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Book Review By Rebecca Myers
Sonnet of the Sphinx by Diana Killian

While sorting through some old books and papers at Rogue's Gallery, Grace Hollister stumbles upon an old love letter written in 1943 by a man named John Mallow. The letter hints of an unknown sonnet by poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Realizing the significance of this find, Grace attempts to share her enthusiasm with her love interest, Peter Fox. The idea of an unknown sonnet by Shelley seems a little farfetched and Peter tries to make Grace listen to reason. Grace has already made up her mind. If there is an unknown sonnet by Shelley, Grace is determined to find it.

During some light hearted banter between Peter and Grace, a mysterious stranger from Peter's past enters the gallery and immediately the mood is changed. The mysterious stranger is Hayri Kayaci, a policeman from the Turkish prison where Peter had been incarcerated several years before, when a jewel heist he was involved in went bad. Kayaci has come to claim something he feels Peter owes him. If he doesn't get it, he's going to extradite Peter back to Turkey. Grace fearing for Peter tries to come up with a plan to help him but Peter assures her that it will be taken care of. A few days later, Kayaci turns up dead with Grace and Peter becoming the prime suspects. This is only one of many obstacles used to side track Grace in her search for the unknown sonnet. She is determined to let nothing get in her way, even if it means her own life. Someone is out to get her. Is it because she is close to discovering Shelley's unknown sonnet or because she is very close to finding out who really killed Kayaci?

Sonnet of the Sphinx is a well developed, fast paced, mystery thriller, complete with shadowy figures in the night, some very amusing and colorful characters, death threats on Grace's life, cover ups, a relentless detective determined to pin the murder of Kayaci on Peter, some surprising discoveries, a little romance and a surprise ending.


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? - 40%
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30 %
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: - 60's-90's
Eccentric: Yes
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Small town? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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