Carl Deuker -- Books, Movies, TV

Cody comes up with a plan to catch the murderer.  The police will pretend to slack off on their diligence.  Eventually Cody will go out "alone," though other police will be watching.  He will then capture the murderer (a Scot, apparently).  Good plan, but I'm guessing that Cody will be on his own against the bad guy!

Two great, magical scenes in chapter two.  Grandfather brings Natalia out at night to watch an elephant being coaxed across town in the dark.  Grandfather describes to Natalia a strange encounter with a man who could not die.  Village hit by TB.  The man is drowned by villagers, but sits up in coffin and asks for water.  He's then shot in the head twice.  Grandfather (a doctor) arrives. Man is in coffin (again) and sits up again.  Tells GF all about his inability to die.  Challenges GF skepticism. GF, in melancholy, dark place, agrees to a test.  Man puts stones around his feet and walks into lake.  GF has a rope.  The man is to tug when he needs help.  No tug.  GF distraught.  A man is not a porpoise.  After an hour, the man emerges on the opposite side of the lake and walks into the woods. Right out of Murakami, and every bit as good

Two great, magical scenes in chapter two.  Grandfather brings Natalia out at night to watch an elephant being coaxed across town in the dark.  Grandfather describes to Natalia a strange encounter with a man who could not die.  Village hit by TB.  The man is drowned by villagers, but sits up in coffin and asks for water.  He's then shot in the head twice.  Grandfather (a doctor) arrives. Man is in coffin (again) and sits up again.  Tells GF all about his inability to die.  Challenges GF skepticism. GF, in melancholy, dark place, agrees to a test.  Man puts stones around his feet and walks into lake.  GF has a rope.  The man is to tug when he needs help.  No tug.  GF distraught.  A man is not a porpoise.  After an hour, the man emerges on the opposite side of the lake and walks into the woods. Right out of Murakami, and every bit as good

Cody's father hates him because Cody is a copper.  Is this the reason for Cody's wild temper?  Seems a little cliched.  Another cop killed, this time with a gold finch left behind and a line from a Keats ode. the original suspects--the family of the boy the police killed during a protest--seem off the hook, not that they were ever really prime suspects.  Okay so far.

Read that this was one of his best.  First half was slow and annoying at times.  Diane Keaton and Woody Allen have a marriage that is struggling. Keaton is half in love with Alan Alda. Woody is spending time with Angelica Huston, a writer. Then a neighbor woman, recently met, dies.  Did her non-grieving husband murder her?  Keaton is thrilled with the introduction of drama to her life. Woody not at all.  Lots of bickering. First half static. Second half much better. YES! It is a murder.  In the solving, Keaton becomes jealous of Angelica Huston; Woody remains jealous of Alda.  But--Woody comes through in the end, saving Keaton from the murderer who is killed a la Lady from Shanghai mirror scene. Exciting, satisfying ending. So 2.5 stars for first half; 4.5 for second half.  Glad we stuck with it.

This one got panned pretty broadly, but I liked it. Plot: Looking for an exciting career, young Bobby Dorfman leaves New York for the glitz and glamour of 1930s Hollywood. After landing a job with his uncle, Bobby falls for Vonnie, a charming woman who happens to be his employer's mistress. Settling for friendship but ultimately heartbroken, Bobby returns to the Bronx and begins working in a nightclub. Everything falls into place when he finds romance with a beautiful socialite, until Vonnie walks back into his life and captures his heart once again. Love of NYC comes through strongly, as Bobby is lost in LA. Bobby isn't quite the innocent abroad, though, as he works for his criminal brother in NYC upon his return. So, a little gangster movie merged with romance.  Not great, but not pretentious--liked it more than Midnight in Paris.

Two murder victims now.  One linked to Poe's the Raven. Other linked to nursery rhyme "four and twenty blackbirds."  Cody, our detective, is fighting some demons. Murder victims are both police involved in death of bystander at a protest--strong suggestion of police overreaction.  Is this retribution?  If so, why all the "bird" complications?  Pretty good so far, though not exactly fast moving.