| Justice Hall is the sixth in a series of Sherlock Holmes and his wife and partner Mary Russell.
Russell and Holmes have just completed a case when an old friend pays them a visit, a friend from an earlier novel, O, Jerusalem. His cousin has suddenly been called upon to take the place as Duke of a “big name” English family (the Hughenforts) as those in the succession line ahead of him have been dying rather unexpectedly. They go with him immediately to Justice Hall—the manor home of the Hughenforts. Russell and Holmes investigate the hushed scandal around the Duke's nephew, Gabriel, and his death. It takes them back three years to 1918 and the French front against Germany. They also help the family determine whether there are other heirs. The duke believes that his nephew was executed as a coward, but even Mycroft can't find records to say for certain what happened to him. Without ever getting maudlin, author Laurie King instills us with a sense of horror for the 300 children and men who were “shot at dawn.” | ||
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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? - 40% Special suspect? - relative Misc. Murder Plotlets - "All in the family" murder - solving long-past murder - - Proving innocence of very obvious suspect 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 - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Is Romance a MAJOR (25%+) part of story? Yes Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary The antagonists are: - government bureaucracy Setting Europe Yes European country: - England/UK - France Misc setting - fancy mansion Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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