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The Winds of Change
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Plot Summary of The Winds of Change
"

Viking, Aug 2004, 25.95, 407 pp.
ISBN: 0670033278

Superintendent Richard Jury had thought nothing could be worse than his last case as he almost died (see THE BLUE LAST). However, looking down at the murdered little girl lying in the London streets makes him realize he was too optimistic.

At about the same time, Police Commander Brian Macalvie investigates the case of a Jane Doe found murdered in the gardens of Declan Scott's estate. Three years ago Brian failed to resolve the abduction of Declan's stepdaughter, four years old at the time Flora. Her mother Mary died not long afterward and Declan still mourns those losses.

The girl's autopsy reveals the five year old had sexual activity. Richard talks with pedophile unit Chief DI Johnny Blakeley who says the victim was abused by a ring owned by financier Viktor Baumann. The other killing also connects to Viktor as Flora was his child and Mary his first wife. The three coppers work together to prove that Viktor is a murderer and pedophile ring owner.

Harriet Klausner

"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Winds of Change
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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 - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
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? - 70%
Kind of investigator - police procedural, British
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - rapes
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - police/lawman
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
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 - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - mastermind
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 - very athletic

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK

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
Most similar books to The Winds of Change
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Darkness on the Edge of Town by J. Carson Black
Kisscut by Karin Slaughter
Grave Concerns by Gwen Hunter


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