When Writing Murder Mysteries....
By patgalca
@patgalca (18181)
Orangeville, Ontario
February 21, 2016 3:44pm CST
I am reading another book by my writing group friend. This is her sixth book with another coming out soon. I commented earlier on one of her books that I read and that there were a lot of errors. I think that one book was a one off. Not all of her books are as badly edited, thankfully.
Anyway, I am only two chapters into this current book (Hardheaded Brunette). The genre is Cozy Mysteries. My question to all of you is, when do you expect the murder to occur? In my opinion, I feel that the story should start right off the bat with the discovering of the body or bodies. At the very least, in the first chapter. Two chapters in and no deaths yet. A reader could easily lose interest.
What do you think? When reading (or writing) mysteries, do you think the "mystery" should occur right away?
12 people like this
13 responses
@msiduri (5687)
• United States
22 Feb 16
I used to read a lot of murder mysteries by I haven't for a long time. No particular reason. And I don't believe I've ever read a cozy.
That being sad, the story must pretty good to delay the murder. Maybe the author wants the reader to get to know the victim and perpetrator well before she offs the poor soul. I'm guessing.
1 person likes this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
22 Feb 16
I am a blood and guts reader, I like my murders in the first paragraph. Otherwise, I think the dastardly deed or a very strong hint about sources of the mystery should be in Chapter 1 to keep readers' interest.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18181)
• Orangeville, Ontario
22 Feb 16
@sherryericha Are you saying you ALWAYS read the end of the book first?
1 person likes this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
22 Feb 16
@patgalca. Can you keep a secret? Sometimes, okay usually, I read the end of the book first.
Congrats to your friend. Love the book's title.
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
22 Feb 16
A mystery doesn't necessarily have to be about a murder at the beginning--it could lead up to one.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33351)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
22 Feb 16
Since I've been reading cozies for a little over a decade, murders should take place in the first couple of chapters. Have she read cozies before she had written them? She should read books in the genre she writes, whether it's a regular or culinary cozies. I've seen it happen in the first 3 chapters. If there's more than one, it should be in the middle.
@patgalca (18181)
• Orangeville, Ontario
24 Feb 16
The body was found in the third chapter and I could see the reason for the build-up but perhaps she could have condensed it into one chapter. I have no idea what kind of books she reads. I assumed mysteries but I never thought to ask.
1 person likes this
@oneoveralpha (434)
• Brookville, Pennsylvania
22 Feb 16
I don't read much murder mystery. The last one was Murder on the Orient Express, which I think took a couple of chapters before the murder. Of course, from the title you knew there would be a murder. 
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
24 Feb 16
Maybe some background information leading up to it then set the stage for the murders.
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Feb 16
I've never really thought about it but I guess sooner rather than later.
