|
|
| Plot Summary of Suspicious Origin |
|---|
"
Atria, April 2003, 19.95, 352 pp.
ISBN 0743423585
When Kevin Carmichael wakes up one night, he sees his neighbor's home on fire and he rushes out to try and save them. He manages to save ten-year-old Zoë but is unable to get to her mother Greta who dies of smoke asphyxiation. Luckily, Zoë's father Alec was out of the house at the time so the child has someone to cling to in this tragedy. Alec calls Britt Anderson to tell her that her sister has died. Though the siblings were estranged, Britt races to their side.
When Britt arrives, the surviving father and daughter are staying at a neighbor's home. Zoë takes to her immediately but Alec is cold and rude. When the investigation into the fire shows that arson was involved, Britt begins to gather evidence that shows Alec is the perpetrator. It is only after he is arrested that Brett begins to doubt Alec's guilt. She does her best to prove his innocence, but her efforts nearly gets her killed by somebody who wants Alec found guilty.
Patricia MacDonald, well known for her suspense thrillers, has written a work that rivals the novels of Marry Higgins Clark. The protagonist is a feisty woman who fights for her beliefs and is then not afraid to admit she might have made a big mistake. The story line moves along at such a brisk pace that readers will finish the book in one sitting and then put it on their keeper shelf, because it is too good to give away.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
"SUSPICIOUS ORIGIN has been first published in 2003.
Britt Andersen is a successful producer at a Boston TV network. One night, she's called by her brother-in-law who tells her that her sister Greta has just died in a fire in her family house in Vermont. Britt heads to Vermont, meeting her brother in law Alec and her niece Zoe.
After a few days, Britt is convinced that Alec is the one who set the house on fire and she helps the local police to find clues against his brother-in-law. But, after Alec's arrest, Zoe's unshakeable faith in her father's innocence forces Britt to examine more carefully Alec's guilt. From this moment on, the young woman will devote herself to find proofs that would clear Alec of Greta's murder. By doing so, she will irritate the person responsible for the fire."
Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
|
|
|
| Review Analysis of Suspicious Origin |
|---|
|
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 - 45%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 35%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- depressing/sad
- 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?
- 50%
- 70%
Special suspect?
- relative
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- local police w/ IQ of a houseplant
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards family/friends
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- business executive
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric/Mental:
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- homemaker
- small businessman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an average amount
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Unusual forms of death
- flamed
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Patricia MacDonald Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Daniel Staebler
SCHOLARS:
| |
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
Online Dating Advice
Southampton Row
8:41:08 PM
George W. Bush
8:17:35 PM
Norah Lofts
5:10:25 PM
J.K. Rowling
4:10:39 PM
David Baldacci
2:09:26 PM
David Gerrold
8:16:47 AM
Mitzi Loftus
8:28:27 PM
Robert Stanek
9:21:18 AM
Nicholas Sparks
3:33:54 PM
Jeffrey Archer
7:34:47 AM
Frances Salomon Murphy
11:27:09 PM
Warren Getler and Bob Brewer
4:47:55 PM
David Pelzer
1:27:48 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun
10:22:20 PM
Barack Obama
9:55:05 PM
Sister Souljah
12:29:03 PM
Ray Bradbury
9:11:31 PM
Erin Hunters
7:19:58 PM
Robert Segarra
4:07:19 PM
Robert Newton Peck
4:54:54 PM
More message boards
|
