| Plot Summary of Old Bones |
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"Set in the Roman Empire, this novel starts with the holiday of Marcus Corvinus, part-time snoop, who starts to enjoy the sun, wine and food in the company of his wife, adopted daughter and his assorted and eccentric household. He'd just about managed to avoid major upsets with his mother when his daffy stepfather is discovered standing over a corpse with a dagger in his hand. There goes his peaceful holiday!
Marcus can't believe the vague, timid old man capable of anger let alone murder so who did it? Even without the intense goading of his mother, Marcus Corvinus would investigate the puzzle anyway. To do so he insinuates himself with the locals, a curious mixture of wine and olive farmers, snobs and rogues. He discovers infidelities, long-forgotten history, wine scams, a donkey, a grizzled old veteran soldier, organised crime and rural idylls.
Wisharts Marcus Corvinus is a Roman Marlowe, with a dry sense of humour and great patience. "
Alan J. Bishop, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Old Bones |
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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 - 30%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- very humorous
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- ancient rome
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
Any non-mystery subplot?
- life in small town
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- private investigator
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- none
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- Italy
Farm/Ranch?
Yes
Farm/Ranch:
- farm
- ranch
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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