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Thicker Than Water
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Plot Summary of Thicker Than Water
"Thicker Than Water

Mira, Nov 2003, 6.99, 400 pp.
ISBN: 1551667371

Seventeen year old runaway Julie believes that her mentor, cult prophet Mordecai Young is insane and dangerous. She worries that he will choose martyrdom for him and his followers in their upcoming confrontation with the law. Julie fears for his infant daughter and the mother of the child Lizzie. The assault occurs, but Julie rescues the child. Lizzie and Mordecai apparently died in the fiery inferno.

Sixteen years later, Julie is a successful Syracuse news broadcaster though raising Dawn on her own. Harry Blackwood, brother to a state senator, has blackmailed Julie threatening Dawn with information he obtained on their days in the cult. Julie confronts Harry, but finds him dead. Julie knows that the killer has the damaging information that Harry used on her. Though she feels he is an uncouth boar, Julie turns to her co-anchor Sean MacKenzie who observed her pull a crime scene stunt and a break and entering so he helps her while they fall in love.

Though there has been a bundle of news romance tales especially in the movies, readers will appreciate THICKER THAN WATER. The story line is fast-paced as the seemingly prim and proper Julie tampers with a crime scene and breaks the law in an attempt to protect Dawn. Sean is an intriguing hero who cannot believe what Julie has been doing since the discovery of a dead Harry. Though the final twist or two seem odd, fans of exhilarating romantic suspense thrillers will want to read Maggie Shayne's fine tale.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Thicker Than Water
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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 - skilled 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: - journalist
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - 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: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
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
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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Maggie Shayne Resident Scholar Profiles

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