The Sherlock Holmes mystery the Blue Carbuncle doesn't have a murder. A Scandal in Bohemia has no murder so, it's true you don't have to have death or murder
And in another Holmes, The Adventure of the Naval Treaty, was about international espionage and getting back an important official document. In other stories, there are DB's, but they are not the focus of the story. In The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton who was an extortionist of young brides, getting back the women's love letters and restoring justice and peace were the goals; Milverton's eventual demise is just an added perk that caps off the story. And in Terror By Night, Holmes recovers Lady Carstairs' Star of Rhodesia diamond even though her son perished protecting it, Lady Carstairs acted as if she could care less about the death of her only son, Roland. So, no, there doesn't always have to be about solving a focal murder. It can be about reclaiming state documents, love letters, special jewels, or anything of particular value to include reputations which were of tantamount importance in the Victorian Age.
There are detectives like Columbo, Jessica Fletcher, Poirot, Miss Marple, Monk, etc. who have solve mysteries but are not extremely tortured or are killers like Hannibal Lecter and Dexter
IN most mysteries I've read/watched the killer tends to be in close proximity in day to day to the victim, or the killer is acting on behalf of the victim of the victim...that makes it quite easy to have the villain come in very early
These are really informative videos and I find much of the advice and observations useful. I am currently trying to teach myself to write a spooky scene in preparation for a ghost story/mystery I want to write. Could you do one of these specifically on ghost stories? I know you did one on writing horror fiction, but that was of limited use to me.
I think in Silence of The Lambs, Clarice’s story IS a mystery and she catches Bill and restores order and saves Catherine. Hannibal’s story is a thriller but only part of the bad thing happens; he escapes yea, but he doesn’t genuinely harm Clarice and it’s Clarice’s well-being we are afraid for. We know from the start Hannibal is dangerous and that just talking to him is dangerous but Clarice must talk to him to solve her mystery. Hannibal is the lit bomb under the table Clarice must sit at to catch Bill.
The Sherlock Holmes mystery the Blue Carbuncle doesn't have a murder. A Scandal in Bohemia has no murder so, it's true you don't have to have death or murder
And The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
And in another Holmes, The Adventure of the Naval Treaty, was about international espionage and getting back an important official document. In other stories, there are DB's, but they are not the focus of the story. In The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton who was an extortionist of young brides, getting back the women's love letters and restoring justice and peace were the goals; Milverton's eventual demise is just an added perk that caps off the story. And in Terror By Night, Holmes recovers Lady Carstairs' Star of Rhodesia diamond even though her son perished protecting it, Lady Carstairs acted as if she could care less about the death of her only son, Roland. So, no, there doesn't always have to be about solving a focal murder. It can be about reclaiming state documents, love letters, special jewels, or anything of particular value to include reputations which were of tantamount importance in the Victorian Age.
There are detectives like Columbo, Jessica Fletcher, Poirot, Miss Marple, Monk, etc. who have solve mysteries but are not extremely tortured or are killers like Hannibal Lecter and Dexter
IN most mysteries I've read/watched the killer tends to be in close proximity in day to day to the victim, or the killer is acting on behalf of the victim of the victim...that makes it quite easy to have the villain come in very early
These are really informative videos and I find much of the advice and observations useful. I am currently trying to teach myself to write a spooky scene in preparation for a ghost story/mystery I want to write. Could you do one of these specifically on ghost stories? I know you did one on writing horror fiction, but that was of limited use to me.
Hello, I was wondering if you finished your ghost mystery story? Just wondering.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge! 👍
Love Becks!!
I think in Silence of The Lambs, Clarice’s story IS a mystery and she catches Bill and restores order and saves Catherine.
Hannibal’s story is a thriller but only part of the bad thing happens; he escapes yea, but he doesn’t genuinely harm Clarice and it’s Clarice’s well-being we are afraid for. We know from the start Hannibal is dangerous and that just talking to him is dangerous but Clarice must talk to him to solve her mystery.
Hannibal is the lit bomb under the table Clarice must sit at to catch Bill.
Thank you for sharing.
Kelly Stanley wrote "Praying Upside Down". Robin Hobb wrote "City of Dragons".
I so enjoyed this! Thanks!
great
Alexandra Sokoloff's romance specific writing book is excellent too - and not about mysteries - facepalms - dammit AM
This isn’t about techniques for the mystery writer. Rather, they talk about scenes in films rather than books. Wouldn’t recommend.