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Twilight at Mac's Place
Ross Thomas Book Review

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Plot Summary of Twilight at Mac's Place
"

Dunne, Dec 2003, 13.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0312315848

Unofficial CIA fixer Steadfast Haynes dies of a heart attack. To the shock of his clandestine buddies, word is out that good old trustworthy Steady has done the unthinkable and written a memoir of his unrecognized covert operations. This tome that allegedly exposes many folks has been inherited by his son Granville.

Everyone remotely involved with Steady wants possession of his book though their reasons vary without knowing what the pages expose for all fear the Cold War secrets Steady knew and bared. Someone murders Steady's beloved Isabelle and retired CIA agent and “friend” Undean, and steals the book. Though Granny knows his father's memoirs were mostly blank pages, he wants it back especially since he has two competing large cold cash offer to purchase his dad's memoirs. As a former homicide detective Granny knows how to investigate a crime and where to get cold war help.

The reprint of Ross Thomas' delightful TWILIGHT AT MAC'S PLACE should bring the late great writer new fans of thrillers. The story line is action-packed and filled with incredibly exciting twists and turns. However, as is usually the case in a Mr. Thomas tale it is the cast from the deceased to the hero to a waiter, et al that makes for a superb reading experience. That will send readers seeking other master novels by this great author.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Twilight at Mac's Place
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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 - very humorous
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60%
Kind of investigator - skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - searching for $$$/treasure
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most 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 - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Southeast

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
Most similar books to Twilight at Mac's Place
The Tumbler by Peter Bowen
The Bookman's Promise by John Dunning
Lost Light by Michael Connelly
Murder on the Candlelight Tour by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
Death Of A Village by M.C. Beaton


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