tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post4224299687712755018..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Is it Murder Writing a Mystery?L.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-21656163163991907042012-09-21T07:50:30.917-07:002012-09-21T07:50:30.917-07:00The End of Everything, by Megan Abbott. And it'...The End of Everything, by Megan Abbott. And it's an AWESOME book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-61764197589962874912012-09-13T13:48:41.020-07:002012-09-13T13:48:41.020-07:00The stakes have to be high enough to get the reade...The stakes have to be high enough to get the reader to care. “The Purloined Letter” comes to mind.Jim Criglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11437189788683651969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-60230044277797196902012-09-13T09:27:02.388-07:002012-09-13T09:27:02.388-07:00I don't think that a murder is a requirement o...I don't think that a murder is a requirement of a mystery, but, as John said, there must be a crime or threat of one. I think it's easier to get readers involved in a murder mystery because the stakes are so high, the crime is so egregious. However, as a reader, if I care enough about the characters or there's a good element of suspense, I don't need the bodies. <br /><br />White Collar is a good example of a show that doesn't typically have bodies, but that I'd classify as a mystery. Terry Ambrosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14859532145979982213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-8733711008826423402012-09-12T20:27:33.634-07:002012-09-12T20:27:33.634-07:00My current work has only one body, and it plays a ...My current work has only one body, and it plays a minor role in the plot. Then again, it's a psychological thriller more than a mystery. My first book, also a thriller, has lots of bodies, but it falls into the horror genre, where dead people are a key element. My current WIP, also a psychological thriller has no murders at all, which leads me to think that maybe there isn't really a standard where this is concerned. I think most thrillers or mysteries focus on crime as a key element simply because it creates excitement and tension--but I think if the story is compelling enough, bodies or murders can be optional,ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-80176810437593768052012-09-12T19:36:47.647-07:002012-09-12T19:36:47.647-07:00I always say, with a sad voice, when looking for a...I always say, with a sad voice, when looking for a movie at the Red Box, "there's no serial killers." LOL...but actually my first novel (Impunity) didn't involve murder until way into the story--and it was peripheral. I guess it's a 'suspense thriller.' But my new novel revolves around murder right from page 1....Richelle Elberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323766317305564428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-73346809845789238412012-09-12T11:21:31.012-07:002012-09-12T11:21:31.012-07:00I had to think hard about this one. I went through...I had to think hard about this one. I went through my bookshelves and could not find a mystery I read that did not include a murder. <br />I think a mystery needs the 'not knowing till the end' part (and suspense ofcourse) and we associate this with murder, but I do think a kidnapping can just as much be a mystery to solve, as a murder can be. Kim - Bookishly Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12824758106942418932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-13503108170026911262012-09-12T09:25:34.295-07:002012-09-12T09:25:34.295-07:00For our annual PNW mystery book award, The Spotted...For our annual PNW mystery book award, The Spotted Owl, we have defined a mystery as a book that includes a crime or the threat of a crime. <br />John @ www.friendsofmystery.orgJohnhttp://www.friendsofmystery.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-86944316389294818332012-09-12T07:58:30.404-07:002012-09-12T07:58:30.404-07:00Interesting question, Jenny! I can't say that ...Interesting question, Jenny! I can't say that I've read or seen a mystery without a dead body involved. Maybe that could start a new genre, or a new subheading under mysteries, to go with cozy mysteries and hard-boiled mysteries and police procedurals and suspense-mysteries, etc.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-30517681022979045092012-09-12T07:49:34.530-07:002012-09-12T07:49:34.530-07:00Even the cozies I've read all revolved around ...Even the cozies I've read all revolved around a body. I'm guessing there's some psychological reason that our mystery stories must involve loss of life. I mean, death is our biggest fear and the ultimate mystery, right? <br /><br />The only mystery without a murder that comes to mind is an episode of Monk where a little boy finds a severed finger and they must figure out who it belongs to, whether they are dead or alive, etc. Monk was such a character-driven show, the plot worked without a body, although I suppose you could say a finger was murdered.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-77237155430669849862012-09-12T07:05:59.489-07:002012-09-12T07:05:59.489-07:00Kidnapping? Probably not for me, although it is fe...Kidnapping? Probably not for me, although it is featured in a manuscript I'll be working on soon. <br /><br />Heist? Who really cares?<br /><br />Make mine murder. Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-25925932898153536462012-09-12T06:13:56.099-07:002012-09-12T06:13:56.099-07:00I like to include various other crimes in my stori...I like to include various other crimes in my stories to make them all unique, but there is at least one death in each story. Mysteries about disappearances or kidnappings can be suspenseful, but then then you would probably call that book a thriller. :)L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com