Just a quick note to say Happy Hallowe'en, and to apologize for not being here more often. Sometimes necessity, in the form of life, does intrude and the best laid plans, as Robbie Burns said, do aft go aglay!
And that's my way of saying, sorry!
Do come back on Tuesday, November 3rd for a new Why I Write Mysteries from a wonderful author who wrote a 'how to' book on writing mysteries that I have on my desk right this minute! You'll see then why I felt compelled to go all Scottish on you!
*Editor's note: Here's another great review from Ariel Heart, this time of an audio book! And just in time for Hallowe'en, it's of an Aunt Dimity ghost mystery! Enjoy.
Aunt Dimity Beats The Devil by Nancy Atherton (narrated by Christina Moore)
Lori Shepherd is on her way to the creepy Wyrdhurst Castle in northern England to appraise a large private library.Traveling in bad weather, Lori narrowly escapes a landslide that sweeps her Range Rover away.Finally arriving at isolated Wyrdhurst after being rescued by a charming stranger, Lori is embroiled in a haunted castle with the resident ghost influencing her to act uncharacteristically, finds tales of forbidden love, murder and hidden treasure amidst the secret passageways and massive library.Are there really ghosts on the third floor scaring the young owner, Nicole, or is a real person behind it?There is something afoot at Wyrdhurst and Lori – with a little help from the ghostly Aunt Dimity communicating through an innocent journal – is just the person to uncover the past and clear up the present.
I chose the audio version and I must say that Christina Moore is phenomenal as the narrator.The entire book comes to life as Christina subtly changes character voices employing accents, cadence and tone.Without any sound effects, Christina Moore performed the story rather than just read it and I quickly felt like I was listening to a riveting old time radio theatre.
The writing style is flowing and very effective as this opening section demonstrates:
“It was a dark and stormy afternoon on the high moors of Northumberland.A cold October rain battered the Range Rover’s roof and the fog was as thick as porridge.I hoped my hosts at Wyrdhurst Hall would hold high tea for me, because it looked as though I might be a bit late.
Thanks to the murky weather, I’d almost certainly missed the turnoff for Wyrdhurst’s gated drive.To judge by the Rover’s lurching progress, I’d somehow left the paved road altogether and veered onto a narrow, muddy track that seemed to be climbing straight into the clouds.
I could do nothing but climb with it.The moorland rose steeply to my right and fell sharply to my left.There was no place to turn around and I had no intention of backing down a road I could barely see.”
Aunt Dimity books are very cozy.The murder is often in the past but the story still carries the reader along.The main character, Lori, is bright and determined yet with realistic faults.The story employs the use of old letters discovered hidden in books to piece together the history of a teen girl, Claire, raised in the castle who fell in love with a young man whom her father refused to accept and the resulting sad chain of events and hidden treasure yet to be found.There is some fine layering of subplots past and present that make this a bona fide delight of a read.
If you are looking for a classic style tale with the remote setting, creepy atmosphere that isn’t horror or too scary, this is the book for you – and consider the 6 CD audio version as an added treat.But note that this is still an adult book and although mild in violence it is not suitable for younger readers because of “adult themes” that are raised in the story.The ending is satisfactory although one aspect I felt had little, if any, evidence presented prior.
Ms. Heart is a Colorado gal who does not like snow but loves the low bug population.She has been told she was an odd child for playing Cleopatra with her Barbies and dressing up her poodle.She is taking that active imagination and writing her first novel. She shares her writing progress (and much more) on her blog “Mysteries and My Musings.”
**Editor's note: I had intended this column to be both longer, and posted a couple of days ago, but life got in the way, as it sometimes does. Better late than never!
I don't know about other writers, but naming a character is sometimes a stumbling block for me. I have several criteria for choosing a character name in either a romance novel or mystery novel.
1 - Simplicity: I don't want to stumble over it every time I type it, and I don't want readers to stumble over it reading it. Odd spellings will visually trip you up. 2 - It doesn't have the same first initials of any other character in the book: I once ended up with a book that was populated by characters whose named either began with a 'C' or an 'M'. It was confusing to readers, and to me! 3 - It is proper for the time/place/age of the character. No 'Tiffanies' in a Regency set novel. 4 - It has to be euphonious if it is a central character, and I have to like it. I don't mind odd names for secondary characters, but weird names for central characters will trip a reader - and me - up.
So... I generally look online, search baby names lists, especially lists that are sorted by dates and origin. I try different names and think about it for a while, generally. Sometimes the name just pops into my head, but that doesn't happen often.
Some memorable names in murder mysteries? Well, I love Joan Hess's Maggody series, and her names are exceptionally memorable, especially the legion of Buchanon's. Besides Kevin and his family there is Raz, who keeps a pig, Marjorie, and nobody is sure what his relationship with the pig is actually all about. But other Buchanon's include Duluth, Zebulon, Hammet and Petrol.
For writers... how do you choose names for your characters? Is it easy? Hard? Do you have a process?
For readers... do you have any likes or dislikes as for names of characters?
*Editor's Note: Welcome again to reviewer Ariel Heart. This time I'm interested in reader comments... did this review give you enough information? Has it made you want to read the book? Skip it? Let us know!
Myrtle Clover is eighty-something and has an attitude. Don't get her started! When her son Red signs her up for "altar duty" at church to keep her out of his hair, she retaliates with filling her front yard chock full of gnomes. Why? Because she lives across the street from her son and it is a daily reminder he has angered her. Yes, Myrtle is a handful.
A gnome village miraculously mushroomed overnight in Myrtle’s yard while Red slept.Ceramic gnome characters, all engaged in a variety of cute activities, graced her front lawn.Elaine walked past her kitchen window.She blinked.‘’Oh Lord.Your mom’s called out the gnome patrol, Red.What did you do?”
“What?”Red pushed the curtain aside.He groaned and pressed his hands against his eyes, hoping when he opened them the image of a hundred ceramic gnomes cluttering his mother’s yard across the street would have vanished.He was disappointed.
The altar duty her son signed her up for is the reason that she stumbles upon the body of detested local real estate agent Parke Stockard in the church sanctuary. Myrtle takes this as a perfect opportunity to show her son she isn't senile nor is she ready for a life of soap operas.
There is some humor between Red (who is the Chief of Police) and Myrtle when Red conspires to let Myrtle overhear false clues and send her on wild goose chase to keep her out of trouble. But Myrtle takes the wild goose chase and uncovers Parke having an affair with the local politician. Myrtle is more than a match for her son and she quickly has a list of suspects.Was it the local politician, or maybe his wife, perhaps it was Parke’s drug-using son, the town reporter, the reporter’s mother is even a suspect.It seems too many people wanted troublesome Parke gone. What Myrtle really needs, as she sees it, is a side kick! Will the new-to-the-area older gentleman take up the job and assist Myrtle? Will Myrtle's never subtle snooping get her in trouble with the real killer? This is the classic cozy with tongue-in-cheek humor and small town antics.It is deceptively simple while it draws you in adding to the charm of the overall story. The wrap-up of the murder is adequate and the town and characters are nicely brought to life.The only drawback is, it seems short, but perhaps that is a sign of how the reader is drawn into the story.
About the reviewer: Ms. Heart is a Colorado gal who does not like snow but loves the low bug population.She has been told she was an odd child for playing Cleopatra with her Barbies and dressing up her poodle.She is taking that active imagination and writing her first novel. She shares her writing progress (and much more) on her blog “Mysteries and My Musings.”
There's a reason I started this blog; I love murder mysteries, and have since I can remember. Oh, they're not the only books I love. Classic fiction novels by Jane Austen, Sir Walter Scott, Charlotte Bronte have their place in my heart. I have read and enjoyed historical romances by Mary Balogh, Jo Beverley and Carla Kelly, among others. But for sheer enjoyment my overwhelming favorites are the novels of Joan Hess, Mary Daheim, Diane Mott Davidson, Dorothy Cannell, and more than I can mention.
And that's where we come to why I read murder mystery fiction; simply put, I love it.
But why?
Murder mysteries, how I love thee... let me count the ways:
A crime is committed. I've always been interested in crime, and watch cold case mysteries on TV, Court TV and even some true crime books. For an historical example of a true crime book I've read twice and now am looking for to read again, look up 'The Maul and the Pear Tree' by P.D. James. It's a fascinating tale of murder in Regency England.
Tight plotting, with a clear storyline. I've read the occasional 'literary' fiction novel (some for school, like The French Lieutenant's Woman) and can't get into non-linear, unclear plotting.
Interesting settings. Murder mysteries have exposed me to a version of Arkansas, the Pacific Northwest, the sunny beaches of Florida, village life in England, and many more places, all from my armchair!
Fascinating characters. Who can read about Joan Hess's inimitible Hizzoner, Jim Bob Buchanon and the whole Buchanon clan and not howl with laughter? From there I go to Diane Mott Davidson's frazzled caterer Goldy Schulz... they become like family members you get updates on via the yearly newsletter!
A puzzle, solved. I want to know. That's what it comes down to. I want to know not only whodunnit, but whydunnit? And Howdunnit? I'm snoopy by nature, and murder mysteries satisfy some of that snoopiness.
They take me away... truly. I go somewhere else when I'm engrossed in a good mystery novel. It's a lovely feeling, refreshing when I come out of my stupor; it's kind of like coming home from a mini-vacation.
Justice done. I rage at the inability of our human system, inevitably flawed, to truly find justice in the horrendous world of real-life murder. In real life, cases get caught up in the court system for years to come, but on the pages of a mystery you know who did it by the end, and they (usually) get their just desserts.
And speaking of dessert (and who doesn't... speak of dessert, that is?) Here is a link to a recipe for the cake pictured above, from the wonderful food site 'Kitchen Parade', and it sounds fabulous, though it has nothing to do with murder mysteries: http://kitchenparade.com/2009/09/banana-nut-cake-with-caramel-frosting.php
(Update: I am misusing the phrase 'just desserts', and I rarely do abuse the English language... anymore. For an explanation of why the phrase is actually 'just deserts', (single 's', not double) go here: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-just-deserts-mean.htmI will take credit for my second-thinking this morning, wondering if I was using the phrase right... and I found out I was wrong!!)
Anyhoo.... why did I add this recipe? Reason number 8 on my list, tho' I didn't put it down is... I love culinary mysteries, ones that have recipes, so I thought I'd do a blog-with-a-recipe!! I do copy them out, (recipes in mysteries) and I do use them. (BTW, does anyone know why my list shows up as a numbered list in the edit mode, but won't post that way??)
That's my short list. I could go into it at length, but I'm interested in all of YOU! Soooo... chime in, all you mystery lovers. Why do YOU love to read mysteries??
*Editor's note: Welcome to blogger and mystery author Elspeth Antonelli, who takes us inside the fascinating world of creating murder mystery games for mystery parties, a particularly interesting topic right now because many people play them at Hallowe'en. I was interested in knowing how one would approach the two formats, games and novels, differently.
Writing Mystery Games and Novels
By: Elspeth Antonelli
My first foray into mystery writing was writing murder mysteries as fundraising events for various theatre companies.I came up with a plot and the characters and the actors (for the most part) worked out their own dialogue.This experience was to hold me in very good stead when I began writing murder mystery games.
These games are usually played in people’s houses and are used as entertainment for a dinner or birthday party.Obviously, they’re very popular over Halloween and many people play them New Year’s Eve.What’s it like writing a mystery game?It’s similar to writing a very detailed outline for a book.You need to have a certain number of characters and the murder has usually just occurred.
Everyone is a suspect.Some of my games have actual scripted clues where guests have the option of just reading their clue cards out loud, but many have clues that begin “Tell several people...” and the guest can put the information into their own words.
All the characters have to be very-well defined and fun to dress up as.
My latest game Deadly Ever After is a mystery involving famous literary characters like Snow White, Juliet and Long John Silver.I used a similar theme for Once Upon a Murder (although more characters come from nursery rhymes).I’ve also written ‘decade’ mysteries for the 1970s and 1960s.I try to make the mysteries funny and the solution logical but also amusing.It’s a party, after all!I’m very fortunate because, if I put my mind to it, I can write a game and be sending it to my editor within a week.
Writing mystery novels take a great deal more time, mainly because I seem to be drawn to plots taking place in the 1930s and 1940s in England.These mysteries are rather complex and the characters are multidimensional.I write “whydunnits” rather than “whodunnits” as it has always been the “why?” which I have found fascinating.
The other main difference between my games and my books is the subject matter.With the games, I try to write what will sell, regardless of whether I find it personally intriguing.It’s like writing a commission; which I have also done.The market dictates what I write.With my books, I write what I would want to read; and hope that I’m not the only one!
Both forms are fun and both have their different rewards.I’m glad I can play in different ways, it makes for some interesting times!
Where do you go for murder mystery novel reviews? I like to read reviews of books before I buy them, but there do not seem to me to be as many reliable book review sites and blogs for murder mysteries as there are for romances. Not sure why.
So, when I want to check out a review I go to Amazon.com, though I find the reader reviews shaky, at best. Too often the 'reviewers' (to be kind and call them that) allow personal grievances to color their review. Now, I (better than many) understand that a review is a personal opinion, but I want to know WHY the reviewer feels the way they do, not just 'this book was crap'.
Their reviews are not bad, but they don't do them enough, and they often don't review the books I really want to know about.
So... where do YOU go for murder mystery novel reviews? Or do you even bother reading reviews? Inquiring minds want to know!
Other stuff: I am still on the hunt for reviewers, as well as point-of-view pieces of murder mystery novels, 'Why I Write Mysteries', 'Why I Read Mysteries', or anything else of interest pertaining to writing or reading mysteries!
Also... tomorrow we have a treat. Elspeth Antonelli, blogger, game creator and writer, will give us her insight into the difference between creating/writing a story for a mystery game and writing a murder mystery novel.
Hi everyone,
back on Tuesday, November 3rd for a new Why I Write Mysteries from a wonderful author who wrote a 'how to' book on writing mysteries that I have on my desk right this minute! You'll see then why I felt compelled to go all Scottish on you!
