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A Long Day for Dying Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of A Long Day for Dying




Pocket, July 2003, 6.99, 400 pp.
ISBN 0743474295

Normally, Martin Collins works diligently at his job as chief of police for Warrantown, Virginia. However, every once in a while he serves as a consultant for the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), the policing branch of the air force. Colonel Charles Hinkle, Chief of OSI, accedes to the demands of powerful Senator Garber, who commands that the military asks Martin to lead the investigation into the death of his son, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Michael Garber.
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General Garber was a mean drunk who made a lot of enemies, especial among the Joint Chiefs who felt that he earned his stars and promotions because of his father's influence. The general was found dead in his compartment on the plane and it was made to look like an accident but Martin and his team soon discover it was murder. Everyone from the Joint Chiefs to the Secretary of Defense tries to muddy the waters so that Martin won't stumble upon a shocking truth, one that could topple the existing administration.

This political thriller is so fascinating and absorbing that readers will finish it in one sitting. The protagonist and the support cast are very likable because they see justice in terms of gray so nobody gets hurt who doesn't deserve it. A LONG DAY FOR DYING is hopefully the first installment in a new series because readers will want to see how these characters fare. Patrick A. Davis compresses all of the action into an eighteen hour period reminiscent of Twenty-four leaving the audience no time to catch their breath.

Harriet Klausner

The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner



Chapter Analysis of A Long Day for Dying

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases 10%Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 40%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 30%How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) 20% Tone of story    -   suspenseful (sophisticated fear) How difficult to spot villain?    -   Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues Time/era of story:    -   2000+ (Present) Spying/Terrorism Thriller    -   Yes Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:    -   power struggle within govt between two factions What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot?    -   80% Kind of investigator    -   police procedural, American Kid or adult book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Who's the terrorist enemy here?    -   law enforcement gone bad

Main Character

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

Setting

United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Southeast

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   moderately detailed references to deaths Amount of dialog    -   significantly more dialog than descript

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Patrick A. Davis Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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