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| Plot Summary of Dead End |
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"
Avon, April 2004, 6.99, 364 pp.
ISBN 0060582987
As a DC area crime reporter, Rebecca Moore uncovers a crime story in a brokerage house. When she has enough substantiation, she turns the evidence over to the SEC, knowing she'll have a juicy story after they finish their investigation. Rebecca tells her lover David about the SEC investigation because he works in the firm that is being investigated never realizing he is the person embezzling funds. He commits suicide in Rebecca's home.
When Rebecca becomes part of the story, she escapes to Head Tide, Maryland and the Vintage and Classic's car businesses she inherited from her uncle. When she opens up the store at the beginning of the work week, she finds the naked body of Graham Stock, Rebecca's business rival. The sheriff believes either Rebecca or one of her employees, mostly ex-cons, is responsible. Washington D.C. detective Mick Hagan, who feels guilty over David's death, is in town and is asked by the local sheriff to help in the investigation and he agrees. More dangerous and even deadlier crimes follow like arson and another homicide. To learn the truth, Rebecca puts her own life in danger from a killer who wants something she doesn't even know she has.
Every once in a while a mystery author comes along that is so talented that the reader knows she has a great future ahead of her. Judith Skillings fits that bill. She has written a fabulous who-done-it that is rich in characterizations and is well plotted. Although Rebecca and Mick never kiss or ever touch, the sexual tension between them is so strong that readers feel the sparks jumping of the pages. There is a plethora of suspects so that it is almost impossible to figure out who the perpetrator is.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Dead End |
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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 - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
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?
- 80%
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
Profession/status:
- small businessman
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:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- a lawyer creature
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:
- Southeast
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Click here for more information about this book
Judith Skillings Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Harriet Klausner
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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