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| Plot Summary of Beyond Belief |
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"
Bantam, Apr 2001, 23.95, 288 pp.
ISBN: 0553801155
As a young man, Joe Bailey was a professional magician who opened many Las Vegas shows with his performance. Now he works as a detective on the ?Bunko? squad with his moniker being the ?Spirit Basher? because he is known for debunking phony mediums and psychics who prey on society. Joe firmly believes that there are no paranormal powers and his record of unveiling frauds is near 100 per cent.
Joe is assigned to homicide when a huge sculpture with spikes fell and killed Dr. Robert Nelson, chair of the Landwyn University parapsychology department. His girlfriend claims that one of Joe?s subjects, eight-year old Jessie Randall killed him by using telekinesis powers. He rejects the notion of his mental prowess, but admits that every time he angers him strange things occur. Other people also show interest in Jessie, who becomes a target for kidnappers. To divert Joe from the case, attempts to hurt his daughter are made. Before using all his energies to find Jessie, Joe sends his child to a place of safety.
Edgar award winning Roy Johansen (see THE ANSWER MAN) has written an exhilarating police procedural that has more action per page than most novels have in several chapters. The heroine is a genuinely nice person who readers will like and admire. The cleverly designed plot hits its climax just at the point when all the subplots brilliantly converge. BEYOND BELIEF is one terrific ride into a shadowy realm where things never are quite what they seem.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Beyond Belief |
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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
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 50%
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
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
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- wealthy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
The antagonists are:
- cults
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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