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Drafting Murder: A Short Story
Daniel is an author with unconventional research techniques. Will his strategy for a book about a female serial killer be the death of his marriage - or of his wife?
Excerpt:
“Oh, I guess we didn’t tell you. I shelved that story.”
They entered his office and he handed her the first few pages of a different project. She skimmed the first paragraph, then stopped to look up at him. “Why did you set aside the other one? It sounded like a great idea.”
Daniel sat behind his desk, gesturing for Lena to take a seat. “I need to understand the killers, get to know them, understand their motives and desires. I wasn’t able to do that with Desirée.”
“That was your killer’s name?” she asked, opting to sit on the edge of his desk rather than the chair he had indicated.
Her long, athletic legs drew his eyes like a magnet as she crossed them. He blinked then returned his attention to her face. “Tentatively.”
“And you broke it off with me when you realized it wasn’t working.”
Her aura had changed from polite to provocative in an instant, making Daniel uncomfortable and confused. “Lena, I...”
She interrupted him by announcing, “I could help you understand her.” Leaning on one arm, exposing the curve of a bare breast through a gap in her buttoned blouse, she stared out the window as she spoke. “Your killer, you said she craved desire?”
Daniel glanced into the hallway, willing Allison to walk in. “Yes. She needed her husband’s attention and became obsessed with anyone who took it from her.”
“See, there’s your mistake. She’s not married.”
“No?” he asked, looking through the door once more.
“You see, in her pursuit of desire, she does questionable things. Seeking out married men and alternative relationships for example.” She dipped her head. “But no matter what she does, it is elusive and temporary.” At this she met his wary gaze. “It can wear a girl down.”
Excerpt:
“Oh, I guess we didn’t tell you. I shelved that story.”
They entered his office and he handed her the first few pages of a different project. She skimmed the first paragraph, then stopped to look up at him. “Why did you set aside the other one? It sounded like a great idea.”
Daniel sat behind his desk, gesturing for Lena to take a seat. “I need to understand the killers, get to know them, understand their motives and desires. I wasn’t able to do that with Desirée.”
“That was your killer’s name?” she asked, opting to sit on the edge of his desk rather than the chair he had indicated.
Her long, athletic legs drew his eyes like a magnet as she crossed them. He blinked then returned his attention to her face. “Tentatively.”
“And you broke it off with me when you realized it wasn’t working.”
Her aura had changed from polite to provocative in an instant, making Daniel uncomfortable and confused. “Lena, I...”
She interrupted him by announcing, “I could help you understand her.” Leaning on one arm, exposing the curve of a bare breast through a gap in her buttoned blouse, she stared out the window as she spoke. “Your killer, you said she craved desire?”
Daniel glanced into the hallway, willing Allison to walk in. “Yes. She needed her husband’s attention and became obsessed with anyone who took it from her.”
“See, there’s your mistake. She’s not married.”
“No?” he asked, looking through the door once more.
“You see, in her pursuit of desire, she does questionable things. Seeking out married men and alternative relationships for example.” She dipped her head. “But no matter what she does, it is elusive and temporary.” At this she met his wary gaze. “It can wear a girl down.”
39 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2021
3 people want to read
About the author
Nannette Kreitzman
45 books54 followersI'm a retired stay at home mom and happy empty nester. I spend my morning walks dreaming up short story ideas, but despite my carefully laid plans, my characters always manage to change things up! I've learned to pay attention to them though, they're usually right.
You can find me on Instagram @netts_shorts
Check out my Reference Guide Blog for Author’s Notes and excerpts for all of my stories!
https://nannettekreitzman.blogspot.com/
You can find me on Instagram @netts_shorts
Check out my Reference Guide Blog for Author’s Notes and excerpts for all of my stories!
https://nannettekreitzman.blogspot.com/
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 23, 2022
Clever, twisty, well-written short story about a novelist, a book, and murder.
April 7, 2022
Great Short Story!
Drafting Murder was a twisted story about premeditation, stalking, and the lengths people will go to when desire takes hold. Nannette Kreitzman wound a quick tale around an original concpt with a twist you won’t see coming!
Jack is a writer who is trying to draft a novel about a serial killer. After his wife mentions that his serial killer should be female, Jack suggests going through scenerios with another woman to research his wife’s feelings. Will he pen the novel without complications, or will the emotions become too raw with jealousy and rage?
I recommend the book to mature readers, due to the subject matter. I enjoyed the book, and I will read more stories by Nannette Kreitzman.
Drafting Murder was a twisted story about premeditation, stalking, and the lengths people will go to when desire takes hold. Nannette Kreitzman wound a quick tale around an original concpt with a twist you won’t see coming!
Jack is a writer who is trying to draft a novel about a serial killer. After his wife mentions that his serial killer should be female, Jack suggests going through scenerios with another woman to research his wife’s feelings. Will he pen the novel without complications, or will the emotions become too raw with jealousy and rage?
I recommend the book to mature readers, due to the subject matter. I enjoyed the book, and I will read more stories by Nannette Kreitzman.
June 13, 2021
Ms. Kreitzman’s stories are always engaging. I’ve become a true fan. In this sweetly wicked little psychological thriller, an author, Daniel, who likes to research his characters with an unusual hands-on approach, has decided to write a novel about a female serial killer, not a common occurrence. He elicits the help of his wife, Allison, who is at first a very willingly participant and their collaboration seems to amuse and arouse them. But surprising emotions arise as other women enter the story. Where this all leads to is a satisfying twist and this makes for a very entertaining read all the way to the end. I love the banter between Daniel and his wife, playful and believable and between them and the other characters. Kreitzman has a great ear for natural modern dialogue. Her stories intrigue and she nails her endings well.
You can read Drafting Murder for free if you are a Kindle Unlimited member. Don’t miss the opportunity.
You can read Drafting Murder for free if you are a Kindle Unlimited member. Don’t miss the opportunity.
April 22, 2022
An intense and satisfying short story
I hadn’t read one of Nannette Kreitzman’s short stories for well over a year; I felt like a quick read, so I picked this one up. At under 40 pages it was certainly a quick read, but it was also packed with an intense and satisfying story.
Daniel, a writer trying to create the story of a female serial killer. Allison, his wife, volunteering to help him understand the female psyche as part of his research. Hmm … that’s a recipe which might not work out too well. Why not read it and find out?
I hadn’t read one of Nannette Kreitzman’s short stories for well over a year; I felt like a quick read, so I picked this one up. At under 40 pages it was certainly a quick read, but it was also packed with an intense and satisfying story.
Daniel, a writer trying to create the story of a female serial killer. Allison, his wife, volunteering to help him understand the female psyche as part of his research. Hmm … that’s a recipe which might not work out too well. Why not read it and find out?
November 1, 2023
Holy Amazing!
The queen of the short story scores another hit. I didn’t know what to think with this one.
I was at times anxious, nervous, worried. Who was the real culprit? Was this the perfect plot for a husband setting his wife up for murder? Was the wife a sympathetic figure? Is she an unreliable narrator? Was anyone to be trusted.
Lena, Lena, oh Lena, what was her role in all of this?
Then the ending came and I literally slapped myself on the forehead. Ahhhh I should have seen it coming!! Loved it.
The queen of the short story scores another hit. I didn’t know what to think with this one.
I was at times anxious, nervous, worried. Who was the real culprit? Was this the perfect plot for a husband setting his wife up for murder? Was the wife a sympathetic figure? Is she an unreliable narrator? Was anyone to be trusted.
Lena, Lena, oh Lena, what was her role in all of this?
Then the ending came and I literally slapped myself on the forehead. Ahhhh I should have seen it coming!! Loved it.
May 18, 2021
I am addicted to Kreitzman's short stories, and this one did not disappoint.
Daniel is a writer who *really* does his research. This time he's researching a female serial killer and enlists his wife's help. But will Daniels actions make his wife want to murder him instead??
I read this story during my lunchbreak, and it was another whirlwind story that had me gripped to my seat until the end!
Daniel is a writer who *really* does his research. This time he's researching a female serial killer and enlists his wife's help. But will Daniels actions make his wife want to murder him instead??
I read this story during my lunchbreak, and it was another whirlwind story that had me gripped to my seat until the end!
January 13, 2024
This was engaging and the twist packed a punch! There were so many suspicious characters and red herrings that I almost completely missed the twist until it smacked me in the head! I am very impressed with the author’s ability to write a thriller with all of these elements, which is condensed into a very short story. None of the characters were particular likable, in my opinion, so it made it difficult to care too much about the outcome, but the story was tense in some parts and the mystery was thick! One of the most interesting qualities of this story was how it maintained a light-hearted attitude until it neared the ending. When it ramped up the energy and the atmosphere, you knew something significant was going to happen.
January 30, 2023
I've read stories by the author before, so I knew to expect a thoroughly enjoyable, clever and unique story. All her works could easily become full length novels, yet she manages to make them into a tight and compact, fully immersive and satisfying short story. Drafting Murder did not disappoint. It follows a point in the lives of Allison and her author husband Daniel, where they attempt to delve into what would motive a woman to become a serial killer. Scrapping plans when complications arise, they find out quite by surprise, when tables are turned, what it really means to be in the cross-hairs of an actual serial killer. Brilliant story!
December 31, 2022
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Drafting Murder ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another cracking short story and part of the excellent Veiled Villains collection
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Author Daniel and his wife Allison indulge in sinister role play research for a forthcoming crime novel but will they risk their relationship and then more as they dabble…?
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I love Kreitzman’s ability to create a building unease and deliver that final twist which makes the story delicious.
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June 23, 2021
Nannette Kreitzman is a master storyteller! I am always amazed at how much action and character development she packs into her short stories. They read like novels and leave you thinking about them long after you finish! I Drafting Murder, an unorthodox writer and his accomplice wife will have the tables turned on them! Brilliant read!
August 2, 2021
Loved the story
I'm a fan of Ms. kreitzman's stories, and this one didn't disappoint, either. It has a blend of mystery, suspense, intensity and drama. It is a mystery thriller, and though it is a short story, it has all the subtleties you would expect in this genre. Loved the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm a fan of Ms. kreitzman's stories, and this one didn't disappoint, either. It has a blend of mystery, suspense, intensity and drama. It is a mystery thriller, and though it is a short story, it has all the subtleties you would expect in this genre. Loved the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 18, 2022
Drafting Murder is a wonderfully quick, and intriguing, story! It only took me 30 minutes to read from start to finish, which was just what I wanted at horrible 'o' clock in the morning (also known as too early to get up!). It's well written - as I've come to expect from Nannette Kreitzman - and has a lovely little twist at the end.
December 23, 2022
Another excellent short story by an author who never fails to deliver. “Drafting Murder” kept me guessing all the way through. I thought I knew where the tale was going, but then the plot would do an abrupt 180 and take me down a completely different path. It takes skill to write short stories which satisfy, and this author is a master of the art. An easy five stars.
January 14, 2026
Perfect quick read for mystery lovers.
A fast, gripping read that’s perfect when you want a quick hit of mystery. Well-written, easy to devour in one sitting, and capped off with a smart little twist at the end. Exactly what I expect from Nannette Kreitzman.
A fast, gripping read that’s perfect when you want a quick hit of mystery. Well-written, easy to devour in one sitting, and capped off with a smart little twist at the end. Exactly what I expect from Nannette Kreitzman.
June 18, 2021
Author is superb in putting subtle details throughout this short story to make it a delicious mystery thriller that you will enjoy!
March 26, 2022
Clever short story about a writer, his partner, and the lengths they go too for “research”. :)
September 7, 2023
Nannette Kreitzman's stories are perfect when you want to finish a read in one night and have everything wrapped up to satisfaction. A well-crafted short story.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews