[NOVEL] A Ghastly Spectacle by Lynn Messina

Since the new Duchess of Kesgrave cannot be swayed from her unfortunate interest in dead bodies, Lady Abercrombie decides to confront the matter head-on by hosting a murder mystery dinner party.

Gathering together several of society’s most influential members, she concocts an amusing puzzle-play, assigns roles, and stands back to allow Bea to impress them all with her ingenuity.

The former spinster will be the height of fashion in no time. Huzzah!

No, she won’t, Bea thinks. Her status has increased with her marriage, yes, but so have the insecurities that bedeviled her first season. Far from charming everyone with her wit, she will appall them with her inability to form coherent or interesting sentences.

’Tis a three-act tragedy in the making.

But then one of the guests is killed in the same manner as her ladyship’s victim and the evening turns genuinely tragic. Horrified, the august company scurry for the exits, and Bea, determined to detain all her lovely suspects, throws herself bodily against the door.

Intimidated or not, she will identify the murderer—even if it guarantees her social ruin.

Beatrice Hyde-Clare. Book 7

I think this type of story has a certain name for itself, you know when in the storyline the most of events happen in one room / house and also in one evening. Here it's not entirely it, but close.

The idea is described in the summary, Lady Abercombie thought it'd be a great idea to make an evening that will showcase Bea's wit in investigations thrugh a play. The result is funnier at first. But then a tragedy strikes and one of the guests is found dead, so Bea forbids everyone from leaving. And here is the main chunk of the book, the events that take place in that room, all the communication and actions.

It sounds boring, but it's actually not. At least it was not for me. Funnily the center of attention become the conflict of two families (Bentham and Fawcett) who fucking hate each other and always try to outsmart the other family. Bea becomes more of an observer tbh, Kesgrave is even more in the background (not always, no worries). And Bea's cousine, though she has her own book, which I didn't read, because she is a bit too much also makes her appearance from time to time.

And unexpected ending, not by who did it, but just what happened.

Kesgrave may be a pretty not in the center of attention, but this man manages to leave his mark. Like in their dialogues with Bea when he says something about her need to investigate. He doesn't say "I understand you", but he explains how he sees that as her need of self-worth etc. He pays a close attention to her in general. This is why when he gets his part it is always something truly nice. To me they have more chemistry than some of the characters who might always be in your face.

Can't really believe it's already book 7, even if they're quite short.

RATE: 4,5/5.

[NOVEL] A Sinister Establishment by Lynn Messina

The former Beatrice Hyde-Clare is having a little trouble adjusting to her new situation.

Now installed as the Duchess of Kesgrave in elegant splendor in Berkeley Square, she is confounded by the stately residence’s seemingly endless array of rooms and every time one of the maids addresses her as "your grace," she flinches. And the butler! Oh, yes, that imposing servant holds her in utter contempt and has no qualms about sharing his opinion with the rest of the staff. It’s all so wretched. But just as Bea begins to despair—a bright spot.

A neighboring house has suffered a ghastly tragedy, and although the constable deems it an inadvertent decapitation, she can’t believe anyone could be so careless as to accidentally lose his head. Determined to discover the truth, the new duchess pays her first social call.

Because even if she can’t find her way around her palatial home, she certainly knows her way around a murder.

Beatrice Hyde-Clare. Book 6

Unhinged.

Beatrice's idea to adapt to her new situation is to prove that she is good at what she does best - investigate. And the death of a famous chef next door is just what she needs to impress her staff.

She also finds relish in new power she wields as a Duchess, but it's more like she plays the role, same as she played roles dressing as a man etc. But many things become easier. Of course, she basically barged into neighbor's house and demanded all the access.

It's a classic with a huge cast of servants where everyone is great, everyone goes along really well, but each one of them have an idea who it might be and point fingers at each other, so everyone is under suspicion. But not for Bea.

I always find it a nice element that for some time Bea just stumbles around while trying to figure out the motives and creates a lot of theories (no matter how unseeming), before there is this certain feeling of knowing what is going on.

And again, she and Kesgrave are meant for each other, he is so good. Always supportive and knows how much these investigations mean to her, though he pretty much is worried for her safety at all times he does not forbid her from doing them. It's also good that he is close. At times Bea needs his assistance, although they both joke about it as if she makes him reach a new low.

In this book they just got married with a special license. And Bea basically flinches every time she is called "Your Grace" and of course she doesn't know how to act or how to proceed in her new station. Cooping up in a library as promised was a great idea, but Bea knows it's not truly the answer, she will be scrutinized by everyone from now on. And also she doesn't want to stay in the shadows, after all many still don't believe they married for love and not some underhanded scheme.

But before convincing the ton, she must impress her servants. Like Kesgrave always said - don't mess with their staff, they rule the estate, not him.

All because she heard their butler thinking her "fame" as investigator is solely thanks to her husband. So she decided to prove him wrong. Not very sophisticated beginning. But I like how it changed with time. Especially she dropped the idea to create some sort of image. She can be herself, just braver. Maybe, one day in the future.

It may have been not the best of the pack, but still enjoyable.

PS: I watched few videos about Regency era and I must say, maybe author is correct on the unhinged behavior of the ton, I'm definitely not one to say what is right and what is wrong.

RATE: 4/5.

[TV] WEDNESDAY (Season 1, 2)

The comparison? You brought it upon yourself.

I bet you people who are fans of the Addams family and watched the previous installments would not make so many comparisons with the previous movies and shows, if the Wednesday series did not attach itself to such a big IP.

Those who had never watched the previous movies etc. (although, how dare you?) might find it quite an exciting watch, but to me this show denies everything that the Addams family represents, it wants to be The Addams family in spirit, but also does many opposite things all-together.

I bet I'm not the only one who thinks that.

The Addams family would not do many of the things that were done in this one for sure. or they would not react in a way that the characters in this one reacted.

And we're not talking about anything else, but THE SPIRIT of the Addams family. The eccentricity, the ability to see nothing outrageous in most bizarre things.

I was so surprised that Wednesday (talk about acting later) is simply some angsty teenage girl (with no provided evidence of why she should be like that towards her own mother or her family). What is that obvious dislike towards everyone? Her mother, Pugsley, Thing.

The Addams family are actually famously known for their unity and support of each other (the glaring example to me was with Pubert in Addams family Values when he turned into a blonde baby when feeling the disconnect between Gomez and Fester and returned to normal when family was reunited). They may be eccentric and absurd in the eyes of others, but who else is as united as them?

Here Wednesday for no apparent reason loathes this new school, which tbh felt weird, like Wednesday should be an intelligent and adaptable girl and she is among people who should be like her extended family members, she should be not new to the "weird" crowd. 

But then comes the sleuth detective line...

I mean Wednesday just became average FMC of a plot with paranormal. She is "special" because of her ability to glimpse at the future, she has TWO love interests (shouldn't she be in high school? Tyler should be older than her? what?), she solves the mystery. How can this be less tropey? Oh yeah, how could I forget that she is a queen of one liners. But honestly it is used too many times and she never stops using her one-liners and they get old soon.

Wednesday is also the classic example of tell, but don't show. She never engages in any activity that would mark her as the Addams, she only writes and plays cello. Wow *sarcastic*. She just wears more emo clothes. And treats everyone like shit tbh. With tiny glimpses of other feelings once in a blue moon.

Honestly, for the Addams family they all acted quite tame. And reacted more like an average person instead of being absolutely okay.

Just to compare how they handled that "secret" about Gomez being accused of murder. I mean. This is not direct quote from Values: 

- You're a lady killer.

- Acquitted.

Gomez would never shy away from this stuff. He almost flaunts every bit and piece of how they got to each other with Fester. he f**king laughed with the rest of them when they realized the girl got inside bachelor cake before baking. I was so disappointed with the guy they chose to play Gomez in Wednesday, I don't care about any representation you can include it or not is not my business, I don't live in US to care about this stuff, but you made him eat tacos in one of the scenes, then come and talk about stereotypes on the screen.

The guy can't play even if you torture him. ALWAYS WHISPERS. Like why it annoyed me so much that he just does not talk properly. Copy-paste delivery of every line. Always having exaggerated facial expressions, as if he wants to impress someone. Flat portrayal through and through.

I never thought I'd be grossed out by Morticia and Gomez, but they made me hate their romance, which is just sloppy. They couldn't grab the essence of what made their romance SO GREAT, they just copy-pasted some dialogues for distraction, but in general, I was devastated by their "romance". When I consider Gomez and Morticia's relationship one of the greatest on-screen couples of all time.

What makes me bring up the rest of them.

Pugsley. Should have been more joyous character, always ready for mischief, but we get a sloppy coward. I suppose his bubbly spirit was taken away by Enid, but it's not organic. I could have imagined him telling Wednesday that he liked being all roped up and then he would plan his revenge on the boy later or join Wednesday to release piranhas. But no, he is just some snotty boy. He proves it in the second season, has no development, made me dislike him almost.

Morticia. Is Catherine's face was so botoxed that she can't show feelings or is it a thing? Except for some wet eyes scenes, in general she is emotionally really shallow to me.

Fester, maybe the only one who could make this show better, at least he acts more like it. But in general he is also more tame.

Grandmother looks like aged bride of Frankenstein. I bet no one wants to look ugly anymore and their entire family looks posh. But honestly she is just there. And ironically she has the same relationship with Morticia, as Morticia has with Wednesday. Girl power yay. Or just mommy issues.

The rest of the cast.

My favorite tall woman, I felt sorry for her character, not for the demise, but that her character was built around Morticia and Gomez, like a mature woman who still remembers the past. I wish she had more development and involvement. Like why she wants to integrate "outcasts" into "normies". I feel like deja vu, maybe because Gwendoline in GoT, I wished she would grab that guy, what was his name, Jamie? Because they were better together. But tbh I liked seeing her more than Morticia...

Enid, bubbly cute girl with her own wolfy problems. Tbh I wish they had some distinction between families, because Wednesday is surrounded by outcasts, as a result she is not unique as she was before. It's not like Wednesday should be unique in every setting though.

Xavier, the broody artists. So cliche.

Tyler, another troubled young man with daddy issues.

Bianca, queen B. I have no idea why the first scene with fencing went that way. Like it was so weird that suddenly Wednesday strives for enmity and fight with the most popular girl.

Miss Thornhill. Also underdeveloped character who for some reason hates outcasts. Beats me why. I also find it weird she didn't do something to her students while being a teacher. Don't you find it weird she took such ellaborate path of resurrecting some ancient dude instead of just dealing with the students herself? Anyway.

And the boring plotline of finding the Hyde.

Oh god that clownish monster, who was the character designer? I mean, if you wanted to be more broody and serious instead of eccentric, why not make moster look the part? I laughed at the guy so many times. They could just ask some game designers who worked on several AAA games with elements of macabre. But from another point of view, this monster will be forever remembered because it's so ridiculous.

SEASON 2

Was better, I must admit I enjoyed it more. It was twistier. But also was quite convenient.

Because so it happened that Pugsley enters the Nevermore. Why they circle with different people with Wednesday beats me. He is now a loner and weepy, so he accidentally resurrect a zombie.

Zombie hapens to be a brother of Tyler's mother. Mother is also conveniently released when Wednesday found underground lab that tried to steal the "outcasts" power. Pretty neat storyline, pity it was over soon. And would you know it? Again to involve the Addams family the resurrected zombie is a genius inventor who used Gomez as a source of energy (making Gomez a normie?). Thus conveniently Pugsley is going through the same fate of being used, so this genius inventor will finally save his sister.

Honestly, Addams family was artifically brought into the scene it was painful, I mean the donation part.

The OG Addams family would not bat an eyelash to make a donation even if it was a poor decision to make, because OG were RICH. I have no idea why they made such a fuss over it.

The plot with Bianca is so... anyway, I was disappointed that they didn't show the true power of new principal to make me feel the real threat of him. because at first she stayed and followed orders because of her scholarship, I mean girl, for real? Is that a commentary on education? But she got deeper into this scheme and basically manipulated people. Before others just guessed something is not right and helped her. Though she could have actively asked for help.

The situation with Enid was also quite forced to me. Especially the scene where they saved Wednesday. You mean to tell me you don't know you'll need a shovel? Really? This is why to make things work faster when digging soil Enid transformed when she shouldn't have and now she may stay as wolf forever. But we must create drama somehow, right?

I'm not mad at how twisty it was, at least better than the first season in a way.

I'm simply sad that they make Wednesday so contradicting in her own spirit and actions. And yes comparison is on-going because there is a source material.