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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. About what does Howarth blame himself?

2. What have the returned lab tests on the case shown?

3. Why does Bradley ask for a brief interview with Dr. Lorrimer?

4. What does Brenda's mother insist that Brenda tell the police?

5. About what does the rector's wife talk non-stop?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dalgliesh learn from Domenica about Dr. Lorrimer?

2. What do the detectives learn from Mr. Lorrimer?

3. How does Dalgliesh sum up his investigation so far at the end of the first day?

4. What does Major Hunt tell Dalgliesh and Massingham about Dr. Lorrimer's will?

5. Why is Brenda Pridmore's mother upset and what does she want Brenda to tell Dalgliesh?

6. What does Dalgliesh learn from Miss Willard?

7. What does Angela Foley do when she learns of Stella's death and what does Dalgliesh believe about the death?

8. Where do Dalgliesh and Massingham go at the opening of Book 4, Chapter 1 and what do they learn?

9. What do several witnesses on a bus tell the detectives?

10. What does Dalgliesh think about concerning his interview with Dr. Kerrison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the themes of the novel, as alluded to over and over, is the idea that the investigation into a crime disregards all claims to privacy. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the ways in which Dr. Lorrimer's privacy is violated after his death. Is this right and necessary? Is there any way to conduct an investigation to discover his murderer without violating his privacy?

2. Not only is Dr. Lorrimer's privacy violated, but so, too, is the privacy of several other characters. Discuss two other characters (besides Dr. Larrimer) whose privacy is violated in the course of the murder investigation. Is this invasion of privacy right? Necessary? Is there any way to conduct an investigation to discover the murderer without violating these people's privacy?

3. In the "real" world, many times the privacy of the victim's and perpetrator's families are also violated. Do you believe the police and press have the right to invade innocent people's privacy? What can be done to minimize the effects of this on the families of those involved in a crime? Do you think the criminal's family deserves as much respect to privacy as the victim's family? Why or why not? Do Nell and William deserve privacy?

Essay Topic 2

Obviously, suspense/mystery is a part of the detective genre. Answer the following questions:

1. What do you think is the difference between suspense and mystery? Give examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Does Death of an Expert Witness hold more suspense of mystery? Explain your answer with examples.

3. Would you rather read a mystery or a suspense or do you think there is any difference between the two?

4. Does Death of an Expert Witness offer enough suspense and/or mystery to keep you turning the pages? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Death of an Expert Witness is one book in a series of novels involving Adam Dalgliesh. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing and reading a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

2. What are two disadvantages of writing and reading a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult to write a standalone book versus one in a series? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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