Pocket, April 2003, 6.99, 348 pp.
ISBN: 0743422309
After all their troubles, both professional and personal, District Attorney Kathryn Mackay and Santa Rita County Sheriff David Ganz are happily married. On the day before Thanksgiving Dave sustains a nasty head injury when pursuing a van that might have been used in a robbery homicide case. He refuses to stay in the hospital when he regains consciousness even though two doctors and his wife plead with him to take a MRI. Kathryn drops the matter because she is trying to cope with her own medical problem of a high-risk pregnancy.
While Dave still recovers, he investigates the murder of a priest. When a second priest is murdered, police begin to think they have a serial killer on their hands. Their theory is confirmed when another priest is killed even though the MO's are different. The police want the victims' personnel records to see if there is a link between the three but the bishop refuses and ends up in jail for contempt. When a fourth priest is gunned down, he gives the information they need which eventually leads to the police laying a trap for a killer who knows just how the police operate.
UNTIL JUDGMENT DAY is an exciting police procedural that also contains a beautiful and haunting relationship starring two protagonists who have a strong marriage due to the traumas and tragedies they survived. David loves Kathryn's daughter so much he plans to adopt her and Emma loves Dave as much as she did her biological father. The mystery is well executed but readers should be prepared for a shocking ending. Christine McGuire has written another enthralling installment in her best selling series.
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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 - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
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?
- 70%
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
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
- Female
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- Russian
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
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
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
- very athletic
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?
- 5-7
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
