I realize this is totally subjective, and no opinion is more valid than another, but here goes:

— I'm sick of Florida.
— I'm sick of New Orleans.
— I'm sick of New York City.
— I'm sick of England.
— I'm sick of Scandinavia, much sooner than I expected.
— I'm not quite burned out on L.A., but I see the day coming.
— I'm sick of quaint villages populated by white people only.

— I like the Pacific Northwest.
— I like the West.
— I like small cities with realistic ethnic diversity and realistic problems.
— I like underused locations. How often do you read about mysteries set in Kansas City? Or Dallas? Or Cleveland? Or the Carolinas?

Sub-questions: Where are you from? What informs your taste in settings? Will you ignore an otherwise recommended book if you don't care for the setting?
 

Views: 806

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Christopher -- Might I ask if you've spent any time in South America? If so, I'd like to run a couple of questions by you... MK
You should have written a line that said, "He started his car, backed it out of his driveway into Austria, and pulled forward alongside his Switzerland mailbox."

I once wrote a short story set in Lichtenstein, because I hadn't seen it done before. However, I wasn't happy with it, because I wasn't able to work in a scene where someone says: "I'll take this straight to the Prince himself!" and then yells "Hey Prince!" out the window to a guy in the backyard.


LOfuckingL!!!
I don't know that I'm super particular about where the books I read are set, as long as the story is good.

As to where I've set my books, so far it's been Ireland, Italy, Argentina, Australia, and a very brief stint in Arizona. The current wip is set in England. I don't think I'd try to set one where I live, though. Joan Hess already has this area covered pretty well in her two series.
Living in the west (Colorado), I like book settings in the west, such as C.J. Box's and Margaret Coel's series set in Wyoming. My own two series are set in Colorado, with the Claire Hanover gift basket designer books happening in Colorado Springs and Breckenridge so far and the upcoming Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventure series books taking place in Chaffee County (Salida), Colorado.
I've 'borrowed' an idea from Ed McBain. I've created a city and never mention the name. I give a general reference of it being somewhere west of the Mississippi. But no more. And it is a very large city. Yet the 'feel' of the city is definitely NOT NYC or 'Nawlins.' And I think it works.

I agree with what others have said that readers want something that captures their interest. A good story. Setting, although important, is not the 'make me or break me' decision to buy or not buy a book.
BR,
Your setting works well. Reminds me of Hill Street Blues, where I'm sure a number of people see their city in it, whether that's the one you had in mind, or not.
Exactly, Dana.
Where are you from? What informs your taste in settings? Will you ignore an otherwise recommended book if you don't care for the setting?

A reader weighs in. I gerw up in rural Pennsylvania; now I live in North Carolina (The Triangle). I've travelled a fair amount. What informs my taste in settings? Well, I enjoy reading books set in cities or countries I've visited, but for me the quality of writing DOES matter, very much, and I believe that a good writer can make any setting interesting. So no, I would not ignore a book based only upon its setting. I never tire of London or New York, but it is refreshing to know that there is crime everywhere. :) Who was it wanted to see books set in the Carolinas? (Margaret Maron of Raleigh sets some of hers in NC, I think).
Anyway, wife murder is practically the state hobby in NC. Every other day, it seems, there's something on the news about a woman murdered by her husband or boyfriend. Unfortunately, since it's always the husband or boyfriend, the big mystery is generally not WHO but WHY. (Either jealousy or money). Would I read a mystery set in my home state or my home town? Well, it may not have the "cachet " of New York, London or Paris...but it would do.
Even more than "new" and "unusual" settings, I want interesting and complex characters in the books I read. Economical writing, strong suspense---which is usually generated by character. Setting is important, but it's still kind of the "icing on the cake." :)
I have set two of my unpublished Diana Andrews novels in rainforest of the Big Island of Hawaii, and I'm now working on a spinoff about a Hawaii County Police detective. The rainforest is not the Hawaii that most people think of. It's full of marijuana growers, survivalists, and aging 60s burnouts living off the grid. Law enforcement is sparse, with about 400 Hawaii County officers policing an island the size of Connecticut. It's a great noir setting, and I don't know of anyone who has used it.

If I'm wrong about that, I'd appreciate a heads-up. Anyone?
Albert, considering the upcoming reframe of Hawii 5-0 on television, I'll wager you're ahead of a big popularity curve.
Wouldn't it be cool not to bring up the rear as usual :-)

RSS

CrimeSpace Google Search

© 2024   Created by Daniel Hatadi.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service