The novel is the first of the William Monk detective series set during the Victorian era right after the Crimean War. A detective story plus a historical fiction would be a nice combination.
Author Archives: Issa Bacsa
The CBS Murders
The title “CBS Murders” was a misnomer. The crime was initially thought to be a crime against journalists, because three employees from a broadcasting network died.
DMQZ
What would the world be like after a virus that originated from a dormouse spread and killed millions of people instantly and left some ‘resisters’ (those who were infected by the virus yet are still alive)?
On What Grounds
The first book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series centers on Claire Cosi, a manager of The Village Blend and the case of her assistant, Annabelle Hart, a graceful dancer, who tripped over and lay unconscious on the floor due to a “misstep”.
Danger.Com @2 – Firestorm
The story is about a high school student Randy Kincaid who enters a chat room and meets other characters by their aliases. It is fast-paced, entertaining, and reflective of the youth during the early years of the Internet.
Clannad
Clannad is a fantasy-drama anime film based on the graphic novel of the same title.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
This book is more of a memoir rather than a writing manual although writers may gain insights from Stephen King’s life and experiences as a writer and author.
Pee Mak
Pee Mak became a vehicle for the director to lampoon about Thai myths and culture even mentioning familiar names in pop culture despite its 19th century era.
A Mind to Murder
Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh discovered that there were different motives to murder Miss Bolam and almost all doctors and employees in that clinic were suspected.
Ordeal By Innocence
The title itself is proper. All the innocents had to suffer an ordeal during those trying times. This is the first Christie novel I’ve read and I was amazed on how she revealed the murderer at the end.
The Place Promised in Our Early Days
The genre is a romantic sci-fi drama with military tone. Set in the mid-90s, the film follows the story of Hiroki Fujisawa and Takuya Shirakawa, both child prodigies; and Sayuri Sawatari.
Searching for Lincoln’s Ghost
It is a coming of age novel about Andrea “Andi” Powell who reminisce her experiences during her sixth grade at Lincoln Elementary School. A good memoir written in the first person point of view about growing up as a twelve-year-old girl in 1966.
That Thing Called Tadhana (That Thing Called Meant-To-Be)
That Thing Called Tadhana is a 2014 Filipino romantic comedy film starring Angelica Panganiban as Mace and JM de Guzman as Anthony. It is one of the most successful independent films of all time.
Doctored Evidence
The novel depicts the city of Venice — the place, the food, and the corruption in government. And despite the negative effect of corruption, one man still upholds the good.
Comrades: Almost A Love Story
Leon Lai plays Li Xiao Jun, a naive immigrant from mainland China who desires to make it big in Hong Kong so he could bring his fiance there. Maggie Cheung plays Li Quiao, an enterprising immigrant who takes advantage of helping people from mainland China.
And Then There Were None (miniseries)
And Then There Were None is a 2015 BBC One miniseries based on the original 1939 novel which was once featured on iFlix.
And Then There Were None
The story is about ten people of different professions and social status who received an unusual invitation from a certain millionaire named U.N. Owen. The invitation requires them to stay for a week in a private island called Indian Island.
Blood & Circumstance
I stumbled upon this 2014 film on iFlix. Based on a 2006 novel by Frank Turner Hollon, the movie received the “Best of D.C.” award at the D.C. Independent Film Festival.
Through the Grinder
It centers on Claire Cosi who manages The Village Blend, a coffeehouse in New York City. However, as the business booms, customers are dying. A good romantic mystery plus doses of knowledge on coffee and recipes.
Contratiempo (The Invisible Guest)
This is one of the reasons why I prefer watching foreign films than Hollywood. Less effects, just pure story of human character. The movie played on the who’s-smarter-than-who game. And the film played it so well at the end.
The Happy Mind
The topic of happiness can be very subjective. For one, people have different concepts, different perceptions on how we achieve happiness.
Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata
Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata tackles love, revenge, treachery, punishment, Filipinos against Filipinos. It boils down to the tagline written on the cover: lahat tayo hati, ‘di nga lang nakakalipad ang iba (we are all divided, but not all can fly).
Mr. Holmes
It’s 1947, Sherlock Holmes is 93 years old, long-time retired, and living in a rural farm with his housekeeper, Mrs. Munro, and her son, Roger.
The Girl With the Phony Name
After looking for MacAlpins and Trelaines in all phone books that she could grab (only to find they’re dead end clues), Lucy MacAlpin Trelaine finally receives a call from someone named Robert MacAlpin claiming to be her father.
Star Stack 