Books
Shadow of Doubt
The action is high, the tradecraft is high, and you get scenes of heart thumping suspense. There are some issues of Deus Ex Machina (plot armor), but that might be the worst part of the book.
Fiction
Books
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The continuation of a solid story that shows the growth of J. K. Rowling. You will see the cementing of characters personalities. This cementing also is what allows this to continue. Knowing how it ends, you can see the groundwork of where the book story is going.
Books
A Dance of Dragons
This book has to be the longest book that serves no purpose other than to be long. Characters are introduced that die, others are given a more prominent story section than in previous books, but play no big part. 900/1000 pages of nothing.
Books
The Terminal List
This book is such a well written piece of fiction that I am really surprised it took so long to become a TV Show. What I think slowed it down and in turn brings the book down is how depressing and callus the bad guys and friends are.
Books
Running Blind
Jack Reacher is once again caught in the middle of a situation that plunges him into the investigation of a killer using ritualistic patterns to kill their victims. Lee Child does a much better job in this book telling a story that makes you think about how it is unfolding.
Books
The Martian
Andy Weir is masterful in his first novel that writes in small segments of immense imagery. I don't know of another book that is told in a log type format. While this is true, for a new reader, that it can be difficult to read and get into. I know, I first read it while stationed overseas.
Books
Level Six
This book continues the story that was unique in the onset, but fails to continue the story in any meaningful manner. The book only provides new characters and a singular new event that sets up the third book but nothing else.
Books
Tripwire
This is Lee Child's weakest performance in the Jack Reacher series so far, number 3, but is does manage to keep your interest with the expectation of the previous books. I enjoyed it, but felt it was overly predictable, intentionally perverse, and forced by publishers rather than for enjoyment.
Movies
Mad Max: Fury Road
I have never seen the Mel Gibson Mad Max films, I know the story thought, and I won't after this. It is a very stylistic driving movie that he some really cool action, but lacks in any real substance as far as the movie. I know that that last statement is a VERY hot take as this movie is beloved.
Books
Path of the Assassin
While this book is entertaining, some of the plot holes and plot points are highly predictable making this book a miss in an exceptional line up. However, this was the second book in the series and so learning does occur for the author making this an acceptable miss.
Books
Project Hail Mary
"Project Hail Mary is a absolute fantastic book that scratches this deep nostalgia of being a kid and wanting to be an astronaut and scientist and so much more." With a blend of anxiety, suspense, joy, and surprise, Project Hail Mary is the best science fiction book you will ever read.
Books
The Lions of Lucerne
This is the first book in the Scot Harvath series and it shows. The book shows an age to the style of writing as well as the research on terminology. I know the author got some heat in that in this book and has since made changes to correct those.