| British Intelligence chief Tweed is approached by Superintendent Buchanan of Scotland Yard to help him with the case of an amnesiac man found in the centre of London, who has said just three words: "I witnessed murder." Tweed and his assistant Paula Gray collect the man, named Michael for convenience, from an exclusive clinic in London's Harley Street. Michael leads the pair to a remote mansion on Dartmoor, where the resident, business executive Larry Voles, recognizes Michael as his brother. On the way Tweed and Paula find a hideously disfigured corpse at the side of the road. Arriving to investigate the murder, Superintendent Buchanan finds another, similarly disfigured corpse in a disused mineshaft.
Both Michael and Larry work for the Gantia Corporation, a huge organization including a supermarket chain and arms dealers. Returning to London, Tweed discovers two further murder victims, one an accountant hired to investigate the firm's books, and a private detective hired to find the missing acccountant by her sister. Everything points to double dealing in the Gantia Corporation, and Tweed has a long list of suspects: Michael, Larry, glamorous Lucinda Voles, dissolute Aubrey Greystoke and powerful tycoon Drago Volkanian. His investigations are hampered by a top assassin named Charmian who repeatedly tries to kill Tweed, then kidnaps Paula. Tweed battles against time to save Paula, unmask the killer, and prevent a shipment of arms from falling into the hands of the rogue Arab state of Angora. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - very upbeat How difficult to spot villain? - Moderately Challenging Time/era of story: Misc. Murder Plotlets - Big focus on forensic evidence What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 70% Murder of certain profession? Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot? descript. of violence and chases - 20 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Eccentric: Yes Motive of antagonist - money/treasure The antagonists are: - Islamic Fundamentalists How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting Europe Yes European country: - England/UK - France Island? Yes Island: - Atlantic Ocean Island Misc setting - fancy mansion Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies Unusual forms of death - perforation--swords/knives Unusual form of death? Yes Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript |
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