Fortunately, the person I must kill is fictional, and truth be told, it’s not really me that’s going to do the killing but a yet-to-be named woman who is the sister of the deceased woman whose husband then married, horror of horrors, a younger woman. The husband is going to bite the dust first, though, through the manipulation of his heart medicine into a dose stronger than needed. I’m still working through the what, why and how to’s of that one, as well.
As most of the American population these days, my chief resource tool is my computer, particularly Google. It wouldn’t bother me except for my vague suspicion that someone somewhere is monitoring every question I throw out to Google. A large number of queries about nicotine poisoning might raise a few eyebrows at any surveilling government agency. And heaven help me if anyone I know suddenly drops dead from nicotine poisoning! How hard will that be to explain to any investigating authorities?
I know for a fact that Google at least monitors my activity, because the ads I receive on various web sites are related to things I have already researched. Which is the other problem with a cluster of questions around one specific topic. I don’t want to receive a jillion advertisements about poisons, cigarettes or vapes as a result of my research. I’m not interested in buying any of them. On the other hand, if all the ads I see are for things I don’t want to buy, I should save a lot of money. I guess it’s time to check my bank balance and see how much I need to save!
This problem is not one I anticipated having when I decided to write mysteries. What unexpected problems have you encountered in either your professions or your hobbies?
I'll keep your scalp poisoning in mind. There has to be a diabolical topical.
ReplyDeleteHysterical, Nancy. I admit that I have wondered what my browsing history says about me. In my single days every man who looked at my bookshelf questioned the poison section.
ReplyDeleteHave you asked about your topical at crimescene writers? Lot's of helpful folks over there.
I love the meme about wanting a friend to wipe my browser history if anything happens to me! So true!!!
ReplyDeleteYou need to make a connection with a cop, detective, or FBI agent. They can all research poisons for you without raising red flags. That way you've got the law on your side... in case of Google suspicions. Small town cops have broad knowledge as well as internet access. Take baked goods, make friends. Also, give them a free copy of your previous work as proof of your innocence.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, I do lots of research on the internet, even if I do it later to avoid interfering with the flow of my writing. It so beats the old method of writing the questions down and visiting a library to get the answers.
ReplyDeleteI do have some sources that I find very helpful. Several family members are cops. A good friend is a retired public defender. And I have an array of friends who have criminal backgrounds who, for a pizza & a soda (alcohol might violate someone's parole) will help me with research, especially the emotions. What does it feel like to be seventeen years old, sitting in a jail cell on a murder charge and facing possible execution? Especially when you did kill somebody.
Georgette Heyer has a book *Behold Here’s Poison” that has two deaths from nicotine poisoning via toothpaste. Interesting read.
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