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A Place of Execution
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Plot Summary of A Place of Execution
"The novel centers on the central character George Bennett, newly appointed inspector and the beginning of his most difficult and harrowing case - a suspected murder with no body, an investigation with more dead ends and closed faces than he'd have found in the anonymity of the inner city, and an outcome that reverberates through the years. I highly recommend this novel for its wonderful depiction of police work in the 1960's, its concise and beautiful language, its elaborate plotting, effective use of setting, and brilliant character development. One of the years best!"
Roger C. Bergstrom, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of A Place of Execution
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story: - 1960's-1970's
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 90%
Special suspect? - relative
Murder of certain profession? - students/teachers
Misc. Murder Plotlets - "All in the family" murder
Kind of investigator - police procedural, American - british mystery (I say!)
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: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - none
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 - bulging muscles

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - wealthy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount
Motive of antagonist - power
Monster of some sort? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Misc setting - fancy mansion

Style
How many deaths? - 1
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The Law of Falling Bodies by Edmund X. DeJesus
The Informer by Akimitsu Takagi
City of Gold and Shadows by Ellis Peters


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