 Mystery: April 29, 2009 Issue [#2971] |
  Mystery
This week: Edited by: Just an Ordinary Boo!  
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You know my method. It is founded upon the observance of trifles.
~ Arthur Conan Doyle
It takes but a glance sometimes, but 'twill serve to make up the mind. Is she the one for me? ~ Unknown |
| ASIN: B083RZJVJ8 |
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I would like to mention the importance of titles in a reader’s deciding to plunge into a write, especially a mystery write. Those who have had the dubious pleasure of being reviewed by me, know that I place a lot of importance on titles, terming them the ‘fly’ which lures the reader-fish. To use another metaphor - titles are like the headgear at Ascot's on Ladies Day - they serve to attract attention, arouse curiosity and admiration, becoming a symbol for the wearer.
Mysteries obviously require a lot of thought, to construct a puzzle that is not obvious; that is yet logical in the way it can be assembled to a neat whole at the end. Clues, red herrings, a sleuth – whether amateur or professional, suspects; all these require meticulous planning and delineation. So why not a bit of thought to the part that is first glimpsed – nay, the only one visible upon most on-site pages? (I am not regarding the intro as separate from the title; I think it should be a delicate enhancement of the promise in the title.)
A deft pun does a lot to create interest in the word craft within. Peruse the following:
Slay Bells ~ Kate Kingsbury
Remains to be Scene ~ Richard Tyler Jordan
For Better or Hearse ~ Laura Durham
Would you not be intrigued by the clever twists of meaning and at least glance into the story? After that, it is up to the writer to have a beginning with a powerful ‘hook’ (to take the angling metaphor further!  ).
Established writers can be sure we’d pick up their books/stories even if it titled in a bland or uninteresting way - maybe - “Another Mystery” by Agatha Christie. But even she had attention-grabbing titles; changing them after publication upon occasion. One effort was alternatively titled “Murder, She Said” & ”4:50 from Paddington” - both were excellent titles. The first tells us it is about someone witnessing a murder but probably being disbelieved, and the second places the action squarely upon a particular train. Both are interesting variations for a mystery.
Or think of “And Then There Were None”, also released as ”Ten Little Niggers” (those were times with less emphasis on political correctness) - the implication is of people being picked off one by one, as in the popular rhyme to which allusion is made with either phrase. Thus, it creates a desire in the reader’s mind to find out exactly how this situation is possible.
A couple of others that come to mind are - "Why didn't they ask Evans?". The question is the crux of the tale, the clue that holds the key to the mystery, yet using it as the title heightens the suspense, without in any way revealing the solution.
Or "Cat among the Pigeons", there is a hint of solution here, one knows where to look for the perpetrator, but despite this, one is led, dumbfound, to the superb end. Direction, misdirection, she uses both to ensure effective confusion. She usually caught me and reeled me in, well before the end.
If she could do it – why not you or me? *grimaces* All right! Quit prodding! Sorry, but that was my English Teacher correcting me from beyond the grave. I rephrase - why not you or I?
So, get cracking – make those titles marvels of mystery in themselves. A reader 'hooked' is a halfway to a buyer.
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The titles are not the only things good about these, but they are definitely good from the word go!
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#1482143 by Not Available. |
A delicious combo of genres, I liked all the flavours I could detect.
The author's name attracted me, the addition of Sci-fi and Romance to Mystery added to the allure. Join James on his endless search for Haley.
Detectives need quirks and distinctions - this one has cyberphobia. Another deft genre cocktail.
Death-bed confessions aren't always good for the soul.
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#1239978 by Not Available. |
It seemed like the perfect plan. There are twists and turns galore in this one. |
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| I wish to leave you with this to ponder - can you think of a classic mystery you would like to rename? What would you like it to be titled? I'll set the ball rolling - I choose "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes". I would like to give it the title: "You know my methods, Watson." An improvement? Maybe not, yet I feel it is at least more profound, more fitting to Holmes' startling observations. |
| ASIN: B07K6Z2ZBF |
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