Dell, Oct 2002, 5.99, 329pp ISBN 0440232041 Carnegie Kincaid is a wedding planner who lives on a houseboat in Seattle. Her business needs an infusion of cash so she agrees to coordinate the engagement party of Paul Wheeler and Elizabeth Lamott at the Seattle Aquarium. Since the party is on Halloween night, everyone is in costume having a good time and making merry. Just as Carnegie is about to call the party a success, she stumbles across the murdered body of one of the bridesmaids. Another bridesmaid claims that somebody threw her into Elliot Bay even though because of her track record nobody takes her seriously except Carnegie. As the Lamott/Wheeler wedding approaches another bridesmaid is murdered leading Carnegie to think that somebody is stalking them. She conducts her independent investigation in the hope that the wedding day will be killer free. Carnegie is an off-beat heroine that readers will adore and her wannabe lover goes through all sorts of emotional gyrations just to keep up with her. DIED TO MATCH is a humorous amateur sleuth novel with so many serpentine twists and turns that the audience will feel like they are on a roller coaster. Deborah Donnelly is a fresh new voice in the mystery genre. Harriet Klausner | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of story - very upbeat How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues Time/era of story: What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 70% 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 Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - jealousy How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting United States Yes The US: - Pacific NW Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript |