Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Red Herrings: How much is too much when you’re trying to throw the reader off your trail?

Panelists: Keith Raffel, Ross Pennie, Melodie Campbell, Beth Groundwater, D.M. Pirrone.

I must have been losing steam on this last day of the conference as I took no notes on this session. The authors were all new to me. I do remember the discussion about the challenge of satisfying readers who range from those who consider it a bust if they figure out the ending and those who find it satisfying. They all try to lay enough clues throughout so that at the end of the day if the reader didn’t guess the end they can go back and see where they might have guessed it from the clues. Most frustrating to the readers is when the crime is solved either because of some clue the detective uncovered that they held back, or because of some last minute introduction that had no foundation on what went before. I think it was on this panel, it happened at least twice, where they mentioned Defending Jacob and were prevented from saying too much by someone on the panel who hadn’t read it yet. Thank goodness, as I haven’t either. They did say enough to give me a clue that I would rather not have in my head (view spoiler)[someone said “all I’ll say is that the narrator is unreliable." (hide spoiler)]. A danger in these events is that someone will reveal a major plot twist or ending when someone hasn’t read the book. On panels that rarely happens, although there is always a debate about how long you wait. People seemed to have no problem revealing the endings of Agatha Christie novels, for example. Not great for someone like me who has read them all but forgot most of the endings except those I’ve seen recently as movies on PBS. Oh, well, I digress just a bit.

Serials Killers. Multiple murderers and the authors who create them.

Panelists. Rick Murcer, Jennifer McMahon, Jennifer Hiller, Chelsea Cain, Patrick Kendrick.

The panel began by discussing real life serial killer cases. Jennifer Hiller talked about the case in Canada of Paul Bernardo, a man who with his wife abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered women. (I looked and found several true crime books on the couple, one entitled Invisible Darkness which I promptly put on hold.) Patrick Kendrick was the most interesting. He started out as a firefighter and eventually moved to writing. One of his articles was on a Florida serial killer, a cop, who abducted two girls at a time and made one watch while he tortured and murdered the other. He maintained a cordial relationship with the killer, whom he interviewed in prison, until the killer took exception to Kendrick’s take on the case and began to sue him. Kendrick said it was a nightmare, since the killer had nothing but time to study the law and purse his various lawsuits. Eventually the killer was murdered in prison. I would have liked to read THAT story, but he hasn’t written it I guess. But his book Extended Family is partially based on this case, so that will have to do.

Someone also mentioned a case of a wetnurse murderer in turn of the century England who it is believed killed hundred of babies under her care. When asked what books gave them nightmares, one author mentioned Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates, another mentioned Flowers in the Attic. I never read this series and whenever it is mentioned I have a thought to pick it up but just cannot bring myself to do it. I’m surprised at its popularity among young audiences back in the day, given its awful subject matter.

And thus ended a great Bouchercon con. When I have more time I’ll post on our visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which was a highlight of the trip.

Sunday I did a stint as the volunteer in the hospitality room at 9am so no panel. Mostly I just said "coffee is there, hot water is farther down". Got to say some last goodbyes to a few people, then I scurried off to see "No Lights, No Cars, No Kidding" the Amish fiction panel. Because where else would you have this many authors to talk about Amish fiction than in East Ohio. Julie Kramer moderated, with P.L Gaus, Linda Castillo, and Amanda Flower. They all had similar and different stories to tell about research as each author dealt with a different Amish sect (each district bishop can set his own rules within the general laws of the faith, created different levels of strictness). Amanda's answer to the most surprising thing her research revealed was "how much of a sense of humor the Amish people have." I see why that would be surprising, most of us outsiders tend to think of the Amish as a strict and stoic people. This was an excellent panel, and I was excited to learn Linda Castillo has a cable tv movie coming out soon, based on her first book Sworn to Silence. Neve Campbell will play Katie Burkholder.

I have books by P.L. Gaus and Linda Castillo that I haven't gotten to yet, but I hadn't heard of Amanda Flower. Thank you for mentioning her, Colleen. I like reading about the Amish. I also liked the title of the panel. LOL!

My first panel on Sunday was "True Grit" the dark/noir panel that featured Jonathan Woods, Ryan David Jahn, Bill Loehfelm, Josh Stallings, and moderator Colin Campbell. The panel started off with the usual back and forth about darker fiction but then the moderator threw a bit of a curve-ball with the question "What animal are you most hung like" to which Ryan David Jahn answered he had nothing which, of course, broke up all the other guys.

After that I went to "The Politics of Murder" moderated by Lisa Brackmann with panelists Allison Leotta, Pete Morin, Stuart Neville(who looked like he had slept rough in the Public Square on Saturday night), and Mike Lawson. This was a very good panel and made a nice ending to the conference.

Stuart kind of always looks that way to me.


I love Linda Castillo's series, I enjoyed Julie Kramer's Amish book Shunning Sarah, but I haven't read the other two. Amanda said her books are more of a Cozy.

You never read FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC back in the day, Carol? I thought everybody read that. I think even my mom did.....which is a REAL shocker!! Made a big impression as I can still remember huge parts of the story. I think I read the 2nd one, too, but stopped after that.

Melodie wrote: "You never read FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC back in the day, Carol? I thought everybody read that.

Carol was still tied up with Bats in the Belfry. (So much for being on good behavior).

Oops! Checked my book shelves and I read the first 4 Dollanganger books!! Plus MY SWEET AUDRINA!

Carol: I recommend you read Defending Jacob, it was VERY good on audio! That must have been a good panel segment! Sorry I missed it. That is a challenge isn't it. DD went with me to a Karin Slaughter signing two books ago and from what was said at the event, even cloaked, she figured out the elephant in the room from a previous book very quickly. But it had been a while. And when I had read that particular book an errant post right around release date (I think not here, it was a stranger) ruined it for me too. annoying, especially when just released.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "A danger in these events is that someone will reveal a major plot twist or ending when someone hasn't read the book. On panels that rarely happens, although there is always a debate about how long you wait.."

Lifetime will have the Linda Castillo movie!
http://www.deadline.com/2011/12/lifet...

Daniel wrote: "Melodie wrote: "You never read FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC back in the day, Carol? I thought everybody read that.

Carol was still tied up with Bats in the Belfry. (So much for being on good behavior)."

I have to give you that one, Dan. If I weren't still sulking about the Patriots' loss I might have actually laughed out loud.

I'm going to be reading defending jacob probably in the next month for the f2f book grp.
I'll have to try and get the linda castillo book in before the movie comes on. I had watched most of my sister's keeper on lifetime I think this week and probably shouldn't have since I have the book and haven't read that one either yet. but I'm already telling my sister we are going to the alex cross movie when it comes around.

I read "Flowers in the Attic" in the 70's. I do remember it was a good read. When I moved, I sold it. I remember reading that the author had died and someone else took over writing the series.
On the Amish: I did dl some freebies to the Kindle awhile back that are Amish fiction. I enjoy watching Breaking Amish on TLC. I record it to watch it at another time. Follows young Amish people in the journey of self-discovery while adjusting to life in New York. Here's the link to the show:
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/break...