Mysterious, Jun 2003, 24.95, 321 pp.
ISBN: 0892967749
The victims share in common that they were gay, killed by the same perp using an unknown source, and swan feathers inserted into slits in their backs to apparently simulate angels. NYPD assigns Japanese-American Lieutenant James Sakura leads the investigation to stop the serial killer.
Due to the MO, the media turns the case into a high-profile circus placing pressure on NYPD to solve it yesterday, which leads to the Brass doing likewise to Sakura. He obtains help from others including a Yeshiva University professor, who insists clues can be found in the biblical Book of Enoch. As danger to those he love suddenly surfaces, Sakura knows he must capture the culprit before someone he cherishes dies.
Though much of the case comes out of Serial Killer Novel 101, sub-genre readers will enjoy this delightful police procedural due to the lead sleuth. Aspects of Sakura's home life and childhood provide an interesting look at his divided cultural loyalties messing up a mind that prefers order to chaos. However, the gaze into the hero's personal life never unites with the who-done-it, which in spite of its textbook methodology remains fun to follow.
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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?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 90%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Killer purposely leaves clues
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
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
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
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- killer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
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?
- 3-4
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
