in California, St. Denis writes compelling historical mysteries with thriller and international espionage elements.
St. Denis applied the Page 69 Test to his new novel, Killer Art, with the following results:
Page 69 of Killer Art puts readers directly into the investigation of campus murders. Here, the book’s protagonists, Sam and Vika appear to be at the scene of a crime outdoors where campus cops are attempting to disperse a crowd. The reader does not see a body, but learns that it is the “unfortunate Officer Kipling.”Visit Jon St. Denis's website.
The reader also learns via Sam and Vika’s conversation, that there is a notebook on the ground with pages apparently torn out. And Vika mentions that Officer Kipling made a habit of taking notes in that very notebook.
In the last line of the page, Sam wonders “if those pages link McGuire’s death with the unfortunate Officer Kipling?” So, there has been an earlier death, as well: someone named McGuire.
So, yes. Marshall McLuhan [ed. note: inspiration for the Page 69 Test blog] once again has it right. From this page, readers are introduced to the main characters of Killer Art, Sam and Vika; know the setting of the book, a college campus. And also know that there have thus far been two deaths: “the unfortunate Officer Kipling” and someone named McGuire. Readers also know that torn pages out of a campus cop’s notebook might be important to the investigation.
Of course, the full book goes off in several other directions, but at least readers know from page 69 that there have been two murders on a college campus and that Sam and Vika seem very interested in them.
And thanks go to my agent, Anne Tibbets, who saved my arse on this. I am currently in Hong Kong for the summer and do not have a copy of Killer Art with me, not even a pdf. Anne to the rescue. She took a photo of page 69 of Killer Art and emailed it to me. Above and beyond—thanks again, Anne.
--Marshal Zeringue