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| Plot Summary of The Case of the Uninvited Guest |
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"
Signet, August 2002, 6.50, 256 pp.
ISBN 0451207155
All of France is celebrating the Armistice of 1918. In Le Grand Hotel Suite 999, Martin Prince, the editorial director of American Universal Publishing is hosting a grand party. One of the guests, Hollywood producer and screenwriter Eric Thorndyke, gets inebriated and goes to lie down in a spare bedroom. When his son goes to check on him a few hours later, he finds him dead, murdered by someone wielding a garrote.
A few days later, the ghost of Thorndyke makes an appearance and scares several guests over a period of time. Afraid of losing business the management of the hotel calls in Professor John Darnel who has gained a reputation for debunking ghosts and other so-called supernatural creatures. When he discovers who the ghost is and why he is “haunting” the hotel, he finds his job is not over because a second murder has occurred and the police take John with them to help find a cold blooded killer.
The ambiance of Paris just after the World War I seize fire is brought to life by the pen of Sam McCarver. Several well known personalities, including Ernest Hemingway play key roles in this exciting mystery. John and Penny are a remarkable sleuthing team and their actions within the confines of the plot feel very realistic. Every guest that attended the party, thirteen in all, had a secret agenda and the audience won't know who the killer is until the author chooses to reveal it in a stunning climax. Historical mystery fans will definitely enjoy this novel.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Case of the Uninvited Guest |
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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
- 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%
Kind of investigator
- psychic investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- life in that culture
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- private investigator
Age:
- 20's-30's
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
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an above average amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
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
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- France
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
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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