A Question of Genre: Are You Reading a Romance or a Murder Mystery? --Guest Post By Nike Chillemi

Since we're still in February, which brings to mind Valentine's Day and thoughts of romance, I thought I'd take a look at something that's been confusing me for a while. Sometimes when I'm reading, I'll think: What is this novel, exactly, a murder mystery or a romance?

 

I might be attracted by a novel's cover that screams: classic murder mystery. Then as I get into the story the romance takes over to such an extent I wonder what genre I'm in.

 

I hope I'm not shooting myself in the foot, because every novel in my Sanctuary Point series has a love story. However, I think I'm safe when I say, the whodunit aspect is what drives the story, not the romance. In my stories, there are also deep family relationships, parents loving children and siblings loving each other... and tight friendships. Then again, these do not keep the plot moving along; the mystery story line does that.

 

Don't get me wrong. I like romance in a classic mystery novel. I just don't want it taking over the story. I want mysteries to be about solving a puzzle. I want to follow the clues and for there to be tons of red herrings that confuse me. I love it when the author is one-step ahead of me, throwing a monkey wrench into my theory as to who the killer might be.

Does the conflict add suspense, or take away from it?

I enjoy character angst and a heroine or hero with character flaws. What I don't like is when the main character is constantly agonizing over her/his love life to the point where it becomes the focal point of the book. For me, the focus has to be solving the crime. Hey, it's a murder mystery. There's body. I do like conflict throughout, but it should be varied and it should add suspense, not take away from it. I like to see the detective having a problem with his partner or the police chief. Or perhaps, there's a corrupt television news anchor who is out to get the detective.

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In my latest release, DARKEST HOUR, when medical examiner Hank Jansen insists the prime suspect could not have fired the murder weapon; powerful forces in the community come against him. And yes, he does fall for the young widow who is being framed for murder. To avoid a conflict of interest, he takes a leave of absence from his job and launches his own investigation. So, what exactly do I write? I guess you could say my novels are whodunits with a side of romance.

 

Main genre or sub-genra -- an area causing confusing in publishing?

A "heart throbber" might be better suited for romantic suspense. That's a genre or sub-genre all to itself. Still, while there would be a good deal more romance, even here, I want don't want the suspense to become completely overshadowed by the love story. If that's going to be the case, it should simply be called a romance. Some of the romantic suspense novels I read could be considered a sub-genre of the romance category. I prefer to read romantic suspense that falls squarely under the mystery genre. And I think this is an area of confusion in publishing today.

What can the author do to help?

How is a reader to know what type of suspense novel they're purchasing? I'm a huge advocate of the cover telling us what type of story we're about to purchase. Amazon allows the reader to take a gander at the first pages. And it's Kindle lets the reader sample the novel before purchase. So, do other e-readers. So, it's up to the author to "clue the reader in" in those first paragraphs as to what type of read this will be. It's better to let the reader know beforehand and not risk a negative review later.

 

Purchase Links for The Darkest Hour:

Amazon/Kindle

Barnes and Noble/Nook

 

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About the Author

Like so many writers, Nike Chillemi started writing at a very young age. She still has the Crayola, fully illustrated book she penned (penciled might be more accurate) as a little girl about her then off-the-chart love of horses. Today, you might call her a crime fictionista. Her passion is crime fiction. She likes her bad guys really bad and her good guys smarter and better.

 

She is the founding board member of the Grace Awards and is its Chairman, a reader's choice awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She writes book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. She was an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category and a judge in the 2011 and 2012 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories. BURNING HEARTS, the first book in the crime wave that is sweeping the south shore of Long Island in The Sanctuary Point series, finaled in the Grace Awards 2011 in the Romance/Historical Romance category. GOODBYE NOEL, the second book in the series released in December, 2011 won the Grace Award 2011 in the Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Thriller category. PERILOUS SHADOWS, third in the series released July, 2012, and DARKEST HOUR, the fourth in the series released in February, 2013.  She is a member of American Christian FictionWriters (ACFW) and the Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers (Ning). http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/