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| Plot Summary of A Spy for the Redeemer |
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"Candace Robb's Owen Archer series always gives the reader
an exciting accounting of life in the 14th century! In this
seventh tale of Archer, once again, he is on business for John of Gaunt. As the book opens, he has finished his work in Wales and is all set to go home to York and to his lovely wife Lucy, an apothecary herself. Owen's absences have begun to strain their marriage! In "A Spy for the Redeemer," Robb concentrates more of her action on Lucy, who must journey to her father's manor outside York. Harold Godfrey, a new steward to one of her neighbors, is assigned to accompany her. As the plot becomes more entangled (or involved!), the reader also gets caught up in
Robb's bigger picture concerning Lucy and Owen. At the same time Owen is caught up in a terrible civil war struggle in Wales, his homeland, and Robb sets us up to feel
that Owen's dilemma here may be more costly than he ever could have conceived!"
Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar
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Mysterious, Apr 2002, 23.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0892967625
In 1370 St. David's, Wales Owen Archer looks forward to returning home to his wife Lucie and their children now that his family business in his homeland is finished. However, his departure becomes delayed when the local Archdeacon orders Owen to investigate the death of Cynog the mason, whom seemingly hung himself. Owen begins making inquiries even as he sympathizes with the local rebels.
While Owen remains stuck in Wales, a customer accuses apothecary Lucie of poisoning her. Widower Roger Moreton helps Lucie with the accusation and with the handling of her late father's estate. Among other distracters, some not so minor, include whether Owen will ever return to his beloved family as rumors fly he joined the cause of the rebellious Welsh.
The two story lines remain on separate tracks until the very end. Though a bit disjointed historical fiction fans will relish the depth that Candace Robb furbishes on Welsh history including maps of York and St. David and a short glossary. Those readers interested in an Archer mystery will find his investigation takes a back seat to the insight into the era while the lead male protagonist also shares the novel with his wife's activities that further supplement the deep look into the late fourteenth century. A SPY FOR THE REDEEMER is either a cavity extraction (for historical mystery aficionados) or a wonderfully vivid tale (historical fiction buffs) depending on the reader's particular genre taste.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of A Spy for the Redeemer |
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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 - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- middle ages
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 30%
Kind of investigator
- skilled 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:
- government investigator
- champion of justice
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- spy
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an above average amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 1
- 2
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--swords/knives
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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