|
|
| Plot Summary of Thin Walls |
|---|
"
St. Martin's, Sep 2002, 24.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0312287236
By Christmas 1968, private eye Smokey Dalton and his ten year old son Jimmy continue to hide in Chicago knowing that various law enforcement agencies at all levels of government and some nasty private citizens want to find them. Jimmy eye-witnessed the killing of MLK and it is not the guy confessing from a prison cell. Unable to tell who is friend from foe because a police uniform means nothing, Smokey and Jimmy have changed identities in order to remain incognito.
To support the two of them, Smokey cannot obtain a formal but traceable sleuth license even under his alias of Bill Grimshaw. Instead he does whatever comes his way to include some under the table inquiries. While dealing with Jimmy and the gangs, and his lover/employer relationship with a wealthy white woman, “Bill” agrees to investigate the death of a Black dentist. Rather quickly, “Bill” finds himself in the middle of the very thing he needs to avoid: the FBI and other police officials investigating a potential serial killer.
The third Dalton historical mystery, THIN WALLS, is a fabulous tale that brings to life the turbulent sixties through the frustrations of various groups. This technique could have proven fatally stereotyped, but instead Kris Nelscott makes each group distinct in their rage at their inability to truly matter. The mystery is first class and Smokey's efforts to keep Jimmy clean feel genuine and makes him humanly like most caring parents. The series is as big a winner as the Detroit Tiger's World Series (Jets Superbowl was still a few weeks a way) victory.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
|
|
| Review Analysis of Thin Walls |
|---|
|
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).
|
|
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 - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
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
Time/era of story:
- 1960's-1970's
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
Kind of investigator
- hard boiled/private eye
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- minority/women/homosexual issues
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- private investigator
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- Black
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Kris Nelscott Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Marianna
SCHOLARS:
| |
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani
Most recent discussions:
General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Isobelle Carmody
11:14:13 PM
Norah Lofts
7:35:16 PM
Joyce Reardon
6:04:29 PM
Lori Wick
5:31:34 PM
Ellen Hopkins
4:56:21 PM
Teri Woods
3:52:40 PM
Robert Segarra
3:42:10 PM
Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer
3:08:59 PM
Nora Roberts
1:31:14 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun
11:58:30 AM
David Gerrold
10:41:17 AM
Deric Longden
8:34:00 AM
Suzanne Collins
7:47:38 AM
Mary Higgins Clark
3:41:53 AM
Eloise Jarvis McGraw
2:17:46 AM
Laurie Halse Anderson
1:29:18 AM
Alicia Appleman-Jurman
11:51:40 PM
David Pelzer
11:42:52 PM
Lorri Hewett
9:14:18 PM
George W. Bush
7:43:57 PM
More message boards
|
