Book reviews

A Ton of Trouble
Lynne Murray Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Lynne Murray Books
New book search
Lynne Murray Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of A Ton of Trouble
"

St. Martin's, July 2002, 21.95, 226 pp.
ISBN 0312300778

She's a full figured woman who is comfortable in her own skin, not caring that many people are prejudiced about her size. She works for Mrs. Madrone, a very wealthy woman who lives in San Francisco and gives away sizable sums to charities and organizations that apply to her foundation for a grant. Josephine Fuller, Jo to her friends, is the person who investigates the requesting organization and then reports her findings to Mrs. Madrone.

Jo's latest assignment is the Friend in Need Centers, an organization that councils pregnant women but in reality is a front for the pro-life radicals. At the same time she's performing her duties, she is looking for evidence for clearing her friend Thelma of a murder charge. Somebody doesn't like what Jo is doing because she is shot at twice and comes dangerously close to dying a third time.

The protagonist of this novel is a very likable woman who gains reader empathy but not their sympathy because she doesn't need it. She believes she's attractive and appealing and the audience accepts her on her own terms. The story line is fast paced and the reader never knows who the killer is until the author reveals it in an exciting and believable climax. A TON OF TROUBLE is a ton of fun in this amateur sleuth mystery.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of A Ton of Trouble
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).
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 upbeat
How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story: - present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 80%
Special suspect? - best friend
Murder of certain profession? - criminals
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 - Female
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - quite fatty

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 60's-90's
Profession/status: - homemaker
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - California

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 2
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to A Ton of Trouble
Trojan Gold by Elizabeth Peters
Dead Birds Don't Sing by Brenda M. Boldin
The Dogfather by Susan Conant
Murder at Union Station by Margaret Truman
Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich


Click here for more information about this book




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Online Dating Advice
Suzanne Collins 6:06:30 PM
Cornelia Funke 4:57:17 PM
Erin Hunters 3:31:47 PM
Jeanette Walls 2:53:10 PM
Jung Chang 2:00:42 PM
Robert Stanek 1:16:21 PM
Deric Longden 1:05:29 PM
Aline Countess of Romanones 1:03:45 PM
Lisa G. Brown 11:07:56 AM
Patricia Cornwell 9:40:20 AM
Jane Yolen 2:54:03 AM
Southampton Row 12:26:19 AM
Ann Brashares 12:02:10 AM
Teri Woods 11:38:55 PM
Libba Bray 6:12:00 PM
Harlan Coben 2:48:19 PM
Norah Lofts 9:41:08 AM
Judith McNaught 2:51:34 AM
Harry Turtledove 11:40:44 PM
Lisanne Norman 8:20:04 PM

More message boards