Book reviews

Savage Garden
Denise Hamilton Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Denise Hamilton Books
New book search
Denise Hamilton Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Savage Garden
"

Scribner, May 2005, 22.00, 336 pp.
ISBN: 0743261925

In Los Angeles the opening day curtain call is in one hour for the play Our Lady of the Barrio by Alfonso Reventon; however the leading lady, explosive actress Catarina Velosi has not shown up at the playhouse. Since Alfonso is a childhood friend, Silvio Aguilar asks his girlfriend Los Angeles Times reporter Eve Diamond to accompany him to Catarina's apartment where they find her dead.

The police wonder if Alfonso who loved Catarina and wrote his play for her killed her in a passionate rage or Silvio whose entrance to the crime scene with a perfect witness might have covered up evidence that he was previously there. Eve, accompanied by African-American reporter Felice Morgan, conducts inquiries into those who knew the volatile diva to determine who had the opportunity because several people besides the two prime suspects which include Alfonso's wife, the victim's drama teacher, and a Hollywood big shot, along with a seemingly cast of thousands had motives.

Harriet Klausner

"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Savage Garden
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)
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%
Murder of certain profession? - actors/producers/directors
Kind of investigator - skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - feelings towards family/friends
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - journalist
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - none
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: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - business executive
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 - very athletic

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - California

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
Most similar books to Savage Garden
Deep Freeze by Lisa Jackson
The Alpine Pursuit by Mary Daheim
Desert Spring by Michael Craft
Last Scene Alive by Charlaine Harris
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez


Click here for more information about this book


Denise Hamilton Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Harriet Klausner  

SCHOLARS:


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!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Online Dating Advice
Erin Hunters 8:01:38 AM
Judith McNaught 5:06:54 AM
Ray Bradbury 12:56:20 AM
Gary Paulsen 12:31:20 AM
Annette Curtis Klause 10:46:22 PM
Herman Melville 10:11:58 PM
Mary Stewart 10:05:17 PM
George W. Bush 9:24:15 PM
Suzanne Collins 8:54:37 PM
James Patterson 7:47:37 PM
Kara Dalkey 5:37:03 PM
Teri Woods 4:55:49 PM
Southampton Row 4:05:35 PM
V.C. Andrews 3:51:51 PM
Jeanette Walls 2:50:57 PM
General Discussion (All Topics) 1:22:33 PM
Ruth Minsky Sender 12:31:59 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:25:33 AM
Deric Longden 7:40:15 AM
Robin Jenkins 4:55:32 AM

More message boards