| Kinsey Millhone is a private investigator, the main character in Grafton's previous 18 books, starting with A is for Alibi...
In this book, she is asked to solve a mystery that is 34 years old! Daisy Sullivan wants her to find out what happened to her mother, Violet. When Daisy was 7 years old, Violet left her with a babysitter, and went to the July 4 fireworks. But she never returned, and no one knows what happened to her. Going back and forth from 1989 to 1953, we learn more about the Sullivan family and their friends and neighbours. Violet was either admired or scorned; everyone seemed to have an opinion. If she was murdered, there are enough people with motives. Or did she run away with a secret lover? She was a beautiful woman, and did go out with other guys; she and her husband had a pretty stormy relationship. But it's a small town and no one else is missing. Kinsey does a lot of research and talking with people, and eventually she does figure it out, almost getting herself killed in the process. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) How difficult to spot villain? - Challenging Time/era of story: What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - nearly 100% Special suspect? - lover Misc. Murder Plotlets - solving long-past murder Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot? descript. of violence and chases - 10 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50 % 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 Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Motive of antagonist - money/treasure How sensitive is this character? Setting United States Yes Small town? Yes Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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