Which Title Would You Pick?

[Benjamin Sobieck]

You know nothing about these five books other than that they are in the crime section. Based only on their titles, which one would you pick?

Depends on the Wind
Murder Boom
The Invisible Hand
Red Gold
Blood Prairie

[Carol Carroll]

Visions of an Indian massacre came to mine when I read Blood Prairie. I like Depends on the Wind, what happens depending on the direction of the wind? :)

[Eric Christopherson]

Off topic, I suppose, but the best person I've ever seen at titles was Eugene O'Neill: Moon for the Misbegotten, Long Day's Journey into Night, Strange Interlude, Desire Under the Elms, The Iceman Cometh, Mourning Becomes Electra. Just creative as all get-out. (Oh and the plays, not bad either.)

[Benjamin Sobieck]

The Invisible Hand has been a popular one. The prairie reference would be appropriate since it's set on a prairie. But you wouldn't know that since only the titles are listed. Does that make a difference or do you still prefer The Invisible Hand?

[Jed Power]

"RED GOLD"

For me it's not even close.

[Debbie Bennett]

The Invisible Hand followed by Red Gold

[Brian Hoffman]

Slightly off topic.  I think a good title is one that points to the central issue of the story.  Like the cover, the title should be part of a coherent package.  I like the titles of James M. Cain:

The Postman Always Rings Twice

Mildred Pierce

Double Indemnity

[I. J. Parker]

I also like titles that fit content.  Have brought home too many books that I found out after the fact I'd already read.  The titles had nothing whatsoever to do with the story.

[Benjamin Sobieck]

Thanks for that insight, Stephen. The Invisible Hand is a popular one. It didn't remind you of market economic theory, did it?

[Caroline Trippe]

None of them. 

"The Invisible Hand" sounds like a  VIctorian ghost/horror story.

The others sound like Westerns. Except for "Murder Boom."  I don't think I'd read any book that had "Boom" in the title. :)  

[Tricia Fields]

You've probably already made your decision, but I like The Invisible Hand and Blood Prairie. I especially like Blood Prairie because it combines two words you wouldn't normally associate with each other. ---- I just read the rest of the responses below and saw that the story takes place on the prairie. Now I like it even more! I think it's a great title.

[Caroline Trippe]

 Everyone seems to like "Blood Prairie", but now that I think about it, it  sounds too much like Cormac McCarthy's novel, "Blood Meridian."   Which is a great title, of course, and more than appropriate for that particular book.   In fact, since I've just watched Ken Burns' documentary, "The West,"  I would think "Blood Prairie" was about that very subject. By the time the conquest of the West was over, the prairies were drenched in the blood of massacred Indians, buffalo,  settlers,  and cavalry.  So what could a mystery novel called "Blood Prairie" have to offer that would be more serious than that if it isn't a ripoff?