely well done BBC production about London-based police Anti-Corruption unit (AC-12). Each of the six seasons was a totally new story arc with wonderful lead guest stars like Kelly MacDonald (Boardwalk Empire) and Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard, The Durrells). The three mainstays: Dunbar, Compston and McClure are all superior actors and the ensemble woks really well. The last season (six) gripped you from the first moment and never let go. Rumors suggest another season in a year or so. Most popular show on British telley for last six months. Thanks to Brother Feel for the excellent rec.

Stu’s Reviews- #577- Book – “The Alice Network”- Kate Quinn

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Kate Quinn

Title: The Alice Network

Review: This is a completely compelling novel about two women searching for justice in post war(two) France. The historical context centers around the true story of “The Alice Network”- a mostly unknown network of Female allied spies during the first world war- which is an absolutely extraordinary story of heroism, bravery and composure under the direst of circumstances. The book flashes back and forth between the two world wars and to 1947 when the older woman (an “Alice” from the first war) and the younger woman (searching for her beloved and lost childhood cousin in post war France) hook up for a momentous road trip across the continent to find the Nazi collaborator that holds the key to both their mysteries. Well rooted in historical facts and enticing with its characters, this boo lacks some polish in writing style, but is still mesmerizing.

Stu’s Reviews- #577- TV Series – “City On A Hill”- Showtime 2 Seasons

Genre: TV Series

Grade: B+

Notable People: Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, Cathy Moriarity, Jill Hennesy, Lauren E. Banks Created by: Chuck Maclean

Title: City on a Hill

Review: Developed by Maclean, along with Boston cronies Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, this 90s era series has “The Wire” ambitions, which fall short. Is it a gritty and well-made, and the role of a lifetime for Bacon, who provides distraction with his peacock strutting, just barely –this – side of- the law FBI agent routine. Cast is solid, captures the 90s really well and Hennesy shines in a very nuanced role. Very in depth look at the underside of Boston politics and policing. Surprisingly renewed for a third season, when it seemed it had probably run its course after season two. Classic line from boundary- less FBI agent Jackie Rohr (Bacon)- “In Boston we hate two things…..Racism.. and Blacks”.

Stu’s Reviews- #576- Book – “The Nature of the Beast”- Louise Penny

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Louise Penny

Title: The Nature of the Beast

Review: I think by now everyone who reads this knows how I regard Penny’s Gamache works. This is the 11^th in this astounding series that combines mystery with philosophy, psychology, religion and a great deal of angst…. all told by an absolute master storyteller. This one has a now retired Gamache newly settled in the idyll of Three Pines in the Eastern Townships of southern Quebec- just a throw from the Vermont border……grappling with the discovery of the largest weapon of mass destruction ever assembled which has been hiding in the woods for almost 30 years. There is murder, mayhem, The Whore of Babylon (no shit!), Neil Young and the ever more revealed cast of wonderful characters. Did I mention we also have Saddam Hussein? I though this one might be a wee bit more farfetched than the previous tall stories-but still almost impossible to put down. The next one is by my bedside, but I need to read a few other books first, to avoid feeling like an addict.

Stu’s Reviews- #575- TV Series – “Wayne”- Amazon 1 Season

Genre: TV Series

Grade: NR

Notable People: Mark McKenna, Ciara Bravo, Joshua J. Williams, Stephen Kearin, Created by: Shawn Simmons

Title: Wayne

Review: This from the IMBD summary on “Wayne”: “Wayne, a 16 year-old Dirty Harry with a heart of gold, sets out on a small two stroke road bike from Boston to Florida with his new friend Del to get back the shit-hot 79′ Trans-Am that was stolen from his father before he died.” I have never before used someone else’s review, but could not figure out how to summarize this truly bizarre show. Despite the show seeming to be nuts at times, it captured our attention in a constant “are you puling our legs on this, or not”, kind of way. I also could not give it a rating- it’s definitely a love it or hate it show, but Wayne is an unforgettable character- along with several others on the series.

Stu’s Reviews- #574- TV Series – “Lupin”- Netflix 2 Seasons

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People: Omar Sy, Herve Pierre, Ludivine Sagnier, Antoine Gouy, Created by: George Kay and Francois Uzan

Title: Lupin

Review: this French series (sub-titles) is the bomb- a magical recounting of Assane Diop (the wonderful Sy) – a gentleman French burglar, trying to avenge the plotted death of his father by a corrupt French millionaire. Diop models himself on his childhood hero, the internationally known French thief, Arsene Lupin, and the show is a whirlwind of sleight of hand, Houdini like escapes and brilliant ploys. The cast is outstanding, the filming in Paris magnificent and each plot a barn burner. Just captivating serial TV. A third season is in the works- can’t wait.