Comments on: Plot Devices That Should Never Be Used in Mysteries http://toddleddredge.com/the-usual-blather/plot-devices-that-sould-never-be-used-in-mysteries Contemplative mom with crackers Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:36:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Veronica Mitchell http://toddleddredge.com/the-usual-blather/plot-devices-that-sould-never-be-used-in-mysteries#comment-4522 Veronica Mitchell Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:03:51 +0000 http://toddleddredge.com/?p=458#comment-4522 I love PD James. How could anyone like mysteries and not like PD James? She is in a class by herself. edj, Dick Francis can be amusing as a light read. His words to the press when his wife died impressed me. I've never read Ruth Rendell. Maybe I'll give her a try. TM, I love the Ladies No 1 Detective Agency novels, too, but I always save those to listen to as audiobooks read by Lisette Lecat. Her accents make Africa seem even more real. Julie, I've never read the Da Vinci Code. Now I have another reason not to. Alice, I have fallen out of love with Anne Perry. I can't enjoy her anymore. Zoom, I've heard that John Grisham writes all his books to be movies. So why not just see the movie? But now that you mention that, I am having a hard time thinking of American mystery writers that I like. Not since Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett died. Hmm. Erle Stanley Gardner is dead too. Karen, I haven't tried Hillerman. Maybe I will. I love PD James. How could anyone like mysteries and not like PD James? She is in a class by herself.

edj, Dick Francis can be amusing as a light read. His words to the press when his wife died impressed me. I’ve never read Ruth Rendell. Maybe I’ll give her a try.

TM, I love the Ladies No 1 Detective Agency novels, too, but I always save those to listen to as audiobooks read by Lisette Lecat. Her accents make Africa seem even more real.

Julie, I’ve never read the Da Vinci Code. Now I have another reason not to.

Alice, I have fallen out of love with Anne Perry. I can’t enjoy her anymore.

Zoom, I’ve heard that John Grisham writes all his books to be movies. So why not just see the movie? But now that you mention that, I am having a hard time thinking of American mystery writers that I like. Not since Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett died. Hmm. Erle Stanley Gardner is dead too.

Karen, I haven’t tried Hillerman. Maybe I will.

]]> By: Karen http://toddleddredge.com/the-usual-blather/plot-devices-that-sould-never-be-used-in-mysteries#comment-4521 Karen Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:22:28 +0000 http://toddleddredge.com/?p=458#comment-4521 Wonderful! Agreed on many of your authors.... though I do have a soft spot for Tony Hillerman and PD James. Wonderful! Agreed on many of your authors…. though I do have a soft spot for Tony Hillerman and PD James.

]]> By: zoom http://toddleddredge.com/the-usual-blather/plot-devices-that-sould-never-be-used-in-mysteries#comment-4520 zoom Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:14:25 +0000 http://toddleddredge.com/?p=458#comment-4520 Oh you hit a nerve on this. In my opinion, most modern mystery writers write with the intention of their book becoming a movie. I find this especially annoying with American writers versus British writers. Oh you hit a nerve on this. In my opinion, most modern mystery writers write with the intention of their book becoming a movie. I find this especially annoying with American writers versus British writers.

]]> By: alice http://toddleddredge.com/the-usual-blather/plot-devices-that-sould-never-be-used-in-mysteries#comment-4519 alice Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:58:53 +0000 http://toddleddredge.com/?p=458#comment-4519 I keep trying to like Anne Perry, but with the exception of the WWI series, I am disappointed. It's too easy to guess who did it. They're just a little lackluster in my opinion. I keep trying to like Anne Perry, but with the exception of the WWI series, I am disappointed. It’s too easy to guess who did it. They’re just a little lackluster in my opinion.

]]> By: Julie http://toddleddredge.com/the-usual-blather/plot-devices-that-sould-never-be-used-in-mysteries#comment-4518 Julie Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:49:02 +0000 http://toddleddredge.com/?p=458#comment-4518 Well done! I would also add to your list the lazy writer's "device" of withholding information from the reader in order to create suspense. This typically takes the form of a document that the protagonist gets to read... but we don't. *cough* The DaVinci Code *cough* Well done! I would also add to your list the lazy writer’s “device” of withholding information from the reader in order to create suspense. This typically takes the form of a document that the protagonist gets to read… but we don’t. *cough* The DaVinci Code *cough*

]]> By: MJ http://toddleddredge.com/the-usual-blather/plot-devices-that-sould-never-be-used-in-mysteries#comment-4517 MJ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:01:11 +0000 http://toddleddredge.com/?p=458#comment-4517 Bravo! I agree. I would add two that I've seen a bit too much of (uh-oh--we're running out of storylines) the long lost child with a grudge and/or search for said child, and the spouse/child/exspouse for insurance money. Although they can be used well, they tend to not be. Bravo! I agree. I would add two that I’ve seen a bit too much of (uh-oh–we’re running out of storylines) the long lost child with a grudge and/or search for said child, and the spouse/child/exspouse for insurance money. Although they can be used well, they tend to not be.

]]> By: Tonggu Momma http://toddleddredge.com/the-usual-blather/plot-devices-that-sould-never-be-used-in-mysteries#comment-4516 Tonggu Momma Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:53:12 +0000 http://toddleddredge.com/?p=458#comment-4516 Lately I've gotten into the Ladies Detective Agency series. I've only read the first one and just picked up the second. Have you ever read it? What did you think? Lately I’ve gotten into the Ladies Detective Agency series. I’ve only read the first one and just picked up the second. Have you ever read it? What did you think?

]]> By: edj http://toddleddredge.com/the-usual-blather/plot-devices-that-sould-never-be-used-in-mysteries#comment-4515 edj Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:44:13 +0000 http://toddleddredge.com/?p=458#comment-4515 Although if you put a butler in a modern story, wouldn't that be suspicious right off? ;) I love classic mysteries too. Right now I'm trying to read Agatha Christie in French, and it's harder than it looks. Do you like PD James? She's a modern I like. Also, when I'm in the right mood, I enjoy a good Dick Francis novel. He's a bit dated already though. Our bookstore in Mauritania was given STACKS of mysteries, ranging from fun to truly awful. I'm trying to remember who else I liked...I'll e you if I think of any. Ruth Rendell? Have you tried her? Although if you put a butler in a modern story, wouldn’t that be suspicious right off? ;)

I love classic mysteries too. Right now I’m trying to read Agatha Christie in French, and it’s harder than it looks. Do you like PD James? She’s a modern I like. Also, when I’m in the right mood, I enjoy a good Dick Francis novel. He’s a bit dated already though.
Our bookstore in Mauritania was given STACKS of mysteries, ranging from fun to truly awful. I’m trying to remember who else I liked…I’ll e you if I think of any. Ruth Rendell? Have you tried her?

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