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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
The Dead Father's Guide to Sex and Marriage by John Scott Shepherd



Downtown, Jul 2004
ISBN: 0743466268

Incumbent Cleveland Mayor Joseph Way Sr. is battling challenger Lester Ratcovic in a dirty campaign. Joseph's son Assistant DA Joe Jr. is a popular local figure for having been a former college football star and being influential in bringing the return of professional football to the city. Sr. constantly reminds the Dog Pound of his son's sports accomplishments.

The Way approach to politics shared by both men is self-righteousness in public, but playing dirty when they can get away with it. The break occurs when teenager Jenni Sanchez tells Jr. that Ratcovic sexually harassed her. Jr. gets her to go public without involving the Ways and sinking the enemy's campaign. Not long afterward, someone beats the girl to death. Joe does not look back with any remorse as she served her purpose until he learns that his role model Sr. has had a longtime affair having caught his dad in the act. The next day Joseph Sr. dies. As he works on the eulogy, Joe Jr. knows the statue has fallen from the pedestal.

Harriet Klausner


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 - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 40's-50's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - revenge
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: - Midwest

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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