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| Plot Summary of This Pen For Hire |
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"
Kensington, Jun 2002, 22.00, 203 pp.
ISBN: 0578201583
Her almost namesake (mom could not spell) is probably turning over in her grave with the type of writings that freelance ad author Jaine Austen flushes from the deepest bowls of her mind. Industrial strength toilets not romances are Jaine's typical ballads. So when nerd Howard Murdoch hires her to write a love letter to aerobics instructor Stacy Lawrence, Jaine feels this is her chance at scribing an Emma. Jaine succeeds and reticent Howard goes on a date with Stacy.
On Valentine's Day, someone murders Stacy using her thigh master as a sledgehammer. The police arrest Howard. Jaine feels that her client is innocent and that in a way she caused his current predicament. There is also conceited LAPD detective Timothy Rea needing some comeuppance plus she needs an excuse to stay in touch with the victim's gorgeous neighbor Cameron Bannick.
THIS PEN FOR HIRE is amusing and cleverly designed amateur sleuth tale, but the romance comes across as interceding with the wonderful who-done-it. Jaine's humorous dialogue about her personal pitfalls turn her into quite a character study and makes for a superb novel. Laura Levine has written an amusing tale, so original that readers will want more works starring the other J. Austen.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of This Pen For Hire |
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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 - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- very humorous
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- comical investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards family/friends
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- writer
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- small businessman
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
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
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
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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