Re: East 43rd Street Alan Battersby Pdf 19
Berry Spitsberg
East 43rd Street by Alan Battersby
East 43rd Street is a mystery novel by Alan Battersby, published in 2000 by Cambridge University Press. It is part of the Cambridge English Readers series, which offers original fiction for learners of English. The novel is set in New York City and follows the adventures of private investigator Lenny Samuel, who gets involved in a case of kidnapping, murder and corruption.
Summary
Lenny Samuel is hired by a woman named Marilyn to find her missing husband, Eddie. She gives him a photo of Eddie and a key to his office on East 43rd Street. Lenny goes to the office and finds a dead body on the floor, but it is not Eddie. It is a man named Tony, who worked for Eddie. Lenny also finds a briefcase full of money and a note that says "Don't call the cops". He decides to take the money and leave, but he is seen by two men who chase him. Lenny manages to escape and calls Marilyn, but she does not answer.
Lenny goes to his friend Dave, who works as a journalist, and asks him to help him identify the dead man. Dave tells him that Tony was a reporter who was investigating a story about a corrupt politician named Frank Rocco, who was involved in illegal deals with a construction company called Empire Construction. Dave also tells him that Eddie was an accountant who worked for Empire Construction and that he had disappeared a few days ago.
Lenny decides to go back to the office and look for more clues. He finds a phone number on Tony's desk and calls it. He reaches a woman named Rita, who says she is Tony's sister. She tells him that Tony had called her before he died and told her that he had found something important about Rocco and Empire Construction. She also tells him that Tony had arranged to meet someone at Grand Central Station at noon.
Lenny goes to Grand Central Station and sees Rita waiting for someone. He approaches her and tells her that he is a friend of Tony's. Rita does not believe him and runs away. Lenny follows her and sees her getting into a car with two men. He recognizes them as the same men who chased him before. He realizes that they are working for Rocco and that they have kidnapped Rita.
Lenny gets into his own car and follows them. He sees them going to a warehouse near the river. He sneaks into the warehouse and finds Rita tied up in a room. He also sees Eddie, who is also tied up and badly beaten. Lenny frees them and tells them that he is a private investigator hired by Marilyn. Rita tells him that she has a tape recorder with Tony's last message, which reveals that Rocco and Empire Construction were behind a series of bombings in the city, which they used as an excuse to get contracts for rebuilding.
Lenny decides to take Rita and Eddie to Dave's office and expose Rocco's crimes to the public. However, as they are leaving the warehouse, they are confronted by Rocco himself, who has arrived with his men. Rocco admits that he killed Tony and that he plans to kill them too. He also says that he has paid off Marilyn, who was his lover, to betray Eddie.
Lenny manages to distract Rocco and his men by throwing the briefcase full of money at them. He then grabs Rita and Eddie and runs to his car. He drives away from the warehouse, but Rocco and his men follow him in another car. A chase ensues through the streets of New York, until Lenny reaches Dave's office building. He gets out of the car with Rita and Eddie and runs into the building, while Rocco and his men stay behind.
Lenny gives Dave the tape recorder with Tony's message and tells him to broadcast it on the radio. Dave agrees and plays the tape on his show, which exposes Rocco's crimes to the whole city. Lenny then calls Marilyn and tells her that he knows everything about her betrayal. He also tells her that he has given back the money to Rocco and that he does not want to see her again.
Review
East 43rd Street is an entertaining and fast-paced mystery novel that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The plot is full of twists and turns, suspense and action, as well as humor and romance. The characters are well-developed and realistic, especially Lenny Samuel, who is a likable and witty protagonist. The setting of New York City is vividly described and adds to the atmosphere of the story. The language is simple and clear, suitable for learners of English at intermediate level or above. The novel also includes exercises and a glossary to help the reader improve their vocabulary and comprehension skills. East 43rd Street is a great example of how learning English can be fun and enjoyable.
References
- [East 43rd Street by Alan Battersby]
- [East 43rd Street by Alan Battersby Open Library]
- [Alan Battersby - assets.cambridge.org]