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| Plot Summary of Star Struck Dead |
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"
Pocket, Oct 2003, 6.99, 368 pp.
ISBN 074347046x
World War II is over, the men are home and life returns to normal or what passes for normalcy in Hollywood. Screenwriter Lauren Atwell is driving home when she stops to see if she can help a person in a car that seem to have some trouble. She looks in the vehicle, but the next thing she knows she awakens in the hospital. The doctor and the police tell her that she was found in an alley.
Lauren knows she was drugged not drunk as the police believe but she has no proof so she lets the matter drop. A few days after the incident a man comes to her with pictures of her and an unknown man in lewd positions. The blackmailer wants money, which Lauren is not prepared to fork over until she finds out her married friend is also being blackmailed as is her estranged husband's girlfriend. Determined to put an end to the blackmailing, Lauren hires PI Peter Winslow to find out who is running the ring. Every time they think they get close, a dead body turns up. They realize that someone is not hesitant about murdering anyone who gets in the way.
The heroine of STAR STRUCK DEAD is a spunky independent woman who doesn't need a man to define her identity, an oddity in the late 1940's. Actual stars that lived in that era make cameo appearances adding authenticity to the setting. The plot is fast-paced with plenty of action and a lot of sizzle between the heroine and the private invesigator. Sheila York has started a good amateur sleuth series and this reviewer will be interested to see the protagonist in future novels.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Star Struck Dead |
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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).
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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)
Time/era of story:
- 1930's-1950's
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Crime plotlets:
- seduction/blackmail
General Crime (including known murderer)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- writer
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- wealthy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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