Pretty City Murder
ACTION CRIME DETECTIVE DRAMA FAMILY MYSTERY RELIGIOUS SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Contemporary
Robert E Dunn
TaleFlick Top Pick!
Submision Type
book
Logline
A murder in San Francisco brings three life-long friends into a fierce conflict as each man tries to protect his family's reputation and his own achievements. Nine people tell the story from their points of view. One is the killer.
Genre
Action,Crime,Detective,Drama,Family,Mystery,Religious,Suspense/Thriller
Short Summary
A priest's brother is murdered in a hotel. The main character, an SFPD inspector, responds to the scene and calls the hotel owner to give an account. The captain assigns another inspector to lead the investigation with the main character in a supporting role, but he doggedly pursues the killer.
Setting
San Francisco, Topaz Lake California
Based on a True Story
No
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message,Twist
Mature Audience Themes
Substance Abuse
Main Character Details
Name: Larry Leahy
Age: 59
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Masculine,Modest,Religious,Blunt,Selfless,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Faithful,Educated,Honorable,Skillful,Strong Moral Code,Engaging
Additional Character Details
Name: James O'Hara
Age: 59
Gender: Male
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Aggressive,Charming,Confident,Criminal,Decisive,Engaging,Greedy,Heartthrob,Educated,Leader,Insecure,Masculine,Power Hungry,Skillful,Romantic,Secretive,Sophisticated,Manipulative,Unapologetic
Additional Character Details
Name: Father Ralph McKenzie SJ
Age: 59
Gender: Male
Role: skeptic
Key Traits: Aspiring,Complex,Faithful,Gracious,Educated,Honorable,Masculine,Religious,Selfless,Strong Moral Code,Sophisticated,Secretive
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Genre
ACTION, SUSPENSE, THRILLER
Brief
A good cop must solve a murder in which several people he personally knows are suspects. During the investigation he finds a philandering priest, and a lovesick fellow detective all while discovering that his boss is crooked.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: EXCELLENT
Franchise Potential: EXCELLENT
Pace: EXCELLENT
Premise: EXCELLENT
Structure: EXCELLENT
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
Yes, but the writing seems poor and the description is a little confusing. A little simplifying of some of the sentences could help.
Draw of Story
The pace and dialogue are great.
Possible Drawbacks
Some of the dialogue was a little forced but overall it was good.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
It's a fairly good police procedural with lots of interesting human relationship drama.
Fanbase Potential
Yes. Police procedurals are a huge part of the entertainment landscape and millions of people watch them every day.
Awards Potential
Maybe - you never know with police dramas. They have been pretty good to Scorsese during awards season.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
KNIVES OUT, CLUE, COPLAND, LAW AND ORDER
What’s New About the Story
This story has a close-knit, small town feel even though it takes place in a major city. You get a good understanding of the relationships between its main characters.
Lead Characters
While there is nothing overtly unique about these characters, they are well written and the format is a proven winner.
Uniqueness of Story
Again, this is a police procedural so it's not rare. But as far as police procedurals go, this is one that could succeed.
Possible Formats
Film - Studio, Film - Indie, Film - Streaming, TV Series - Network, TV Series - Cable, TV Series - Limited Run / Mini-Series, TV Series - Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
RECOMMEND
Justification
Police procedural murder mysteries are immensely popular with the general public. This film would have a believable plotline, plenty of decent dialogue, and would move at a good pace. The main characters are believable and the protagonist is likeable. Some of the dialogue could be improved, but not a lot. This book is well suited for an easy screenplay adaptation.