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A Certain Truth
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Plot Summary of A Certain Truth
"

Bethany House, 2004, 12.99, 300 pp.
ISBN: 0764226479

They met in 1903 and now almost four years later they are married. However, Los Angeles based attorney Kit Shannon Fox delayed their honeymoon with her husband Ted while she worked a court case. Ted seems accepting that Kit is in demand as a lawyer and that she puts in lots of time and passion in defense of her clients.

On the cruise ship heading back to California, Captain Raleigh detains passenger Wanda Boswell for murdering her spouse Chilton whose body was found in their cabin. Wanda retains Kit as her attorney, but on the high sea there is no judge to rule on objections so the captain makes all “legal” decisions; Raleigh bides time until they dock where the police can take over. Though she has doubts about her client's innocence as Wanda had the motive (public fighting), means and opportunity, Kit disagrees with the Captain as she believes that if her client is innocent, the real killer would be free by then. Kit makes inquiries as a frustrated Ted concludes that her practice is more important than he will ever be.

A CERTAIN TRUTH is a superb historical legal thriller tale starring a wonderful protagonist who defies the role of women in the first decade of the twentieth century. Through powerful characterizations, especially the newlyweds, fans obtain a terrific panoramic look at the era that emphasizes “we've come along way, baby”. James Scott Bell provides a winner that will send readers like this reviewer scrambling for Kit's previous appearances (see A GREATER GLORY and A HIGHER JUSTICE) as well as his other works.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of A Certain Truth
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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
Time/era of story: - 1900-1920's
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60%
Kind of investigator - amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - feelings towards lover
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes
Is Romance a MAJOR (25%+) part of story? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - a lawyer creature
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 - Smarter than most 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
Water? Yes
Water: - pleasure/love boat

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 A Certain Truth
No Clue At the Inn by Kate Kingsbury
Deadly Illusions by Brenda Joyce
A Cold Touch of Ice by Michael Pearce
A Deadly Promise by Joan Lowery Nixon
Deadly Desire by Brenda Joyce


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James Scott Bell Resident Scholar Profiles

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Harriet Klausner  

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