|
|
| Plot Summary of Tropic of Murder |
|---|
"
Perseverance Press, Sept 2004, 13.95, 216 pp.
ISBN 1880284685
Although he doesn't have tenure, Professor Nick Hoffman teaches in the English, American studies and Rhetoric Department. The group is tense with in fighting over whom the next chair will be. The provost appoints a new head and makes other reorganization changes without getting feedback from the group. Sick of the anxiety and angst the announcements brings, Nick and his lover Stefan decide to get away from their worries and pack up to go an a vacation to Caribbean island Serenity, a Club Med resort.
While there they met someone they know, Peter de Jonge, a graduate student who wants Nick to investigate his wife, father-in-law and his assistant because their activities are very strange. They used to own the island but depleted fortunes forced them to sell it. The Club Med manager wants to write a book about the family and the island but they refuse. When Stefan and Nick take a walk at night they find the dead body of the manager floating in the water. Nick intends to prove murder occurred, having solving many homicides in the past.
It has been much too long since a Nick Hoffman but was published but fans of the series will be elated that he is back more mature and less anxious. Lev Raphael has written a delightful and charming mystery that takes place in a tropical paradise but the murder makes it seem like the snake entering Eden. TROPIC OF MURDER in a cerebral who-done-it that stimulates the readers to figure out who the killer is before the hero does. There is subtle humor imbued throughout the storyline and the audiences will find themselves chuckling out lout at unexpected moments.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
|
| Review Analysis of Tropic of Murder |
|---|
|
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?
- 80%
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:
- teacher
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:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- jealousy
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
The Americas (not US):
Yes
The Americas:
- The Caribbean
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
|
|
|
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
Norah Lofts
12:50:53 AM
Suzanne Weyn
4:47:34 PM
Wilma Counts
1:23:32 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
More message boards
|
