Good Intentions
We are celebrating two releases today! Murder at an English Séance by Jessie and Murder at the Rusty Anchor today! Woo-hoo, ladies! Here is my last quote on good intentions: Most of the evil in this world is done by people with good intentions.” ― T.S. Eliot. Have you written a book or character who has mucked things up with good intentions? Or have you read one?
Edith/Maddie: Thanks! I have an example from the new book. Mac Almeida’s tiny grandmother Reba is trying to get in on the sleuthing. Mac had told her the Cozy Capers were meeting for Friday happy hour at the Jimmy’s Harborside bar to discuss the case. Reba shows up a little late, delighted that she was able to tail two suspects who also walked to the restaurant. The state police detective then appears. He’d seen Reba and scolds her for doing something dangerous. Nothing got mucked up this time, but if the suspects had decided to act, Reba could have been in big trouble.
Julie: Congratulations, Edith and Jessie! Love adding to my beach reads pile! I agree with this quote. I think that even villains think they are doing things for the greater good, even if they have a skewed idea of that greater good. Or what would be the greater good in their world view. This is a great motivation for our books–someone who is trying to “clean things up” for the greater good.
Liz: Congrats, Edith and Jessie! Looking forward to both of these! I agree with this too – it’s like the quote “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” I don’t believe most people start out with evil in mind, and I love the exploration of how things can go from good intent to completely sideways in a short period of time. I think that actually makes for a great character study and a super interesting book when done well.
Barb: Congratulations, Edith and Jessie! My TBR pile grows. I believe most if not all of the murderers in my Maine Clambake Mystery series had good intentions, or at least did what they thought they must. I’m much more interested in what causes someone who thinks of him or herself as a good person to do something horrible than in studying people who are purely evil.
Sherry: I can’t wait to read your latest books, Edith and Jessie! Excellent points Julie and Liz! In Absence of Alice, Sarah makes some difficult choices that puts her at odds with a lot of people. She thinks she’s doing the right thing, but is she?
Jessie: Thanks ladies! I think that most protagonists have good intentions. I know that mine do! Beryl, in particular, is awash in them. Even when she has no experience or expertise she is certain she can do something helpful or useful. Spoiler alert, she is often, but not always, correct!
Readers: Have you written or read a character who tried to do what they thought was the right thing?
