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Double Bluff
Michael A. Hawley Book Review

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Plot Summary of Double Bluff
"

Onyx, August 2002, 6.99, 400 pp.
ISBN 0451410775

Leah Harris is a detective in the Seattle homicide unit when she catches the call about the multiple stabbing death of a young Spanish woman. When she investigates the scene, her first thought is this is a crime of passion. However, things become much more complex when a picture of her lover, narcotics detective John Darby is found there.

She immediately calls her superior officer who gets Internal Affairs involved. Sergeant Frank Milkovich immediately insinuates himself into the investigation and discover heroin behind the stove and a million dollars in cash in the closet of the dead woman's apartment.
Frank thinks they stumbled upon a cell of a Colombian drug cartel. The victim's father is persona not grata in the United States and no record of a John Darby exists. Leah and Frank realize they have muddled into something deadly that could get them killed if they are not extremely careful.

DOUBLE BLUFF is a fascinating police thriller starring two great protagonists who each deserve their own series. Michael A. Hawley gives the reader an insider's look about what confronts a police officer on a recurring basis. The story line is multi-layered so that when the reader peels one subplot off, there is something ever darker and more shocking underneath it. This crime thriller is great escapist reading.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Double Bluff
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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 - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story: - present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 70%
Kind of investigator - police procedural, American
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - searching for missing person
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - drug dealers

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - police/lawman
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - police/lawman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Pacific NW

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 3-4
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to Double Bluff
High Country by Nevada Barr
Crime School by Carol O'Connell
Law of Gravity by Stephen Horn
The Law of Betrayal by Tess Collins
Dangerous Games by Michael Prescott


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