Book reviews

The Murder Stone
Charles Todd Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Charles Todd Books
New book search
Charles Todd Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of The Murder Stone
"

Bantam, Nov 2003, 24.95, 480 pp.
ISBN 0553903484

Although her parents were killed in a traffic accident when she was still a baby Francesca Hatton had a very happy childhood growing up in the River's End estate in the isolated Exe Valley in England. Her five male cousins also lost their parents at a very early age and grew up at River's End where Frances Hatton raised all six grandchildren as one big happy family.

That happiness dissipated as one by one the men were called up to fight for their country. During WWI by 1916, all five Hatton males of Francesca's generation were killed by the Germans in France. Francis is dying and Francesca nursed him during his last tormented days. It is only after his death does she learn that her grandfather had very many secrets including the fact that some prominent people think he is a murderer.

This is Charles Todd's first stand alone book. As Francesca learns what her grandfather is hiding, strangers besiege her demanding something from her and threatening her when she fails to deliver. Some readers will not like the ending because it is not black and white but the questions left dangling add to the thrills that this book delivers. THE MURDER STONE is an unforgettable reading experience.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Murder Stone
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 - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story: - 1900-1920's
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Crime plotlets: - wrongly convicted clearing his name
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - hunted by BAD vigilante getting revenge
If story PRIMARILY about main chr. being hunted... - hunted by killer/stalker

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - wealthy
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race - British
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - unemployed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - almost none
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 1
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to The Murder Stone
The Disappearance of Sherlock Holmes by Larry Millet
For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen
Children of the Storm by Elizabeth Peters
Death at Blenheim Palace by Robin Paige
The Game by Laurie R. King


Click here for more information about this book


Charles Todd Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
readurr  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

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
George W. Bush 1:34:25 PM
Barack Obama 11:48:56 AM
Robert Stanek 10:10:58 AM
Linda Berdoll 8:58:27 AM
Eoin Colfer 8:43:26 AM
Belinda Alexandra 11:19:28 PM
Jude Deveraux 10:13:55 PM
Dave Pelzer 10:00:24 PM
Southampton Row 8:57:32 PM
Suzanne Collins 6:10:35 PM
David Clement-Davies 6:05:27 PM
Aline Countess of Romanones 4:42:34 PM
Billy Hills and Dale Hudson 3:42:20 PM
Ivan Doig 1:56:45 PM
Anonymous 11:15:41 AM
Nancy E. Turner 10:11:29 AM
Kate Brian 7:46:48 AM
L.J. Smith 7:25:25 AM
T.C. Mitchell 7:04:04 AM
David R. Palmer 12:29:13 AM

More message boards