Denise Rodgers Books
Home of the Jeweltown Cozy Murder Mystery Series
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Recommended

​Why Do Perfectly Normal People Like to Read About Murder?

1/21/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I must confess. In addition to writing murder mysteries, I am an avid mystery reader. If you did a body count on all the victims in the stories I’ve read, the total would be in the hundreds, maybe edging up into the thousands.
 
And yet, I’m a totally nonviolent, even squeamish person. I don’t like killing bugs, unless they are large and ugly and have invaded my home. I don’t even look when I have a blood draw at the doctor’s office. For the record, I don’t like looking at other people’s blood either. I’ve been known to irritate friends by walking out of particularly violent movies. Yes, I am a delicate little flower.
 
So what gives? Why am I perpetually reading a mystery? A murder mystery, at that. Well, one reason is I tend to read cozy or cozy-style mysteries. To me, that means all the violence and even the explicit sex, for that matter, are off-screen. These things happen; we know they happen, but we don’t see or read about it in detail. So that helps.
 
But still, delicate flower that I am (not really), why all the bodies? Why all the victims? What is it that is so satisfying about this genre?
 
Believe it or not, despite all the violence—or implied violence—the mystery novel presents a more perfect world. Yes, there is a murder. Yes, there is conflict—because without a healthy dose of conflict the book would be unbearably boring. But what all mystery books also have is resolution.
 
Not only does the bad guy or gal get caught, as readers we get to find out why  the perp felt compelled—and justified—to commit such a heinous act. Justice is served, on a silver platter. Peace reigns. And all is right with the world. Well, that might be overplaying it a bit, but you get the idea. The bad guy gets his, and it just feels right.
 
Not only that, but in a particularly good series, as a reader, you get to know the characters, and each succeeding novel is a chance to visit and see the main characters grow and change. Sometimes there is a budding romance. Sometimes, there is a love triangle. Sometimes, in my humble opinion, a love triangle persists through way, way too many novels in the series. (But that is the subject for another blog post.) The point is that it’s fun to return to the world the author has created and enjoy the setting and the characters, once again, without having to re-read the same novel over and over. It’s fun and addictive, which explains the popularity of mystery series. (It also explains all the books in my collection. The photo is but a tiny sampling that obviously does not include my Nook and Kindle titles and more.)
 
So here I am, a perfectly normal person. Okay, a relatively normal person; just ask my relatives, and I can’t wait to get back to my current read. Among my currently favorite mystery authors are: Denise Swanson, Diane Mott Davidson, Earlene Fowler, Jana DeLeon, Laura Levine, Duncan Whitehead, Amy Metz, L.L. Bartlett, Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier, Alan Bradley, Deb Baker, Louise Penny… and so many more. I told  you there were a lot of bodies!


0 Comments

Murder of a Bookstore Babe

1/15/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
There's a lot going on in Scumble River even before yet another body shows up in school psychologist Skye Denison's path in "Murder of a Bookstore Babe." A new bookstore, Tales and Treats, is in town, much to the dismay of Pru Cormorant, a long-time teacher at the high school, as well as several local proprietors who appear to be concerned with the new competition or parking issues. There is also Skye's brother, Vince, whose romantic escapades are aggravating Skye's mother---who in turn is aggravating Skye. Add to that a sluggish wedding annulment that is keeping Skye from marrying her boyfriend, Wally, as well as her ex-boyfriend, Simon, who is carrying a torch for Skye that is so hot it's about to set fire to downtown Scumble River. With all this going on, you can see there is plenty to keep a reader's interest.

I just re-read this book, and although I remembered exactly who "dunnit," it was still a completely enjoyable read. I love Sky Denison. I love Wally. I feel bad for Simon, who is acting so pathetic in this book that I think he should avoid showing his face for another book or two. (But I don't think he does.) I'm about May Denison's age now. That would be Skye's mother. So I want to be sympathetic to her, but reading about her antics makes me understand why Skye had decided to join the Peace Corp and be far, far away from home for many years prior to the first book of the series.

Would I read another of Swanson's Skye Denison books real soon? YES! As a matter of fact I just purchased "Murder of the Cat's Meow," as I realized I haven't yet read that book. Why do I like these books? I feel transported to another time and reality and I enjoy the trip! So five stars to this book and to this series. I'm sure I'll be reviewing "Cat's Meow" soon!
0 Comments

    Author

    Denise Rodgers. I am a a wife, daughter, mother, grandmother (the best of all titles), an aunt, a sister, a sister-in-law, and twice over a mother-in-law. I've been the boss' daughter and the boss' wife. I've been a business owner and a customer, and for a long, long time an official student (although in many ways I'll always be a student). But what I have always been and will be is a writer.

    Archives

    January 2017
    January 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    Denise Rodgers Books
    Jeweltown Murder Mystery

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.