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Scribner, Apr 2004, 24.00, 368 pp. ISBN: 0743245407 Los Angeles Times reporter Eve Diamond wants out of the boring suburban beat that she covers; her goal being real news. In her endeavor to prove to the editors that she is more than fluff, Eve follows US Customs Agent William Maxwell on his job at LAX. Suddenly the Los Angeles airport turns into a war zone. When the dust clears, three are dead including an Asiatic mother whose apparent husband vanished and the two-year-old girl she held in her arms abducted by apparently the INS. Eve believes the INS snatched the toddler with plans to deport the kid. She decides to track down the missing child to try to learn why the killings occurred. However, as she makes little headway Eve soon realizes that other people, deadly and hostile, also seek to locate and snatch the kid. The few clues Eve uncovers lead to Serey Rath, who Eve trails in hopes of learning the truth. However, her personal life begins to interfere with her professional investigation as her former lover Tim Waters and her current beau Silvio Aguilar (see SUGAR SKULL) pull her in several directions, but mostly away from solving the case of the missing child. Though the subplots at times overwhelm the prime theme of how far a parent goes for their child, fans will want to take this LA joy ride with Eve. The story line is exciting as Eve struggles between her suddenly complex personal life and her need to find the lost child before the wrong people capture the little girl. LAST LULLABY is a diamond of an investigative tale that the audience will enjoy even while parents will ponder the key question. Harriet Klausner | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story: 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 - 40 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 % Crime Thriller Yes Crime plotlets: General Crime (including known murderer) Yes Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - power How sensitive is this character? Setting United States Yes The US: - California Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript |
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