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| Plot Summary of Eureka |
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"
Ballantine, Mar 2002, 25.00, 448 pp.
ISBN: 0345411463
In 1941 Verna Wilensky is electrocuted in her bathtub in what at first seems like a freak accident caused by a misplaced radio. However, the woman turns out to have been dead before the “accident” occurred. The real mystery behind the victim is that she lived a lower middle class lifestyle yet held a bank account packed with just under a hundred thousand dollars in it. For no apparent reason Verna received monthly deposits from an unknown benefactor for more than two decades. Police officers Zeke Bannon and Ski Agassi investigate the homicide just before the former goes off to war.
In 1945 Zeke recovers in his hometown from a combat injury when his friend Ski hands him the so-called solved Wilensky case file. Both cops know that some segments of the murder remain unresolved. As Sheriff Thomas Culhane initiates his run for state governor, Zeke uncovers dark secrets from the first two decades of the century that could derail the bid.
The return of William Diehl after such a long absence is wonderful news for his fans, but this time it is great news for historical mystery readers in general. The story line is taut, exciting, and non-stop as the complex powerful novel brings alive the first half of the twentieth century in California. The cast is a robust group that enables the plot to move forward and make the eras seem so realistically alive. Readers will shout EUREKA at Mr. Diehl's latest and perhaps greatest work to date, which says a lot about the quality of this tale from a best-selling and award winning author.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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"It is 1941. A detective and his partner discover an accidental death is actually a homicide. Their investigation traces events back to 1900 and forward. Author uses both third and first person, ranges from past to present tense, in telling a story that creates two heroic characters and puts them in conflict. Eventually it is about love, loyalty and friendship -- and about betrayal and revenge. Dialogue and style are consistant with the Thirties and Forties. "
william diehl, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Eureka |
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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 - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 70%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
- 1930's-1950's
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- solving long-past murder
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:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- can read emotions
- is very quick
Eccentric:
- obsessed
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
- power
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
- California
Small town?
Yes
Misc setting
- resort/hotel
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 2
- 8 or more
Sex
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
- touching of anatomy
- actual description of sex
Unusual forms of death
- frying (electrocuted)
- perforation--bullets
- perforation--swords/knives
Unusual form of death?
Yes
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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