Old Cases, Cold Cases

 Many people are fascinated by old crimes. Think of Lizzie Borden, Jack the Ripper, The Black Dahlia, and think about the infamous Lindbergh Kidnapping. You can look back on them and wonder if things were really as they seemed. At one time it was said there’s new evidence in the Lizzie Borden case that indicates someone else killed her parents. Jack the Ripper? Do we really know, without a doubt, who he was? Do we have all the facts about the sinking of the Titanic?

What is it about old, cold cases that fascinates people? From a writer’s point of view, I think they’re somewhat easier to write about if the story is fictional, or at least partly fictional. I took stock of my own books and realized that several of my books involved crimes that took place in the past. It wasn’t something I did intentionally, but after thinking about it I realize, in their own way, cold cases are easier to write about – especially fictional old crimes that for some reason must be solved today.

I try to include some humor in my books, and it’s more difficult when writing about current times. There’s nothing funny about death, but you can find humor in the people solving the case and circumstances surrounding the event, especially if they’re trying to solve something from the past.

Does it seem too coincidental when a protagonist finds old letters or clues that have been hidden away for a century? It’s not, and I’ll tell you why.

My family has always loved taking photographs. My grandmother, thankfully, never threw any photos away. They date back to the 1800s. I have family photos galore. I have a relative who was in the Navy from 1904-1907. He took photos of all kinds of things, from the officers on his ship to the Great Wall of China.

Something unexpected happened. I was going through the family photos which fill a trunk, and something caught my eye. In the midst of the family photos was an unusual and disturbing one my relative took while overseas. It was a picture of a firing squad shooting people – not the kind of thing you expect to find in among pictures of Great-Great-Grandma. I can’t even imagine how he was able to take it. There was an officer on horseback with troops standing nearby. You could actually see the smoke coming out of the rifles, and… Well, I don’t want to be too graphic. My point is, you never know what you might find mixed in with family things. If I’d put that in a book, and the photo had significance in a case, no one would believe it. By the way, I had an expert look at the photo and according to him it involved foreign soldiers, not Americans.

Cold cases are different from current cases because you don’t necessarily think of them in the same way. Old crimes are more like a legend, and in some cases, that’s what they are. When telling the story, it’s almost like the crime is off stage somewhere, not just across town.

When writing about old cases the author has to do research. The reader needs to know what things were like in the “old days” to understand what those in the past were dealing with in order to solve a crime.

With today’s technology we can do a lot more with clues than they could back in the day. Imagine trying to solve a murder in 1880, or even 1926. You’d have to rely on circumstances much more than you would today. It could become very sticky. Today you can look at DNA, fingerprints, videos and so much more. The technology is mind-boggling.

So, again, what is the pull to cold cases? They involve looking back in time instead of looking over your shoulder. They involve more imagination. They involve a lot of “what ifs.” Things aren’t laid out in an A-B-C easy to read format.

Do you enjoy old cases? Do they stimulate your imagination more than current crimes? What case, solved or unsolved, has kept your interest over the years?

Until next time, look ahead, but look back, too. See if you can figure out some of the answers about Lizzie Borden or Jack the Ripper. Think about what you based your conclusions on regardless of what crime you’re trying to solve, even if you’re not sure you’re right.

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You might enjoy reading about Sandi Webster’s Great-Great-Great Aunt Sioux in The Accidental Gumshoe, or you might like to read about a deserted ghost town in Old Murders Never Die. 

 

 

 

Trying Times

Hi everyone! I haven’t written a post in a long time, and with our stay-at-home days, now felt like the right time. I sincerely hope you’re all well and that you’ve found things to fill your time.

I stocked up on chocolate, so I’m happy. Too bad I didn’t stock up on toilet paper and tissues. Has anyone noticed, in the middle of all the talk about hoarding toilet paper, that the facial tissues have disappeared, too? Cleaning products? Forget it.

I know that people are having a difficult time during the Covid19 pandemic. Some people are feeling fear and panic. Wasn’t it Franklin D. Roosevelt who said, in his 1933 Inaugural Address, “There’s nothing to fear but fear itself?” Be cautious, use your common sense, and live your life, even if it’s within the confines of your own home. Read a book, watch television, play games or do whatever holds your interest. I hear a neighbor outside mowing his lawn. I live in the far northwest corner of the United States. It’s still cold here and I wouldn’t be out mowing my lawn, but to each his own.

Because of a few health issues, I’ve made my last trip to the grocery store for a while. I’m not willing to take chances so I’m using my common sense and staying at home, looking for things to keep me busy. My writing keeps me busy. My housecleaning keeps me busy, too, but there’s only so much you can do. So here I am, writing a post after a very long time.

I’m a firm believer in humor keeping us going. My daughter has found several jokes online. Some of them are dark humor, but I have to admit that they can still make me laugh.

One of my all-time favorite movies is 1947’s “The Egg and I,” with Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. It’s entertaining and based on the humorous memoir by Betty MacDonald. As a newlywed, her husband wanted to start a chicken farm in Washington State. When she visited her family in Seattle, she related stories of her adventures, or misadventures, on the farm. Her sisters talked her into writing the book.

Once, when visiting my grandmother, I saw the book sitting on her shelf and she gave it to me. I’m afraid it’s been sitting on my own bookshelf since the late 1980s. On a whim, I picked it up this morning and started to read it. I’m only a few pages into the memoir and I can already see the humor in it. I have a feeling when I sit down this evening, with the book, that I won’t be able to put it down.

I believe she wrote the book in 1945. In those days no one had ever heard of political correctness. She’s honest in her feelings, and she’s funny. Set aside the PC attitude and enjoy a good story.

So instead of watching a drama on TV, or reading a horror story, try picking up something with humor. Look for the humor around you.

One of my dogs, Sugar, has a “thing” on her neck. It looks awful. I called the veterinarian yesterday and they had me send photos of this “thing.” It seems she probably scratched or cut her neck and it’s turned into a bacterial infection. I drove to the vet’s office (and it felt so good to get out of the house) , parked, and called them on my cell phone. They have a little table outside, by the front door. A young woman stepped outside, set Sugar’s medications on the table, and scurried back inside. I then left the car and picked up the package. Nothing funny about this so far, right?

I brought home antibiotics and a spray for her neck. After I sprayed her neck, my other dog, Murphy, was so excited and wanted to sniff what I’d sprayed on her. Knowing him, he probably thought I did it just for him. One sniff and he made a fast U-turn and ran out of the room. Oh, yes, the spray has a pungent odor. Murphy’s reaction was one of those things you had to see to recognize the humor in it. Sugar is probably thinking, “Spray me again so he’ll leave me alone.” He does act a little pushy from time to time. By the way, Murphy is a very large Yellow Lab trying to run on a hardwood floor. His exit was not graceful.

My whole point is, try to stay busy, use your common sense and look for something that will make you laugh. At the very least, you want something that will put a smile on your face.

My thoughts are with you all and I pray for all of us every day. God bless you and I wish you good health!

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

(Sorry, but my website is a thing of the past. If I ever work up the courage, I may build a new one in the future.)

The latest Sandi Webster mystery is titled, “No One Will Find Me” and you might find a touch of humor as you get into the story. How do you combine a serial killer, suspense and humor? It can be done.

Choices

From time to time we talk about life getting in the way of work, and that’s what’s been going on over the past couple of weeks. I caught the “Ick,” whatever that is, but things are getting back to normal. Sorry to have deserted you.

This week I’m here to talk about choices in books. We have hardcover books in both regular typeface and in large print. The same goes for some trade paperbacks and we have regular paperbacks. Of course, we have ebooks which seem to be pretty popular right now. I wonder what will come next. And, we also have audio books, which is my subject this week.

        

 

 A Well-Kept Family Secret and Bubba’s Ghost (both Sandi Webster Mysteries) are available in audio format now, and have been for a while. Coming up? Prudy’s Back!, another Sandi Webster Mystery. By the way, the reason there’s an exclamation point in the title is to indicate that it’s not about Prudy’s backside. It’s about her return. She was a private investigator back in the forties and fifties, and she wants Sandi to help her solve the unsolved case that meant the most to her. She just can’t let go of it.

After a narrator (in this case Viv Williams) puts the book in audio format, the author must proof the product. That means listening to the narration while reading along in the book. It’s time-consuming, but kind of a treat. Prudy’s Back! was released in 2009. After its release I moved on to other projects and didn’t give it much thought. Now that I’ve proofed the story, I remember how unique and how much fun it was to write. Sometimes looking back can be a good thing.

Prudy was based on a woman I met through someone my daughter worked with back in the day. Well, she was based on her in that she was a P.I. a long time ago. Her daughter remembered her wearing a long fur coat, cowgirl boots and smoking a long, black cigarette. When I spoke to the woman she laughed because other than the boots, her daughter’s memory was quite faulty. I liked the memory and presented Prudy as the daughter remembered her mother.

However, why would someone choose an audio book when so many other formats are available? Why would someone want to listen to Prudy? Many people like to listen to a story while they’re on a road trip and they certainly don’t want a story that will put them to sleep while driving. My mother-in-law had vision problems and she loved books. Audio stories made her day. I can think of several reasons to enjoy an audio book, like if you’re working out you can listen, but those of you who enjoy them already know why they’re your choice.

My husband and I used to listen to audio books while we traveled, and I have to make a confession. When the narrator was male, and he read female dialogue, it made me snicker. It was simply difficult to take a male voice trying to sound like a female too seriously. The reverse is true for female narrators. It’s a quirk of mine, and I can’t help it. However, I thought Viv Williams did a pretty good job of it with Prudy and the other characters, including the men.

So, if you’re looking for choices, you’ve got plenty in today’s market. I still prefer a paper book, but I find myself reading more ebooks simply because of the convenience (and the cost).

Prudy’s Back! should be released over the next two weeks. I’ll let you know when it’s available.

In the meantime, I’ve been lax about promoting my books and it’s time for that to change. I just need to come up with a new and unique idea. Yeah, like that’s gonna happen. I’m not sure there are any new ideas. Oh, well… Time will tell.

Until next time, give audio books a try. They make great gifts, too. Remember my mother-in-law. She might have had vision problems, but her hearing was fine.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

Remember, People Lookin’ Half Dead – A Bogey Man Mystery is waiting for you. Think massive heat and homeless people disappearing.

A New Book for Your Entertainment

Gin Mill Grill - A Sandi Webster Mystery is now available on Amazon.com.

Sandi and Pete have earned a reputation for solving old cases, and they’re approached by a woman who’d like a 1930s crime solved. A man was brutally murdered and his brother immediately disappeared. The authorities believed the brother was their best suspect, but they weren’t able to track him down.

Case closed – or was it? A lone police officer didn’t like the results and spent the rest of his life searching for answers.

Their client’s father had tried to clear the name of Harley Glosser, the dead man’s brother, but his efforts were futile. His interest in the case? Horace and Harley Glosser were his cousins.

With the discovery of a private room in the house where the crime was committed, Sandi and Pete must change their thought processes and start running down other suspects and looking at other locations, including an old speakeasy. The potential suspects are people in their nineties, so they also have to hope they’re still living.

Why would someone in the current day try to put a halt to the investigation? After all, the murder took place in the 1930s.

Circumstances are often not as they seem, and this case is no exception.  

a little humor, a little romance, A Little Murder!

I hope you’ll give the book a try, and thank you!

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw's website

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com 

Black Butterfly, or Red Admiral

One day my daughter and I were sitting on the patio talking, and of all things a black butterfly flew into the yard and buzzed me. I’ve never seen a black butterfly before and didn’t even know they existed. This beautiful insect hung around for about half an hour, maybe more. He landed on my shed and practically posed for photos. I obliged him.

Of course, I researched it. It’s called a Red Admiral, and although it’s black, there’s some color on its wings.

I couldn’t get this bug off my mind. Who’d have thought a black butterfly could inspire a mystery. Well, it did, and of all things the story is more about the mob back in the 1950s than the butterfly. In the story, the black butterfly isn’t a what, but a who.

Of course, the butterfly begged to see itself on a book cover, so I obliged. I tried putting other elements from the story on the cover with the insect, but it just didn’t work. There’s a yellow dress in the story and I tried adding that. Nope, it didn’t work. I even tried putting a violin case containing a gun and ammo on the cover, but that didn’t work either. It was a lone butterfly or nothing. I have to admit that half the fun of a book is creating the cover, especially when I can use my own images on it.

 So what kind of story did this little guy inspire? A book titled Black Butterfly - A Bogey Man Mystery. What else?

“Chris and Pamela Cross are in the thick of things, once again, when an elderly neighbor asks for their help. The Black Butterfly has been accused of deadly crimes and her past is catching up to her.

The body of a gangster who’s been missing for over sixty years is found buried under a casino floor in Las Vegas. Once again, the Black Butterfly is accused of murder, which brings the thug’s family to California to find answers.

 Enter Chris’s mother and the Church Ladies. Have they lost their minds? Why on earth would they try to protect a woman thought to be a Hit Lady in the 1950s?

The Crosses are about to find answers that might have been better left buried in time.”

I said sometime back that I was never going to write anymore Bogey Man Mysteries, but this theme seemed to fit the Bogey characters best. I guess the lesson learned is never say never.

Now I’ll take a break from writing and turn my attention to a neglected home. It’s also begging for attention. Then it’s on to another Sandi Webster mystery.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading about the Black Butterfly and the thugs who tried to frame her.

Until next time, have a great week and don’t forget to support your local authors.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website (in dire need of updating)

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

I almost forgot. Old Murders Never Die – A Sandi Webster Mystery, will be free on Amazon on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 (not an April Fool’s joke). If the idea of a ghost town intrigues you, this is the book for you. Imagine being stranded in a ghost town with a history. (CLICK HERE to view the book trailer.) 

When Should a Series End?

That’s a really good question. I’ve thought and thought about the Bogey Man Mysteries, and I think it’s about time to end the series.

Why?

 

In all honesty, I’m running out of ideas for stories and for the characters. I’m currently working on the last Bogey Man mystery. I just started this one, so it'll be awhile. These are special characters with ties to the 1940s due to the fact that Chris Cross looks very much like Humphrey Bogart, and he tends to emulate the movie star. He walks the walk and talks the talk. In the latest story, How Now Purple Cow, the Crosses retired from amateur sleuthing. They’re coming out of retirement for one last case which, interestingly, involves the Black Butterfly. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait to find out what or who the Black Butterfly is.

While there is a following for this series, I can’t entertain readers if I run out of ideas. At least for the moment, I believe I’m out of Bogey inspiration.

I know from comments that a few people are tired of the forties slang used in the books. I have to admit, I’m not tired of it at all. It’s certainly more fun than some of today’s slang, and less offensive. However, that’s life.

Realistically, there are younger readers who can’t relate to the Bogey Man character. That’s a shame because the “old days” were fun in their own way. On the other hand, there are some older readers who love this series because they can relate to the stories and the time periods involved.

 

 The Sandi Webster series is another matter. Readers keep asking for more. I’ll oblige because so far the ideas related to Sandi and Pete (her husband and partner) keep coming. They’ve handled some old-time cases, but they have a different take on things than the Crosses.

Both series sometimes involve working on cold cases, but that’s not always the issue. They become involved in current cases, too.

I can honestly say there are a few (very few) series that I got tired of reading. Sometimes an author can’t quite come up with a new and unique idea. The stories start sounding too much alike – repetitious. I don’t want that to happen with either of my series.

Of course, there’s always room for standalone books. I’ve done two of those and truly enjoyed doing something different for a change.

Overall, these are simply some random thoughts about continuing or discontinuing a series. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll come up with an idea for a third series. Stranger things have happened.

In the meantime, there are series I read that I never get tired of because the authors manage to come up with something new and out of the box time after time.

I’ll miss the Bogey Man, his wife Pamela and their son, Mikey (aka Ace), but it is what it is – time to move on.

Thank you all for stopping in today and letting me share my thoughts.

Now I’ve got to get back to the Black Butterfly.

Until next time, have a great week and read an installment from your favorite series.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

I mentioned two standalone books, so here they are:

            Mysteries of Holt House – A Mystery

            Choosing One Moment – A Time Travel Mystery