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Book Review By Tracey Ray
Fourth Of July by James Patterson

Detective Linsay Boxer finds herself in the court room but not in her usual capacity. This time, she is on trial. In a split second decision, Linsay fires her weapon in self-defense killing one murder suspect and permanently debilitating the other.

Escaping the onslaught of media, Linsay seeks the solice of her sisters' home in Half Moon Bay until the trial date. It is here, that a string of murders shocks this small town community. Although she is out of her jurisdiction, she and her friends work the cases as usual. Lindsay discovers eery similarities to an old unsolved case, and to the murder case involving the suspects she shot and is soon to be on trial for.

Despite appearing to be upstanding citizens, the murder suspects are involved in some sinister porn. They have been stabbed to death and brutally spanked with a belt as if someone is punishing them. Lindsay is shocked to discover the murderer is someone she has become friends with.


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60%
Murder of certain profession?
Misc. Murder Plotlets - solving long-past murder - Killer purposely leaves clues
Kind of investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
descript. of violence and chases - 30 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Eccentric: Yes
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character?
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - California

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey references to deaths/dead bodies and torture
Explicit sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - actual description of sex
Unusual forms of death - perforation--swords/knives
Unusual form of death? Yes
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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