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Southern Latitudes
Stephen J. Clark Book Review

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Plot Summary of Southern Latitudes
"

Berkley, Sept 2002, 6.50, 272 pp.
ISBN 0425186377

Litchfield, Alabama is a quiet town with little business to support the townsfolk. There have been Ingrams residing in Litchfield since the town was founded but Nelson graduated college with the sole intention of seeing the world and never returning to his hometown again. Lost jobs, failed opportunities and broken relationships bring Nelson back home where he becomes a reporter for the Litchfield Ledger.

He thinks he has a big story when a black man is found hanging from a tree. His first thought is KKK or a clone but when an autopsy reveals the victim was shot in the head at close range, Nelson believes something big is about to break. An investigation reveals that other locals were recently killed. The manager of a mob-connected nightclub is murdered soon after the “hanging”. After years of coasting through life, Nelson intends to take a stand by finding out the identity of the killers and bringing them to justice, or die trying.

SOUTHERN LATITUDES is a perfect depiction of a town in the Deep South. Customs, attitudes and beliefs enforce the uniqueness of the region. The story line is fast-paced and exciting but it is the protagonist who steals the spotlight. He is a hedonistic wastrel who finally finds the cause that worth fighting for, making him a lot like most people.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Southern Latitudes
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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 - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story: - present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60%
Kind of investigator - amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - life in that culture
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - journalist
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
The antagonists are: - US mafia
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Deep South

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
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