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The Schoolmaster
W.J. Burley Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Schoolmaster
"

W.J. Burley is perhaps best known for his Superintendent Wycliff series, but in
“The School Master,” Burley goes with a different central character. (As this was written
in 1977 it perhaps precedes the Wycliff series.) It seems that Arthur Milton's wife has left
him for another man; it seems that shosrtly thereafter the man if found murdered; it seems
that Arthur himself is the chief suspect, as he was seen in a nearby cafe on the night of the
murder. The waitress, Julie, doesn't report him and thereafter they begin a love affair.
This lasts for only so long, as guilt starts to bother Arthur, even though he knows he didn't
do the killing. As the narrative progresses (and it does seem a bit convoluted at times!),
Arthur himself begins the investigation of another murder, some 20 years earlier and then
Burley's talent as a top-notch crime writer takes over--more convolution--as the plot takes
a number of spins before coming--believe it or not--logically to an end. Besides the unusual
plot, the author gives us a good insight into an incredibly troubled mind.
"

Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Schoolmaster
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story: - 1960's-1970's
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - nearly 100%
Special suspect? - investigator him/herself
Misc. Murder Plotlets - Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator - amateur citizen investigator - british mystery (I say!)
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - teacher
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - none
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - natural phenomena
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - revenge

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 1
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to The Schoolmaster
Viva Las Vegas by Daniel Klein
City of Gold and Shadows by Ellis Peters
It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod Murder by Rosemary Martin
Black Betty by Walter Mosley
The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie


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