DH worries too much. So I spend too much on books (says him).
How can you spend too much on books, I ask?
Well, maybe it’s not the cost bothering him so much as the
subject matter. I suppose it could give one a start to go for that first cup of
coffee in the morning and find The Book
of Poisons next to the sugar. (And me wondering all that time where I had
left it!)
As a mystery writer, I work to ensure accuracy of crime
scenes, murder methods, and police procedures. Reference materials and questions
for public safety professionals is how I do that. I am a voracious reader of
how to kill people!
In future posts, I will discuss/review the following books;
for now, here’s the list. Don’t they sound like you just have to have them,
too? Just so you know, I also have quite a group of craft books on mystery
writing, but that’s for another time.
Another way I use these books that wasn’t the authors’
intent, I’m sure, is to search out plot point ideas. How could I kill? What are
my options? Could one method mask that another was used?
On to the list: You will note all but one of these are from
Writer’s Digest. They published a “Howunit Series” a number of years ago. Great
idea!
Beres, D. B. (2007). Killer
at Large: Criminal Profilers and the Cases They Solve! Franklin Watts.
Boertlein, John (Ed.) (2001) Howdunit: How Crimes are Committed and Solved. Writer’s Digest
Books.
Chase, Elaine Raco and Ann Wingate (1996). Amateur Detectives: A Writer’s Guide to How
Private Citizens Solve Criminal Cases. Writer’s Digest Books.
Corvasce, Mauro V. and Joseph R. Paglino (1997). Murder One: A Writer’s Guide to Homicide.
Writer’s Digest Books.
Lofland, Lee (2007). Police
Procedures & Investigation. Writer’s Digest Books.
Lyle, D.P. (2008). Forensics:
A Guide for Writers. Writer’s Digest Books.
Page, David W. (1996). Body
Trauma: A Writer’s Guide to Wounds and Injuries. Writer’s Digest Books.
Roth, Martin (1993). The
Writer’s Complete Crime Reference Book. Writer’s Digest Books.
Stevens, Serita Deborah and Anne Klarner (1990). Deadly Doses: A Writer’s Guide to Poisons.
Writer’s Digest Books.
Stevens, Serita and Anne Bannon (2007). Book of Poisons: A Guide for Writers. Writer’s Digest Books.
Wilson, Keith D. (1992). Cause
of Death: A Writer’s Guide to Death, Murder, & Forensic Medicine.
Writer’s Digest Books.
With this kind of bedtime reading material, should DH worry?
Nah! Really.
Then again, I am
writing a short story about a mystery writer’s husband who is beginning to suspect
she will kill for real and not just virtually. What research will I have to do for that?
