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| Plot Summary of Dying Voices |
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"
Bantam, Apr 2001, 5.99, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0553582828
In 1976, unknown assailants abduct Susan Blackstock, the third wife of wealthy Wolf and mother of eight-year old Dodie. Wolf refuses to pay the ten million-pound ransom fee. Instead he negotiated with his spouse?s kidnappers over the next few weeks, but never completed the deal. Susan never returned home.
In 1996, the police visit Dodie to inform her that they found the body of her mother. However, Susan Carrington, as she called herself, was murdered two days ago. A stunned Dodie has nowhere to turn to ask questions especially since Wolf died last year. Still seeking closure even before her mother?s corpse was found, a desperate Dodie begins making her own inquiries, and is unaware of the danger she will soon find herself in from a dangerous foe.
DYING VOICES is a tremendous amateur sleuth tale that works on several levels because readers understand the star?s obsession to learn the truth. The story line is fast-paced and filled with twists from start to finish. Dodie is a great character, but hopefully her detective career ends because this case was personal and it is doubtful future tales could match this great novel. Readers will appreciate Laura Baker?s efforts and search for previous books like the well written A LITTLE DEATH.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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"Dodie Blackstock's mother was kidnapped when she was eight and later declared dead. Twenty years later, Dodie gets a call from the police saying her mother's body has turned up-and she has only been dead for 48 hours. Dodie's search for what has happened in those 20 years, and why her rich father refused to pay ransom takes her on a journey of self-discovery and turns up some pretty awful family secrets, as well as someone from her mother's past who now is after Dodie. Wonderfully well written and developed characters-I couldn't put it down!"
Linda Sourpuss, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Dying Voices |
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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?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 40%
- 70%
Special suspect?
- relative
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- cooped up in spooky house
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
- british mystery (I say!)
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- wealthy
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
- a little
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
- deluded
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
- an average amount
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
- jealousy
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- bulging muscles
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
- 3-4
Unusual forms of death
- poisoning
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
- 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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