| When 60's folk singer Peggy Muryan moves to the small Tennessee town of Hamelin, it is with the purpose of writing material that will help her re-launch her singing career. She certainly does not expect a stalker to start sending her postcards with threatening messages, seemingly innocent lines from folk songs that all feature death, and which Peggy used to perform with her singing partner before she became famous. The sheriff, Spencer Arrowood, is attracted to Peggy, but at first he thinks the postcards are just pranks. He changes his mind when Peggy's pet dog is found horribly butchered and clues found on the body indicate that the killer may be a Vietnam veteran.
This brings Spencer's deputy, a veteran himself, to the fore, and he starts to investigate the possible Vietnam angle of the crime. It becomes even more urgent to find the stalker when a young woman disappears and is later found murdered. She had a strong resemblance to Peggy when she was young, and Peggy and Spencer both fear that Peggy may be next. | ||
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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? - 80% Special suspect? - chronically deranged person Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 10 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - a teen Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - insanity How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting United States Yes The US: - Southeast Small town? Yes Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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