Charles Finch's Blog - Posts Tagged "mysteries"

One of the reasons I love the period I write about, Victorian England, is that there were no CSI units back then. No UV light scans, no electron microscopes, no "zoom and enhance." I've gotten so tired of that aspect of crime fiction and crime drama in the last decade.

Especially because that style's often employed by the same writers who favor ultra-violent crimes. If there's a point to it I think an author is wholly entitled to show us violence, but too often to me it feels like simple sensationalism, the shock dulled by repetition, the crime's psychology less important than its ornate, grisly description.

I know that one of the reasons people find their way to the Lenox mysteries is that they don't use this kind of violence - or, for that matter, much sex or bad language. I think there was a single "fuck" in one of the six Lenox books, used for comic effect. Each book has six or seven "damn"s in it too, but I can't imagine many people are angrily returning the book to the bookstore because of those.

But here's where I start to worry a bit about losing my audience. Because my first standalone novel, "The Last Enchantments" does have sex and cursing in it, in pretty healthy doses. Not on every page - but a realistic amount, for a book about student life. What's more, though the book isn't totally autobiographical, it's in the first person, which I think may make readers who are accustomed to my books about Lenox pause for a moment.

Ultimately, of course, I can't help whether or not people decide to reject my non-mystery work because of those issues. At least I can say, however, that the choices I've made are never sensationalistic - no splayed-open corpses are going to turn up in the next Lenox book. Where "The Last Enchantments" gets a little riskier than the Lenox books, it's for a reason, something I've carefully thought through. Hopefully people will understand that and stay along for the ride.

What are your deal-breakers? Sex? Language? Violence? Do you favor books with a gentler tone? Or do you read all over the map, the way I do? I'm curious to hear people weigh in.

And if hearing that "The Last Enchantments" has sex in it makes you want to read it MORE, add it here!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...

If you're looking for some new reads, here are a few recents essays and reviews I've written:

- I reviewed work by Raymond Chandler, Elmore Leonard, Donald Westlake, and a series of Sherlock Holmes-inspired stories for The New York Times. Would recommend all four: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/boo...

- I reviewed OUTLINE by Rachel Cusk for the Chicago Tribune - an interesting, problematic book. http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifesty...

- I wrote about maybe my favorite living novelist, Elena Ferrante, for The Millions http://www.themillions.com/2014/12/a-...

- And finally, the lovely, heartbreaking ALL MY PUNY SORROWS, by Miriam Toews, for the Tribune again http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifesty...

Guys! For *one day only* my first three books are just $2.99 on Amazon, as part of their celebration of Sherlock Holmes! I rarely say "Please share," but please, share!

Here's a link to the first in the series, A Beautiful Blue Death

https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Deat...

As I get more and more used to the cover of "The Woman in the Water" (available February 2018!) I think it's better and better...if you're curious for a glimpse at how it was designed, read on below!



Here's David Rotstein, the designer:

"The previous Charles Lenox covers have a similar look from book to book; however, The Woman in the Water presented something unique — it was a prequel, going back in time to tell the story of a young Charles Lenox's first case. Giving this cover a very different feel from the previous books is a great way to signal to readers immediately that this book is something different.

The painting featured on the cover is Reflections On The Thames, Westminster by John Atkinson Grimshaw. Grimshaw was particularly known for his city night-scenes, and this painting seemed to capture the mood and tone that we wanted to convey — and the image works so well with the title. I like to imagine that the scene is before the first body is discovered, and that the person leaning over the edge has no idea that secrets lie hidden beneath the surface."

And here's the Grimshaw painting:



Now, MY little addition to the story...when they asked how I envisioned the cover for "A Beautiful Blue Death" in 2006, believe it or not *THIS IS THE PAINTING I SENT THEM*!!!!

They ignored that idea (sensibly) but eleven years later, I got my way by total chance. I guess patience is a virtue :)

According to his biographer (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), John Watson M.D. was born on this day in 1852! Half of my favorite fictional duo. Victorian, naturally

Midweek blahs. What are you reading? Anything good?



I just finished Sapiens and really enjoyed it...thinking about getting back to my Agatha Christie kick, since it's rainy and I have a lot of work and need some distraction :)

I want to go to Iceland. What about you?

So you know that Louise Penny giveaway last week?

Yup, got another one! Giving this one away on Instagram, though. Go check it out - instagram.com/charlesfinchauthor!!!!

10 copies of The Woman in the Water - enter here! It takes five seconds. Good luck :)

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

A Christmas novella, WITH a sample preview of "The Woman in the Water". I will send you 50¢ if you figure out the solution, because I think it's my most clever one.

:)



Some links where you can buy it!

http://bit.ly/GoneBeforeAmazon
http://bit.ly/GoneBeforeBN
http://bit.ly/GoneBeforeiBooks