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| Plot Summary of Murder At Bertram's Bower |
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Doubleday, Mar 2001, 22.95, 336 pp.
ISBN: 0385496370
In 1892 South End Boston, police officer Joseph Flynn discovers the horribly slashed body of twenty year old Mary Flaherty. The victim worked as a secretary to Agatha Montgomery, the head of Bertram's Bower, a place for wayward women. Mary lived in the Bower. The next evening, someone brutally murders Mary's roommate Bridget Brown in the same manner.
Besides her near mental collapse from shock, Agatha's reputation as well as that of her brother Reverend Randolph Montgomery takes a beating with the two homicides. Her close friend Caroline Ames, a once a week teacher at Bertram's Bower, persuades her brother Addington to investigate the murders even though Inspector Crippen will object. With the help of their border Dr. John MacKenzie, the sleuths begin to unravel dark secrets that place the intrepid trio at risk of becoming the next victims.
MURDER AT BERTRAM'S BOWER, the second Ames Victorian mystery (see THE DEATH OF COLONEL MANN) is a fascinating historical tale that brings the gay nineties to life. Although the use of actual past events and items add depth to the tale, the plot belong to the characters, especially Caroline, who are warm, lively, and caring. The subplot of a budding romance between Caroline and John augment the feel of authenticity. The budding romance, along with a fine who-done-it will appeal to sub-genre fans.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Murder At Bertram's Bower |
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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).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 19th century
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 50%
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
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
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 2
Amount of dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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