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Almost True Confessions Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Almost True Confessions


Rannie gets a chance to redeem herself after being fired. Rannie lost her best job as copywriter at Simon & Schuster over a mistake her junior copy editor let get past him. The 50,000 gold embossed collectible books highlighting The Mystery of the Old Clock, spelled out in gold as “Cock”, had to be trashed.
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Her freelance life hasn't picked back and and at forty-three Rannie is bored to death. Her daughter is a senior at Yale, her son a senior in high school, and her husband an alcoholic.

Rannie gets the courage to follow her dreams when a top editor from Simon & Schuster asks her to consider the freelance opportunity of a lifetime. The gig is to edit a top secret book by a local dish & tell author who breaks stories celebrities prefer be kept secret. When Rannie goes to to Rex's apartment to sign the confidentiality paperwork she finds Rex murdered. Strangled in her bed with her own scarf. It appears that some freaky sex play went terribly bad. Rex had become a recluse after her ex husband doused her with lye in the face. Horribly disfigured it would be hard for her to go out and get the interviews needed to write a “tell all” book on someone big. The The Precious Lady manuscript contains little known facts about Charlotte Cummings was needed professional copy editing. Ellen gives Rannie cart blanch to charge whatever is needed to speedily edit the manuscript in order for it to be rushed to print.

Charlotte's family isn't happy she found the body along with Rex's handyman. Her boyfriend Tim, is a cop and is always a little scared for her. The police took the briefcase containing Rannie's manuscript is confiscated by the police as crime scene evidence. Ellen, has a copy which she gives to Rannie. Two days later Ellen is also murdered. She's been stabbed to death. Rannie knows things happen in threes and starts to wonder if she will be next as a manuscript holder. Larry Kanz an old co worker of Rex looks like he may be the guilty party. It isn't him, he is also murdered.

As Rannie reaches out to talk to people who knew Rex, not many had nice things to say. She was a gossip and in their estimation a liar, too. Rannie learns that Barbara Gaines aka Bibi an ex-girlfriend of Larry's is the killer. She also attended AA meetings where Tim went to stay in alcohol recovery. She had a long history of drug abuse and a love of fine art. She wasn't immune to dealing in crime that could up her financial bracket.

Rex had known Charlotte Cummings in real life. The Cummings had visited a local orphanage where spent a large part of her childhood after being orphaned. Silas Cummings purchased a painting off the orphanage walls while writing a gift check for two hundred thousand. The painting was stolen and a fake on put in its place, Bibi knew all of this.

Ellen and Larry knew from Rex who shared information from Charlotte. Bibi stalks Rannie and puts a knife in her back. Out of sheer fear Rannie sprays her with pepper spray that she has never been able to even open properly. Her knife wound will heal and Tim asks her to move in with him. He figures he can keep her out of trouble if they are living together.
Best part of story, including ending: I liked the twists and turns in the story.

Best scene in story: My favorite scene was Rannie using her pepper spray.

Opinion about the main character: I liked that Rannie refused to give up on her ability to succeed.

The review of this Book prepared by C. Imani Williams a Level 13 Blue-Winged Teal scholar

Chapter Analysis of Almost True Confessions

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Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   humorous Time/era of story    -   2000+ (Present Day) Life of a profession:    -   journalist/editor/publisher Crime & Police story    -   Yes Story of    -   being hunted by killer/stalker Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Job/Profession/Status story    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Female Profession/status:    -   writer Age:    -   20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   White (American)

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   3 () City?    -   Yes City:    -   New York

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   descript of kissing    -   touching of anatomy Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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Jane O'Connor Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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