The Interrogation of Gabriel James

Last updated
First edition
(publ. Farrar, Straus and Giroux) The Interrogation of Gabriel James.jpg
First edition
(publ. Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

The Interrogation of Gabriel James is a mystery novel by American author Charlie Price. It centers on the interrogation of high school student Gabriel James after several crimes have been committed.

The story is told in first person and information is unveiled through Gabriel's answers to the detective's questions, often through flashbacks. The book won several awards, including the 2010 and 2011 Edgar Award for best young adult fiction.

Plot summary

The story opens in Billings, Montana where high school sophomore Gabriel James is interrogated by two policemen concerning two murders that he apparently knows about. The officer leading the interview is a suspicious yet sympathetic woman, and the second officer is a rude and quick to judge man whose attention to the interrogation seems to shift drastically from extreme interest to seeming apathetic. Their differences in style leads to several exchanges between them throughout the book. As the interrogation starts, Gabriel introduces his ex-girlfriend Anita and goes on to tell how he and Anita were forced to break up after her parents became aware of a camping trip the two took alone weeks before. This is the first of many problems Gabriel has girls and gives the reader the impression of a confused teenage boy.

As the police continue to ask questions, they are introduced to Danny Two Bull and learn about a string of pet murders that have been occurring since the arrival of Danny. After transferring from a Native American reservation, Danny Two Bull joins Gabriel's high school cross country team. Though Danny is very reserved, he makes it known that he is there to prove that a Native American can outrun any white man. The pet murders are thought to be a threat towards Danny after he opens his locker to find a dead dog inside. As the pet murders continue, Gabriel gradually becomes more curious as to the people behind them and, in hopes of getting some information, asks a local homeless man named Durmond Williams if he has heard or seen anything. Durmond informs Gabriel of a pair suspicious teenage twin boys with a yellow truck who have just recently arrived in town.

After being denied a date by a shy seemingly sheltered classmate named Raelene, Gabriel becomes obsessed with the uncovering reason behind the rejection. Several attempts to talk to Raelene push her away even more and this only fuels Gabriel's interest. The book takes a slightly creepy turn that leaves the reader with an uneasy feeling. As Gabriel's week prolongs the thought of Raelene turns into an obsession and he goes to her house late one night. While snooping around the secluded farm house he looks through a window to see Raelene naked in an aprin watching TV with her father and brother, each of them naked as well. Gabriel races away with more questions than he came with fueling this obsession even more.

By now the story is coming together as flyers are being left around campus with a manifesto being signed by a one “Doc. Death MDD.” After seeing Raelene's brother with the twins in the yellow truck and the release of the flyers, Gabriel begins to suspect the three of them for the recent events. Determined to get more clues he proceeds to return to the secluded farm house one night. As he approaches the house he is attacked by a goose which in turn alarms the rather old father. Armed with a shot gun the man yells for Gabriel as he struggles with the steps. This gives time to retreat to his car all the while attempting to fight off the goose. Not being able to get to his car fast enough he runs straight into the twins and Raelene's brother. He is assaulted, immobilized and is forced to listen to the gang decide his destiny.

After debating whether to kill or seriously damage him they decide to bring him into the house and let their father decide. When he gets inside he is forced into a chair, surrounded by the gang and the father begins to question his son about Gabriel. After discovering he is a classmate of Raelene's he sends one of the twins to move his car out of sight leaving one twin with a shotgun, Raelene's brother and the old father. During a discussion Gabriel manages to get a hold of the shotgun, and miraculously escape. The interrogation comes to an end and the officers release Gabriel. Feeling much of the weight lift from his shoulders he was left with the thought of the future and what legal matters still remained.

Related Research Articles

<i>Chronicle of a Death Foretold</i> Novella by Gabriel García

Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a novella by Gabriel García Márquez, published in 1981. It tells, in the form of a pseudo-journalistic reconstruction, the story of the murder of Santiago Nasar by the Vicario twins.

<i>Hammer House of Horror</i> 1980 British horror television series

Hammer House of Horror is a British horror anthology television series produced in Britain in 1980. Created by Hammer Films in association with Cinema Arts International and ITC Entertainment, it consists of 13 hour-long episodes, originally broadcast on ITV.

<i>Falling Up</i> (poetry collection) 1996 illustrated book of poems by Shel Silverstein

Falling Up is a 1996 poetry collection primarily for children written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein and published by HarperCollins. It is the third poetry collection published by Silverstein, following Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974) and A Light in the Attic (1981), and the final one to be published during his lifetime, as he died just three years after its release. Falling Up was the recipient of the Booklist Editors' Award in 1996.. In 2015, a special edition of the book was published, with 12 new poems.

Children of the Red King is a series of ten children's fantasy, school and adventure novels written by British author Jenny Nimmo, first published by Egmont 2002 to 2010. It is sometimes called "the Charlie Bone series" after its main character. A series of five books was announced in advance, completed in 2006, and sometimes the books were called the "Red King Quintet" until its continuation.

<i>A Gathering of Old Men</i> 1983 novel by Ernest J. Gaines

A Gathering of Old Men is a novel by Ernest J. Gaines published in 1983.

"The Janus List" is the 24th episode and the season finale of the third season of the American television show Numbers. In the episode, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team investigate a former triple agent's claims of someone poisoning him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodger Savage</span> UK soap opera character, created 2011

Mark "Dodger" Savage is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 serial drama, Hollyoaks, played by Danny Mac. He made his first on-screen appearance on 7 April 2011 and was introduced as part of the Savage family by creator Paul Marquess. Dodger is played as being a bit "cocky" and as thinking he has "got it all". For his portrayal, Mac has won and been nominated for various awards. In November 2014, Mac opted to leave the role and Dodger made his last appearance on 20 January 2015. Dodger is the biological son of Patrick Blake and Anna Blake, the twin brother of Sienna Blake, the adoptive son of Anna's husband Dirk Savage, the half-brother of Will Savage, Liberty Savage and Minnie Minniver and the father of Nico Blake and Myra-Pocahontas Savage-McQueen.

<i>The Land of Stories</i> Book series by Chris Colfer

The Land of Stories is a series of children's fiction, adventure and fantasy books written by American author, actor and singer Chris Colfer. The first book, The Wishing Spell, was released on July 17, 2012. The sixth book was published in July 2017. Colfer revealed plans for a prequel series in 2016, and has since published three books in this prequel series beginning with A Tale of Magic... in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sienna Blake</span> UK soap opera character (created 2012)

Sienna Blake is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Anna Passey. The character made her first appearance on 21 November 2012 and was introduced as the estranged twin sister of established character Dodger Savage, along with her father Patrick Blake. Emily Lawrance was originally selected for the role, however Passey replaced her within weeks and only she has appeared on-screen as Sienna. The character has had a daughter, Nico, with Dodger, and twins Sebastian and Sophie with Warren Fox, an affair with Darren Osborne, a marriage with Ben Bradley, an affair with Trevor Royle who was later killed by Nico, a relationship with her half-sister Liberty Savage's former boyfriend Brody Hudson, and been diagnosed with cervical cancer while pregnant. Passey took a short break from the show in early 2020 and was absent between 17 January and 30 March.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Harrow</span> Fictional character

Richard Harrow is a fictional character on the television series Boardwalk Empire, played by the actor Jack Huston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant Amato</span> American murderer (born 1989)

Grant Tiernan Amato is an American murderer who was convicted of a familicide that occurred on the evening of January 24, 2019. Amato shot his father, mother, and brother Cody in the head at their home in Seminole County, Florida, while attempting to stage it as a murder-suicide committed by his brother before fleeing the residence. He was captured after a 24-hour manhunt, put on trial, found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

References