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Signet, Nov 2004, 5.99, 304 pp. ISBN: 0451013505 After flunking out of law school and being dumped by her fiancé, Abby Knight returns to her hometown of New Chapel, Indiana. She buys Bloomers, a flower shop and is contented with her life As she goes to open her store, a young fellow plows into her yellow convertible, but fails to stay around to exchange insurance information. Abby got his license plate number and learns that the Cadillac is registered to City Councilman Louis Ventucci; his nephew was probably driving the vehicle. At about the same time, the murdered body of Billy Ryan is found in Abby's apartment. She obtains the help of bar owner and private investigator Marco Salvare to help her learn the truth if the driver of the car was the killer. Abby also persuades Pearlie Harding to divorce her abusive spouse and get a restraining order to keep him away from her. She follows the husband to the bank where he hides his cash so that his wife will get none. Someone starts harassing Abby, but soon escalates the campaign into attempted murder because she has discovered something criminal that the killer wants to stop her from revealing. The heat that Abby and Marco generate could melt the ice caps faster than global warming as he continues to advise her to stay out of people's lives except for his. When she fails to heed his advice, he stays around to keep her safe while she investigates. Harriet Klausner | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) 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 - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 % 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: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - money/treasure 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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