  Mystery
This week: Edited by: darkin
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Welcome to the Mystery Newsletter. Why are mysteries so popular? Because mysteries make you think. You follow every clue, examine the crime scenes and remember what each suspect said, until you solve the crime. A good mystery can keep you interested until the end. A great mystery will keep you guessing until the last page...when it makes you slap your forehead in surprise!
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Outfitting Your Fictional Detective
Your detective arrives at the scene of the crime and surveys the area. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out...what?
You have created your detective, given him a personality and an appearance. You have plotted a crime for him to solve and given him a team to work with. Now you need to give him the proper tools to aid in his quest.
Mental and physical tools are necessary to handle any situation and it's especially true for your detective. This is not a complete list, but it's a start. Your detective does not have to be perfect. You can give, or withhold, any of the follow to suit your story's plot. Let's start with his mind.
Mental Skills
Detectives come in many personalities and appearances, but they all share some basic mental skills that help them do their job.
Observation: Detective must have a highly developed ability to see what others miss.
Writing Ability: Since your detective's reports will be used in court, he should be able to write, and speak, concisely and clear.
Desire: Your detective should have a natural curiosity and need to solve the crime and catch the bad guy.
Confidence: Whether it is speaking with witnesses or arresting the bad guy, your detective should not hesitate or show fear.
Self-Directed: A detective needs to be able to work without close supervision and make decisions on the move.
Patience: Detectives deal with a lot of different things, from dealing with victims/witnesses to stakeouts and long court proceedings.
Open-minded: Your detective should let the facts of the crime, not their personal, religious or moral beliefs speak.
Intelligence: A detective should have above-average intelligence. His memory needs to be excellent. He should be able to think logically and with a little imagination when working on a crime.
As I said earlier, you can make your detective anyway you wish, but these are the traits most police departments look for when promoting an officer to the rank of detective.
Now that we've gone over mental abilities, let's take a look at physical tools needed to get the job done. Most of these are self-explanatory.
Items Carried
When a detective gets dressed in the morning there are things he will carry to help him though his day's work.
Notebook and Pen/Pencil: Detectives use these for writing down details, victim information, witness information and anything else he needs to remember.
Handcuffs: Used when arresting or detaining a suspect.
Pepper Spray: Used for repelling an attacker or to aid in an arrest.
Service Weapon: The kind of gun your officer would use would depend on his department's regulations as well as personal preference.
Stun Gun: Some officers carry a personal stun gun. They are compact and easy to use and are often considered non-violent response to an attack.
Badge: Do not forget your detective's identification.
I'm sure there are more things, but this is a good start. Your detective will evolve as all of your characters do, as you learn more about him. Now, let's turn to what he would keep inside his vehicle while working.
Vehicle Items
Depending on the size of your detective's department, there are things he would have in his car for investigating a crime scene.
General Evidence Collection Kit: This would have items used to collect evidence, such as: envelopes, plastic bags, measuring tape, scissors, and flashlights.
Cast and Mold Kit: This holds the things necessary to make a plaster cast of footprints, tire tracks, etc. it would have casting frames, plaster casting material, and various hardeners and oils.
Field Drug Test Kit: Used to make an on the scene determination of unknown substances found.
Photographic Kit: In smaller departments, there might not be a detective that handles taking pictures of the scene. The detectives would carry a 35mm camera as well as an instamatic camera. They would also have extra film, batteries and accessories.
Fingerprint Kit: Used for lifting prints as well as taking prints on the scene from cadavers.
Clothing and Safety Items: Because they encounter so many different situations, a detective needs to carry a variety of things to keep themselves safe. Safety goggles, coveralls, gloves, and rubber boots are kept along with a hard hat and flashlight.
These are only some of the items your detective might keep inside his vehicle and on his person. He would probably carry a shotgun or riot gun and a bullet-proof vest.
Your detective's personality and appearance are important to move your story along. But adding some of the tools of the trade will really make him come to life and be real for your readers.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!
darkin
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Thank you for taking the time to read this issue. I hope it was helpful and inspires you to write Here is some of the feedback I've received from my last newsletter.
darkin
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Submitted By: Turtle 
Submitted Comment:
This was a great newsletter. You gave me a great way to flesh out a mystery I'm working on. I didn't realize what was missing was my victim. Oh sure, people talk about her, but everyone says the same thing. Only one character mentions something new about her and that's only in response to a question the detective has. Now I know better. I was stalled, but your article has given me the push I needed. Thanks, Demon Squirrel of Doom
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Submitted By: billwilcox
Submitted Comment:
Darkin,
After reading your newsletter, I feel totally victimized...
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Mystery: May 09, 2007 Issue [#1704]
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