| Sergeant Cribb and Constable Thackery are plunged into the world of Victorian music halls. Spangles, tights, footlights, and frolics meet the cynical Cribb as he investigates a series of bizarre and embarrassing accidents to different performers. Can he and his hirsuite constable discover who's responsible before a fatality? The sword-swallower, the trapeze artistes, the strongman, the singer ... all from different music halls - what is the connection? They meet the irritating private investigator Major Chick, the charitable patroness Mrs. Body, the music-hall manager Plunkett and a full bill of the odd, ribald, talented and bad acts. But Cribb and Thackery must get to the bottom of the case ... even if burly Thackery must wear white silk stockings!
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - very humorous 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? - 90% Murder of certain profession? Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 10 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting City? Yes City: - London Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Explicit sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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