Michael Koryta – Never Far Away

On By Rick McIn books, moviesLeave a comment

Nina Morgan’s blood-stained car was found a decade ago on a lonely Florida road. Forensic evidence suggested she’d been murdered, although her body was never found.

Her disappearance left her infant children to the care of their father.

Once a pilot, mother, wife, and witness to a gruesome crime, Nina had to flee her old life to save her family.

She reinvented herself as Leah Trenton, a guide in the Allagash Wilderness in northern Maine.

She never expected to see her children again, but now tragedy has returned them to her—only they have no idea that she’s their mother—and delivered all of them back into danger. “Aunt Leah” will need some help, and an old ally has a suggestion: an enigmatic young hitman named Dax Blackwell.

michaelkoryta.com

Koryta is one of my favourite authors. This 2021 book is one of his best.

Most impressive are his villains. Dax Blackwell is fascinating.

Koryta’s “Those Who Wish Me Dead” should be released in film in 2021.

Rights to “Never Far Away” have also been acquired.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The White Lioness by Henning Mankell

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

The White Lioness is the 3rd book in the Inspector Wallander series.

Easily the best, so far.

An intricate and interesting plot.

1992.

… The plot follows two parallel patterns, one during late apartheid South Africa where incumbent president F.W. de Klerk, leader of the Afrikaner minority which is on the brink of losing power to the African majority under the leadership of the ANC, about to end 44 years of suppression by the Broederbond rule.

Simultaneously, Detective Chief Inspector Kurt Wallander is investigating a case of a missing female Methodist real-estate agent …

How could those two things possibly be linked?

I’m fully vaccinated

On By Rick McIn cycling, ethics, government, health & fitness, hiking, travelLeave a comment

😀 Send me ALL the vaccine passports.

I got dose #1 of “Covishield”, the Indian version of Oxford–AstraZeneca, March 18th. NO — I’m not worried about blood clots.

I was in the first 7.76% of Canadians to get jabbed.

When Alberta started allowing the second dose of AstraZeneca after only 4 weeks, I signed up. Got jab #2 on April 16th.

Sounds like Vaccine Passports are a terrible idea.

But it’s inevitable that something like this will become required for international travel for many months. Or years.

Good Girls Revolt – season 1

On By Rick McIn human rights, TVLeave a comment

Good Girls Revolt is an American period drama streaming television series.

It only lasted 1 season. Too bad. I found it far more entertaining than Mad Men.

The series follows a group of young female researchers at News of the Week magazine in the revolutionary times of 1969. Women in the newsroom are relegated to low-level positions. Many researchers are more talented and better educated …

Based on true stories, News of the Week is Newsweek. In 1970, 46 women researchers, reporters and the magazine’s one woman writer staged a revolt. They complained to the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Finally, in 1972, Newsweek promised that by the end of 1974, one-third of the magazine’s writers would be women.

I like Chris Diamantopoulos as Finn. And Erin Darke as Cindy Reston.

Actually, all the cast is good.

Jim Belushi is cast against his usual character as pro-Vietnam war, Wick.

Grace Gummer (daughter of Meryl Streep) as Nora Ephron is a glimpse into the future. She went on to write Silkwood (1983), When Harry Met Sally… (1989), and Sleepless in Seattle (1993).

Here are just 6 reasons why Amazon’s “Good Girls Revolt” should not be cancelled

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Peter McKinnon X NOMATIC V2 camera bag

On By Rick McIn photos, product endorsements, videoLeave a comment

I bought the NOMATIC 3-7 day Travel Pack bag in 2017.

Love it.

Looks like I’ll be buying another — this time their dedicated V2 camera bag.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell

On By Rick McIn books, movies, TVLeave a comment

The second book of the Kurt Wallander series.

Wallander continues as the most troubled and unlucky hero in any detective series.

For example, at the critical moment of the book — Wallander has to take a dump in a waste paper basket.

I actually liked the book. But the plot is totally unbelievable.

It was made into a Swedish film. And was adapted for season 3 of the of the British production of Wallander starring Kenneth Branagh.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Pyramid by Henning Mankell

On By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

There are 8 books in the Inspector Kurt Wallander series, starting with Faceless Killers.

I enjoyed that one, so downloaded The Pyramid, a collection of short stories about Wallander EARLIER than Faceless. Something like a prequel.

The short stories are not as good as the novel for me, but I’m still happy I read them.

I MIGHT end up reading the entire series.

Spanning two decades between 1969 and 1989, the five stories chart Wallander’s “unknown” early years as he progresses from keen police academy graduate to disillusioned senior investigator …

Guardian review