Why Does Crime Fiction Always Have to Be About Murder?

[Benjamin Sobieck]

Why does crime fiction always have to be about murder? Let's hear it for the defrauders out there. I'm on a fraud kick with my writing, so I sought out some reading to go with it.

 

I found I Should Have Seen it Coming by Victoria Watson to be a quick, satisfying read. It lays out in simple, straight-forward prose how to be a tarot card-reading con artist.

 

The main character, Carol, loses her job to outsourcing. She pays the bills by BS-ing her way through a job as a tarot card reader. Little by little, her effect on clients grows deeper. The money follows suit. But so does the risk. Will it catch up with her? Or is there a reason the title is, I Should Have Seen it Coming?

 

I Should Have Seen it Coming is available for the Kindle for 99 cents.

 

Click here to get it for the Nook.

 

This short story reminded me of this classic clip. I've been thinking about it, since it inspired my next novel.

 

[Jed Power]

I find the money motivated heavy crimes much more interesting than murder.  Armed robbery, extortion, drug dealing, big time bookmaking, major burglary, large scale confidence operations, bankster level fraud, etc., etc.   I try to use them whenever I can; murder only as an extension of one of them.  More fun.

[Benjamin Sobieck]

Right-o. Fraud can be just as damaging, too. You're not attacking the body. You're attacking the mind.