A while ago I followed with great interest the discussions on DorothyL, a mystery subscription list to which I belong. The topic is romance in mysteries, and many list members have offered their opionions on their preferences.
Do mystery and romance mix? I'm particularly interested because there's a blossoming romance between my protagonist, Molly Blume, and the high school hunk who dumped her and is now a rabbi, Zack Abrams. And her husband. I enjoy a little romance in mysteries. More importantly, I think that characters have relationships, and some of those relationships are romantic, or were, and writing about them makes the characters more fully realized. Of course, it's a mistake to have the romance overwhelm the mystery--and managing the right amount is a challenge.
So I found myself paying close attention to the posters, and almost wincing when I read opinions offered by readers who want their mystery straight up, thank you very much; please leave out the love stuff. And for an evening or so, I found myself second-guessing myself and my craft--should I tone down Molly's romance with the rabbi? Was it a mistake to include it altogether? Am I losing readers?
And then I took a step back and realized that I have to tell my story, and not the story that I think will appeal to readers who like romance or hate it.
Well Molly is a character in a series of novels. We are not just seeing Molly in a one-off where the book can focus on the relevant aspects of her work on a case, but rather we se her as a person.
A work is more effective if Molly is our freind. If we are hearing her stories asn though we are sitting with her daily at a coffee house. We will thus come to know her as a person, as a woman. Romance is truly one of the most significant things in anyones life, and the support and compromises we get from, and give to, those we love define us.
This is not to say that every book should be a full-on bodice ripper, but if Molly always put her cases over her love life, we wouldn't like her.
Even Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade did things other than solve the case. Any book is about life, and romance is aprt of life, so it should belong in any book: mystery, science fiction, fantasy, it might even enrich Photoshop for Dummies.
Posted by: Joe Bickley | April 08, 2005 at 12:16 PM
I like romance in a mystery book so long as it's not explicit. I loved all of your books because there was no touching and who knows waht going on - just heartracing kind of romance. I am a Faye Kellerman fan but recently i am getting turned off by the CONSTANT touching in the books - esp. when Rina is supposed to be really religious, and she never seems to be a niddah, not even right after she gives birth!
Posted by: Mindy | April 07, 2005 at 04:16 PM
As you said, "it's a mistake to have the romance overwhelm the mystery--and managing the right amount is a challenge" but I have faith and know you will find just the right mix...You write it and I will read it : )
Posted by: Michelle | April 07, 2005 at 02:59 PM