| Plot Summary of Blowing Smoke |
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"
Kensington, Jul 2001, 22.00, 360 pp.
ISBN: 1575666707
In Syracuse, Noah's Ark sells exotic pets, but the owner Robin Light fails to make enough money to pay her taxes. If she does not come up with some cash soon, she will be forced to declare bankruptcy. Robin moonlights
as a private detective, but is so desperately strapped for income, she accepts two cases simultaneously.
The first case involves a fifteen-year-old runaway whose parents want her home. In her quest to find Bethany, Robin visits a cemetery, a tattoo parlor, and a Goth concert. Her other assignment involves wealthy Rose
Taylor, whose children want Robin to debunk psychic Pat Humphrey. In the course of this investigation someone punches Robin in the jaw, someone shoots at her, and a knife is placed against her throat. While engulfed in
both inquiries, Robin wonders if bankruptcy might prove the better alternative.
Barbara Block knows how to write an action-packed private detective novel that turns into a strong urban Noir centering on the Upstate New York city of Syracuse. The heroine is quite a sleuth and readers will want her
as a friend who hopefully will revisits the audience with her next adventures.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Blowing Smoke |
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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
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 20%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
General Crime (including known murderer)
Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here?
- catching con-artist
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- private investigator
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
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:
- small businessman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
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
Style
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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