| The cast of characters in this novel all attended Michigan University in the 1960s, or were part of the antiwar movement in Detroit at the same time. Robin Abbott and Skip Gibbs were lovers and extreme radicals who both served time for bombing the U.S. Federal Building in Detroit. Mark and Woody Ricks are the sons of a wealthy mother who enjoyed the sex, drugs and rock-n-roll without being too interested in the politics. Now Woody is one of Detroit's wealthiest citizens. Woody's chauffeur, bodyguard and all-around caretaker is Donnell Lewis, a former Black Panther in Detroit. Chris Mankowski, once idealistic and marginally involved in 60s antiwar politics has joined the Detroit Police.
It is now the late 1980s, and fate brings all these former radicals together. As the story opens, Chris is switching from the bomb squad to the safer sex crimes unit. His first case involves him with attractive bit-part actress Greta Wyatt, who is charging Woody with rape. For attempting to press the charge against a leading citizen, Chris is suspended from the force. Robin meets Skip after 20 years when he comes to Detroit to work as a special effects creator in a film, a job that allows him to use his explosives skills in a legitimate business. She convinces him that Woody turned them in to the FBI and enlists him in a scheme to extort money from Woody with a bomb threat. Donnell's sharp eyes and general street-tough skills threaten to scuttle the scheme, as he finds their bombs before they do the planned damage. However, one bomb, intended for Woody, kills Mark instead. Robin, Skip and Donnell scheme to stab each other in the back to keep Woody's money. Chris, working with Greta to get payback from Woody for the rape and her willingness to drop the charge, becomes aware of Robin's scheme. As they all come together at Woody's estate, the final question is: Whose bomb will go off first? | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - Dry-cynical Time/era of story: Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 20 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Crime Thriller Yes General Crime (including known murderer) Yes Who's the criminal enemy here? - chasing a bomber/arsonist Is Romance a MAJOR (25%+) part of story? Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - an organization Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - money/treasure The antagonists are: - communists How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting United States Yes The US: - Midwest City? Yes City: - dangerous Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths Explicit sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references Unusual forms of death - exploded into bits Unusual form of death? Yes Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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