Short summary It is a story about a man who is after the money of Leo Kingship, the owner of Kingship Copper Inc., who has three daughters. First he has a relationship with Dorothy, the youngest daughter, he wants to marry her to get the money, but she gets pregnant, that is why he kills her. Because Dorothy told him that her father would get mad if he knew she was pregnant. The book is divided into three parts, named Dorothy, Ellen and Marion like Kingship's daughter. You already know that in the first part Dorothy gets killed, but the killer makes it look like a suicide. In the second part Ellen is going to inquire into her sister's dead and she finds out it was murder. Then you will discover finally the name of the murderer, who was Ellen's boyfriend at that moment, but he had to kill her too, because she knew that he was the killer. In the third and final part Bud goes after Marion, Kingship's last living daughter, she is his last and only chance to get some of Kingship's fortune. Summary The book is divided into three parts, called: Dorothy, Ellen and Marion. At the beginning the story is written from the murderers sight, Ira lets you know what he thinks and how he feels about the situation, but his name isn't mentioned untill Dwight Powell reads the letter Ellen wrote to her boyfriend Bud Corliss. Further on in the story the author also lets you know the thoughts of the other key-characters, like Ellen and Dorothy. Bud Corliss is a young man who comes from a poor family. In spite of the lack of money, Bud always achieved very good. Because his father was a looser, Bud's mother placed all her hopes on her son. Bud wants his mother to be proud of him and the best and easiest way to get there is marrying a rich girl. He meets Dorothy at the University, everything seems to work out, but then she gets pregnant and that means no money. He has to find a way to get rid of her. He puts a well-considered plan together and murders her. He made it look like suicide and everybody fell into his trap, exept Ellen and Gordon Gant. Ellen is playing detective to expose the killer. At first she thinks Gordon Gant is Dorothy's murderer, but later it appears he is not , Gordon and Ellen become good friends. Ellen goes on with her investigation and she informs him and her boyfriend Burton Corliss (the killer!) all the progress she has made. When Bud begins to smell a rat, he kills Ellen too. This time he didn't try to obscure the murder, but took care of covering up his tracks so nobody finds out it was he. Now there was one left to go, he had to be very careful. He couldn't afford anything to go wrong this time. He wrote everything down he knew about Marion on a piece of paper and learned it by heart, he'd get in touch with her by starting a conversation about one of these things. Soon, she was totally wrapped up by his gentle and cultivated manners. She felt so very happy because someone loved her and paid attention to her for the first time in her life. Bud and Marion are planning to get married. Meanwhile, Gordon got suspicious and decided to investigate the whole case. He found the Buds' notes and bit by bit he began to understand what his real intensions were. He tried to convince Leo Kingship(her father) and at last Leo believes him. In view of the fact that Bud was planning to marry Marion for the money (and that nothing would keep him from killing her), they thought it would be necessary to tell Marion. After she'd seen the notes, she began to cry. The next day Bud and his mother were invited to come and look after the huge factory's of Mr. Kingship. His mother refuses to go with them, because she's afraid of plains, so Bud is coming alone. Bud is very enthusiastic about it, especially because this is going to be his inheritance. By using a dodge, Leo asks Marion to go outside.(she looks pale) Gordon, Leo and Bud stay behind. Bud still didn't get wind of the dangerous situation where he was in now. Leo and Gordon faced him while, they were standing shoulder to shoulder, blocking the way back. Leo asked him how he got Dorothy to write that suicide note, and a few other questions about the murders. Bud denies everything, but at last he admits he was reponsible for the note. Leo and Gordon only wanted him to confess, by keeping him under pressure. But Bud jumped into the depth and met his death. He got what he deserved...
Ervaringsverslag
Where is the story about? The story is about a young man who wants to get rich without working to hard. It also is about trust and love. Characters: Main characters: Dorothy, Ellen and Marion Kingship: three sisters. Dorothy Kingship: blond, brown eyes. She is very naive, believes everything Bud tells her. She is also very eager to get married and has this fantastic dreamvision of her future with Bud. Ellen Kingship: brown hair, brown eyes. She is very curious and eager to find her sister’s killer. She also doesn’t trust anyone very quick. Marion Kingship: brown hair, brown eyes. She is very shy; she doesn’t have much self-esteem. She never loved anyone before she met Bud. She likes art very much and is arguing a lot with her father. Leo Kingship: their father, owner of the Kingship Copper Incorporation. Blond/gray, blue/gray eyes. Severe, interferes a lot with his daughter Marion’s life. He is very concerned and he doesn’t like Bud from the beginning. Burton (Bud) Corliss: a young man involved with the three sisters. Blond, blue eyes, quite tall and handsome. Greedy, kills everybody who keeps him from getting money. Dwight Powell: a student at Stoddard University. Blond, blue eyes, handsome. He is very honest about Dorothy. He’s also very afraid to talk about her, because he feels guilty about her suicide (he thinks she really did commit suicide). Gordon Gant: He is a disc jockey and a student at Stoddard University. Blond, blue eyes, very handsome. He is also very helpful and nice to Ellen by helping her with her investigation. He doesn’t always tell the truth, but he protects Ellen from his landlady by lying to her. Other characters: Annabelle Koch: a student at Stoddard University. Mr. Welch: Dean of Students at Stoddard University. Mrs. Arguette: Gordon Gant’s landlady. Mr. Fishback: the neighbour of Mrs. Arguette. Miss Richardson: Leo Kingship’s secretary. Mr. Otto: the manager of a copper smelter. Time: The story begins in 1949 and ends in December 1951. The story covers about three years. Most of the story is told in chronological order, but in the second chapter there is a flash-back that gives some information about the murderer. But I don’t think the time is so important for the story, it could have happened later as well. The place of action: Aat first the story is mainly in Stoddart university, Blue River, Iowa. When Ellen wants to check things out, she also goes to Blue River. At the last part, Marion, it takes place in New York. Perspetive The story is always told by a third person. But in the first part you see it mainly trough the eyes of Bud. At the second part you see it mostly from Ellen’s side. The third part is really seen from the postion of a third person, a story teller.
What does the writer want to tell us? I don’t think the writer really wants to make a clear point about something, or to tell us a wise lesson. But I think there sure is a lesson in it: to look out before you really trust someone. I really would like to read some other books from this writer because I’d found this one very exiting. And I’ve heard that other of his books like ‘the books from Brazil” etc. are very good as well. My Opinion Wow! Was the first thing that came up in me after reading this book.The author sure knows how to keep things exiting! She always ends the chapter with a thrilling moment, which made me want to go on reading. I almost couldn't put the book aside, I utilized every spare hour. Her style of writing pleased me very well, it never drops off. I experienced this book as form of acting, in writing. The characters in the story are individually exposed from the inside, in a seamless performance from one perspective to the other. Perhaps this is the secret of this books' vividness. I detected only one small thing where I was beginning to feel bored about; In the part called "Marion", we caught sight of the inside of the factory of Mr. Kingship, by looking through Buds' eyes. But in my view she was endlessly persuading about it, I got tired of it. I cannot say this book was hard for me to read, I think this is the suitable level of difficulty. All in all I'm very glad I've read this book. The other books she wrote as well, have aroused my curiosity, and before long, one of them will be standing in my bookcase.