My guest today sh
eds some light on the cozy mystery, so it’s no surprise she is the author of the intriguing Drew Farthering Mysteries series. The final book in her trilogy, Murder at the Mikado, has just released – don’t you love the cover?! So, without further mutterings from me, other than be sure to enter the givewaway below, here’s Julianna Deering!
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Inside Murder Mystery Writing
by
Julianna Deering
If you’ve read any of my Drew Farthering books, you might guess that I’m a great fan of cozy mystery, and you’d be right. To me, nothing says “cozy” better than a good murder-mystery romp set in England in the Golden Age of Mystery, the 1920s and ’30s. Of course, before I could even begin to write them, I had to read a lot of them, to figure out how they work and what is expected of them. For that, I found nobody better than the Queens of that age, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Margery Allingham. Each of them has her own style and favorite methods, but they all deliver fascinating characters, witty dialogue and, as Drew would say, a cracking mystery to solve. I have particular admiration for Allingham’s plots. The pieces of each puzzle fit together like fine watch works.
Of course, writing this type of book has a lot of challenges, especially if it’s part of a continuing series. Finding new situations for my characters to deal with, new twists, new ways to hide my bad guy or girl in plain sight and make the perfectly innocent (or at least the not as guilty) look like the villain. Keeping things fresh but familiar can be a bit of a juggling act, but it’s very satisfying when it works.
Dame Agatha herself said she didn’t know “who dunnit” as she was writing, that she just wrote an interesting story and then went back and set up the least likely suspect as the killer. But I have to know the end first. In mystery, you have two basic storylines. One is what’s going on behind the scenes, what the bad guy is up to and how he’s hiding it. The other is what seems to be going on, the crimes, the people who seem guilty but aren’t, the clues that seem to point to one thing but really mean something entirely different. By the end, both of these storylines have to tie in together. I couldn’t possibly make all that work out if I didn’t know from the start who the murderer is.
But I’m not a “plot to the last detail” person either. I usually have a destination and a few planned stops along the way, but otherwise I like to let the characters take whatever roads they like in getting there. They often surprise me. And sometimes what I have carefully plotted just doesn’t work when I get down to the actual writing, so I have to fix it. I really have to let the book grow its own way every time. It’s always an interesting journey and never happens the same way twice.
That means that writing every book is as much an adventure to me as the final product is to my readers. Who could ask for anything more?
[Tweet “Ever wondered about writing an Agatha Christie style cozy mystery? Julianna Deering did!”]
Relz Reviewz Extras
Julianna’s Pop Quiz
Character spotlight on Drew & Madeline
Visit Julianna’s website and blog
Buy from Amazon: Murder at the Mikado (A Drew Farthering Mystery) or Koorong
July 13, 2014 at 12:08 am
Of course! Cozy mysteries are the best. My first whodunit was Murder on the Orient Express when I was sixteen and two years later I have a whole Agatha Christie shelf on my bookcase.
July 13, 2014 at 9:26 am
Oh, that’s definitely tied for my #1 favorite Christie book (tied with And Then There Were None). I think it’s brilliant.
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 13, 2014 at 4:02 am
Only recently started reading cozy mysteries but I am already hooked on this genre!
July 13, 2014 at 9:27 am
Aren’t they great, Shelly? So much fun!
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 13, 2014 at 11:48 am
Yes, they really are such fun reads! Sometimes it takes some effort on my part to deviate from my historical fictions but I am so glad I decided to broaden my view to a different genre. 🙂
And yes, I love the book covers! 🙂
July 13, 2014 at 11:51 am
Aren’t the covers great? I love what Bethany House did with them.
I’m with you about historical fiction. It’s my favorite. But these are set in the 1930s, so they’re historical, too. I couldn’t resist. 😀
July 13, 2014 at 12:38 pm
Very true! Best of both worlds! 🙂
July 13, 2014 at 4:19 am
Sounds like a great book!
July 13, 2014 at 4:21 am
…and, I love cozy mysteries!
July 13, 2014 at 9:28 am
I hope you get a chance to read it, Patricia. 🙂
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 13, 2014 at 1:12 pm
For some reason, I keep hearing Agatha Christie’s name recently so I finally decided to read one of her books (yes, latecomer I know). I’m currently listening to Murder at the Vicarage, enjoying it so far! I enjoyed the first two books in the Drew Farthering series. But will Nick ever get a girl, too?
July 14, 2014 at 6:02 am
Don’t worry, Lis. Madeline’s friend, Carrie, didn’t run off and marry a lord while she was in Europe, and Nick gets to see her again in “Murder at the Mikado.” So keep reading! 😀
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 13, 2014 at 10:45 pm
Yes, I love playing Jessica Fletcher and cozy mysteries are the best!!
July 14, 2014 at 6:02 am
Aren’t they fun, Connie? 😀
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 13, 2014 at 11:39 pm
Love Mystery stories, and love meeting and reading from new authors.
July 14, 2014 at 6:03 am
Ooooh, I love discovering new authors, too, Juanita! Everybody has a different take on the genre!
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 14, 2014 at 12:00 am
i mostly read cozy murder mysteries…there is nothing else like them 🙂
July 14, 2014 at 6:04 am
Yeah, Lisa, they’re so much fun! Good thing there are so many of them to choose from. 😀
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 14, 2014 at 2:09 am
I have been wanting to read this series for awhile. I have purchased the first book and would be happy to win the third in the series. I have always been a fan of whodunit.
July 14, 2014 at 7:09 am
I hope you enjoy the series, Penny. 😀
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 14, 2014 at 4:41 am
I love mysteries! It’s my favorite genre 🙂
July 14, 2014 at 7:10 am
Aren’t they fun, Jessica? I always enjoy trying to figure out what’s going on before it’s revealed.
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 14, 2014 at 11:29 pm
I love reading cozy mysteries, especially the series, “Hometown Mysteries”. As for Agatha Christie my favorite character of her’s is Hercule Poirot.
July 16, 2014 at 8:28 am
Oh, I love Poirot! Absolutely my favorite. I can’t wait to finally see the last five episodes of the David Suchet version. We’ve been waiting so long, and now the first one is less than two weeks away!
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 14, 2014 at 11:38 pm
Thanks for sharing this. I love a good mystery.
July 16, 2014 at 8:28 am
Oh, I do, too, Carol! And there are so many great ones to choose from. I like the onld ones . . . obviously. 🙂
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 15, 2014 at 12:00 am
I love reading mysteries! I grew up on the Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, the Mandie books, and Bloodhounds Inc. 🙂 I’m currently reading Death by the Book (and loving it of course)! Can’t wait to read Murder at the Mikado!
July 16, 2014 at 8:29 am
Hi, Amy!
Glad you’re enjoying the books. Thank you!
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 15, 2014 at 8:26 am
I love reading cozy mysteries. Thanks for the giveaway!
July 16, 2014 at 8:29 am
Good luck in the drawing, Paula! 🙂
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 15, 2014 at 9:42 am
But of course! Like Amy (above) I grew up on the Boxcar Children and Mandie mysteries, graduating to Sherlock Holmes in junior high. Then one of my college roommates introduced me to Dorothy Sayers and Laurie R. King’s Sherlock Holmes series, and now we have a CHRISTIAN cozy mystery series – what could be better? I have very much enjoyed reading the Drew Farthering novels – thanks for the chance to win one!
July 16, 2014 at 8:31 am
Oh, I love Sherlock Holmes. I have some of the King books, but sadly haven’t had time to read any of them yet. So glad you’re enjoying Drew and company. Thank you!
Julianna Deering (DeAnna Julie Dodson)
July 16, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Yes, I love mystery and suspense.
July 17, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Me, too, Kandra! 😀
July 19, 2014 at 3:16 am
Cozy mysteries are delightful and unique.
July 19, 2014 at 12:53 pm
I’ve been totally into historical fiction for awhile (quote picky about the writing and the setting) and recently found the genre historical fiction mysteries! (I know, where have I been right?!) After downloading Drew’s first case, I realized these are also Christian books—absolutely in love! Can’t wait to finish this one and move on to the next book! Thank you Julianna!
July 19, 2014 at 12:54 pm
Spell check: quite*