  Mystery
This week: Edited by: MaryLou  
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Mystery stories are so popular because they fulfill one of humans' deepest instincts - the need to explore, to question, to find out. Humans are incessantly searching for answers to life's greatest mysteries. Since those mysteries are so difficult to unravel, we can find comfort in reading and writing mystery novels and short stories. Thus, our need to discover is satisfied...until the hunger strikes again.
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| ASIN: B0CJKJMTPD |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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I'm basing this editorial on a comment I received from DB Cooper to my last newsletter:
Recently, I read a story in Ellery Queen and it started out great and later went down hill. Ever had the same experience? Considering they rejected me I expect perfection for my $
Oh, I've had that experience too many times to count! 
In fact, I've experienced that just very recently. While at the bookstore, I picked up a cozy mystery novel from an author I hadn't read before. The blurb made it sound very interesting.
It started out very nicely...but then the writer committed an error which, in my opinion, shows her inexperience (to put it politely) glaringly.
Her main character, a bakery store owner/amateur detective, has the naivete to accept everyone's statements regarding the murder as the gospel truth. Without confirmation.
Never once throughout the whole story does the female lead think anyone might be lying to her when she questions them.
It was shocking to me to find such a thing in a published work. One of the first rules of mystery/detective fiction is to suspect everybody until the evidence eliminates him or her.
So, never let your amateur detective fall into the mistake of believing what people tell him or her without corrobating evidence!
I'm rather embarassed to advise on something which, I had thought, was so self-evident in the mystery/detective genre, but if it can find its way into a published novel... 
See ya in the New Year,
MaryLou |
Here's a few items for your reading pleasure. I hope you enjoy and don't forget to rate and review! 
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#178041 by Not Available. |
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This item number is not valid.
#292693 by Not Available. |
|  | Malice Intended (ASR)
Who is the slapdash, foolish criminal behind a crime scene in a hotel?
#445131 by Joy  |
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| ASIN: B085272J6B |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 9.99
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Feedback
Vivian  : Ahh, you listed one of my favorite mystery writers, Anne Perry. She and Carolyn Hart are my favorite modern mystery writers, but few people seem to know about either one. ~~ Viv
Well, they're missing some wonderful stories, Viv.
April Sunday : In DANCING DAN'S CHRISTMAS, Damon Runyon uses present tense ONLY. Teff's bible to refer to. What a list this week! THANX!!!
You're welcome!
Mini Mystery
1000 GPs for your correct answer.
Stanwick and the Spurious Silver Miner
from Great Book of Whodunit Puzzles
"And how can I help you, Mr...Lancaster?"
"Lanchester, Garver Lanchester. Just up from southern Brazil, and delighted to be visiting New England."
Thomas P. Stanwick, the amateur logician, lit his curved briar and looked curiously at the visitor seated in the opposite armchair whose unexpected appearance had interrupted his research into ancient geometrical studies. Lanchester, a large mustachioed man, wore a trace of an Australian accent and, despite the February cold, the light khakis of an explorer.
"Inspector Walker has given me a letter of introduction," Lanchester said, handing Stanwick a sealed envelope. "He told me you had some millions to invest, despite your modest lifestyle, as he put it, sir."
Stanwick froze in astonishment for a second before taking and opening the envelope. Inside he found a slip of paper with a few lines of Walker's distinctive handwriting:
Sorry to tell fibs about you, Tom,
but I thought you'd find Mr. Lanchester's story as interesting as I did.
Matt
"Please proceed, Mr. Lanchester," said Stanwick, leaning back in his chair and smiling expectantly.
"Well, sir," Lanchester began, "I've spent the better part of my life prospecting for precious metals in some of the more remote areas of the world. China, Mongolia, northern Canada, Siberia, the jungles of Southeast Asia, as well as the outback of my native Australia, have all felt the mark of my pick and shovel.
"Five weeks ago, I found myself in the hill country of southern Brazil, just north of Porte Alegre. I had heard legends of old silver mines in that area. Well, by Gawd, sir, they were true! A cluster of caves I discovered there show strong signs of rich deposits of silver. I've filed the proper papers with the Brazilian authorities. My next step is to organize a team to excavate the mines properly.
"That's where I need investors like yourself, sir. We'll need fuel, jeeps, mining equipment, tents, food -- enough for several weeks. If the mines are deep enough, I can set up a permanent organization."
"And if you find the investors you need, how soon do you propose to return to the mines?"
"Immediately, sir!"
"Hadn't you better wait until summer?"
"No, sir, I'm ready to start now!"
Stanwick laughed heartily. "I'm afraid I can't help you, Mr. Lanchester, or whatever your name really is. My hidden millions are as much a fantasy as your Brazilian silver mines, as Matt Walker is well aware. Begone now, sir!"
Why doesn't Stanwick believe his visitor's story?
Answers to the last mini-mystery:
Sunshine :) : This may be a little farfetched but I have an active imagination - I think the gift was really for Richard from a lover that recently broke it off with him. I think he walked out on his wife to prove to the other one that he wanted her instead - I think Donna wore whatever the gift was to the party - Richard saw it and either wanted the item or thought that Donna had interfered with his affair - maybe there was a pre-nup involved - after killing her he actually did rob the place by taking the gift with him.
Thought I'd just take a stab at it. :)
Sunshine :)
Hi, Sunshine! You did get a few things correct: Donna did wear the gift to the party, Richard did want it back, and he did take the gift with him.  |
| ASIN: B01IEVJVAG |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 9.99
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Mystery: December 21, 2005 Issue [#783]
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