|
|
| Plot Summary of Spiral |
|---|
"
Pantheon, Jun 2003, 24.95
ISBN: 0375422234
London biographer Nick Greer sees the finish line on the definitive biography of controversial artist Frank Spira. However, he soon learns the key source of insight into the life of the long deceased artist, his alleged lover, Jacob Grossman, still lives in Manhattan. An excited Nick visits Jacob who provides one revelation that holds the presses. The Incarnation, considered by many the epitome of Spira's career was not destroyed in 1957, but probably still exists.
Not long after his interview, Nick learns that someone murdered Grossman. The police lean towards Nick killing Grossman though the motive is unclear. Nick obsesses over finding the painting, but also wants to stop the murderer who has killed other Spira associates, but "the collector" has different plans that include using Nick to obtain the Incarnation for him.
This is an exciting mystery that works on several levels that include an intriguing serial killer who-done-it, a clever biography subplot, and an insightful art mystery. Nick is a great protagonist, whose obsessive personality is costing him his personal life, leading to the audience to wonder when he will get a real life. Anyone who reads this superb debut novel will feel sorry for author Joseph Geary because improving on this tale seems impossible.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
|
|
| Review Analysis of Spiral |
|---|
|
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).
|
|
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?
- 70%
Special suspect?
- investigator him/herself
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- art/artifacts
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- writer
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
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
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- scholar
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
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
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Most recent discussions:
General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Suzanne Weyn
10:53:04 PM
Jean M. Auel
10:13:28 PM
Suzanne Collins
10:04:43 PM
Shannon Holmes
8:05:43 PM
R. Garcia Y Robertson
6:56:32 PM
Marlo Morgan
6:30:00 PM
Robert Segarra
5:12:00 PM
Dennis L. McKiernan
4:47:04 PM
Mary Downing Hahn
4:04:51 PM
Margaret Peterson Haddix
3:40:45 PM
Natasha Friend
3:14:44 PM
Deric Longden
3:02:09 PM
Lori Wick
2:04:58 PM
George W. Bush
1:36:15 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun
12:53:34 PM
James H. Cobb
10:05:36 AM
Sallie Bissell
11:40:33 PM
Eva Augustin Rumpf
4:36:38 PM
Ruth Minsky Sender
4:15:14 PM
Alice Blanchard
3:46:47 PM
More message boards
|
