Boston Record publisher Paul Ellis informs his expert investigative reporter Jack Flynn that a hostile takeover of the newspaper is in the works. He also states that the sudden heart-attack death of his predecessor five years ago may have been a homicide. Paul wants Jack to learn what is going on with the buyout attempt and the strange death of the previous publisher.
Jack already has interesting information that Massachusetts Governor Lance Randolph inflated his résumé by recalculating his conviction record as a district attorney. Since the President plans to nominate Lance as the next Attorney General, a fabrication may prove almost as embarrassing and damaging as it did to college football coaches. Then again one must consider the standard of an Attorney General vs. that of a head football coach at Notre Dame. Jack flies to Florida to talk with the retired detective who apparently failed to investigate thoroughly the former publisher's death. Upon his return to Boston, Jack learns that Paul was killed in the head during what appears to be a robbery turned ugly. Now Jack seeks the connections that if he lives long enough may more than just abash a president and his nominee.
THE NOMINEE is an urban noir starring a modern day Sam Spade tough guy clone. Jack is an interesting hero who keeps the tale from spinning out of control with his colorful descriptions that uses bodily parts as metaphors and similes. Though the shifting between first and third person jars the reader, the investigation is fun and Jack's way with words will keep the audience thinking did he really say that?
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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?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
Spying/Terrorism Thriller
Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:
- power struggle within govt between two factions
- political blackmail
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Kind of investigator
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- journalist
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- Russian
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
