Although I haven't really considered myself much of a mystery writer, I have recently discovered that I am writing a mystery. I don't know why I haven't realized this before. In Ethan & Mariah's story I have all the essential elements: crime (murder), victim (Ethan's Stepmother, Mrs. Carew), suspects (at the moment only Mariah), and accusers (the housekeeper, Mrs. Filibree, and the victim's biological son, Jasper Hurst-Carew). I already have the other essential information in my head. I know who actually killed Mrs. Carew (yes she was murdered), that person's motive, and the means. The question is how my characters are going to find all this out.
Yes, I know I should have worked through all of this before hand, but I didn't. I didn't know I was writing a murder mystery until my fleeting moment of clear thought.
However, this shouldn't be a crisis. I am a veteran when it comes to reading about and watching mysteries. I have watched every Hercule Poirot that David Suchet has made. I read all of the original Nancy Drew books in one summer as a teen. I enjoyed the Nero Wolfe series on BBC (I want to own them on DVD someday), and I enjoy reading the occasional mystery novel. I should be able to pull this off. At least that is what I keep telling myself. We shall see. :)
- Rachel Rossano
