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Laura's Lit and Flicks
Your Favorite Book and Movie Review Blog
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About the Blog
Hello friends, bookworms, and movie buffs. Welcome to my book and movie review blog. In early 2020, I started a casual blog to explore a longtime passion of mine: writing. I love books and movies, making them the natural topic for my blog and I’m lucky to have grown a small audience of readers.
As a brief outline for anyone new to Lit and Flicks, I review books and movies spanning many genres. I post a 1-5 star scale rating, including half stars, as well as a written review for each novel or film. Then I delve into an analysis and opinion. I also feature photos, brackets, and even an advice column related to books and movies. Happy reading and watching!
-Laura
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Murder in Old Bombay by Dev March (2020)
Murder in Old Bombay by Dev March (2020) A historical mystery set in British India and based on a true story. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : Captain Jim Agnihotri is recovering in a military hospital in British India. After reading Sherlock Holmes to pass the time, he becomes intrigued by a case of two women falling to their deaths under mysterious circumstances. Analysis : This book isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. I was bored shortly after the initial setup and it f
litandflicks
2 days ago1 min read
What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher (2022)
What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher (2022) A retelling of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher . Laura’s Rating: 1/5 Stars Plot : Alex Easton visits a childhood friend, Madeline Usher, after receiving a letter that she is dying. At the House of Usher, Alex discovers a grotesque overgrowth of fungus, mold, and decay among the crumbling Usher estate. Analysis :I didn’t enjoy this book. The mushroom/fungus focused horror didn’t really do much for me and reminded me of Mexican
litandflicks
Jan 51 min read
My Year in Books 2025- Best and Worst
My Year in Books 2025- Best and Worst My goal was to read 60 books this year and I (just) made it! I did set my goal before I knew I’d be starting a masters program this year, so I feel pretty good about getting as much reading done as I did. Here are my top 5 and bottom 5 books that I read this year: Best Books of 2025: The Silent Companions (4.5/5 Stars) The Life We Bury (4.5 Stars) An American Marriage (4 Stars) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (4 Stars) All the
litandflicks
Dec 29, 20251 min read
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (2024)
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (2024) Two mystery writers are thrown into a mystery of their own where the stakes are life and death. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : Cozy mystery author Maggie Chase and cool guy crime writer Ethan Wyatt are both invited to spend Christmas with a mysterious fan at a huge estate in England. Two problems: Maggie hates Wyatt, who can’t even bother to remember her name… and their host goes missing shortly after their arrival.
litandflicks
Dec 24, 20251 min read
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (2014)
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (2014) A generational tale of witchcraft and mystery. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : Sara Harrison Shea was found dead in 1908, just months after the death of her young daughter. In present day, Ruthie and her family live in Sara’s old farmhouse. When Ruthie’s mom goes missing, she finds old journals from Sara that just might help her figure out what happened back then and what is happening now. Analysis : This book is closer to what I
litandflicks
Dec 12, 20251 min read
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (2009)
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (2009) A story of one man’s life spanning decades and countries. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : On his 100th birthday, Allan Karlsson decides to escape his nursing home and go on an adventure. Along the way he encounters criminals, an elephant, and an interesting cast of friends. Flashbacks also show insight into Allan’s colorful life, which turns out to be closely entwined with some major hi
litandflicks
Dec 4, 20251 min read
The Other Woman by Sandie Jones (2018)
The Other Woman by Sandie Jones (2018) A suspenseful domestic drama about a potential nightmare of a mother-in-law. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : Emily is infatuated with her boyfriend Adam, but not as much with his mother, Pammie. Is Pammie just an over-attentive mother or is she purposely trying to get rid of the woman taking up her son’s attention? Opinion : For the most part, I enjoyed the characters in the book. I felt for Emily, although at times it seemed like
litandflicks
Nov 28, 20251 min read
West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman (2023)
West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman (2023) A meta murder mystery where the reader feels like a character in the story. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : Detective Adam McAnnis is invited to the exclusive West Heart country club for a weekend of revelry. The story has all the makings of a great mystery: a remote hunting club, a suspicious cast of characters, and a morally gray detective. Be ready for the author to take you on a journey to uncover the truth. Analysis : The narrat
litandflicks
Nov 17, 20252 min read
World War Z by Max Brooks (2006)
World War Z by Max Brooks (2006) The inspiration for the 2013 movie of the same name. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : A fictional account of a zombie apocalypse, told through interviews featuring various perspectives across the world. Analysis : Listen to the audiobook!! I think the regular text might read a bit choppy, but the different voice actors portraying the perspectives from across the globe help relay the story as intended as a collected oral history. Rather than a
litandflicks
Nov 5, 20252 min read
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (2016)
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (2016) A thriller set in a chilling remote cabin. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : Nora is invited to her ex-best friend Clare’s bachelorette party at a secluded cabin. Reluctantly convinced by their mutual friend Nina to go to the party, Nora is greeted by Clare’s new friends and by secrets from her past. Analysis: The pacing of this book was all over the place. I was definitely intrigued by the setup and I was dying to know what happened,
litandflicks
Oct 27, 20251 min read
Weyward by Emilia Hart (2023)
Weyward by Emilia Hart (2023) A 2023 Goodreads Choice winner about three women connected across centuries. Laura’s Rating: 2/5 Stars Plot : Told in three timelines, the story follows three women: Altha, a woman accused of witchcraft in the 1600s; Violet, a young woman during WWII; and Kate, a modern woman fleeing an abusive relationship. Each of the women has a connection to nature and to one another. Analysis: The pace is pretty slow and the story wasn’t incredibly engaging
litandflicks
Oct 21, 20251 min read
The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler (1985)
The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler (1985) A journey of self discovery for a man who loves routine and efficiency. Laura’s Rating:...
litandflicks
Oct 12, 20251 min read
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2023)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2023) A nostalgic story of life and love told by a mother to her three daughters. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars...
litandflicks
Sep 23, 20251 min read
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (2019)
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (2019) A YA murder mystery involving a teenager that went missing 5 years earlier....
litandflicks
Sep 13, 20251 min read
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (2025)
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (2025) A summer romance perfect for a trip to the lake or the beach. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars...
litandflicks
Sep 4, 20252 min read
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (2024)
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (2024) An off-the-wall horror that goes from creeping dread to insanity. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars...
litandflicks
Aug 27, 20252 min read
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell (2017)
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell (2017) A gothic thriller with a supernatural twist. Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars Plot : When Elsie...
litandflicks
Aug 18, 20251 min read
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (1994)
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (1994) “The tourists would leave Savannah in a few hours, enchanted by the...
litandflicks
Aug 9, 20251 min read
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (2020)
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (2020) A story of female friendship when faced with a threat in the...
litandflicks
Aug 3, 20252 min read
The Shadows We Hide by Allen Eskens (2018)
The Shadows We Hide by Allen Eskens (2018) The sequel to The Life We Bury featuring Joe Talbert uncovering another mystery, this time...
litandflicks
Jul 19, 20251 min read
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