Book reviews

Dark of the Moon
Tess Pendergrass Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Tess Pendergrass Books
New book search
Tess Pendergrass Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Dark of the Moon
"

Five Star, Dec 2004, 26.95, 332 pp.
ISBN: 0786251093

Two years ago southwest water colors artist Alain Caine left his girlfriend librarian Destiny Millbrook without a second look to pursue his “real” destiny. Now with Jasper County California Arts and Crafts Fair to occur, Alain calls Destiny expecting her to house him for ten days. Destiny tells him to reside elsewhere. Besides deserting her, she has moved on and has a new boyfriend Detective Daniel Parks.

Not long afterward someone kills Alain in an alley. Daniel is the prime suspect as he seems to have a motive in terms of running scared of the competition for the heart of Destiny. Destiny plans to prove her significant other is innocent. However, she fails to understand the danger she places herself in from a sociopath who has already killed a former congressman's daughter as well as Alain.

Though there is a police investigation into the homicides, DARK OF THE MOON is a fun amateur sleuth tale starring a delightful protagonist. The story line uses humor to defuse tension, but never loses sight of the professional and subsequently amateur investigations. Readers will appreciate the support cast, especially the chutzpah of Alain and the “fear” of Daniel that he might lose his beloved. Still this is Destiny's novel as was DANGEROUS MOONLIGHT, her previous appearance.

Harriet Klausner

"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Dark of the Moon
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).
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%
Special suspect? - lover
Misc. Murder Plotlets - Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
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
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 - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - small businessman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - jealousy
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 - very athletic

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - California

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 Dark of the Moon
Haunting for Justice by Kathy Vollmer
Love is Murder by Linda Palmer
Betrayal by Clare Francis
Shadow over Scorpio by Juanita Coulson
Hotel Riviera by Elizabeth Adler


Click here for more information about this book




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Suzanne Weyn 10:35:23 PM
George W. Bush 5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Anonymous 12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino 10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer 10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield 10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls 10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan 9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi 9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine 9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington 9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody 9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden 9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn 9:55:48 PM
Iris Johansen 9:55:24 PM
Marlo Morgan 9:54:58 PM

More message boards