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Book Review By Scott Crawford
When Eight Bells Toll by Alistair MacLean

British secret agent Phillip Calvert battles modern-day pirates as searches for hijacked bullion ships in the Scottish Highlands.

He is aided (and hindered) in his quest by fellow secret agent Hunslett, aging spymaster Uncle Arthur and former actress Charlotte Skouros. But his requests for help from the local community are constantly thwarted. What is the secret the citizens of Torbay are hiding, and what has it to do with a Greek shipping tycoon and his mysterious associates.

British secret agent Phillip Calvert battles modern-day pirates as searches for hijacked bullion ships in the Scottish Highlands.

He is aided (and hindered) in his quest by fellow secret agent Hunslett, aging spymaster Uncle Arthur and former actress Charlotte Skouros. But his requests for help from the local community are constantly thwarted. What is the secret the citizens of Torbay are hiding, and what has it to do with a Greek shipping tycoon and his mysterious associates.


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story:
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Water adventure Yes
Water: - pirate attack!
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 %
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: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
The antagonists are: - gangs
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Water? Yes
Water: - sail boat - swimming on - scuba under - drowning
Misc setting - fancy mansion

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