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Barbados Heat
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Plot Summary of Barbados Heat
"

St. Martin's, Nov 2003, 24.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0312304927

Florida Congressman Robert Shapply used to champion the rights of rappers. Now along with his wife he plans to push a ban on the violence, drugs, rape and other evils that permeate the lyrics of many rap tunes. The couple plan to host hearings on violence and porn that the entertainment world nonchalantly offers our children. However, before he can begin his crusade as only a convert could, someone kills Robert just outside his DC townhouse.

The police arrest Robert's stepson Nick Brand. His childhood best friend music reporter Mick Sever, who is still angry with his buddy over an incident from a few years ago, offers to investigate when the accused persuades him that he innocent. As the inquiries take him through the nightmarish violence of rap music, the weird Shapply extended family, and ultimately Barbados, thugs try to stop Mick and a killer stalks him.

The who-done-it is a solid puzzler that is filled with numerous viable suspects with motives. The hero at times seems too egotistical as to his greatness, but what do you expect from a reviewer as it is easier to criticize than create. Still fans will appreciate his dogged determination to uncover the truth even if it is hard to accept a music critic as an amateur sleuth. The support cast consists of escapees from weird city, but in some strange manner enhance the story line. Fans of a different rap will enjoy BARBADOS HEAT, a solid detective tale.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Barbados Heat
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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%
Murder of certain profession? - musicians
Kind of investigator - amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - life in that culture
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - journalist
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
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: - business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
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: - Southeast
The Americas (not US): Yes
The Americas: - The Caribbean

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 Barbados Heat
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Death for Dessert by T. Dawn Richards


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