|
|
| Plot Summary of Early 8 |
"
Signet, Sept 2004, 5.99, 272 pp.
ISBN 0451212851
After drinking too much, busting up a bar and hurting some people Terry Saltz went to prison; when he was released he vowed never to take another drink and get his act together. He works at Smitty's Bars and Eats and has a second job as a carpenter. He's friends with his ex-parole officer and shares a double wide trailer with his pal Danny and police officer John Garvey. He and his friends have annoyed Alan Bushell because they have solved some homicide cases.
At a pool tournament, Terry notices Gwen Hunter dissing one man while flirting with another. The next day while working on a carpentry assignment, he hears a woman screaming and when he runs over to see what is the matter, he finds Gwen dead in her cart, a piece of yellow rope tied around her neck. The same night that Gwen is killed, Terry's friend Bud is upset because his buddy Ernie was killed in a car accident. Tests prove that he was murdered; Terry and company believe the same person killed both Gwen and Ernie and investigate with Terry's brother as one of the suspects.
L.T. Fawkes takes mysteries to a whole different level in large part to his characters who are blue collar working stiffs who hang together and are friends in a way not typically portrayed by writers. What makes Terry and his friends so special is the way they support each other and are not afraid to reveal their emotions to one another. The who-done-it is fascinating because there is no character in this book that the reader would like to be guilty.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
|
| Review Analysis of Early 8 |
|
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%
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards family/friends
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- small businessman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- 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:
- wealthy
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
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
George W. Bush
2:32:02 AM
Anonymous
2:03:39 AM
Erin Hunters
9:00:01 PM
Betty Mahmoody
6:00:22 PM
Judith McNaught
11:55:44 AM
Iris Johansen
9:03:43 PM
Norah Lofts
1:11:37 PM
Jane Rubino
9:32:45 AM
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky
11:28:51 PM
Faye Kellerman
12:37:41 AM
LaVyrle Spencer
7:25:23 PM
Robert James Waller
8:30:15 PM
Suzanne Weyn
12:50:03 AM
Deric Longden
2:54:11 PM
Wilma Counts
1:23:32 PM
Kin Platt
12:58:29 AM
Lilian Jackson Braun
10:05:52 PM
G.A. McKevett
10:03:31 PM
David Williams
10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield
10:02:30 PM
More message boards
|