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How To Write Killer Historical Mysteries: The Art and Adventure of Sleuthing Through the Past
This useful, fascinating, and complete guide will inspire and delight writers (and readers, too) of historical mysteries. These books are the most enjoyable and memorable way to experience history up close and personal - with a brain-teasing puzzle thrown in as a bonus. Ranging from the eras of ancient civilizations to Japanese samurai to the twentieth-century private eye, from Renaissance Europe to the American frontier, they open a vast historical panorama to the curious reader who enjoys murder and mayhem along with past mores and morals. This sub-genre is growing in popularity every year.
Writing these mysteries is an art, and you can learn here how it's done.
Writing these mysteries is an art, and you can learn here how it's done.
220 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Lynn Emerson
99 books146 followersaka Kaitlyn Dunnett, Kate Emerson, Kaitlyn Gorton
Kathy Lynn Emerson began writing as a child: a newspaper for her dolls and then a rambling adventure series featuring characters from all her favorite television shows. In addition to contemporary, historical and time-travel romance (some written under the pen-name of Kaitlyn Gorton) and historical novels written as Kate Emerson, Kathy has written children's books, non-fiction, short stories, and historical mysteries. She won the Agatha award for mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries. She also writes as Kaitlyn Dunnett.
Kathy Lynn Emerson began writing as a child: a newspaper for her dolls and then a rambling adventure series featuring characters from all her favorite television shows. In addition to contemporary, historical and time-travel romance (some written under the pen-name of Kaitlyn Gorton) and historical novels written as Kate Emerson, Kathy has written children's books, non-fiction, short stories, and historical mysteries. She won the Agatha award for mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries. She also writes as Kaitlyn Dunnett.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 29, 2014
If you're writing your first novel, I wouldn't recommend this as a resource for learning fundamentals like character development, story structure, etc. I would also suggest skipping almost all the advice on publishing. This was written in 2008 and quite a lot has changed since then, particularly with regard to self-publishing and self-promotion. (She talks about listservs! Old school.)
There is a lot of great food for thought, however, on how to approach your research for a historical novel. For example, she explores the balance between authenticity and believability. It doesn't matter if a particular word or phrase was really in use -- if it doesn't sound like it might have been common in the time period you're writing about, it will pull your reader out of the story. There's a delicate balance between authenticity and accessibility, too. You owe it to your readers to do more than simple window-dressing, but info dumps are going to kill your pacing. As with fantasy, you'll need to slip the world-building in unobtrusively. Along those lines, she talks about some crafty ways to bring real historical figures into your fiction in a believable way.
She also includes specific sources for researching various eras/settings and discusses how to choose details from them that are relevant to your story. Relevance is determined by the context of your character, not just possible interest of the reader. Take horse shit on the street, for example -- she points out that it used to be everywhere! This is gross! For a modern reader transplanted to the historical setting, it might be the very first thing they noticed. If this has always been on the streets where your protagonist is walking around, is it really notable? In a first person narrative, your protagonist may not even notice unless they step directly in it.
Historical context is obviously critical for everything else, as well. Your character's personal details, the circumstances of the mystery/murder itself, how the investigation proceeds... She doesn't include a checklist, but you could easily generate one from her chapters to help steer your research as you plot. She mentions some anachronisms specific to the historical sleuth's work, too. You must be careful not to include the modern POV on criminal psychology, police procedures, and forensics, for example.
So, overall, a good resource for getting started with historical mysteries. I'll definitely pick this one up again for a second read if I write one.
There is a lot of great food for thought, however, on how to approach your research for a historical novel. For example, she explores the balance between authenticity and believability. It doesn't matter if a particular word or phrase was really in use -- if it doesn't sound like it might have been common in the time period you're writing about, it will pull your reader out of the story. There's a delicate balance between authenticity and accessibility, too. You owe it to your readers to do more than simple window-dressing, but info dumps are going to kill your pacing. As with fantasy, you'll need to slip the world-building in unobtrusively. Along those lines, she talks about some crafty ways to bring real historical figures into your fiction in a believable way.
She also includes specific sources for researching various eras/settings and discusses how to choose details from them that are relevant to your story. Relevance is determined by the context of your character, not just possible interest of the reader. Take horse shit on the street, for example -- she points out that it used to be everywhere! This is gross! For a modern reader transplanted to the historical setting, it might be the very first thing they noticed. If this has always been on the streets where your protagonist is walking around, is it really notable? In a first person narrative, your protagonist may not even notice unless they step directly in it.
Historical context is obviously critical for everything else, as well. Your character's personal details, the circumstances of the mystery/murder itself, how the investigation proceeds... She doesn't include a checklist, but you could easily generate one from her chapters to help steer your research as you plot. She mentions some anachronisms specific to the historical sleuth's work, too. You must be careful not to include the modern POV on criminal psychology, police procedures, and forensics, for example.
So, overall, a good resource for getting started with historical mysteries. I'll definitely pick this one up again for a second read if I write one.
August 31, 2009
Very well-written, informative and user-friendly guide to this genre.
March 9, 2020
This book has 'my tribe' written all over it, and it was a suprisingly and delightfully fun read. I even appreciated the colorful examples of other writers' era and character choices, mostly because there are so many and they're so varied.
Dated for the final few chapters, of course, but I still have a hunch I might be rereading it when I move further into the planning phase of the novel(s) I've already started researching for while reading it. I just couldn't help myself - this book reminded me of many of the reasons I've started writing historical (fantasy) in the first place, most notably FUN, and I really appreciate the motivational tone of it.
Dated for the final few chapters, of course, but I still have a hunch I might be rereading it when I move further into the planning phase of the novel(s) I've already started researching for while reading it. I just couldn't help myself - this book reminded me of many of the reasons I've started writing historical (fantasy) in the first place, most notably FUN, and I really appreciate the motivational tone of it.
March 29, 2018
Defines mystery types, describes basic historical research aimed towards writers and outlines one method of writing mysteries. Lists many of the common mistakes in speech and other areas and how to correct them. Also contains some publishing info that I suspect is somewhat obsolete.
A worthwhile read if you are thinking of writing for this market or like me, read books on writing because you're to lazy to actually write.
A worthwhile read if you are thinking of writing for this market or like me, read books on writing because you're to lazy to actually write.
March 16, 2019
Excellent resource!
August 8, 2019
Nothing really new here, and somewhat outdated eleven years after publication -- wow, do I wish that CrimeThruTime email list still existed! -- but succinct, helpful, and somehow very reassuring.
March 11, 2021
Good book. Very informative - Lots to it. In fact I decided after checking it out at the library I needed to buy a copy to keep.
March 6, 2012
Picked this up at the library yesterday, and I'm already most of the way through it.
Since this and creative non-fiction are the genres I write in, this book is a fantastic read, simply for its great examples in a broad array of time periods and geographical areas.
Emerson also covers caveats one may not think of (such as not using novels as research material-- Georgette Heyer thought up some of her own ideas in a historical setting, which were taken as historical FACT and cribbed [read: plagiarized] by other writers. Not advised!)
She also provides stellar examples of ways to avoid anachronism, qualities for a good detective (or amateur sleuth), and excellent ways to beef up settings. Can't recommend this one highly enough for would-be writers in this genre.
Since this and creative non-fiction are the genres I write in, this book is a fantastic read, simply for its great examples in a broad array of time periods and geographical areas.
Emerson also covers caveats one may not think of (such as not using novels as research material-- Georgette Heyer thought up some of her own ideas in a historical setting, which were taken as historical FACT and cribbed [read: plagiarized] by other writers. Not advised!)
She also provides stellar examples of ways to avoid anachronism, qualities for a good detective (or amateur sleuth), and excellent ways to beef up settings. Can't recommend this one highly enough for would-be writers in this genre.
July 7, 2012
Really engagingly written, dealing with the major issues, full of lovely examples that make me want to read more, and refreshingly realistic about the market.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews