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| Plot Summary of The Dreaming Detective |
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"
Dunne, Dec 2004, 23.95, 256 pp.
ISBN: 0312322143
The Chief Constable of Greater Birchester, a man named Newcomen, assigns Detective Superintendent Harriet “The ‘Hard Detective” Martens a cold case homicide. Taken slightly aback by the hostility in her superior's voice, Harriet has no idea who Mr. Newcomen was referring to when he asked her “Who Killed the Preacher”. He expects her to solve the vicious 1967 strangling murder of “The Boy Preacher” Krishna Kumaramangalam in the Imperial Hotel, which is now demolished. Harriet concludes her new boss wants her to fail so he can claim she is not worthy of her rank and can live up to his nickname Mr. Newbroom by sweeping her away.
Newcomen claims that advances in sleuthing in the past three plus decades will prove fruitful if Harriet is capable of doing her job. While waiting for the results of DNA testing, Harriet reads a true crime book, “Who Killed the Preacher”. Next she interviews the seven prime suspects who were the only people with access to the crime scene as the Hard Detective is not going to gently allow Mr. Newbroom to sweep her away.
Harriet Klausner"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Dreaming Detective |
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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 - 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:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- solving long-past murder
- Big focus on forensic evidence
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, British
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- British
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:
- 40's-50'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
Europe
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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H.R.F. Keating Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Harriet Klausner
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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