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| Plot Summary of Muletrain to Maggody |
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"
Simon & Schuster, Feb 2004, 23.00, 278 pp.
ISBN 0743226380
Three days before the Battle of Farbersville in Arkansas during the Civil War, there was a skirmish in the small town of Maggody. The Stump County Historical Society has obtained funding to do a documentary on the battle thanks to the donation of the diary of one of the men who fought in that encounter. The diary goes on to say that the confederate troops were carrying gold to pay the soldiers, but when they concluded that they were going to lose, the soldiers hid it in a nearby cove.
The townsfolk go crazy looking for the gold and Chief of Police Arly Hanks has her hands full keeping track of everybody. The treasurer of the historical society Wendell thinks he has a clue where the gold was hidden but he is more interested in his genealogical studies than a treasure hunt. Matters turn very serious when someone kills Wendell. Arly investigates the homicide with plethora of suspects available. A second killing occurs. Once Arly realizes the two homicides are linked, it is only a matter of time before she tracks down the killer.
An Arly Hanks mystery is always a hoot and a holler and MULETRAIN TO MAGGODY is no different. Despite the seriousness of the murders, the storyline focuses on the gold hunt. The characters are funny as they try to outdo each other in searching for the gold while Arly has her hands full keeping everyone in line Joan Hess is in fine form as she produces another extra fine rural police procedural.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Muletrain to Maggody |
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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?
- 70%
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- life in small town
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- wealthy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Deep South
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 2
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Joan Hess Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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