Book reviews

Artistic License
Julie A. Hyzy Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Julie A. Hyzy Books
New book search
Julie A. Hyzy Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Artistic License
"

Five Star, Jan 2004, 25.95, 336 pp.
ISBN: 1594141126

In Tinsley Park, near Chicago, after almost five years of marriage to her loser of a spouse Gary, Annie Callaghan files for divorce. However, Gary persuades her to come out for lunch to talk. A few drinks later, Gary charms his way into her bedroom. Two months later, Annie is pregnant, but decides to finalize the divorce anyway.

Sam Morgan hires Annie to paint a mural on the wall of Millie's Ice Cream Parlour. Her preliminary work looks great until two young boys slop paint all over the wall. Their parents hire Annie to paint murals on the bedroom walls of their children. However, unbeknownst to Annie, that initial act of childhood vandalism has left her knowing about a stolen masterpiece, a Durer painting from the fifteenth century worth ten million dollars. Only Sam, who she now loves, tries to keep Annie safe.

Though readers will wonder why DeChristopher even allowed Annie into his home, fans will appreciate this delightful fine arts mystery. Annie is a charming soul who captures readers' hearts and, as important, their attention as she jumps from the frying pan of Gary into a fire of art theft and murder. The support cast enhances the audience's insight into the beleaguered heroine as Julie A. Hyzt provides a delightful inadvertent (on Annie's part) amateur sleuth tale.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Artistic License
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)
Time/era of story: - present (2000-2010)
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Crime plotlets: - search for valuable art/artifacts
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
If story PRIMARILY about main chr. being hunted... - hunted by killer/stalker

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - artist
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - none
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - thief/con artist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Midwest

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 Artistic License
The Shooting Script by Laurence Klavan
Fatal Tide by Iris Johanson
Harvard Yard by William Martin
The Book of Light by Michelle Blake
The Eighth Day by John Case


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!
Funny Videos
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
George W. Bush 1:43:53 AM
Robert Segarra 5:13:47 PM
Deric Longden 3:49:15 PM
Slavomir Rawicz 10:00:34 AM
Karen Armstrong 10:51:40 AM
Anonymous 1:39:52 PM
Suzanne Weyn 6:24:19 PM
Colin Forbes 12:23:54 PM
John Christopher 5:12:45 AM
Tom Clancy 2:19:45 AM
Margaret Peterson Haddix 5:36:55 PM
Nikolai Tolstoy 7:46:16 AM
J.K. Rowling 11:40:22 PM
Jack Higgins 4:54:08 PM
Eloise Jarvis McGraw 12:51:17 PM
Jane Rubino 1:21:00 PM
Lori Wick 2:11:45 AM
Betty Mahmoody 5:57:33 PM
Patricia Cornwell 2:48:17 PM
Andrew Clements 9:13:44 PM

Silicon Valley
More message boards