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A Merry Little Murder
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Plot Summary of A Merry Little Murder
"

Kensington Oct 2003, 22.00, 288 pp.
ISBN 0758201265

The Jeremy Ash Dance Company is going to perform at the International Stars Ballroom Competition at the Grand Pavilion Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Lindy Graham Haggerty tries to get into the spirit of the occasion but she can't because her husband told her he is not coming home to her, but stops short at asking for a divorce. Lindy's wannabe lover Bill is meeting her at the hotel but by the time he arrives, she is standing over the murdered body of a ballroom dancer who had a great shot at winning the contest.

The victim, Shane Corbett, was about to leave his dancing partner and lover Katya for her rival. The police are searching for Katya who disappeared at about the same time because they know she found out Shane was dumping her. Lindy becomes involved in this melodrama because Katya's teacher is friendly with Rose the Jeremy Ash Wardrobe mistress. Rose wants Lindy to find out who really killed Shane. Dispute Bill's objections, she agrees and almost has the curtain rung on a near final performance.

Readers hearts will go out to the beleaguered heroine as she works to find the killer, struggles to understand her husband's actions and wonders whether to do what her heart dictates her to do with Bill. A MERRY LITTLE MURDER is a whimsically charming amateur sleuth mystery filled with falls trails and red herrings.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of A Merry Little Murder
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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? - 70%
Kind of investigator - amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - feelings towards lover
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - business executive
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - none
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - student
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - revenge
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: - Northeast

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 1
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to A Merry Little Murder
Wildcat Wine by Claire Matturro
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Murder at Union Station by Margaret Truman
Haunting for Justice by Kathy Vollmer


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