Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: harry

  • Resurrection Walk

    Resurrection Walk

    Followers of Michael Connelly will not be disappointed with his latest book Resurrection Walk. He has a wonderful talent for writing. His intimate knowledge and understanding of the policing and legal systems in Los Angeles make his stories genuine and believable.

    He has the ability to compose characters who are likeable, fallible, and clever. Very clever. It is amazing how Harry Bosch, the Lincoln Lawyer’s partner can read a crime scene description and find details overlooked.

    In this story, we realise that Harry is older and is having treatment for cancer. Mickey, his lawyer friend, has asked Harry to go through the mail that he receives every day, asking for his help.

    Mickey has a huge reputation as a defence lawyer and is sought after by many even though his charges are huge. Harry is most skilled at being able to read between the lines. One such letter has just arrived. It is from a woman who is in jail. She was convicted of shooting her husband in the back. He was a Deputy Sheriff.

    Harry askes to read the crime scene notes and while the reader may not see anything obvious, Harry is instantly suspicious. He gains more information from the autopsy report and suggests that Mickey and he interview the woman in prison. Although she has no money, if she has been wrongly imprisoned, she will be able to sue the County.

    As the case is examined, more anomalies come to light and a huge area of corruption becomes obvious. Mickey and Harry are both in danger from ruthless killers who will stop at nothing to remain supreme. Try putting this one down!

  • Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind The Crown

    Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind The Crown

    After Queen Elizabeth’s remarkable 70 plus years of service, the British Commonwealth now has a new monarch, King Charles III. The courtiers, who are entrusted to guide him have a complex time ahead of them; Prince Andrew’s future role and Harry’s pending release of his tell all book will challenge them.   

    For a balanced authorative summary of the life and roles of courtiers, go no further than ‘Courtiers The Hidden Power Behind the Crown’ written by Valentine Low, who has been reporting on the Royal Family for over 25 years. Although this book is his first on the British monarchy, as Royal correspondent, for The Times, he has spent many years closely studying them and the influence wielded by people behind the scenes.

    Throughout history, the British monarchy has relied on courtiers, who are the trusted advisers of the monarch. In this well researched book on the inner workings of the monarchy, the author provides a very detailed description, not only of the advisory personnel in royal household but also of the requirements of their roles. Palace protocol and politics are explored from the courtiers’ point of view. Low’s insightful discussion of the roles of courtiers, who have served the Royal family in both current times and historically, will provide a clearer understanding of the competitive nature of the three Royal households.

    Readers will enjoy obtaining a greater insight into the complexities of funding issues, ‘Megsit’, and the charitable endeavours of members of the Royal family. Unlike the magazines, which flood the market with sensational stories about the Royal Family, this informative book deals with facts.

    The author has included a comprehensive list of footnotes to identify the sources used.

  • Harry Potter Magical Beasts Board Game

    Harry Potter Magical Beasts Board Game

    Harry Potter fans are going to love, The Harry Potter Magical Beasts Board Game. It comes in a sturdy colourful box containing a swinging game board, 4 mover tokens, 72 beast clue cards, 4 ministry of magic clue charts and a die. Each player takes on the role of Harry, Ron Weasley, Hermione, or Ginny Weasley.

    It appears that Magical Beasts have broken loose at Hogwarts which means that you and three friends need to save everyone by re capturing them.  The player must collect clues to track down the creatures, both inside and outside Hogwarts. A good knowledge of the School and the outer area will help. The danger comes when the players leave Hogwarts and enter the grounds which are treacherous. The swinging board adds to the excitement.

    Young Harry Potter fans have tested this game and here are their comments.

    “We liked how the board flipped over and caused an added extra challenge. It was also good to go to the opposite side of the board to get all the cards. It was great fun to share the knowledge of Harry Potter, Hogwarts and the Magical beasts. Terrific fun.”

    This game was thoroughly enjoyed by four young Harry Potter fans that spent happy hours playing the game, recalling names and places from the books.

  • Harry Potter – A History of Magic The Book of the Exhibition

    Harry Potter – A History of Magic The Book of the Exhibition

    In October 2017 The British Library opened the exhibition Harry Potter: A History Of Magic, making this the first major exhibition to explore the many aspects of JK Rowling’s beloved stories, showcasing the many historical and mythical aspects that have been used through the creation of Harry Potter stories.

    The book by the same title is one that accompanied the exhibition and is now available to the general public, which is marvellous as those who were unable to visit the exhibition personally, can now do so thought pages of this beautifully presented, page by page tour.

    Amongst the many items that made up the exhibition were original artworks from Jim Kay, which have been reproduced for this book, and are wonderful to be able to view. The pencil sketch of a young Harry Potter portrays innocence, intelligence and a little bit of something different.

    Each of the chapters deals with a different aspect of the magic that is Harry Potter, laced with full colour pictures, original documentation which ties back to recorded history and mythology, as well as introduction of the various sections from people such as Julia Eccleshare, who introduces The Journey. She has written a number of books in regard to children’s literature, in particular A Guide To The Harry Potter Novels.

    Anna Pavord discusses the many herbs and plants use in the study of Herbology undertaken at Hogwarts as one of the seven core subjects studied there in Herbology. Tim Peake, Astronaut and test pilot discusses Astronomy and the possibility of wizardry, while simply viewing the night skies in all their magic, while Owen Davies talks about the many aspects of magic, folklore and mystery that go into the creation of each of the stories in Divination.

    As each section in introduced by specialist in their fields, reading them is like being present at your own ‘talk’ about the specialist areas researched by JK Rowling’s of which form the basis for stories beloved by all.

    Twenty years on, Harry Potter shows no signs of slowing down, and one who will remain a boy who is special, has magical powers. Along with his wonderful word of magic Harry Potter has also encouraged so many children to read books and discover the very real magic to be found in amongst pages.

    Harry Potter: A History of Magic, the book, is the prefect keepsake for Harry Potter fans and a wonderful celebration of twenty years of the phenomenon that is Harry Potter.

     

     

  • Creatures : Harry Potter A Paper Scene Book

    Creatures : Harry Potter A Paper Scene Book

    The world of wizard Harry Potter is one filled with magic and so many wonderfully fearsome Dragons and creatures of the Otherworld such as Thestrals, Dementors and Acromantulas, along with of course the centaurs and a host of dragons, all adding to the wonderment of the mysterious world of wizardry.

    But spare a thought for the people who have lovingly crafted the works of JK Rowling, turning them into Movies loved and adored by many, bringing the colour and magic to life on the big screen. Guided only by the words of JK Rowling the filmmakers, the craftspeople who bring the world of magic to the screen, had to create creatures that were as fearsome and unique to the Forbidden Forest and the Black Lake that lived up to their reputations. What a massive challenge and one that fans of Harry Potter will agree they have done superbly.

    In this book of dioramas beginning with the Forbidden Forest we meet the Thestrals, a gentle species that choose to avoid humans because they are a bit different. The following pages are filled with information on the other creatures that also inhabit the Forest, with details about their size and construction, such as the Acromantulas which in the Movies are portrayed as small spiders, digitally created except for Aragog, who was a physical creation with an eighteen-foot leg span. Not so little after all!

    Dragons come next with their own luscious red diorama, as well as accompanying pages discussing the Norwegian Ridgeback, the Ukrainian Ironbelly and the Dragons of the Triwizard Tournament. Following right along is The Black Lake; its diorama filled with octopus like magical creatures and an explanation as to how Harry Potter managed to remain underwater for so long, to complete his challenge.

    The final diorama is Dark Creatures creating a world of swirling dark and filled with Dementors, the foulest creatures that walk this earth; creatures who love it like that and enjoy being used by Lord Voldemort for his own ends. This shows how Dementors, The Basilisk and Inferi were created and where their creators discovered inspiration for these dastardly creatures of the dark.

    Harry Potter Creatures is a treasure of a book which would be considered as the perfect gift for anytime of the year by all Harry Potter Fans and will become a treasured possession to add to every Harry Potter fans collection.

     

  • Dark Sacred Night A Ballard and Bosch Novel

    Dark Sacred Night A Ballard and Bosch Novel

    There are many features that lead to writing a superb Crime Thriller, and it seems that Mr Connelly has them all covered. His research shows us his intense knowledge of Police procedures and practices, as well as the natural responses that may be expected from Senior Detectives. His characters are interesting and to begin with, a little understated, but we soon learn that Renee Ballard is a quiet, unassuming woman who is fixated with her Police work. She meets an older detective, (Harry Bosch), whose thinking matches and enhances hers.

    Renee has been moved to the Hollywood division and is working the night shift. She meets Harry who has quietly come into the room not knowing she was there. Eventually, they talk about the cold case that has Harry so focussed. A fifteen-year-old girl, who was a run away, was found murdered ten years ago. No one has been found who may have committed the crime. Harry has met Daisy’s mother who has taken to drugs to cope with her grief. He has now become obsessed with this case. Renee is horrified by the gruesome details and when, times are quiet, she helps Harry to search through old records held in card form, for possible suspects.

    The chapters are headed Bosch or Ballard, and we follow their progress, not only of Daisy’s case, but other call outs for Renee.  Harry is also investigating the execution of a 52-year-old gang leader. He had a witness from that time, but Bosch made the mistake of leaving his card for the witness, in case he needed to call the detective. When the man was found dead with Bosch’s card between his teeth, the tension begins to build, and inevitably a confrontation occurs.

    As the pace of the story builds, gradually we learn more about the intense research that the two detectives have been doing. Little by little, a picture begins to build, but not before the gang captures Harry, and Renee bends the rules to save her friend. We begin to learn more about the characters and see their trust in each other develop. They are both rather quiet, dogged individuals, who have the ability to think laterally.

    As well as working towards solving Daisy’s murder, Renee is called out on other cases.  These again show her analytical thinking and confidence in her own ability to read the crime scene. This is a superb Crime thriller, and hopefully we will see more of these two characters working together.