"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.
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!"
Deirdra Dan, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of The Black Tower
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
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
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- physically sick
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- diplomat
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
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
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Sex
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
