| Wealthy businessman Joseph Waite hires British private investigator Maisie Dobbs to find his missing daughter, Charlotte. Maisie and her assistant, Billy, soon discover that two of Charlotte's old friends have been murdered. When they find that a third friend is believed to have committed suicide, Maisie and Billy are convinced that Charlotte is in danger.
In order to find Charlotte and identify the killer, Maisie must draw on her own training in psychology and meditation as well as her links to a Benedictine Abbey. Her job is complicated when her father is seriously injuried and Maisie must arrange for his care as well as confront the emotional gap that has grown between them since her mother's death. During the investigation, Maisie is also reminded of her fiance, lost to her in WWI, 13 years earlier. Maisie ultimately realizes that feelings of loss drive the murderer and that Charlotte's past is the key to the mystery. She struggles with investigators from Scotland Yard, convinced that they have their man, and meets an intriguing doctor who points her toward the final key to the mystery. | ||
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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? - 70% Misc. Murder Plotlets - Proving innocence of very obvious suspect - Killer purposely leaves clues 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 - 50 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % 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: - Female Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - revenge How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting Europe Yes European country: - England/UK Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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