Four queens. Four styles. One amazing outcome
Carol PotenzaUndertaking the Investigation: Commit to the investigation a component of an Act 1 beat that is just as it seems. Your sleuth—whether he’s a cigar-smoking lieutenant in the LAPD with a New York accent—MUST COMMIT to solving the crime because that’s his job. Or your sleuths—like a bunch of meddling kids in a flowered purple minivan … Read more
January Mystery Author Birthdays: Edgar Allan Poe (Father of the Detective Novel) and Patricia Highsmith (Master of the Psychological Thriller) Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) Edgar Allan Poe was born one dark and stormy night (Actually, I don’t know if it was dark and stormy. Just seemed appropriate) January 19th, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts, the second child of … Read more
Howcatchems and Killer Mistakes In Demystifying the Beats, we broadly define two different “types” of mysteries: Whodunits and Howcatchems. The beats for the two types of mysteries stay the same. The Howcatchem is an inverted mystery. The reader/viewer know, usually from the beginning, who committed the crime, and the villain and sleuth play a cat … Read more
Just a peek at our Red Reines November Newsletter Posts Food Tasters and Murder This month is Thanksgiving in the US (Canada already had their feast-day a month ago). And in the spirit of well-attended banquets and murder mysteries, we’re talking food tasters. Anyone who’s seen Game of Thrones should be familiar with the concept … Read more
Act 3 Missteps—Return to the Clues “If the book doesn’t work, it’s the author’s fault. I’m very conscious that nothing in any of my books is a random surprise or isn’t extensively foreshadowed. You’ve gotta play fair.” Lee Child This is a great quote by Lee Child, and it’s what makes his stories so popular … Read more
Want to write a mystery? We have a KILLER Book we created just for you: Demystifying the Beats. The crime has been exposed, you’ve introduced your unique and mesmerizing sleuth, they’ve committed to solving the crime… And the investigation commences! You are now in Act 2 = Fumbling. But your sleuth is more reactive than … Read more
A mystery plays to the intellectual, to the “little gray cells”. A suspense appeals to the emotional.
Make Dire Disruption your goal and learn how to write a satisfying mystery The Dire Disruption will be at the end of Act 2, right at the midpoint climax. Like the midpoint climax in any story, it’s a watershed. After it occurs, everything changes. It’s the point where the sleuth is on the downward slope … Read more
“Commissioner, I believe you’re making a mistake here, sir…” “Don’t be ridiculous. I saw it, I tell you… There were no other witnesses.” “Columbo” A Friend in Deed (TV Episode 1974) Demystifying the Beats: Fast Fail“A Friend Indeed” (1974), is one of my favorite Columbo episodes. And it makes a great illustration for one of … Read more
Demystifying the Beats: Whittle Suspects “But there’re a couple of things that don’t add up.” “Like what?” “Well, for one thing, the fingerprints.” “Come on, come on, Columbo. There were no fingerprints!” “That’s what I mean, sir.” “Columbo” A Friend in Deed (TV Episode 1974) “A Friend Indeed,” is one of my favorite Columbo episodes. … Read more