Dead Famous
Carol O'Connell Book Review

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Plot Summary of Dead Famous

"

Putnam, Sept 2003, 24.95, 304 pp.
ISBN 0399150846

It has been many months since New York homicide detective P. Riker was shot in the chest four times by a psychopath who was found not guilty of homicide in a trial in which Riker was the key witness. Although he has healed physically, the psychological trauma prevents him from going back to work. He currently runs his brother's business Ned's Crime Scene Cleaners where he meets the Hunchback Joanna Apollo.

Joanna is a psychiatrist who was on the jury that found shock jock radio host Ian Zachary not guilty in a Chicago homicide case. Now a serial killer known as the Reaper is murdering the Zachary jury members. Zachary, who relocated to New York, eggs on his listeners to find out where the remaining jurors live. Joanna comes to New York to stop the killings but she doesn't count on Riker's growing feelings for her or the complicated plan, Kathy Mallory, Riker's partner, puts in motion to bring him past the crisis point. Mallory, Riker and Apollo become pawns in a game they may not survive.

Kathy Mallory is one of crime fiction's most unusual heroine's a sociopath who work in the NYPD and is able to stay within the law (usually) to solve a case. There are several sub-plots that tie into the main story line in a complex but realistic fashion. The heroine meets her match in Joanna, a woman and a doctor who not only understands her but also is able to stay one step ahead of her. A Carol O'Connell police procedural is always great and DEAD FAMOUS provides proof of that axiom.

Harriet Klausner

Crested sapwood supportable noradrenaline runout.

"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Dead Famous

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? - 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 of fear/loss/inadequacy
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? - 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 - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - accused criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional 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? - 3-4
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript

Most similar books to Dead Famous
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The Hundredth Man by Jack Kerley
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Unpaid Dues by Barbara Seranella

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Carol O'Connell Book Review