Write Away: C is for Clues, Crime, and Custody

It amazed me, as I prepped for this challenge, just how many options I had for most letters, and C was one of those. I chose this big three because they are central to mystery and crime writing. The mystery or crime fiction story begins with the crime, which leaves clues, and ends with custody.

Clues are left after any crime. Some are very subtle and only make sense in conjunction with other clues, such as a timeline of suspects’ actions. Others are bold and obvious and supportive of other evidence, like DNA analysis. But some clues are planted to be distractors or are misinterpreted in light of other evidence.

Susan Spann, in an article on writing mysteries on Chick Wendig’s “Terrible Minds” says there are three kinds of clues: “genuine clues” that point to the criminal; “fake clues” meant to lead the reader and detective in another direction; and “pivotal clues” meant to change or shift the investigation in the story. The mystery writer needs to make a list of each to sprinkle into the story.

Some pivotal clues lead to the breakthrough from yesterday’s post. In story arc terms, they probably occur at the major turning points.

Crime is an unlawful act for which there are penalties if apprehended (a really good A word). In most mysteries and crime fiction, the most common crime is murder. Murder is the ultimate stakes. One can recover from a burglary or robbery or can usually recover from assault and battery. There’s no coming back from murder. The higher the stakes, the more engaged readers tend to be. But there are lots of other crimes, that written well, can also draw in readers. That’s why we use the modifier “murder mystery” to identify the mystery’s crime.

Custody is a synonym for being imprisoned or jailed. The suspect is locked up, does time, or goes inside. An interesting thing about custody relates to due process rules on questioning and Miranda rights. More on those in later entries. Suffice it to say, you may be confused about how interrogation happens legally as I used to be. I can clear that up for you.

Being in custody is the direct result of being arrested, but not all custody comes from arrests. Custody can result from other actions as well, such as the suspect submitting to the authority of a public safety official or being detained for questioning.

An arrest means you were charged with a crime. For serious crimes the suspect can be held in custody for a long time, with a judge determining if the person can be released on bail pending trial.

If not arrested, but only detained (held in custody) for questioning, police can hold a suspect for eight hours, only four of which can be questioning.

Now let’s get to part 3 of our continuing tale:

Categorizing her questions was a brilliant move she’d made decades ago. Now she had a pool of answers she could tap into so the responses seemed genuine, heartfelt, and on the mark. Still each answer required her to personalize it because people had a way of sending the damn things in and later asking for them to be reprinted. She obliged, but it wouldn’t do to have the exact words appearing over and over! She sighed as she picked up a folder of the latest stack of repeated questions and answers she’d given.

Why couldn’t people be more original or, maybe more appropriately, why was there such a limited supply of situations that caused angst? Why didn’t she ever get a letter that said the person was a serial killer and wanted to off her? Why didn’t a thief want to know how to anonymously return the stolen goods? Why didn’t abusive priests seek absolution from her? Now those would be questions to sink her teeth into. These petty issues about cheating husbands and out-of-control children, over and over and over, were boring. She sighed, picked through some of the letters and began to read one.

Write Away: A is for Alias, Alibi, and Arrest

Welcome to my April A-Z Challenge! This year I am dealing with terms mystery and crime fiction writers know and use. Consider this month as a sort of Mystery Writing 101. 

By the same token, I hope that even experienced writers will garner some new information or insights. Some days I will only present one term, but a goodly number of my 26 posts have two or three terms.

With my challenge, you get a two-fer. Not only will the letter of the day be featured in mystery/crime fiction terms, but I have written a short story for you in 26 parts. Each day’s paragraph begins with the letter of the day. Let’s get to it!

A is for Alias, Alibi, and Arrest

Alias can be an adverb, noun, or verb, but in this context, I am sticking with noun. In mysteries, someone typically assumes an alias for a nefarious purpose. In Mission Impastable, my first culinary mystery, a main character’s alias is a big plot point.

However, an alias can also be used as protective cover for someone hiding in plain sight for non-nefarious purposes. In this case, often the intent is to remain camouflaged while gathering data or searching for something. The much-overused, and generally ineffective “missing twin” trope often relies on aliases.

Alibi is a standard component in crime fiction. The mystery writer prepares real and false alibis (that can be revealed as false when new evidence emerges) for each suspect. This is tricky. The author has to use a timeline to make sure where everyone is at the time of the crime.

After knowing where everyone is, a trail of clues to support/dispute each alibi is created. The author sprinkles in clues to dismantle the alibi of the perpetrator. This aspect is one of the reasons I think writing mysteries is harder than other genres I write.

Arrest (a noun and a verb) is the finale in mystery and crime fiction. Readers of all but literary mysteries will not be satisfied if there is no justice, no arrest and prosecution, at the end. An arrest can happen on-stage or off-stage depending on the sub-genre. Often cozies leave off the details of arresting the perpetrator. But if you are writing police procedurals or a cozy where the arrest happens, do your research so you write it accurately. Do not rely on TV or movies for what actually occurs. 

For example, a street arrest requires a full-search before handing off to a transport officer. The transport officer also does a full-search before handing off the prisoner off to the booking officer, who, you guessed it, also does a full-search. Arrest details, like handcuffing or not, and how to handcuff are very important to give your mystery credibility.

The List: A Story in 26 Parts

Aunt Fran, “Palpably Pink” acrylic fingernails stuck on the ends of bony fingers, grasped the orb and shook the Magic 8 Ball once more, willing the ball to give the right answer to her question this time. The “right answer”, of course, being one she agreed with. “Is the dolt’s wife cheating on him?”

            “Without a doubt” floated into view.

            That will do, she decided and began typing the answer to the man’s question on the antique gray IBM Selectric she hauled all over the country with her. It was one of her “charming eccentricities” the interviewers referred to when writing about the advice column maven. That and her penchant for trying every shade of red hair dye the manufacturers produced. Nobody knew that she relied on the Magic 8 Ball for crafting her answers. But she had long ago learned that life’s exigencies could be boiled down to the orb’s few essential phrases.