|
|
| Plot Summary of Don't Look Back |
"
Bantam, Jun 2002, 24.95, 336 pp.
ISBN: 0553802003
Pushed by his lovely wife Celeste who sees her husband's skills as a means to enter society, Dr. Howard Hudson moves to London to open up a medical practice. Howard uses mesmerism to minister to patients suffering from nervous disorders. However, the elation felt by the move turns ugly when someone murders Celeste and apparently also steals a valuable bracelet.
Howard asks his long-term friend and fellow mesmerist Lavinia Lake to investigate who killed his wife. Fearing for her safety, Lavinia's lover and partner Tobias March tries to persuade her not to get involved. Tobias firmly believes Hudson killed his spouse and wants Lavinia to locate the missing jewelry before he disposes of his so-called friend. However, Lavinia remains as obstinate as ever and begins making inquiries with the help of Tobias' brother-in-law Anthony and Lavinia's niece Emeline. Tobias soon feels obligated to help if he wants to keep the three people he loves safe.
DON'T LOOK BACK is a humorous Regency mystery with a touch of romance as a secondary subplot. The quick story line is quite funny especially when an exasperated Tobias tries to keep Lavinia from diving off the deep end as is her penchant. As Amanda Quick did with the Lake-March first novel SLIGHTLY SHADY, the author provides a delightful who-done-it.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
|
|
| Review Analysis of Don't Look Back |
|
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).
|
|
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 19th century
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Special suspect?
- lover
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani
Most recent discussions:
General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Terry Goodkind
7:22:26 AM
Isobelle Carmody
5:19:11 AM
Norah Lofts
12:26:00 AM
Diana Gabaldon
10:32:23 PM
Ivan Cat
9:23:05 PM
Scott Westerfield
9:20:54 PM
General Discussion (All Topics)
7:10:00 PM
Jude Deveraux
5:56:12 PM
George W. Bush
4:34:34 PM
Ray Bradbury
4:27:50 PM
Karen Armstrong
2:13:10 PM
Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer
1:53:39 PM
Karen Armstrong
12:58:19 PM
Lana Wood
6:06:13 AM
Lynn and Gilbert Morris
12:20:20 AM
David Pelzer
10:32:56 PM
Max Shulman
8:44:04 PM
Kate Brian
5:25:02 PM
Ruth Minsky Sender
3:34:26 PM
Charlaine Harris
2:46:27 PM
More message boards
|