"When 60's folk singer Peggy Muryan moves to the small Tennessee town of Hamelin, it is with the purpose of writing material that will help her re-launch her singing career. She certainly does not expect a stalker to start sending her postcards with threatening messages, seemingly innocent lines from folk songs that all feature death, and which Peggy used to perform with her singing partner before she became famous. The sheriff, Spencer Arrowood, is attracted to Peggy, but at first he thinks the postcards are just pranks. He changes his mind when Peggy's pet dog is found horribly butchered and clues found on the body indicate that the killer may be a Vietnam veteran.
This brings Spencer's deputy, a veteran himself, to the fore, and he starts to investigate the possible Vietnam angle of the crime. It becomes even more urgent to find the stalker when a young woman disappears and is later found murdered. She had a strong resemblance to Peggy when she was young, and Peggy and Spencer both fear that Peggy may be next.
"
Jóhanna, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O
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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 - 30% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 80%
Special suspect?
- chronically deranged person
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
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?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- a teen
Profession/status:
- student
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Southeast
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 2
Amount of dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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