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Carnage on the Committee
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Plot Summary of Carnage on the Committee
"

Poisoned Pen, Nov 2004, 24.95, 226 pp.
ISBN: 1590581334

Lady Hermione Babcock was the chairman of the Knapper-Warburton Literary Prize, but when she dies, a fast replacement is needed as the committee meets next week to work the long-list. Baroness “Jack” Troutbeck is asked to replace the deceased. Jack accepts the position even though she learns that her predecessor was poisoned.

Jack works the members like a virtuoso, but someone else is also working the members as another member is killed, this time by drowning. While the police insist it is an accident or suicide, Jack knows better.

CARNAGE ON THE COMMITTEE is a way out amusing amateur sleuth tale that uses obviously exaggerated stereotypes (including a mouthy parrot) that takes the plot over the brink, but never loses sight of the who-done-it nor the committee work.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Carnage on the Committee
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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 - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - very upbeat
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 - Female
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - none
Ethnicity/Race - British
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - writer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK

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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Serious as a Heart Attack by Louisa Luna


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Harriet Klausner  

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