By Donnell Ann Bell

I often wonder why I’m among the millions of people who enjoy a good mystery. Not only a good mystery but why I enjoy a good murder mystery.  Moreover, how can I read and write crime fiction while at the same time complain about violence and our uncivilized treatment of fellow human beings.

I didn’t consult a psychologist to write this blog, but I think I’ve figured it out. The mystery and suspense genre has intrigued me since I was a young girl, disobeying my mother to watch Dark Shadows or sneaking off with friends to watch films like Scream Scream Again and Vincent Price horror flicks. I knew nothing about violence in those days.  I only knew I was intensely curious about subjects foreign to me, and even though I ended up sleeping with the lights on (Sorry, Mom), that curiosity persisted and remains with me to this day.

Fast forward years later. No matter if my book is a romantic suspense or a police procedural, they always contain a central theme. Justice. I have little control over the outside forces affecting our world. I only know that when I type The End of a manuscript, I do so with satisfaction.

I should qualify that because I’m not an expert on these subjects, I have chosen to become educated by enrolling in citizens academies and volunteering as a victims advocate. I co-own a writers’ group called Crimescenewriter started by veteran police officer Wally Lind in 2002 to help authors create believable stories. I’m grateful to Wally and the many experts on Crimescenewriter who answer our rookie questions when we paint ourselves into the sorry novice, that-would-never-happen corner.

Whether you’re writing an amateur sleuth or a hardened street cop, if you’re looking for a great nonfiction book to help you when writing mysteries, I’d like to recommend former detective and forensic investigator Steve Rush’s nonfiction book Kill Your Characters, Crime Scene Tips for Writers.

Kill Your Characters is broken down chapter by chapter with easy-to-follow subgroups. The chapters include, The Facts, The Inciting Incident, Details of Death, Evidence, Blood Evidence, Gunshot Injuries, Sharp Force Injuries, Blunt Force Trauma, Transportation Deaths, Deaths by Asphyxia, Thermal Injuries, Pain and Suffering, and Toxins. It also includes a helpful guide: Construct Your Scene Legend, Practical Writing Prompts, Glossary, References and Index.

This comprehensive workbook with the tagline Arm Yourself, It’s Time to Kill Your Characters, is filled with helpful diagrams from an autopsy report example, to weapon discussion, including caliber and striations, and so much more. Typical of Steve, he cites references of other experts to help writers along their quest. Kill Your Characters is available on Amazon Kindle or in Paperback https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Your-Characters-Crime-Writers/dp/1947521780

Finally, there’s a fantastic quote that Steve included in Kill Your Characters: Crime Scene Tips for Writers which sums up my feelings exactly when it comes to writing murder mystery. Let me know if you recognize the author.

“By and large, I feel that the more interesting work in the field of murder is done by amateurs. They are people who perform their work with dignity and good taste, leavened with a sense of the grotesque. There is polite and wholesome mayhem, practiced by civilized people, and I personally enjoy it. “   ~  Alfred Hitchcock   

As a P.S. to my recommendation, I should probably mention that I have a book on sale. Sale price $.99 until January 16, 2025 on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Google and Apple books. Black Pearl | A Cold Case Suspense | Author Donnell Ann Bell   Black Pearl, a Cold Case Suspense, and a 2020 Colorado Book Award finalist, is book one of my series.

What’s it about? A cold case heats up when a 9-1-1 call puts police at a Denver murder scene, pointing investigators to the abduction of a Colorado teenager fourteen years earlier. A calling card—a single black pearl—is found on the newest victim. Is the murder a copycat? Or has a twisted serial killer, thought dead or in prison, returned to strike again?

As you might suspect, my projects involve research. The generosity of Steve Rush, among many other experts, makes my job “a tad” easier.

Wishing everyone a Happy 2025 filled with Reading and Writing!

~ Donnell