how soon to kill the first one?

[Lisa Fernow]

In the golden age mysteries, the victim doesn't necessarily die right away, but I have heard that the convention today is to kill your first victim off within the first 30 pages. Is this a hard and fast rule? Are there successful examples of mysteries that don't lead off with a murder immediately? Look forward to your thoughts.

[Valerie J. Patterson]

In my September 15th release Honor Thy Neighbor, I started the book with the heroine's recollection of a murder that ties in with the murder that drives the investigation. When my editor suggested I rewrite the first chapter, ditch the recollection and begin straight off with the first murder, I was unsure this would be good for the book. Two murders at the beginning seemed too violent to me, but I took her advice and rewrote my first chapter. Fans have written to tell me the book hooks them straight off from the first page. While I'm very pleased by this, I'm also curious as to whether or not they'd have had the same reaction with my original first chapter...

Whether you lead off with a murder or build up to it, I think it depends on how you want the plot to unfold and whether or not it's important that your readers get to know the victim prior to death or revealed slowly throughout the book after their death.

[Lisa Fernow]

My book takes place in the tango community, so I'd prefer to lead up slowly to the murder, as one would lead up slowly to a seduction. Thanks for your perspective, and hope your new release is going well.

[Beth Groundwater]

Hi Lisa,
I think you should have the murder occur in chapter 1 (especially if this is your first mystery manuscript that you're trying to get published), then flashback to the seduction that led up to it. That's exactly what I had to do to get a publishing contract for my cozy, A Real Basket Case. When I moved chapter 3 (with the murder) forward to be chapter 1, then flashed back to the setup in chapters 2 & 3 (the old chapters 1 & 2), I immediately started to get more attention from agents & editors and soon sold it.

[Lisa Fernow]

That's really interesting. I actually tried that first, but thought it read too much like a thriller. Not that that's bad!

[John Boundy]

Don't know if it helps Lisa, but I killed the first victim in my book, Justice is Coming, on the first page. Naturally, there are others later, but that was my inital "hook" for the reader to get things started with a bang if you will :o)

[Lisa Fernow]

Naturally! Love that. We're so bloodthirsty.