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Down Here
Andrew Vachss Book Review

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Plot Summary of Down Here
"

Knopf, Apr 2004, 19.95
ISBN: 1400041732

Eva Wolfe lost her job as sex-crimes prosecutor when she refused to let a politically protected offender get away with his crimes. Though the success rate of prosecuting these vermin has dramatically gone down, her former superiors remain happy to see her gone, as she was a career liability. Not so shockingly, street vigilante Burke, who eradicates sex predators as an illegal but cleansing sideline, admires and loves Eva with a passion though she apparently does not return his feelings.

When convicted serial rapist John Anson Wychek gains his freedom due to a legal technicality, the police arrest Wolfe, accusing her of rage when her former case unraveled leading to her shooting him three times. Before becoming comatose, Wychek accused Wolfe of trying to kill him. Thus, this one is personal on two counts as Burke with the help of the Irregulars begins digging for the truth because the love of his life would not shoot this human bug in cold blood.

Burke is a wee bit different in this novel though the dregs of society looking from DOWN HERE would probably differ. This time he wears positive feelings on his sleeves, not just his usual avenging soul. Still even as Burke shows more heart than usual, the story line remains classic Vachss with lowlifes taking it in the shorts. The investigation is fun to follow as Max the Silent, the Professor, and Mama are their typical irresistible selves enhancing the fact that Burke's back in town.

Harriet Klausner

"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Down 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 - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
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: - present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 70%
Kind of investigator - skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - feelings towards family/friends
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - a significant amount
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - business executive
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
United States Yes

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
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