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Kinki Lullaby
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Plot Summary of Kinki Lullaby
"

Dark Alley, Oct 2004, 13.95, 358 pp.
ISBN: 0060516240

Reporter Billy Chaka is in Osaka to accept an award from the Kinki Foundation for a story he wrote on Tetsuo Oyamada, who became a master puppeteer in the Bunraku Theater at fourteen years old. A bit surprised since the article was written almost a decade ago, Billy rationalizes why he should attend. He figures a free trip across the ocean is worth his time, but more important his magazine Youth in Asia could use the publicity though he admits he would rather stay home.

As the gala draws to a close, Tetsuo's father asks Billy to learn why Bunraku fired his son. Mumbling he will consider it, Billy talks with American Richard Gale as they ride the elevator in their hotel together. The next day, Bill learns that someone killed Gale. Unable to resist a homicide investigation and deciding to follow up on Mr. Oyamada's request, Billy begins making inquiries starting with visits to the puppet theaters where he begins to detect a connection between the play and the homicide not realizing that he alienated the local crime lords.

The fourth Chaka investigative tale is a fine story filled with amusing asides by the hero and a solid murder mystery. The story line is fun to follow as Billy gets into one mess after another especially when human females are involved. Though somewhat identical in plot line to the previous Chaka novels, fans will enjoy Billy's westernizing antics in Osaka's historical puppet theater.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Kinki Lullaby
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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 - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 80%
Kind of investigator - skilled 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: - journalist
Age: - 20's-30'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 - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - artist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - Japan

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 1
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to Kinki Lullaby
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Where There's A Will by Aaron Elkins
Who Killed the Queen of Clubs? by Patricia Sprinkle
Ten Little New Yorkers by Kinky Friedman


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Isaac Adamson Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Glenn Yatabe  

SCHOLARS:
Harriet Klausner  


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