Sunday, March 24, 2013

Remember Clue?


Do you remember the Parker Brother's game entitled CLUE? It's where you find out who did it, using which weapon, and where it happened. My daughter and I happened to fall into a similar hunt while trying to solve the problems that appeared in my new medical mystery. The story opens with a new employee of a hospital (the protagonist) noticing that an unusual amount of patients were dying in unexpected circumstances, and without any real reasons. She finds herself wrapped up trying to solve this conundrum with the help of one of the staff doctors. What she doesn't know is that perhaps it isn't a single person involved in this nefarious crime.

Why is this story like the game Clue? I found myself listing separate people, associated with certain items and in certain places. For instance, The charge nurse would always have a clipboard, which she kept all her notes on. But that's not all she kept written down on it. She was gathering facts about all the nurses. Was it an attempt to get one fired? Or did she know something else? Also, our protagonist discovers empty vials of atropine in each of the dead patient's rooms. Given enough atropine, it could stop the heart. Did it?

What does it all mean? When I add all my clues together, I'm hoping to have a surprise ending for my readers. But like Clue, it takes a patient building up and elimination of all the clues until one is left. In the drawing room, with the rope. Or is it in the hallway, with the lead pipe? Either way, I'll be sure to let you know!

Do you have a mystery you are trying to solve? How about what your latest wip? That can be a mystery in and of itself. Have you put in enough clues to make it exciting? Let me know what you are working on.

6 comments:

  1. I always liked playing Clue. Sounds like your medical mystery is going to be a good one.

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    1. Susanne: Thanks, I'm slaving over the middle part right now.

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  2. Though I write fantasy, I read a lot of mystery not only because I enjoy but so I can study techniques for including mystery in my novel plots.

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    1. Susan: I think it's important to read outside our own genres. That way we get rounded and, like you say, learn new techniques.

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  3. I love medical mysteries - I read one eons ago but the author never wrote another one and I thoroughly enjoyed it, not that I can remember who wrote it or what the title is today. I love mysteries that don't reveal the who too soon so if you are going for the surprise ending, that will be right up my alley to read. If you need a beta reader, let me know I can probably sneak you in my busy schedule. E :)

    Elysabeth Eldering
    Author of Finally Home, a middle grade/YA mystery
    http://elysabethsstories.blogspot.com
    http://eeldering.weebly.com

    Author of the JGDS, 50-state, mystery, trivia series
    Where will the adventure take you next?
    http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com
    http://jgdsseries.weebly.com

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    1. Elysabeth: Thanks for your offer. Although I have a critique partner, it's always good to get new eyes to read. I'll let you know when I get that far along.

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