Thriller Annotation

 Author: Iris Johansen

Title: Blind Alley

Genre: Thriller

Publication Date: 2004

Number of Pages: 278

Geographical Setting: Atlanta, GA & Pompeii, Italy

Time Period: present day

Series: Eve Duncan Series, book 5

Plot Summary: A serial killer makes it his mission to rid the world of every woman who bears any resemblance to Cira, a beautiful actress killed in 79 A.D. when Mount Vesuvias erupted. His ultimate conquest is Jane MacGuire, who he believes to be Cira reincarnated. Jane, in fact, has been suffering from a re-occurring nightmare in which a woman named Cira is caught in a smoky tunnel and is running for her life. 

Subject Heading: Forensic Sculptor - Fiction,  Archaeology - Fiction, Serial Killer - Fiction

Genre Appeal: Mood, Relationships, and Violence

    Mood: The novel draws the reader in with a sense of creepy anticipation.

    Relationship: There is an underlying theme of family stability. The main characters are a married couple and their adopted teenage daughter. The mom still struggles with the loss of her own daughter and the bond with the adopted daughter helps her cope. The story enforces the fact that they all will do anything for each other, no matter what the consequence. The adopted daughter is reaching an age of needing to be independent at the most inconvenient time of being the target of a serial killer. 

    Violence: While this book DOES contain violence, it is not told in grisly, gory detail. The murders are described after the fact, in just such a way to make the reader cringe in disgust yet still be compelled to keep reading. 

Three Descriptive Terms: Edgy, fast-paced, and suspenseful

Three Relevant Non-fiction Works: 

    Reincarnation: Exceptional Cases of Past Life Memoirs, by Eirik Leivsson.  13 separate cases are discussed, where individuals seem to remember moments from another time. Jane is not sure if she is in fact Cira reincarnated but wonders how/why she would start of dream of her. 

    The Murder of Tutankhamen, by Bob Brier. King Tut was 19 when he died; in Blind Alley, Cira was only 17. Discovery of their tombs brought their names back into the spotlight. 

    Finder's Keeper's: A Tale of Archaeological Plunder and Obsession, by Craig Childs. This is a novel that discusses the debates over who has the right to own ancient artifacts. The safety of excavators and archeologists  are on the line as they try to explain what would cause people to loot digging sites, etc. This correlates with the storyline of Blind Alley because the characters all return to Pompeii, Italy to the site of the eruption that supposedly killed Cira. 

Three Relevant Fiction Works:

    Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Mary Higgins Clark. The main character's daughter undergoes plastic surgery. After the procedure, she bears an uncanny resemblance to a woman murdered five years prior.

    The Death Dealer, by Heather Graham. The private investigator in the novel receives clues to murders from people he know are deceased. Blind Alley does not have clues provided by ghosts per se, however, Jane does dream repeatedly of Cira, setting her on a mission to discover how and where her remains are. 

    Stolen Things: by R.H. Herron. This book has a similar character connection as Blind Alley. The main character's husband is on the police force, and the story is focused on their teenage daughter. 

Comments

  1. Hanna MarshallJanuary 28, 2024 at 3:41 PM

    Hi Savannah!

    The plot of this novel sounds really interesting and unlike other thrillers I've heard or read about. Did you enjoy the novel? Seeing how it is the 5th book in the series, I'm curious if you have read the others before it and if they are connected?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Savannah TrostelFebruary 3, 2024 at 7:15 PM

      Hannah, sorry for the late reply. Actually, no. I unfortunately did not realize it was part of a series. Luckily, it read well as a stand alone book. Although they did refer back once in awhile to a prior book, they explained it in such a way that it made sense to the reader.

      Delete
  2. Library Science Student Jackie BoydJanuary 29, 2024 at 9:52 AM

    Hi Savannah,
    This book sounds thoroughly gripping! With the pace being so fast, did you read it over many sessions or just power right through it in a few sessions?
    The combination of forensic sculpting, archaeology, and a serial killer with a historical vendetta makes for such an interesting plot. The family dynamic and the adopted daughter's struggle for independence sounds interesting. It kind of reminds me of an old episode of Burn Notice where Michael Weston is trying to keep a teenager and her mom his mom’s garage to keep them safe from some goons.
    I appreciate when books do not include grisly details. I do not enjoy reading about people getting hurt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Savannah TrostelFebruary 3, 2024 at 7:18 PM

      Sorry for the delayed response; I started out with the intention of reading it over many sessions to pace it out, but ended up plowing through it in a three hour session. LOL It sucked me in. You mentioned Burn Notice; I used to watch that show and I vaguely recall that episode. Now I may have to go rewatch that show. :)

      Delete
  3. Erin CataldiJanuary 29, 2024 at 3:40 PM

    Fantastic job on the appeals! They really help flesh out your summary! This book sounds so intriguing! I love anything to do with archaeology! Keep up the great work!

    ReplyDelete

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