| Plot Summary of The Night Before |
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Zebra, Mar 2003, 6.99, 464 pp.
ISBN: 0821769367
In Savannah, Caitlyn Bandeaux is covered with blood, but has no idea why or what happened last night. She blames her memory loss on alcohol. After she cleans up, Police Detectives Reed and Morrisette inform her that someone brutally murdered her estrange spouse Josh. She remains the prime suspect with a strong motive and opportunity since he was suing her in the wrongful death of their infant son Jamie and her blood type was found at the crime scene. Still the cops realize that Josh had many enemies from his unscrupulous business dealings and his womanizing.
Caitlyn asks her twin Kelly for help, but her sibling initially fails to return her desperate calls. As she suffers more blackouts and strange flashes, she turns to psychiatrist Adam Hunt though Kelly objects. Adam has an agenda of his own while the truth begins to surface inside Caitlyn's mind one slow drip at a time.
Fans of Lisa Jackson's “Blooded” novels will want to read THE NIGHT BEFORE, an exciting romantic psychological suspense filled with plenty of twists, albeit too many. The story line grips the audience as Caitlyn struggles to regain her equilibrium by trying to learn why she blacks out (read the twist to learn why) but also falling in love with Adam. Some of the loose ties from the “Blooded” novels are answered in this tale that includes the appearance of New Orleans Detective Montoya. Ms. Jackson will return to all the lists while her audience anxiously awaiting the sequel, THE MORNING AFTER.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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"Caitlin Montgomery Bandeaux awakens to a bloodied room and the loss of her memory of the night before. Caitlin cannot recall what she did after leaving the bar, another of the black-outs that have plagued her since a boating accident a few years before. Soon, she becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her estranged husband and the quickly disappearing Montgomery clan. Her wealth and power cannot save her from the mental illness that she has suffered from since the death of her child and the brutal indifference of her husband and family. Worst of all, she is unable to contact her twin sister, Kelly or her psychiatrist who has suddenly disappeared. The police stand ready to arrest her for a series of horrific murders and she has only Adam Hunt, a new and mysterious doctor. To him she confides her fears and the frightening dreams. Plagued by phone calls from her dead daughter, Caitlin must track down the killer to save her own life and her sanity."
Sheri Dornhecker, Resident Scholar
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"Caitlyn Montgomery Bandeaux, a member of the wealthy Mongtgomery family, wakes up to find blood in her bedroom, forgotten periods of memory, and her about-to-be ex-husband dead. Police suspect her, but as more and more of the family is found murdered, she gets help from her psychologist and love-interest, Adam Hunt. While looking for her missing sister, Caitlyn, by chance, finds the murderess with her, and prays that Adam or the police will save her from certain death. "
Angela Maresma, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Night Before |
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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).
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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 - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
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%
Special suspect?
- relative
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- psychiatrist investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- amnesia
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- wealthy
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric/Mental:
Yes
Eccentric:
- emotionally unstable
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- a lawyer creature
Eccentric:
Yes
- mentally ill
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Deep South
City?
Yes
City:
- wealthy
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 8 or more
Sex
Yes
What kind of sex:
- actual description of sex
Unusual forms of death
- poisoning
Unusual form of death?
Yes
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