| Its a miserable wet November day in 1353 and a body is discovered in the Cambridge river. Doctor Bartholomew identifies the corpse as the servant of a college fellow named John Runham. It looks like suicide but before a definite conclusion is made, the Master of the college throws everything into confusion when he announces his immediate retirement and appoints Runham as his successor. Runham begins an unpopular upheaval by sacking servants, starting unecessary and expensive building work, enforcing harsh rules and insulting every member of the teaching staff. Doctor Bartholomew begins to question his teaching career when the new Master is found dead and everyone has a motive. | ||
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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? - 80% Murder of certain profession? Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 20 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting City? Yes City: - Dirty, dangerous (like New York) Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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