Forty-five year old private sleuth Nick Acropolis used to be a homicide detective until he was kicked off the force. His partner robbed a bank while Nick was waiting on line as the crime was taking place. His partner spoke to him before leaving but when questioned, Nick didn't reveal the name of the robber or what was said to him. Now Nick is working as an investigator for law firms like Siegal and McGovern and hating every minute of it.
He's currently working on a case where an off duty police officer was involved in road rage and the Review Board wants to terminate his employment. While trying to build a case for the lawyer's client, he meets Becky Westerfield who wants to hire him to find her missing father. The missing person's case turns into something much bigger when he learns that Becky's father is into massive public aid fraud and the people he works with at the pharmacy are dead or have disappeared. Nick is determined to get some answers no matter what the cost.
This is Jack Clark's debut novel and it is a fascinating urban noir thriller. The protagonist is a likable character who, though he feels sorry for himself, is an intelligent investigator who is determined to figure out how a series of crimes are connected. Readers will appreciate his tenacity and ability to follow a lead, no matter how minor it is. WESTERFIELD'S CHAIN is a mystery that keeps readers interested and turning the pages.
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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:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 80%
Kind of investigator
- hard boiled/private eye
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- politics
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- private investigator
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- doctor
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
