The Bat by Jo Nesbø

On By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

The Bat (Norwegian: Flaggermusmannen, “Bat Man”) is a 1997 crime novel by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø, the first in the Harry Hole series.

I’ve tried a number of Nesbø books now — but just can’t get into them.

Norwegian police officer Harry Hole — (an alcoholic) — is sent to Sydney, Australia to serve as an attaché for the Australian police’s investigation into the murder of a young female Norwegian girl …

Hole is assisted by Aboriginal colleague Andrew Kensington; together they find out that they are dealing with a serial killer who strangles blonde women. …

The Bat was written eight years before The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

As I’m planning to head back to Norway this summer, I thought I’d get into this series.

And the book is quite good, as well.

It does make me wonder what’s going to happen with Harry in future.

Click PLAY or watch an interview with the author on YouTube.

I Voted NDP by Mail

On By Rick McIn economics, education, ethics, GOP USA, government, human rightsLeave a comment

As I was going to be out of town on Alberta election day — May 29, 2023 — I voted by mail. Early.

And It was easy to vote by mail. I could write in the candidate running in my riding, or the Party.

I was voting against the unelected premier Danielle Smith as she’s untrustworthy and a rightwing whacko. The NDP is the only alternative that MIGHT form the next government so I voted for Rachel Notley.

I joined the provincial Party, as well.

IF unelected whacko Danielle Smith manages to lose in historically conservative Alberta, she’ll certainly claim a BIG LIE as she’s a fan of Trump and DeSantis.

Of course Trump voted by mail multiple times in recent years, while simultaneously claiming mail fraud in any state he lost. 😀

Here’s my putting my ballot in the mailbox.

The Leftovers – season 3

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Critics love this TV series for its originality and courage.

Frontal nudity.

But I find it embarrassingly weird for weird sake at times.

In season 3 the most compelling character is Scott Glenn as Kevin Garvey, Justin Theroux‘s (Kevin Garvey) father. He’s great. Very believable.

Inexplicably, the show moves from Texas to Australia a week before the seventh anniversary of the Sudden Departure when 2% of the world’s population had disappeared without explanation.

Season 3 does have some super memorable scenes. I’ll never forget the hotel room book burning in episode four. Film students need study how that was done.

This is a show that’s impossible to end — wrapping up all the loose ends. Yet the finale was one of the best scenes of all. Well done.

Overall, however — I’d say season 3 is weakest. IF you wanted to watch this show at all, season 1 would be best.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Dead Lions by Mick Herron

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Dead Lions (2013) won the Crime Writers’ Association 2013 Gold Dagger award.

It’s #2 of Mick Herron‘s Slough House series, which have been adapted for the Slow Horses TV series.

I’d say the TV show is better than the book — but they are both good.

London’s Slough House is where the washed-up MI5 spies go to while away what’s left of their failed careers.
The “slow horses,” as they’re called, have all disgraced themselves in some way to get relegated here. Maybe they messed up an op badly and can’t be trusted anymore. Maybe they got in the way of an ambitious colleague and had the rug yanked out from under them. …

Now the slow horses have a chance at redemption.

An old Cold War-era spy is found dead on a bus outside Oxford, far from his usual haunts. The despicable, irascible Jackson Lamb is convinced Dickie Bow was murdered.

As the agents dig into their fallen comrade’s circumstances, they uncover a shadowy tangle of ancient Cold War secrets that seem to lead back to a man named Alexander Popov, who is either a Soviet bogeyman or the most dangerous man in the world.

How many more people will have to die to keep those secrets buried?

Good Reads

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Carbon Capture in 2023

On By Rick McIn climate change, economics, education, good news, health & fitness, things getting betterLeave a comment

Optimists like me keep hoping smart people will figure out how to start reducing the CO2 in the atmosphere.

There is hope.

And Carbon Capture looks to be a huge future business. Young people should be studying this technology in University.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Cutting Edge by Jeffery Deaver

On By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

Another excellent Deaver book (2018). Plenty of surprises.

In the early hours of a quiet, weekend morning in Manhattan’s Diamond District, a brutal triple murder shocks the city. Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs quickly take the case.

Curiously, the killer has left behind a half-million dollars’ worth of gems at the murder scene, a jewelry store on 47th street. As more crimes follow, it becomes clear that the killer’s target is not gems, but engaged couples themselves. …

… the Promiser makes a dangerous mistake: leaving behind an innocent witness, Vimal Lahori, a talented young diamond cutter, who can help Rhyme and Sachs blow the lid off the case.

They must track down Vimal before the killer can correct his fatal error. …

jefferydeaver.com

Son of a Critch – season 2

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An endearing Canadian sitcom based in Newfoundland.

It’s based on the school days of comedian Mark Critch who’s age-48. I’m quite a bit older but still get nostalgic over some of the news stories of the day featured in the show.

Critch plays his father (Mike Critch) in the series, while child actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays the young Critch.

Malcolm McDowell is a treat as Patrick “Pop” Critch, Mark’s grandfather. Turns out he once worked running Rum for Al Capone during prohibition. 😀

I’ll be watching season 3 next year.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Spring Hiking/Skiing Banff

On By Rick McIn health & fitness, hiking, travel1 Comment

Having grown up in Calgary, I’d done a LOT of hiking in the Canadian Rockies in the SUMMER.

But for the past 3 years I’ve stayed in Banff for Spring skiing and Spring hiking.

Hiking in March / April was NEW to me.

Each time I stayed in the Samesun Hostel, the best overall of 3 good hostels in Banff.

I learned the hard way trying Sundance Canyon that micro spikes are essential for hiking ice. I backtracked to town and bought Yaktrax. An excellent product.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

BEST Spring Hike in Banff?

For sure that’s Sulphur Mountain. You MIGHT be able to ride the gondola down free. Soak in the Hot Springs at the bottom.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

MORE VIDEOS:

For a short hike right from town I typically simply walk the rivers and creeks. Lovely.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Luther – season 5

On By Rick McIn movies, TVLeave a comment

We were worried the excellent TV show would end after season 4 because Idris Elba was too much in demand elsewhere.

Happily, after a long gap, season 5 dropped in 2019. I finally saw it on CBC GEM in Canada.

It’s only 4 episodes.

85% on Rotten Tomatoes.

I’d rate it even higher. Believable and entertaining dialogue.

Smart.

Psychotic killer and love interest, Alice Morgan, is back. There’s a lot of blood and gore.

Luther’s old adversary George Cornelius is the bad guy.

Dermot Crowley as DSU Martin Schenk is excellent in that role. As is new recruit DS Catherine Halliday as a bizarrely upbeat cop.

There will be no season 6. But there is a follow-up movie called Luther: The Fallen Sun, released 2023. It should end up on Netflix.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Nightwork by Nora Roberts

On By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

The life story of a loveable jewel thief.

… Who is Nora Roberts?

Now 70-years-old and still publishing 4 books every year?

She writes one novel at a time. Eight hours / day, every day.

And most are huge books like Nightwork (2022). Sprawling. Emotional. Well researched.

Yes, this one is a bit of a romance novel. But Roberts’ storytelling is on par with the best: Stephen King, James Michener, John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer. Authors who keep things moving while making you care about the fictional characters.

Harry Booth started stealing at nine to keep a roof over his ailing mother’s head, slipping into luxurious, empty homes at night to find items he could trade for precious cash.

When his mother finally succumbed to cancer, he left Chicago—but kept up his nightwork, developing into a master thief with a code of honor and an expertise in not attracting attention? … Or getting attached.

Until he meets Miranda Emerson, and the powerful bond between them upends all his rules.

But along the way, Booth has made some dangerous associations, including the ruthless Carter LaPorte, who sees Booth as a tool he controls for his own profit. Knowing LaPorte will leverage any personal connection, Booth abandons Miranda for her own safety—cruelly, with no explanation—and disappears.

But the bond between Miranda and Booth is too strong, pulling them inexorably back together. Now Booth must face LaPorte, to truly free himself and Miranda once and for all.

fantasticfiction.com