tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post1476330193638253443..comments2024-03-28T17:30:06.439-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Why I Write of MurderJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-83294968249841988502012-08-10T17:49:37.570-04:002012-08-10T17:49:37.570-04:00I think the mystery, especially the "cozy,&qu...I think the mystery, especially the "cozy," is today's morality play. I'm sure that's not a new thought! There is something very satisfying about creating a protagonist who is mostly good (too boring if there is no flaw) who can defeat the antagonist, mostly evil (but somehow compelling). The mystery writer has a message that problems can be overcome, evil can be conquered, through determination, integrity, intelligence - not necessarily through faith and sacrifice, though. We can leave that to those who write in the spiritual or religious genre...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17079770587275327407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-83496388594029489652012-08-08T12:36:44.279-04:002012-08-08T12:36:44.279-04:00I can't say I enjoyed Chinatown, Warren, but y...I can't say I enjoyed Chinatown, Warren, but you're right. The actors were all wonderful.Alyx Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815592165482269572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-44093697589901182692012-08-08T12:36:09.527-04:002012-08-08T12:36:09.527-04:00I don't know that I've ever become too fru...I don't know that I've ever become too frustrated to finish a mystery because the killer was too obvious, Maddy. I have become frustrated for the reason Gloria states about murderers being brought in too late in the story.<br /><br />BTW, if you want to see a great parody making fun of that exact issue, watch Murder By Death. Such a wonderfully compiled group of actors, & such tongue in cheekiness at the world of mystery writers.Alyx Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815592165482269572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-27434514579904246612012-08-08T12:03:53.124-04:002012-08-08T12:03:53.124-04:00Like most of us, I read as a writer attending to s...Like most of us, I read as a writer attending to style, character development, and plot devices more than to the puzzle piece. In the movie Chinatown, I commented during the movie about the relationships between father, daughter and granddaughter. That was from my job experience not from my writing. It was extremely well acted.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-4327906171632900112012-08-08T11:59:03.931-04:002012-08-08T11:59:03.931-04:00Too many to list, but I'm so 'bad' tha...Too many to list, but I'm so 'bad' that if the killer is too obvious in any novel [or movie or TV programme] then I become to frustrated to finish it - although I'm forced to always finish just in case I'm wrong - which doesn't happen often: )Maddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05828186178060722812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-57425660022417996062012-08-08T11:49:54.163-04:002012-08-08T11:49:54.163-04:00I LOVE Monk, EB. That was one of my favorite show...I LOVE Monk, EB. That was one of my favorite shows. And yes, while I knew early on in the episodes who'd committed the crime, I enjoyed watching Monk figure it out.<br /><br />I should admit that - while I have a knack for "feeling" who the villain is - I don't always know the clues that point to him/her. Sometimes I've got both down pat, but not always.Alyx Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815592165482269572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-217281855508178772012-08-08T11:48:10.691-04:002012-08-08T11:48:10.691-04:00I've never read Elizabeth George, so I'll ...I've never read Elizabeth George, so I'll check her out. Thanks Gloria.<br /><br />And I hope you enjoy Bouchercon. I went to the one here in SF a couple years ago. I only volunteered in the coffee room for a day, but it was cool to be surrounded by all these authors & fans.Alyx Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815592165482269572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-73906931690090105852012-08-08T11:46:49.848-04:002012-08-08T11:46:49.848-04:00I can enjoy books where the killer is known right ...I can enjoy books where the killer is known right off the bat, too, Linda. But I truly do enjoy the mystery solving aspect of the ones where s/he's not fingered right away.Alyx Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815592165482269572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-53219137719985432812012-08-08T11:31:15.178-04:002012-08-08T11:31:15.178-04:00E.B. I never have, either, but it's only 50 mi...E.B. I never have, either, but it's only 50 miles from me so I thought I'd try it. I understand it's quite large and not as friendly as Malice, Crimebake or Love is Murder - the conferences I've attended.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-11793757995665023982012-08-08T11:22:10.961-04:002012-08-08T11:22:10.961-04:00I read so much, it's hard to remember all the ...I read so much, it's hard to remember all the books by title. But, if a book is good, even if I figure out whodunnit, I want to find out how the MC figures it out. I like to see how one clue leads to another and focus on the logic and deductions the MC makes. That's the mystery to me. I also like when the character development makes it natural for the MC's conclusions. Like Monk, who through his obsessive behavior knows details that no one else would ever consider. Yikes! That's a TV show. <br /><br />Gloria--I'm envious. I've never been to Bouchercon.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-65290816605763123062012-08-08T10:32:36.662-04:002012-08-08T10:32:36.662-04:00Like you, Alyx, I'm usually able to figure out...Like you, Alyx, I'm usually able to figure out who dunnit. I enjoy matching wits with the author. I'm disappointed, though, if the murderer is brought in late in the story with no real clues before hand.<br /><br />I just finished reading Elizabeth George's book PLAYING FOR THE ASHES. I'd figured out the killer early in the novel and kind of stuck with my choice even though said killer seemed to have an air tight alibi. For various reasons, I'd discounted the other suspects. I do like George's plots and characters. <br /><br />By the way, Elizabeth George is going to be guest of honor at Bouchercon in Cleveland this year. My Sinc chapter is working the conference this year so I'm excited about meeting her.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-43169896630378448942012-08-08T09:37:43.268-04:002012-08-08T09:37:43.268-04:00I've got to confess, Alyx. When I read mysteri...I've got to confess, Alyx. When I read mysteries, I'm not reading for the puzzle aspect. I read for the characters and to see how they behave under circumstances that test their mettle. I can enjoy suspense novels and thrillers where the villain's known as much as actual mysteries where the protagonist is having to figure out who did it. If a book is mostly just puzzle, I won't finish it.<br /><br />That said, if a book is a mystery but so obvious that the protagonist has to be wilfully stupid to miss it, I also won't finish it. Like Whitman, I contain multitudes. ;-)Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.com