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| Plot Summary of Forty Words For Sorrow |
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"
Putnam, Jun 2001, 24.95, 352 pp.
ISBN: 0399147527
Near Algonquin Bay, Canada, Katie Pine and Todd Curry vanish into thin air at different times. Detective John Cardinal felt that the same person killed both missing people. His efforts to persuade his superior that a killer is on the loose fail. Frustrated with John's insistence that the teens are not runaways but victims, the brass transfers him to burglary until someone finds the remains of Pine.
Returned to homicide, John partners with Lise Delorme, formerly of Special Investigations. John is aware that Lise is investigating him due to the extraordinary sum of money he is spending on his home and his daughter's education at Yale. Neither speaks of the side investigation, preferring to concentrate on the murders. When a third youth disappears, both cops conclude a serial killer is the culprit, but the clues lead nowhere.
FORTY WORDS FOR SORROW is a fascinating character study that drives the investigation. Giles Blunt concentrates on his cast and their interactions especially John and Lise. Through the looking glass of the lead officers, readers observe the action in a more cerebral manner than usual. Thus, this work turns into a refreshing Canadian police procedural with a radically different approach to the entertaining story line.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Forty Words For Sorrow |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain?
- Story partially from villain's perspective
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
Spying/Terrorism Thriller
Yes
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 50%
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Who's the terrorist enemy here?
- evil subgroup in own govt
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
General Crime (including known murderer)
Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here?
- finding a known killer
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- small businessman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
The Americas (not US):
Yes
The Americas:
- Canada
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- very gorey references to torture
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Unusual forms of death
- poisoning
- frozen
- decapitated
- blunt clubbing (like seals)
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Giles Blunt Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Rachael High
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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