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Friends and Other Perishables
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Plot Summary of Friends and Other Perishables
"

Five Star, Dec 2004, 25.95, 215 pp.
ISBN: 1594142599

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, private investigator Carl Jacobs meets with his childhood friend, informant Jimmy Jay late at night, but instead of information and friendship, the “Blue Jay” tries to kill the sleuth. Carl takes a bullet to the shoulder, but kills Jimmy. Afterward, Carl explains to the police that he does not know why a man who slept in his home and knew his wife and two daughters would try to kill him.

The next day Carl learns that another private investigator was killed last week by the weapon that Jimmy used on him. Other attempts on Carl's life follow, but this time by a professional hit man. As Carl investigates a couple of cases for Underhill Insurance, where his wife is employed, he begins to uncover a multi million dollar insurance scam.

Carl is a cross between an urban noir hero and a househusband/doting father. Besides being shot (remarkable recovery aside), he makes breakfast for his three beloved human females.

Harriet Klausner

"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Friends and Other Perishables
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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 - 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 - hard boiled/private eye
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - theft/fraud investigation
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - private investigator
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
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: - 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 - money/treasure
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
United States Yes
The US: - Midwest

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 Friends and Other Perishables
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Delectable Mountains by Earlene Fowler
Thief in Retreat by Aimee and David Thurlo
A Dose of Murder by Lori Avocato


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Dale Whisman Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Harriet Klausner  

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