Book reviews

The Mask of Red Death
Harold Schechter Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Harold Schechter Books
New book search
Harold Schechter Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of The Mask of Red Death
"

Ballantine, Aug 2004, 24.95, 308 pp.
ISBN: 0345448413

In 1845, the Raven and several scathing reviews in newspapers have brought fame to Edgar Allan Poe. He relocated to Manhattan accompanied by his fragile spouse and his mother-in-law. However, the city is in an angry uproar as someone is killing and scalping people. The locals believe that Indian Chief Wolf Bear, working in P.T. Barnum's sideshow, is the serial killer and a lynch mob forms.

However, Kit Carson arrives in time to prove that Chief Wolf Bear is innocent and that the reprehensible John "Liver-Eating” Johnson is the killer. Joining ranks Kit and Edgar follow the deadly trail that includes a mysterious albino client of the author. While Edgar would prefer to say NEVERMORE and Kit believes a big city is HUMBUG, both know they must stop this vicious murderer before he adds more to his scalp collection.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Mask of Red Death
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 - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story: - 19th century
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
The crook is.... - stalking/killing innocents
Crime Thriller Yes
Mostly a criminal POV story Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - finding a known killer

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - writer
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - middling 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: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - killer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - insanity
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? - 5-7
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to The Mask of Red Death
The Empire of Shadows by Richard E. Crabbe
Dirty Diamonds by Betty Sullivan La Pierre
Who Slashed Celanarie's Throat? by Maryse Conde
The Hanover Square Affair by Ashley Gardner
Point of Honor by Madeleine E. Robins


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!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Suzanne Weyn 10:35:23 PM
George W. Bush 5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Anonymous 12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino 10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer 10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield 10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls 10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan 9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi 9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine 9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington 9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody 9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden 9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn 9:55:48 PM
Iris Johansen 9:55:24 PM
Marlo Morgan 9:54:58 PM

More message boards