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| Plot Summary of It Had to Be You |
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"
Morrow, April 2004, 23.95, 224 pp.
ISBN 0060528435
Once they were society's darlings, rich enough to live for today and not care about tomorrow; then the stock market crash of 1929 left them destitute, forced to live in a cold water tenement in New York City. When a relative dies, he makes provisions for Robert and Lily Brewster to live in the Grace and Favor Cottage in Voorburg on the Hudson and has his attorney control the money to make sure they have enough to keep the mansion running smoothly.
If they want to buy some luxuries, they have to get a job because the cottage and money meant for them is held in a trust and administered by an attorney. The brother and sister team are asked to work in a nursing home until the two people who are out sick return. While there, a patient Sean Connor dies and everyone soon learns that he was suffocated. What makes this so puzzling is that the homicide victim only had hours to live and when Lily and Robert learn of this; they start snooping, hoping to find a clue that will lead them to a murderer.
IT HAD TO BE YOU is an exciting, light-hearted amateur sleuth novel that takes place just days after President Roosevelt takes office. Readers get a sense of how the Great Depression affected people, especially the upper class many of whom lost their fortunes. It is rare for a mystery too have two equally well developed protagonists but creative writer Jill Churchill manages it. This series is so delightful that readers will find themselves eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of It Had to Be You |
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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 - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
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:
- 1930's-1950's
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- life in small town
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- unemployed
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
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- homemaker
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
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:
- Northeast
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
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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