Overlooked??
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
United States
October 8, 2009 4:15am CST
I was reading a book and there is this one little thing that is bugging me about it...I have to explain a little before I can say whats bothering me...
Sooo...the cops think this guy killed himself (this is towards the end of the novel, so it isnt what the story is about)...the guy was/is a suspect in multiple murders...but they think this guy had a partner. They think he killed himself because they were getting to close or something...but I think something big was left out in the story....NO ONE ever thought to check his hands for gun powder...and I can tell you right now if they did he wouldn't have any on his hands and then they would have known it wasnt suicide!
Am I making this a bigger deal then it is? I just think this is a BIG thing overlooked!!!
1 person likes this
6 responses
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
19 Oct 09
I don't think you're making a big deal. I almost have to wonder if this is an amateur author whose book you were reading--unless we're supposed to be looking at small town bumpkin cops. I think some things are pretty standard fare in forensics, so I think you're right on the mark.
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
21 Oct 09
Fair enough. Still I side with your suspicion, there's no reason they should've missed a lack of powder residue or burns.
dr...
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
22 Oct 09
Yeah, I was kind of surprised thay would leave out something so big in this case. It would be something that would prove he didn't kill himself, and they suspected that he may not have almost right away. So it defeniatly seems like something they would want to do.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
21 Oct 09
The cops, especially the lead detective, are really smart and dedicated, defeniatly not 'small time bumpkin cops' :P lol.
The author, John Sandford, defeniatly did a good enough job with this book, and he has more that I'm looking forward to reading. It'll be interesting to see if I notice similar things in his other books, or if it was a one time thing.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
19 Oct 09
I always wonder about that stuff too. I mean it seems so obvious to us, but the author totally leaves it out.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Sounds like we read the same books! I was going to make the same comment about editing! And these are usually decent authors...
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
22 Oct 09
oh yeah! I defeniatly enjoy the books that I read, despite these small mistakes. But hey, their only human right? lol
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Yeah!! And I'm always spotting issues in the typing...like they leave out a word, add one twice...stuff like that. In one book I found a few of these simple mistakes! And all I can think is, how many people read this before it goes into print?? And there's an editor right!?! lol
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
8 Oct 09
No, I think you've read more and watched more shows about this kind of thing than the person who wrote the book or maybe the cops didn't want to look too hard.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
8 Oct 09
So where is the Coroner's office, the forensic lab? If the cops don't check something, then the person who does the autopsy usually does.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
8 Oct 09
Well the detective in this book wants to know EVERYTHING the second he can because of the way his cases are starting to blend and how they are turning out. I just think he wouldn't want anything done 'in time' lol (uh oh! I'm giving the characters life!!) I think there was an ME at the scene too.
@millertime (1394)
• United States
9 Oct 09
I've found little inconsistencies in books before but you're right this sounds like a big one. Without reading the whole story, I couldn't really say why they left something like that out. Maybe it's just a very inexperienced author or... maybe it's the lead in to the next book... hmmmm....
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
9 Oct 09
It's not going to have anything to do with a sequel to the story, I dont think there will be one. Everything was concluded with the end of the story :)
The author wrote many books and most know things like this. I just think this was a simple oversight. I might just be picky! lol
@matsulori (269)
• United States
9 Oct 09
Yes, it could be just that: overlooked by proofreaders and author alike... OR maybe it's a setup for a follow-up novel? One never knows. If it really bothers you, why not contact the publisher or the author? It could be that it really was unintentional and is something they'd like to know so they can fix it.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
10 Oct 09
Oh it doesnt bother me enough to write someone about it, just a little blip I saw.
I don't think there will be a follow up novel-there really isnt anything TO follow up on.
@matsulori (269)
• United States
10 Oct 09
I know how you feel, though. I worked for a deposition agency for a while, so it's natural for me to read with an eye toward proofreading -- can't seem to put down that mental red pencil.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
11 Oct 09
Yeah---I'm always noticing little mistakes in the books I read---grammar related and otherwise. It's not that I'm saying the author,editor or publisher are bad...they're only human! lol
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
8 Oct 09
No, they finish the story up--everything is discovered and solved...if you read the book everything with the partner and stuff woud make sense...I'm just fixated on this one, small overlook.
