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Clutch of Phantoms
Clare Layton Book Review

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Plot Summary of Clutch of Phantoms
"

Poisoned Pen Press, August 2002, 24.95, 323 pp.
ISBN 1590580273

Twenty-five years ago Livia Claughton was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing her husband and his mistress. The trial judge called her a harpy while passing the sentence. The moniker stuck and when Livia was paroled at seventy-five years of age after serving her full sentence, the tabloid press covered the event.

Cass Evesham, a high flyer stockbroker never even knew that Livia was her grandmother until the media tracked her down. Out of curiosity and a sense of family, Cass visits her grandmother in Cumbria, a meeting that is fraught with tension and other suppressed emotions. It is only when Livia's life is placed in danger does Cass come to realize how much she truly does care about her grandmother.

Clare Layton, known to mystery fans as Natasha Cooper, has written a poignant drama about people and their expectations. The heroine of this tale is an elderly woman who has come out of prison as a kind and strong person who won't back down for anyone when she believes she's right. CLUTCH OF PHANTOMS is a novel that takes you two steps beyond the edge.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Clutch of Phantoms
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - present (2000-2010)
Family, loving relations Yes
Special relationship with - grandma
Culture clash? - family young v. old guard
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes
Woman's story? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - accountant
Age: - 60's-90's
Ethnicity/Nationality - British
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling

Main Adversary
Identity: - society

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Unusual Style: - a lot of flashback and forwards - a lot of stream of consciousness - No single main character?
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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