Tips for Tuesday- Books: How to Get Away With Murder & Saoirse ; Film: Out of the Darkness

 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: How to Get Away With Murder & Saorisie

Today, we recommend How to Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson. After a six-month leave to recover from a breakdown suffered on the job, Detective Samantha Hansen returns to work. She gets herself assigned to the case of the murder of a young girl who was found with a book that is alleged to be a manual for committing and getting away with multiple murders. The book was written by a man named Denver Brady, who claims to be a serial killer. 

This is quite an intriguing novel. The story, which alternates between the investigation and the alleged serial killer's murder manifesto, moves along in surprising ways. Nothing is quite what it seems, not even Denver Brady. If you are tired of humdrum thrillers that often don't seem too different from one another, you might enjoy this completely unique take on the genre.

Today, we are discussing Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise. To escape her horrible, abusive childhood, Sarah is forced to steal someone else's identity. She runs away to Ireland and eventually becomes an acclaimed artist known as Saoirse. However, unfortunately, her success makes it more likely that her past will come back to haunt her and destroy the happy life she's built with her partner and her two daughters.

In some ways, Saorise is a brave and admirable heroine. In others, her actions don't make sense; she literally moves in with a stranger she met on a plane, who is rather pushy and unlikable from the get-go. Then, she stays with these virtual strangers even though they never really become like family, and none of them even treat her well, except for the patriarch of the family. These are not happy found family vibes. These are the opposite.

If you stick with the book, eventually the happy vibes do come. However, they likely could have arrived even sooner if Saorise and Dahti had just talked things over instead of acting like typical annoying book characters by making assumptions and creating obstacles where there shouldn't be any. 

Dahti is such a book boyfriend, absolutely too perfect to be true. Yet, that doesn't make him any less likable. He and Saoirse make a good couple, and the book ends on a good note. Still, there is a lot of annoyance before it gets to that point. 

Film: Out of the Darkness

Today, we are talking about Out of the Darkness. This documentary focuses on ancient Egypt, known as Kemet. It is an examination of the mythologies that have formed the basis of many spiritual systems and foundations of civilization that remain in existence today. 

While the film can be fascinating and thoughtful at times, it often feels long and draggy. It is split between talking heads and rapidly cycling background pictures, both of which can be equally tedious at times. The soundtrack also frequently trails off in echoes. Clearly, this film was meant to be artsy, but it might have been more interesting and easier to follow if it were more straightforward.

And that's our view. How to Get Away With Murder and Saoirse were published today. Out of the Darkness is available now digitally for rental or purchase.

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

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