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The Black Tower Book Summary and Study Guide

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Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Black Tower


Commander Dalgliesh experiences a life-and-death experience in the beginning, and therefore wishes to foresake his long-lasted career. But he begins an investigation that a long separated old friend, Father Baddley, had requested before the old man mysteriously died, followed by three other mysterious deaths.
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With the peculiarity of the deaths in this novel - deaths curiously natural at convenient times, the atmosphere of incompleteness builds on until we find the entire truth. A mixture of self-identity search, murder mystery, and a bit of action to throw into the mix, The Black Tower is definitely a must-read for those who loves Commander Dalgliesh's crime investigation series!
The review of this Book prepared by Deirdra Dan



Chapter Analysis of The Black Tower

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 30%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 40%How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) 30% Tone of story    -   Dry-cynical How difficult to spot villain?    -   Difficult, but some clues given Time/era of story:    -   1980's-1999 What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot?    -   70% Murder of certain profession?    -   businessmen Kind of investigator    -   skilled citizen investigator Kid or adult book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot?    -   feelings towards family/friends Crime Thriller    -   Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown)    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   police/lawman Age:    -   40's-50's Ethnicity/Race    -   British

Setting

Europe    -   Yes European country:    -   England/UK Water?    -   Yes Water:    -   drowning City?    -   Yes City:    -   London Small town?    -   Yes Small town people:    -   nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee Misc setting    -   resort/hotel

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   moderately detailed references to deaths Explicit sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references Unusual forms of death    -   asphyxiation    -   dropped from large heights    -   hanging Unusual form of death?    -   Yes Amount of dialog    -   significantly more descript than dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like The Black Tower

The Big Gamble by Michael McGarrity
Hindsight by Barbara Rogan
Midlife Can Be Murder by Jane Isenberg
Dead Ringer by Lisa Scottoline
The Face on the Wall by Jane Langton
P.D. James Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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