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Dark Hollow
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Plot Summary of Dark Hollow
"

Simon & Schuster, Jul 2001, 25.00, 441 pp.
ISBN: 0743203321

    It seems like several lifetimes ago that Charlie “Bird” Parker's world was perfect, but those happy times ended less than a year ago. He enjoyed working as an officer in the New York Police Department and loved his wife and his little girl. His idyllic life ended when a killer murdered his wife and child. Charlie crossed over the line and accompanied by a semi-retired burglar and a professional assassin, he killed his family's murderer.

    Charlie lives alone in his grandfather's house in Scarborough, Maine, hoping he will attain some measure of peace. However, Charlie soon finds himself drawn into the troubled life of Billie Purdue, who many locals believe stole a million dollar from a desperate and nasty Boston gangster. When Billie's ex-wife and their child are killed with the mother's lips sewn tightly together, the police believe he did it. Charlie spirit dreams of being asked to help prove Billie is innocent and so reluctantly investigates a case filled with many players who want the inquiries stopped.

    DARK HOLLOW is a very dark atmospheric gothic-like thriller that takes place in shadows where few people dare venture. Charlie is an anti-hero seeking peace, but instead finds an opportunity for redemption after taking the law into his own hands. His cohorts are likable felons and good friends to Charlie. The plot is loaded with twists and turns and just when the reader expects a straight road to the climax, another curve surfaces, making it almost impossible to guess the ending. John Connolly is a brilliant storyteller who seems like a Ludlum with a dash of King to add spice to the fabulous mix.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Dark Hollow
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain? - Challenging
Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 40%
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: - champion of justice
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
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: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - accused criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
The antagonists are: - US mafia
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
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths? - 3-4
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
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