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Don't Look For Me Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Don't Look For Me


Private investigator Amos Walker is hired to find a rich businessman's missing wife and finds himself the target of an international criminal organization. Cynical Detroit private investigator Amos Walker is hired by businessman Alec Wynn, whose wife Cecilia has disappeared. She has left only a note saying "don't look for me," which is where the book gets its title. Walker soon finds that the case is extremely complicated when the trail leads to a health food store called Elysian Fields where Cecilia bought herbal remedies. The attractive young clerk at the health store, whose name is Smoke, makes Walker think that the operation may be a cover for drugs or other criminal enterprises. Walker soon realizes he is being followed, first by an old mafioso from Arizona and then by a sinister pair who turn out to be Israeli intelligence agents. After interviewing Alec and Cecilia's driver and housekeeper, Walker suspects that Cecilia may have been a lesbian. Following this lead, he goes to a lesbian bar and interviews the patrons. No one he talks to can tell him anything about Cecilia's whereabouts.
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A woman claiming to be Cecilia Wynn contacts Walker, but when they meet at a restaurant, he realizes that she is an imposter. When he confronts her, he gets into an altercation with a bouncer and ends up in jail. His old acquaintance from the Detroit police force, John Alderdyce gets him released from jail, but the cop expects Walker to cooperate with the investigation. The police have discovered that the manager of Elysian Fields has been murdered and want to find out who is behind it. Walker suspects that the person behind everything is an international fugitive named Charlotte Sing, with whom he's had dealings in the past. Walker has a confrontation with the Israeli Mossad agents who have been following him, and they have a meeting in a hotel room. The Israelis are trying to find out who had been selling narcotics out of Elysian Fields because they believe that the enterprise is connected to international terrorists.

Walker becomes romantically involved with Smoke as he attempts to find out where the real Cecilia Wynn might be. Walker and Alderdyce confront the hood known as Yummy, who has been following Walker and discover the body of the woman who had been impersonating Cecilia. The police arrest Yummy, but his partner Anthony Pirandello escapes. Pirandello, however, calls the police and agrees to turn himself to Walker. The police give Walker a wire and a meeting at an old warehouse is set up. As soon as Walker and Pirandello begin to talk, however, an assassin who had been hiding in the warehouse shoots Pirandello, killing him. Walker gets off a shot, but the assassin escapes. Walker returns to the hotel where he had met with the Israeli agents and discovers that they have been killed. He warns Smoke not to let anyone into her house and tells Alderdyce to send police to her home.

When Walker arrives at Smoke's house, he discovers that Charlotte Sing is already there, with a gun ready. He stalls her as long as possible and gets her to reveal what her plan had been. She had organized the operation and had hired the woman to impersonate Cecilia Wynn. Sing didn't care about Wynn but didn't want Walker investigating Elysian Fields, which had been used to smuggle drugs. Walker diverts Sing and throws a bottle at her, but she gets off a shot which hits Smoke. The police arrive and arrest Sing, and Smoke is taken to the hospital, where she dies. Alderdyce reveals to Walker that Smoke had been carrying $10,000 in her backpack, which confirms Walker's suspicion that she had been in Sing's employ the whole time.

Walker visits his client Alec Wynn and tells him that he suspects his wife had committed suicide. Realizing she couldn't be happy with Alec and not able to start a new life, she decided to end her life. In the final scene, Walker reveals that Cecilia's body is in a hidden compartment in Alec's own swimming pool.
Best part of story, including ending: I liked the many interesting characters and the gritty Detroit setting, and the way Walker has to think on his feet and use a great deal of ingenuity at all times. The dialogue is also very witty and often amusing.

Best scene in story: My favorite scene came towards the end, when Walker, Smoke and Sing were at Smoke's house. This was very suspenseful, as Walker had to keep Sing talking while he planned his strategy. We also didn't know whose side Smoke was on and what she might do.

Opinion about the main character: I like Amos Walker for his witty and cynical attitude and humorous observations. This adds a light touch to the book which is a good balance with the suspense and action.

The review of this Book prepared by Larry Christopher a Level 1 Blue Jay scholar

Chapter Analysis of Don't Look For Me

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases 40%Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 30%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 20%How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) 10% Tone of story    -   Dry-cynical Time/era of story:    -   2000+ (Present) Kid or adult book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Crime Thriller    -   Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown)    -   Yes General Crime (including known murderer)    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   private investigator Age:    -   40's-50's Ethnicity/Race    -   White/American

Setting

United States    -   Yes 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

Books with storylines, themes & endings like Don't Look For Me

Loren D. Estleman Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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