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Petty Treason
Madeleine E. Robins Book Review

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Plot Summary of Petty Treason
"

Forge, Aug 2004, 24.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0765304007

In 1810, A flustered Mr. Colcannon on the advice of a friend visits detective Sarah Tolerance who chose that profession over her other choice of whoring. Colcannon hires Sarah to discreetly investigate the murder of his brother-in-law, French aristocratic émigré Chevalier d'Aubigny. The culprit beat the victim brutally in his bed until he died.

Sarah wearing her male garb and carrying her sword learns quickly that d'Aubigny frequented brothels where he abused prostitutes as he also did his spouse. When Anne, a prostitute, is arrested for homicide, Sarah digs deeper because she is convinced the young woman is innocent.

Harriet Klausner

"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Petty Treason
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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 humorous
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story: - 19th century
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 80%
Murder of certain profession? - prostitutes/stripper/porn
Misc. Murder Plotlets - Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator - hard boiled/private eye
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - private investigator
Age: - 20's-30'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 - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
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
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK

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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