"Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m. There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit. We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer. Understood? Then let's begin..." It has been a long time since I remembered walking about like Belle with my nose in my book, dodging daily items and escaping to another world and I can thank Mr Turton for taking me into a lush fever dream that I couldn't put down in parts. From page one the reader is showed connections with a series of events that could lead to possible redemption but every additional step after the opening is pitted with multiple consequences and a mad "footman" who will not stop to eliminate any trace of sanity. If this book sounds like a doozy you are absolutely correct, it's a dark tangled maze of actions that circle back around to 11PM in another place and time. Depending on how patient the reader is they will be in for a real surprise as The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle consumes your thoughts and slips in and out of something familiar and something futuristic in the making. For others, who just want out of the maze and start to notice the system collapsing upon itself toward the latter chapters, you may want to just stop at a certain point, call The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle brilliant and call it a long day. It's up to you but for me, the ending was completely disappointing as it carried some mixed confusing messages, left lists of questions unanswered and honestly I'm not entirely sure of the point to everything in these pages. Like I said just call it brilliant and a long day up to a certain point or wait for the film that will surely follow this book (hopefully they switch some things around in the final cut). -purchased and read on kindle EGP/September 2018 "I came to learn that there was more to Tabram's murder than 39 stab wounds" This work is pretty upfront that it is not meant for the beginner seeking a quick read about the infamous late 19th-century murder investigations or the gruesome exploits of Jack the Ripper. No, The Bank Holiday Murders: The True Story of the First Whitechapel Murders was created to preserve facts, to be looked over slowly and introduce the interested reader into the forgotten lanes and boxes of the Ripper Murders (to examine the overlooked names that are always shoved to the side and written off as inconsequential to the central mystery that plagued London in 1888). That may not be what you thought to encounter when you pick this thin volume up but if you stay with Mr Wescott and his recitation of facts, collected faded affidavits, coroner's reports and miscellaneous eye witness reports, you will find a title chock full of noteworthy research and unique theories that could give you pause. Personally, I appreciated there were no disrespectful spins of colourful narrative to fit a writer's opinions to be found in the pages as these are the known facts of horrific unsolved crimes that continue to baffle all types of historians and serve as fodder for fiction and attract those with morbid curiosities. I just wish certain different lanes were explored at points, any possible explanation the murders were committed on a Bank Holiday could have been shared in any kind of theory and the middle of this book didn't feel like the connections to possible suspects were being forced in the chapters (although I do agree that it is a very odd thing that many of the murdered women knew one another, knew one figure in general in some way or lived in the same run-down establishments at certain times). I also found the obvious compassion for the victims the author displayed refreshing while at the same time everything was still presented in a serious tone as he reviewed each woman's start of life (if known) and the movements of actions (or poor luck) that could have led her in a shadowy alleyway with a flash of a knife or stab of walking stick (as the author strongly believes killed one woman and incapacitated other victims in some form). Overall a worthwhile read, another fascinating reference for my home library and I will be reading Ripper Confidential: New Research on the Whitechapel Murders (Jack the Ripper Book 2) this August or October. -purchased and read on kindle EGP/August 2018 Sixteen92 has provided me with some unexpected holy grail fragrances (Necromancy, Telepathy, Mercy Lewis, Lycanthrope, Baba Yaga, *One Good Scare and *Ligeia) but I haven't opened anything that contained a certain level of pure nostalgia such as the Halloween Limited Edition Collection: The Sisters. Not only did one my childhood dreams come true with "smelly stuff about the Sanderson Sisters" but I found a new scent love affair with gardenias and I couldn't be more pleased. These are the complex captured essences and iconic scenes of the Sanderson Sisters in all their memorable glory (Brava Claire!). One Note at a Time:
Winifred (Notes: Iron-distilled patchouli, davana, tomato leaf, crushed petals, dried plum, whirling candle smoke, crumbled gravestones) *currently available at the 2019 Resurrection Pre-Order event until January 18th When applied I immediately get a warm leafy plum, a distinct peppery tomato leaf note, a trace of dustiness from the gravestone and some type of watery white floral. This is swirling plum and green skirts in a graveyard under a pale moon. Depending on where I apply the oil to my skin, a light smoke note rises up with more fresh green tomato leaf and in my piled up hair, it's a complex patchwork of realistic plum and seductive unknown florals. Winifred is quite magnetic and I love to either wear this fragrance while relaxing with a good themed book or before sleeping the day away preparing for long work nights. Hours later or when I wake I'm greeted by something akin to dark purple velvet and dirt encrusted iron. I wonder if this arcane scent potion is what the wicked fiery charmer would have worn when she was courting poor Billy Butcherson (before she poisoned him)? When I'm not enjoying this oil at home, I'm going to be dabbing this perfume on for special occasions throughout the year and placing You Who Swallowed a Falling Star on my Resurrection 2020 list (it was mentioned Winifred and You Who Swallowed a Falling Star share the same mood and I need more dark fruit-floral atmospherics in my collection). Sarah (Notes: Threads of golden flax, heliotrope blossom, Angel’s trumpet, wilted gardenia, rice milk, dried orris, broom straw) *currently available at the 2019 Resurrection Pre-Order event until January 18th This limited edition opens with a warm savory bread-like note (akin to the one in Sarah Good) that then morphs slowly to creamy heliotrope and it's a little sweet but refined (innocent, playful but hiding an alluring secret underneath the hint of sweetness). My skin unlocks the gardenia and yes it does amp but thankfully doesn't run amok with my senses, it stays true to what others have been telling me gardenia can be and that is a beautiful buttery floral and Sarah lasts until the next morning. There is also a dreamy quality to this oil as it lulls my imagination and I'm so happy I took a chance on this bottle and completed my The Sisters collection (it turned out to be my personal favorite of the trio). I now need more gardenias in my life and a 10ml bottle of Sarah because it has become one of my go-tos for the workplace setting or when I simply need an enchanting oil to brush into my hair. Mary (Notes: Marshmallow root, milky chai, praline, sticky toffee, fallen maple leaves, firewood, the chocolate-covered finger of a man named Clark) *currently available at the 2019 Resurrection Pre-Order event until Janury 18th If I can pull my nose away from this bottle long enough ('tis a gourmand lover's dream, creamy and sticky treats that tempt just once more sniff) and apply the oil I'm greeted by melted milk chocolate, creamy buttery toffee and autumn woods (taking my time there could be a trace of warm sandalwood at the heart of this perfume) that pulls this crave-worthy creation into the atmospheric realm that Sixteen92 excels at. The caramel and marshmallow amp on me enough that I catch the attention of hungry coworkers when I wear this confectionery scent delight out and I have been asked several times if I had expensive tempered chocolates at my desk (especially after midnight). Must also jot down, Mary lasts the longest on me from the trio with Sarah a close second and Winifred crumbling to dust at around 8 hours. For all the sweet notes listed there is under the warm and comforting aspects of Mary something dangerous and it easily brings to mind the one line in the movie "Come out, my dear. We will not harm thee" (voiced by Winifred Sanderson/Bette Midler); perfectly capturing the essence of Mary Sanderson as she has the power to smell out children, talk sweetly and conjure some real devilry with her sisters if any poor child wandered too close to their cottage in the forest. This is also a fun fragrance, nicely matched to Mary's quirky facial expressions and her comical one-liners in the treasured film. I can definitely see myself reaching for this perfume quite often especially when I get cravings for something creamy sugary and with a trace of autumn atmospheric but refined...or if I want to watch my coworkers drool (they had the same reaction to One Good Scare *review coming soon which this delectable smelling bottle certainly shares some similarities to in complexity and overall mood.) Sixteen92 |
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28th of January 2023) NOTES/COMBINATIONS and Stones CURRENTLY ON THE HUNT FOR: Naughty Licorice/Star Anise Cardamom Cardamom Cake with Roses Smoky Honey & Leather Leather and Florals Pomegranate Colder Tuberose scents Smoked Florals with Cinnamon and Honey Graham Cracker and Incense Double strand of Rose Quartz or Moonstones or Black Tourmaline Chainmaille Jewellery Houses of Fragrance and Interest on the Horizon (shops that contain such temptations): LurkerAndStrange Good Spirit Wolf Rapt In Maille ToadStoolSoaps DSH Perfume Baphomet&Co Harvest Moon Haven Granny Hootenanny's Shop
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