The Scapegoat by Richard Maples
When a young woman is found dead in a hotel room, Detective Inspector John Stone is called in to investigate. He soon discovers that the victim was a member of a powerful and influential family, and that her death may be linked to a series of mysterious disappearances in the area. As Stone delves deeper into the case, he finds himself drawn into a web of lies and deceit, and soon discovers that the truth may be far more sinister than he ever imagined. With the help of his partner, Detective Sergeant Sarah Jones, Stone must unravel the secrets of the past in order to find the killer and bring them to justice. The Scapegoat is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
By Richard Maples · First published 1956 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Drama · 8,565 words
First lines
"Who would not have pity for a poor, helpless victim? Nobody -- except another poor victim!"
The old guy didn't have a chance. All he could do was shield his head with limp arms and moan, while this other fellow -- a young, husky six-footer -- gave him a vicious, cold-blooded beating.
What this Textopian page supports
The Scapegoat is listed on Textopian as a novel by Richard Maples, dated 1956 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Richard Maples
- Date: 1956 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Drama, Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 8,565 words
- Structure: 1 section, 217 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Scapegoat by Richard Maples
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Scapegoat?
- How does this novel by Richard Maples fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Mystery — The book follows the protagonist as he attempts to uncover the truth behind his identity and the events that led to his current situation.
- Thriller — The book contains suspenseful elements as the protagonist navigates a dangerous and uncertain situation.
- Drama — The book contains emotional and psychological elements as the protagonist struggles to come to terms with his identity and the events that have transpired.
- Fiction — The book is a work of fiction, as it contains elements of fantasy and imagination.
Tags
Fiction · Human-alien encounters · Impostors and imposture · Journalists · Science fiction · Short stories · alien encounters · around · ashe · away · back · big