MURDER MYSTERY WRITERS ARE NOT COPS, FIREMEN, OR MEDICAL EXAMINERS, but they fill our books. How can we make sure our murder and investigation scenes are accurate? Ask the experts, of course. Only someone who does one of those jobs for a living 365 days a year can give us a true picture of the process. As a relatively new murder mystery writer, I wasn’t sure how to go about this, so I just jumped in and blundered my way through! Here’s what I learned:
1) Google is your friend. Looking for someone who knows how the police and fire departments would investigate a fire up in Chicago? Google “fire investigation Chicago” In just a few clicks, you’ll probably find someone willing to talk with you, or refer you to someone who will.
2) Once you find a potential helpful expert you’d like to interview, send them an email introducing yourself and asking if they would be willing to be interviewed or answer a few questions of a technical nature-be specific. Do you need to know what kind of bullet would create what kind of damage in your scene? Or are you looking to find out how the police department works in a certain area-response time, etc?
3) Make an appointment for an in-person interview if you need to physically see what they’re talking about and they are local. If not, schedule a telephone interview. This is all part of treating your writing like a business. It is. Be professional and respectful of their time (and yours).
4) Prepare a list of questions. Some people prefer to answer by email when they have time, most I have contacted prefer a telephone interview.
5) Keep the interview on topic and make sure you ask what you need to know. This may be the only time they are free to speak with you.
6) record their name, time of the interview and contact info for future follow up questions if needed. Save all of these notes. Who knows when you may need to refer to them.
7) Ask them for referrals to other experts you need for your research (firearms, etc) People in law enforcement and fire know each other.
8) THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME! They are doing this for free-and are a huge help to you. Let them know you do not take murder lightly – that’s important. You’re writing about a fictional murder, they deal with real ones.
9) Acknowledge their assistance on the Acknowledgements page of your novel, then send them a signed, free copy when the book comes out.
10) Don’t pay for expertise. I noticed a couple of former law enforcement people hiring themselves out to writers. Maybe the big guns can afford them, but I don’t think it’s necessary to pay anyone in order to make sure your scenes are accurate. There are regular, working stiffs like you and I who are willing to help.
Happy Researching!
A self-admitted book addict, Valerie was the kid with the flashlight under her pillow. A life of travel with exposure to many different cultures led to a pervasive interest in people, with degrees & teaching credentials in Cultural Anthropology & English.