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| Plot Summary of The Happy Birthday Murder |
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"THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY MURDER
Fawcett, Feb 2002, 6.99, 256 pp.
ISBN 044007022
In her basement, Chris Bennett notices three boxes are wet because the window was left open. Inside the boxes are keepsakes that Chris's late aunt packed and she wants to go through them to see what to keep and what to throw out. She finds two notes from a Betty Linton and Laura Filmore thanking Chris's aunt for helping them through their respective tragedies.
Twelve years ago Laura's husband committed suicide after attending a birthday party in his honor. There was no evidence he was anything but happy and that his wife and friends thought very highly of him. Betty's retarded son wandered away from her and went into the woods where he died from exposure. Chris thinks others helped these people to their deaths especially in light of the fact that the victims were wearing each other's shoes. Laura and Betty's family never met and the deaths occurred in different states. Chris is determined to find out what really went on back then or know the reason why.
THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY MURDER, the fourteenth Chris Bennett mystery, retains the uniqueness and holiday excitement of the other thirteen books in the series. The tenacious Chris keeps moving from one clue to another, yet her integrity insures she does not come across as being nosy or a gossip. Rather the heroine appears to the audience as a champion of truth and justice tempered with mercy.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Happy Birthday Murder |
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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
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Kind of investigator
- skilled 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:
- teacher
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
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:
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
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
- 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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