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| Plot Summary of Claire and Present Danger |
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"
Ballantine, Jun 2003, 23.95, 256 pp.
ISBN: 0345454901
After ten novels, Amanda Pepper and former cop C.K. Mackenzie are finally engaged. Both work part time as private detectives while C.K. completes a Ph.D. in criminology and Amanda teaches in a Philadelphia high school. Amanda meets with new client, upper crust Claire Fairchild, who is concerned that her darling son Leo is marrying beneath their station. She demands that the sleuths investigate her future daughter-in-law, Emmie Cade, in case she is not worthy of becoming a Fairchild.
C.K. quickly uncovers disturbing information about friends and lovers of Emmie. She is a death magnet as several died under questionable circumstances. As C.K. and Amanda wonder if Emmie is dangerous, their client suddenly dies of what looks like natural causes. A seemingly shocked Emmie asks Amanda to learn why several people from her inner circle are dead.
Though at times the myriad of subplots seem overwhelming and require a scorecard to keep track, several of these serve as contrasting parallel paths that add depth to either the lead couple or the prime theme. The glimpse of the personal lives of the heroes is fun especially when Amanda empathizes with Emmie on the eve of her meeting the mother of C.K. for the first time. Fans of the series will enjoy the latest entry and newcomers will appreciate the banter between C.K. and Amanda. Though difficult to stay focused on whether Emmie is a killing machine, a death attraction magnet, or a victim of something sinister, CLAIRE AND PRESENT DANGER is a fun private investigative tale.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Claire and Present Danger |
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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 - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
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?
- 60%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- teacher
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- Swiss
How sensitive is this character?
- middling 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:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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