We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.
Books: Liberty Street & The Last Time We Saw Her
Today, we recommend Liberty Street by Heather Marshall. In 1961, Emily is an editorial assistant at the women's magazine Chatelaine, which hides surprisingly hard-hitting articles among fluff pieces about recipes, makeup, and how to please your man and the like. When she gets a tip about the conditions in the nearby Mercer Women's Prison, she senses an article that can make her career, so she gets herself locked up there. Decades later, Detective Rachel Makenzie is put on the case of a body found in an unmarked grave, which may be associated with the by then long-shuttered prison, which stirs up her own dark memories.
This book is an absolute gut punch. The characters and story are extremely well-written, and both will break your heart. Although it is not strictly biographical, it is based on a real prison and real events, which gives it even more emotional impact.
The story covers important issues that make it extremely relevant to the current world, including mental health and inequality. It also serves as a reminder of what it was like when women were considered second-class citizens who didn't have the same rights, even over their own selves, as men, and a cautionary tale of what can happen if we continue on the road that some would have us on, where once again women don't even have control over their own bodies.
Today, we recommend The Last Time We Saw Her by Jaclyn Goldis. A group of campers on a heritage trip in the Azores gets caught up in a hunt for an alleged treasure when one of them ends up dead. Years later, they reunite and return to participate in a documentary that will hopefully solve the mystery of what happened to her, but then another of them turns up dead.
Although certain aspects of this story are a bit clichéd there is enough originality in the plot to keep it interesting, particularly the deeper you get into it. None of the characters are always likable, which not only makes them feel more realistic but also adds to the suspense because you are not always sure exactly whom to root for. The gist of the solution to the main mystery is not only surprising but also makes sense in terms of the plot and is not too convoluted, making this book a fairly satisfying read.
Movie: A Crime Story
Today, we are recommending A Crime Story. A group of people running a hotel finds themselves in the crosshairs of criminals when they find a briefcase filled with drugs and use it as an opportunity to get themselves out of debt. This film starts out a bit confusing, even with subtitles explaining who the various characters are, but it does get easier to follow as it goes along. At first, it seems like this is just another violent action picture with very little substance; however, the touching found-family vibes that develop among the assorted hotel employees give it a warmth that elevates it to a whole other level. It is still quite violent, however, and definitely not for children.
Misc.: iSense FlexiCool Adjustable Pillow
Today, we recommend the iSense FlexiCool Adjustable Pillow. This unique and innovative pillow enables the user to adjust its firmness to their personal comfort level by adding or removing foam. It also has advanced cooling technology, which is supposed to help keep it at the optimal sleep temperature throughout the night. However, while the general comfort of this pillow is quite nice, the cooling aspect only works well depending on the kind of pillowcase you use.
And that's our view. Liberty Street and The Last Time We Saw Her were published last Tuesday, June 16. A Crime Story will be available for purchase and rental digitally next Tuesday, June 30.
Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.
All images other than film images used in this post are our own. Film images have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or PR firms. Address any concerns regarding image usage here.
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