Author Guest Post
Writing a Murder Mystery: Motives for Murder
After revealing “Who Done It,” the most important piece of the puzzle in a good murder mystery is “Why Done It.” The Antagonist’s reason to commit murder and hide it must be creative, make sense and be ultimately satisfying to your reader. So, it got me thinking: What are some basic motives for murder?
Here’s the list I started. Feel free to comment and add to the list.
TEN MOTIVES FOR MURDER
1. To hide a secret. This is the most obvious motive. The Victim stumbles upon the Antagonist’s closely guarded secret, and he kills her so she won’t reveal it.
• A father, scared of losing his daughter’s love if she ever finds out that she was adopted, murders the child’s biological mother when she suddenly reappears in their lives.
2. Greed. The Antagonist wants the victim’s fortune, property or something else of value… and is willing to kill to get his hands on it.
• The Femme Fatale murders her wealthy, old lover with a heart condition after he names her in his last will and testament.
3. Revenge. The Antagonist wants to even the score for some past wrong doing (which is often detailed in the prologue) and the victim pays the price.
• The successful computer geek attends his high school reunion and kills the formal popular cheerleader who made fun of him some twenty years ago
• The successful computer geek murders the red-headed dance teacher who looks eerily similar to that hateful cheerleader who made fun of him in high school
4. Obsession, Frustration & Hate. Have you hugged a sociopath today? This is a great opportunity to expose your Antagonist’s prejudices and/or deep-seeded obsessions.
• A deeply religious mother murders her son’s college professor because of something taught at school.
• The shy, awkward boy in the back of class has been sending notes to the popular girl in his Chemistry class. Unfortunately. when she rebukes his advances, he lashes out by killing her.
• After a lifetime of seething jealousy, the unemployed, divorced, broke older brother finally murders his successful, wealthy, happily married with a beautiful home and three beautiful kids, younger brother.
5. Love, Sex & Jealousy. Maybe this should be motive #1. At least it seems like it in real life if you watch any of the murder investigation documentaries on cable television. Does it even need an example? Pick a love triangle and you’ve got a motive.
• The Traveling Salesman’s pregnant wife is found dead after he tells his college-aged girlfriend won’t end his marriage.
6. Crime of Passion. Your Antagonist’s anger gets the best of him, and he snaps in a fit of rage. Generally, everyone is shocked by his actions, as he seems like the last person on the planet who’d ever commit such a heinous murder. Often the Antagonist doesn’t remember what happened, as he was out of his head at the time.
• A father becomes so enraged at his wife for ripping the family apart when she tells him that she’s leaving him for her personal trainer that he shoots their two children dead before turning the gun on himself. Neighbors couldn’t believe it; he was such a normal, quiet Family Man.
7. Psychosis & Mental Disorders. The Antagonist is detached from society (maybe even humanity) and does something unthinkable, generally for reasons that are just in his head.
• A mother, who believes voices are instructing her to do bad things, drowns her children.
8. To protect personal status. Your Antagonist is very threatened by the Victim’s success, talents or attention, and commits murder to balance the scales.
• An incensed, corporate ladder-climber murders her competition for a high-profile, high-paying position.
• An aging rock star — who is now humiliating reduced to opening act for a new, popular, younger pop star — plots a stage mishap to get the young phenom out of the way.
9. To protect a loved one. You would do anything for your kids, including murder if someone was hurting one of them. Well, so would your Antagonist. And sometimes loved ones moves beyond family, or even people.
• A father kills a teacher who was abusing his child
• An over-protective mother murders the high school student who has been mercilessly bullying her son
• A deer hunter and wildlife enthusiast murders the CEO of logging company that is decimating his forest.
10. Empathy or Sympathy. The Antagonist doesn’t have malicious intent; in fact, he’s acting (or believes) in the Victim’s best interest.
• The Caregiver gives the ailing, elderly patient a heavy sleeping potion so she slips quietly away in the night.
• A nursing student helps a dying cancer patient commit suicide so that he can die with dignity.
About The Author
JC Gatlin lives in Tampa, Florida. In addition to regular fishing trips, he wrote a monthly column for New Tampa Style Magazine, then began penning several mystery/suspense stories. His first novel, The Designated Survivor, was released in July 2013, and Prey of Desire followed in February 2014. Both are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle edition.
He also maintains a blog about the art of spinning a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat mysteries at www.jcgatlin.com.
Coming from a large family with five brothers, JC grew up in Grapevine — a small Texas town just outside of Dallas.
AUTHOR WEBSITE
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Book Trailer
Book Review
Prey of Desire by JC Gatlin
Publisher: Blurb, Inc.
Publication Date: February 17, 2014
Format: Paperback - 227 pages
Kindle - 1437 KB
ISBN: 978-0615961057
ASIN: B00IIN6YWE
Genre: New Adult / Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
BUY THE BOOK: Prey of Desire
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
Book Description:
They said the disappearance of two high school students over 25 years ago was a mystery that couldn’t be solved.
No one ever said it shouldn’t be.
Following the abrupt end of a relationship, college student Kimberly Bradford finds comfort in the friendship with her over-the-top neighbor, Mallory. And, Mallory encourages her to get back out there. She would of course if it weren’t for the thrilling little love notes and gifts she’s been receiving.
Kim thinks they’re from her ex-fiancee, not realizing he’s been murdered. Worse, whoever is sending her all the extra attention is not only in her inner-circle, but has a connection to that unsolved murder some 25 years ago. That connection puts her life in danger, and exposes secrets better left buried around her closest friends and family.
Book Excerpt:
"That was close." Mallory laughed, pushing Kim out the diner doors and onto the sidewalk. They crossed the intersection against the light and headed back to Mallory's parked Miata. Making it clear that she was not pleased, Kim walked several steps ahead. She crossed her arms, swinging her purse. Mallory caught up to her, telling her to slow down.
Kim picked up her pace. "I can't believe you tried to set me up with that old psychologist again. You just don't know when to quit, do you?"
"He’s a psychiatrist, and…” Mallory grabbed her arm to slow her down. “Stop being so melodramatic."
"Melodramatic?" Kim whipped around to confront her friend face to face. "Not only did you ambush me, but this is the second time he's stood me up - second time in a row!"
"He just got detained with another crazy patient, that's all." Mallory punctuated that with a light, throaty chuckle. "The whole town is freaked out over the Congressman's murder so it's understandable.”
"You're changing the subject." Kim turned and stepped off the sidewalk into the street. She headed toward the car parallel parked in front of a meter. Mallory followed her into the oncoming traffic.
“Would you just wait?” She grabbed Kim’s arm again. Mallory stopped her in the middle of the street. A car honked and swerved around them. Oblivious, Kim pointed a finger at her and leaned forward.
"You sandbagged me with another blind date. You know I’m involved."
"Ross went M.I.A. on you, what, six weeks ago? He’s gone." Another car blared its horn. Mallory waved it away. "I just wanted to get your mind off it. Besides, Dr. Whitman has lined up a very exciting date."
"You just don't give up, do you?"
"Listen to me, Kim. He's really been putting a lot of pressure on me lately. He's talked about you for ages and he's been asking me to set you two up for a long time. Ever since..."
Breaks squeaked on a truck as it swerved to miss them. Kim ignored it. "Ever since what, Mallory? Since Ross dumped me?"
"No - since Ross disappeared." Mallory paused. Her eyes softened and a faint smile crossed her lips. "Kim, he's not coming back."
Kim was about to protest. It was a knee-jerk reaction to tell Mallory how wrong she was. For a moment, Kim considered explaining about the mysterious poems and the invitation for dinner on Friday night. She wanted to tell Mallory about the phone calls. All those cryptic messages and notes – it had to be from Ross. It just had to be. They were meant for each other.
Instead Kim looked down at her feet and sighed. "I'm just not in the mood to be sweet and sociable. You know what I mean? I'm angry. And I want to hit something. I want to rip something apart and stomp on it and crush it and..."
Another car honked and the driver screamed obscenities as he whizzed past. The girls were unfazed standing in the center of the road.
"Exactly my point." Mallory snapped her fingers, seemingly very pleased with herself. "That's why this handsome, debonair psychiatrist suggested a double date at a mock war camp."
"A what?"
"A mock war camp," Mallory repeated. "Instead of miniature golf or going to a movie, we'd play weekend warrior."
Kim hesitated, watching her a moment, then followed. "What kind of date is that?"
“The kind that’ll get you over Ross!” Mallory headed toward her Miata parked at the curb. Unlocking the car door, she paused and leaned against the hood. She turned back toward Kim.
"It’s the kind of date where you can be tank girl and rip men apart and blow them away and stomp on them... only with paint pellets." Mallory’s eyes enlarged and she took a breath, as if waiting for Kim to protest. When she didn't, Mallory continued. "He's a head shrink, Kim. He knows about these kind of things."
Kim picked up her pace. "I can't believe you tried to set me up with that old psychologist again. You just don't know when to quit, do you?"
"He’s a psychiatrist, and…” Mallory grabbed her arm to slow her down. “Stop being so melodramatic."
"Melodramatic?" Kim whipped around to confront her friend face to face. "Not only did you ambush me, but this is the second time he's stood me up - second time in a row!"
"He just got detained with another crazy patient, that's all." Mallory punctuated that with a light, throaty chuckle. "The whole town is freaked out over the Congressman's murder so it's understandable.”
"You're changing the subject." Kim turned and stepped off the sidewalk into the street. She headed toward the car parallel parked in front of a meter. Mallory followed her into the oncoming traffic.
“Would you just wait?” She grabbed Kim’s arm again. Mallory stopped her in the middle of the street. A car honked and swerved around them. Oblivious, Kim pointed a finger at her and leaned forward.
"You sandbagged me with another blind date. You know I’m involved."
"Ross went M.I.A. on you, what, six weeks ago? He’s gone." Another car blared its horn. Mallory waved it away. "I just wanted to get your mind off it. Besides, Dr. Whitman has lined up a very exciting date."
"You just don't give up, do you?"
"Listen to me, Kim. He's really been putting a lot of pressure on me lately. He's talked about you for ages and he's been asking me to set you two up for a long time. Ever since..."
Breaks squeaked on a truck as it swerved to miss them. Kim ignored it. "Ever since what, Mallory? Since Ross dumped me?"
"No - since Ross disappeared." Mallory paused. Her eyes softened and a faint smile crossed her lips. "Kim, he's not coming back."
Kim was about to protest. It was a knee-jerk reaction to tell Mallory how wrong she was. For a moment, Kim considered explaining about the mysterious poems and the invitation for dinner on Friday night. She wanted to tell Mallory about the phone calls. All those cryptic messages and notes – it had to be from Ross. It just had to be. They were meant for each other.
Instead Kim looked down at her feet and sighed. "I'm just not in the mood to be sweet and sociable. You know what I mean? I'm angry. And I want to hit something. I want to rip something apart and stomp on it and crush it and..."
Another car honked and the driver screamed obscenities as he whizzed past. The girls were unfazed standing in the center of the road.
"Exactly my point." Mallory snapped her fingers, seemingly very pleased with herself. "That's why this handsome, debonair psychiatrist suggested a double date at a mock war camp."
"A what?"
"A mock war camp," Mallory repeated. "Instead of miniature golf or going to a movie, we'd play weekend warrior."
Kim hesitated, watching her a moment, then followed. "What kind of date is that?"
“The kind that’ll get you over Ross!” Mallory headed toward her Miata parked at the curb. Unlocking the car door, she paused and leaned against the hood. She turned back toward Kim.
"It’s the kind of date where you can be tank girl and rip men apart and blow them away and stomp on them... only with paint pellets." Mallory’s eyes enlarged and she took a breath, as if waiting for Kim to protest. When she didn't, Mallory continued. "He's a head shrink, Kim. He knows about these kind of things."
My Book Review:
In Prey of Desire, author JC Gatlin weaves a riveting psychological thriller that keeps the reader sitting on the edge of their seat while turning the pages in anticipation of what would happen next. This intriguing page turner of a story transports the reader back twenty-five years to an unsolved mystery surrounding the disappearance and murder of two high school students, then fast forwards to the present questioning could this old mystery have a connection to a series of murders that are happening now?
This action packed story has fascinating characters, enough mystery interspersed with clues, and suspenseful twists and turns that easily draws the reader in, keeps them guessing, and holds them captive until the surprising conclusion. You can't help but get immersed in the mystery, it challenges the reader to try to figure out the motive and who the murderer is, while providing an intense and tension building storyline that is full of drama, dark humor, thrills and chills that will make it hard to put the book down. If you are a fan of exhilarating mystery / suspense / thrillers that makes you hold your breath, then this is definitely the book for you!
Prey of Desire is one hell of a gripping whodunit that is guaranteed to keep the reader on their toes.
RATING: 4 STARS
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Thank you for the great review! I'm glad you enjoyed the book.
ReplyDeleteHi JC! I really enjoyed reading Prey of Desire and look forward to reading more of your books in the future. Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event. :)
DeleteWhat a great list of motives! And the examples really help illustrate how a mystery novel uses them. Thanks so much for sharing this information with us.
ReplyDeleteHi Lance! JC's author guest post was really interesting. Thank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event.
DeleteThis sounds like an awesome thriller and mystery that I would love to read. The cover is awesome and looks very attractive. The list of reasons for murder were realistic and I would agree with them all ;)
ReplyDeletehttp://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/10/the-guardian-review-giveaway.html