The Making of a Mystery

I’ve loved mystery stories since I was a kid. The original Scooby Doo, Where Are You? cartoon was my Saturday morning favorite. It was an actual who-dunnit mystery with clues, suspects, and a crime that the group of friends stumbled upon each week. Of course, it wasn’t a tough mystery to solve as there were only two other characters and the villain was usually a cantankerous caretaker.

When it’s more than a Saturday cartoon, writing a mystery adds a layer of complexity to the plot unlike any other genre. While all readers expect complex characterization, snappy dialogue, and rich settings from any book that they plunk down $17.95 for a hard copy, in a mystery the plot must be intricate and detailed. Suspects have their respective paths to follow and the author must peel away layers of the story as the suspect list narrows the closer the reader gets to the climax. Give away too much, too soon, and readers aren’t challenged, but leave the reader in the dark for too long and they grow frustrated.

My entire approach to writing a mystery is completely different from my approach to writing a romance or a young adult fiction novel. Sometimes romances just write themselves (see the backstory on Beach Town), but painstaking effort must be made for every plot point of a mystery. The display of sticky notes to the left gives you an idea of my process. It’s critical to know every step of every character and every exchange.

Why? Because mystery readers are a very special breed. They like a little work with their pleasure reading. Whereas the romance reader just wants to immerse herself/theirself in a fun, frolicking romp comparable to spinning gleefully in a meadow, the mystery reader pores over every word, sometimes rereading passages and chapters, knowing the author is challenging them to figure it all out.

While romance readers quickly suspend disbelief (and a lot more) for a Happily Ever After ending, mystery readers are far less generous. In the end all of the pieces have to fit. Mysteries are comparable to math equations, where everything has to add up. Cut corners, sudden personality shifts, and plot points without foundation are not tolerated. Undoubtedly, mystery readers are by far one of the most demanding groups of readers, but it makes receiving positive reviews that much sweeter.

Chapter One

Saturday, October 14th 2:13 AM

The sound of pounding feet grew louder and meant one thing – he was closer. She willed herself to move faster, cursing the tight skirt and stiletto pumps that slowed her down. He sloshed through several puddles on the dark street, ones she’d avoided just moments before. She realized he’d already turned the corner and she was in view. A narrow alley lay ahead illuminated by a naked, yellow bulb that hung over a massive steel delivery door.

She’d wheeled to her right heading toward the alley when her heel settled into an ancient pothole. She gasped and lurched forward. Gravity demanded she fall, ending the chase and her life, but she fought to stay upright, her strong legs and back preventing a collision with the concrete. She increased her speed again, but her ankle screamed in pain. The misstep cost her valuable seconds, and she knew he was gaining on her. Resisting the urge to look back, she pumped her arms harder and entered the black mouth of the alley. Darkness lay ahead and there was no way out. At any point she could careen into a brick wall or fence, but the alternative was worse.

Her ankle throbbed and her feet slowed. He was right behind her, his heavy breathing audible. If she could reach the end of the alley, a sliver of hope existed. She lengthened her stride and felt a hand graze her shoulder. She cried out and lunged forward. He reached for her again, this time grabbing some strands of hair, but she kept going. And then the pavement beneath her disappeared.

Jane’s eyes flew open and she gasped, a spasm of terror shooting through her body. The one-night stand sleeping next to her didn’t awaken. She glanced at the window and the slash of moonlight illuminating the bedroom. She sat up slowly, her head lolling between her knees. She knew before she looked at the nightstand that the digital display on her clock would show it was somewhere around two. Sure enough, it was 2:13. When her heart rate returned to normal, she rose from the bed, realizing this was the third nightmare in less than a week. She moved toward the window, conscious she was naked but comforted by the bright full moon.

She saw it instantly, haloed by the nearby streetlight. A white orchid lay on her front walk.

Chapter Two

Saturday, October 14th 7:55 AM

A shrill ring ripped Ari from a deep sleep. She dislodged herself from Molly’s strong arms and reached for her cell phone. “Ari Adams.”

“God, Ari, I’m sorry to call this early, but I waited as long as I could. I’ve been up since two this morning, so I figured if I wake up my best friend at eight on a Saturday, after sitting in my condo for six terrifying hours already, then I’m still being rather considerate, don’t you think?”

She rubbed her eyes, still half asleep. “Sweetie, slow down. I can’t understand everything you’re saying.”

“I got another orchid during the night. Somebody left it on my front walk, and now I’m totally freaking out.”

“Oh, no. Okay, honey. It’s okay.”

Molly sat up, her face full of concern.

She covered the mouthpiece and whispered, “Jane got another orchid.”

Molly shook her head and fell back against the pillow. “She needs to hire a PI.”

She stroked Molly’s blond curls as Jane continued to rant. While she loved Jane dearly, it was difficult to know whether a true emergency existed or if her melodramatic nature was responsible for the quake in her voice. Jane continued to barrel through her description while Molly kissed each of Ari’s fingertips, and she struggled to focus on the conversation. She knew it would only be a matter of seconds before Molly began sucking on each one, an act of foreplay she couldn’t resist.

“Ari, what should I do?” Jane moaned.

Molly’s lips closed around her middle finger, and Ari swallowed a sigh. “Jane, why don’t we meet at my office at ten? I’m not having an open house today, but I have to go in to do some paperwork. We can have some coffee and talk, okay?” She hoped she didn’t sound too rushed.

“Wait a minute,” Jane said suspiciously. “Are you with Molly? You are, aren’t you? You guys are doing it. Holy shit, Ari! I’m trying to talk to you about my potential murder, and you’re getting it on with your girlfriend.”

She took a deep breath. “Jane, there’s nothing I can do right now. Give me a couple hours and I’ll help you figure this out. I promise. If it takes all day, we’ll work on it, okay?” She knew the prospect of spending a whole day together while talking about herself would definitely appeal to Jane.

Jane sighed. “Fine. I just hope that I’m not kidnapped or tortured between now and then. You’ll feel really bad if my maimed and mutilated body goes undiscovered for weeks.”

“No, I’d find it before then. I’ll see you in a few.” Before Jane could respond, she flipped her phone shut and tossed it on the nightstand. She retreated back into Molly’s pleasurable embrace, savoring the gentle kisses Molly planted on her collarbone.

“I take it Jane is upset.”

“Yes, this is the fourth orchid that someone has left. I’m beginning to get a little worried about this.”

Molly’s expression sobered, and much to Ari’s dismay, she sat up on her elbow. “Tell me again, when did this start?”

“About two weeks ago. She found the first one in her cubicle at work. She didn’t think anything of it. She thought maybe a grateful client had left it. She’d closed a few deals that week, and she assumed it was from one of them.”

“Did she check that out? Make some phone calls?”

Ari shook her head. Molly stared at the far wall, lost in her thoughts. She knew Molly was moving deeper into cop mode, and once Detective Molly Nelson fully crowded her entire persona, she might as well get out of bed and start the day. “Jane hasn’t done anything proactive. She just has her suspicions.” She snuggled against Molly and kissed her cheek, allowing her hands to roam across her body. “I really don’t want to talk about Jane anymore. I’ll help her figure it out later.”

Molly cupped Ari’s face in her hands. “You need to promise me that you won’t do anything dangerous.”

She bit her lip. She’d nearly been killed a few months before, and while she doubted she would ever face that much danger again, she knew Molly was overly cautious about her life. She stared into Molly’s crystal blue eyes. “I’ll be careful.” It would be the perfect opportunity to share her feelings, but she knew Molly wasn’t ready to hear the words.

Molly kissed her and smoothed her hair. “I just...well, I worry.”

She knew it was the closest Molly would come to voicing her feelings. “I know.” A look of relief crossed Molly’s face. “She needs to hire a PI. The police won’t do anything because technically no crime has been committed.”

“I promise I’ll suggest that to her when I see her,” she said, quickly dismissing Jane’s problems.

She would spend the day with Jane, but right now she was in bed with Molly, who also was slated to work a stakeout in a few hours. It was a step toward promotion, and it meant Molly would spend more time on the job. She was not going to waste precious moments of intimacy on other matters. She rolled on top of Molly and made sure the next hour was quality time.