|
|
| Plot Summary of Requiem for a Realtor |
|---|
"
St. Martin's, August 2004, 23.95, 256 pp.
ISBN 0312324170
Although Stanley Collins is not a parishioner of St. Hilary's, Father Roger Dowling is more than willing to listen to the man's problem. His wife wants to divorce him and marry her dentist Dr. David Jameson. Father Dowling is willing to talk to his wife Phyllis but when she arrives at the rectory she claims it is her husband who wants a divorce to marry the torch singer Wanda who works at the Rendezvous hotel. Dr. Jameson, a deeply religious man talks to Father Dowling about becoming an ordained deacon.
While Father Dowling ponders the lives of these people, someone runs over Stanley and it turns out to be murder because he was run over by his very own car. At first, suspicion falls on Phyllis who knew her husband was going to come into a fortune when he was fifty and she was afraid he would divorce her before she could claim part of the inheritance. Ironically, it is Dr. Jameson who produces an alibi for her and the investigation turns to other suspects who had a motive to see Stanley dead. When they finally arrest a suspect, Father Dowling believes the police have the wrong person in custody and makes inquiries of his own in hopes of finding the real killer.
Ralph McInerny has written one of the most believable mysteries of his career. The suspects are ordinary people, none of whom seem likely to be a murderer which is why REQUIEM FOR A REALTOR is such an excellent who done it. Father Dowling is an observer for much of the book as well as a confidante for many of the suspect. These roles make him the perfect person to discover who the killer is.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
|
| Review Analysis of Requiem for a Realtor |
|---|
|
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 - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
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
- amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- religious figure
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- homemaker
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional 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?
- 2
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback
Most recent discussions:
General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Suzanne Weyn
10:35:23 PM
George W. Bush
5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt
12:58:29 AM
Anonymous
12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun
10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino
10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer
10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett
10:03:31 PM
David Williams
10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield
10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls
10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan
9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi
9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine
9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington
9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody
9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden
9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn
9:55:48 PM
Iris Johansen
9:55:24 PM
Marlo Morgan
9:54:58 PM
More message boards
|
