|
|
| Plot Summary of The Beach House |
|---|
"
Little, Brown, Jun 2002, 26.95, 368 pp.
ISBN: 0316969680
Columbia University law student Jack Mullen is stunned with the drowning death of his younger brother Peter. The police conclude that Peter died when he smoked pot and drowned on the Amagansett estate of the wealthy Neubauer family. However, Jack looks at his sibling's corpse and sees the obvious marks of a beating. He feels someone killed his brother.
Jack wants the truth and with the help of some friends begins asking questions. However, as he turns up the heat on the local law enforcement officials and the Neubauer family, thug Rory “Fixer” Hoffman makes life frightening and miserable for Jack and associates. Soon Jack loses his girlfriend (a Neubauer), and his internship at a prestigious law firm as the influence of one of Long Island's most powerful families come to bear on him. Still he presses on because justice will only be served if he takes matters into his own hands including abducting the Neubauer patriarch.
As they did with MIRACLE ON THE 17TH GREEN, James Patterson and Peter De Jonge combine their talents to provide a stirring thriller filled with non stop action. The tale focuses on a David like hero that the audience cares about fighting a modern day Goliath in a seemingly implausible plot. Reality aside, the novel ensnares the audience including this reviewer to cheer Jack on even when victory seems impossible, ultimately leaving fans relishing this invigorating tale.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
"A brother is killed, a father dies, and a man's girlfriend runs off. Why? Because of people with money. They need to keep a deadly and embarrassing secret, and they'll do anything to keep it a secret. They just didn't count on the good guys to cheat too..."
Steve Schmitz, Resident Scholar
|
"Jack is a young law students with lots going for him, until he steps off train on a return trip home to hear the news that his brother is dead. His younger brother, a somewhat shady character is reported drowned but it is soon evident that there is more to this story than meets the eye. Why would anyone go swimming in the middle of storm? Why would you put your big toe in the freezing ocean? It is obvious there is a murderer loose and of course Jack is in the best seat to find justice. The remainder of his family falls apart and it is left to he and his judge-like grandfather to ensure that murderer be bought before the court and that justice is seen to be done. A few twists will keep you going!"
Shel, Resident Scholar
|
"Patterson has moved away from his usual set of characters like Alex Cross and created a new set. When Jack Mullen's brother Peter is murdered on the beach of an exclusive beach house it is made to look like an accident or suicide. Jack sees the body and knows it was not either, Peter was beaten to death. What follows is what we have come to expect from Patterson, a set of leads, clues and red herrings. Gradually Jack pieces together the motive, means and opportunity for the murder and readers are not going to be disappointed if this is the type of thriller they like.
"
Penny, Resident Scholar
|
"A young man, who has been prostituting himself to the rich and twisted in the Hamptons since the age of 15, is murdered when he gets too greedy when blackmailing his wealthy clients. When his older law student brother and paralegal grandfather realize that the local law enforcement is covering up the foul nature of the young man's death, they make it their mission to out the rich and famous for their dirty, criminal activities."
Ashley Yarborough, Resident Scholar
|
|
| Review Analysis of The Beach House |
|---|
|
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 - 58%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 22%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
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?
- 60%
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen 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
- Male
Profession/status:
- student
- a lawyer creature
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
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
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
The antagonists are:
- big business leader(s)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 2
Sex
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references
- descript of kissing
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback
Most recent discussions:
General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
George W. Bush
2:32:02 AM
Anonymous
2:03:39 AM
Erin Hunters
9:00:01 PM
Betty Mahmoody
6:00:22 PM
Judith McNaught
11:55:44 AM
Iris Johansen
9:03:43 PM
Norah Lofts
1:11:37 PM
Jane Rubino
9:32:45 AM
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky
11:28:51 PM
Faye Kellerman
12:37:41 AM
LaVyrle Spencer
7:25:23 PM
Robert James Waller
8:30:15 PM
Suzanne Weyn
12:50:03 AM
Deric Longden
2:54:11 PM
Wilma Counts
1:23:32 PM
Kin Platt
12:58:29 AM
Lilian Jackson Braun
10:05:52 PM
G.A. McKevett
10:03:31 PM
David Williams
10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield
10:02:30 PM
More message boards
|
