In this specific book, Melanie decides to do something on her own
without her pushy Aunt Peg by her side. Despite her Aunt's pushing
to join an agility class like herself, Melanie is determined to
step out from under Peg's dominating shadow and instead joins an
obedience class. But as soon as Melanie enters into the group, it
turns out to not be as fun as she had thought it would be.
While visiting a nursing home with her obedience class, an elderly
woman is found dead in her bed after being seen alive not five minutes
before. The obedience group, knowing that Melanie had a habit of
solving crime, decide that she should be the one to find Mary's
killer.
While searching for a larger home, showing her Standard Poodle,
Eve, battling a new neighbor's irksome cats, and trying to find
time for her eight year old son and new husband, Melanie sets off
to find the murderer with the help of Aunt Peg.
Author Laurien Berenson's novels are always in a light tone with
lots of information about dog shows and obedience training.
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
Tone of story - very upbeat
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? - 40%
Kind of investigator - amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - animal antics
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes
Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - teacher
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
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 - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique
Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique
Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Style
Part of a series? Yes
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 1
Sex Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references - descript of kissing
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |