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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is Dave angry with Robin?

2. What is found later that Dave goes to investigate?

3. Where does Dave spot Romero?

4. Why does Romero call Dave?

5. Why does Jerry help Dave with information about Romero?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Dave's new boss angry and what does the boss do as a consequence?

2. How does Dave ferret information out of Jerry?

3. What does Dave find when he searches Romero's apartment?

4. Why is Robin waiting for Dave one evening and what happens?

5. What does Dave decide about Bubba?

6. What murder scene does Dave investigate?

7. Describe the night of Annie's murder.

8. Describe Claudette Rocque.

9. What does Dave do with this new information he gains from Dautrieve about Keats?

10. Why does Claudette come to Dave's home and what does she do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The plot of a mystery/detective novel is part of what makes the book successful or not. Discuss the following:

1. What is the basic plot of HEAVEN'S PRISONERS?

2. How successful is the author at making the plot believable?

3. How successful is the author at expressing the plot with believable characters and action?

4. Discuss where the various elements of plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement) with specific details.

5. Do you think most mystery/detective novels have the same basic plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Dave begins working as a deputy for the Layfayette Parish Sheriff's Department. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Dave goes back to police work? Are we told why Dave quit police work with the New Orleans police department? Why?

2. What personality traits of Dave's might make him a good police officer? What would make him a ineffective or less-than-desirable police officer? Which in balancing the two seems to be stronger--his ability to be a good or not-so-great cop? Explain your rationale.

3. Why do you think the Sheriff of Layfaette Parish hires Dave when Dave is obviously drunk when he applies for the position? Is this a responsible thing to do on the Sheriff's part? Do you think the sheriff understands why Dave wants the position?

4. What motivates Dave to quit his job as a police officer at the end of the story? Is this a good decision on his part? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In most fiction, readers would like all the loose ends to be neatly "tied up." Discuss the following:

1. Do you think HEAVEN'S PRISONERS is successful as a detective novel? Why or why not.

2. What about this book would motivate you to read another of James Lee Burke's Robicheaux series? What would discourage you from doing so?

3. Were all the "loose ends" satisfactorily settled for you? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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