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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. Who does Olivia answer the phone to while in her mother's house?

2. Where does Lynley find Helen asleep?

3. How does Jimmy almost die?

4. What does the invitation say will be served at Hadiyah's party?

5. What does Helen do for Lynley that she has never done before?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is it easy to believe that Jimmy could have killed his own father?

2. What does Nkata uncover about Chris's alibi?

3. How does Havers meet the young girl in chapter eleven?

4. How did Olivia show her anger at Chris after the cat operation?

5. In what way could it be said that Kenneth's pride was responsible for his death?

6. Why is it difficult for Lynley to believe that Jimmy is the murderer?

7. What new leads does Lynley find in Chapter 14?

8. How does Lynley act during his dinner with Havers?

9. What information does Mollinson give Lynley about the case in this section?

10. Describe Lynley and Havers meeting with Guy Mollinson in this section?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Lynley's character across the whole series.

1. How does the author develop Lynley's character across the whole series?

2. What new elements does Playing for the Ashes add to Lynley's character?

Essay Topic 2

Away from the main character, examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main themes of the story. In what way are these themes relevant to the period? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

(see the answer keys)

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