St. Martin's, May 2002, 6.99, 350 pp.
ISBN 03129826311
Francesca Cahill is a twenty-year-old woman born of very wealthy parents who want her to marry only a man from a socially prominent family. In 1901 NYC, if a woman didn't find a husband, she was considered an old maid but Francesca doesn't care about such frivolity. She wants a career as a sleuth and has successfully solved three murder cases to date.
Her parents are putting pressure on her to see Calder Hart, a wealthy and prosperous lady's man who cares more about Francesca than she is willing recognize. Instead Francesca loves Calder's half brother Rick Bragg, the New York police Commissioner, who also happens to be a married man. When Bragg's niece is kidnapped, Calder, Rick and Francesca put aside their personal differences and work together to get her out of the hands of a murderer who will kill her if he doesn't get what he wants.
Each Francesca Cahill mystery is better than the one before it. Brenda Joyce writes an exhilarating mystery that ends satisfactorily. However, the characters' stories continue in the next book in the series so that readers always have a feeling of home coming when they pick up the latest Francesca tale. Personally, this reviewer can't wait for the next romantic mystery in this enthralling series to come out.
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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 - 60% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% 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:
- 1900-1920's
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards lover
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- private investigator
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric/Mental:
Yes
Eccentric:
- eccentric
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
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?
- 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
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
