Ideas for Titles

[Jessica]

Hey guys,

I just finished the first draft of a novel :) and I need a little help with the title. My working title so far has been Dare to Make a Difference, because that is the phrase that inspired my initial premise, but now I think about it and read over what I've written, it just doesn't strike the right note.

It's in the hard-boiled private eye genre. The story is that a female PI in her early 30's has been pulled out of retirement (she quit private investigation after her twin sister killed herself) to investigate a mob murder. The victim is a six year old girl who was killed in a drive-by while shopping with her mother. Her father is a local crime boss who deals in porn. The main suspect is a rival mobster who is trying to take his business.

The PI, Robin, is a genius when it comes to solving puzzles. She doesn't really see the point in catching killers, because in the end the victim is still a victim no matter how many people go to jail for it. But she's bloody good at figuring out the nuts and bolts of cases. She has an eye for detail and an obsession with 'collecting puzzle pieces' to see the whole picture. It's the sense of achievement she gets from working out who did it that she loves. But she became an alcoholic after her sister killed herself, and doesn't really feel like solving puzzles anymore. She's dragged back in by a friend who works homicide. He retained her as a consultant so he could keep an eye on her.

So, any ideas? Something short and snappy maybe? I've just used up all my creativity on writing the damn thing and now my brain won’t do what I want it to...

[Denis OLeary]

The first thought that came to mind was Short Leash. It's blunt and to the point, impersonal, and implies she is controlled by the friend in homicide squad.
If I think of any more I'll come back here.

[I. J. Parker]

Murder of the Innocent?
A Child's Death?

[Pate Grantwell]

I don't know if this suggestion is solemn enough, but I thought I'd throw it in: NO REST FOR THE GIFTED.

I thought it might be suitable since the story describes Robin as a "genius when it comes to solving puzzles," and because she seems to desire a respite from investigative work.

[Cynthia Rice]

Jessica

I may have learned of this "Title Scoring" website from one of the Crimespace.ning members. Try it out for fun. "Short Leash" scores fairly high. " Dare To Make a Difference" sounds like it belongs in the self-help area of the bookstore. Good luck.

http://www.lulu.com/titlescorer/

[Jessica]

This is really good!

[D.R. MacMaster]

The title of a novel I have under review at a publisher got a 72% best-seller score!

I wonder how I can tell them that? ;)

[John Dishon]

Picking Up the Pieces

[Jude Hardin]

Is this the first in a planned series? If so, maybe a bird motif since the protag's name is Robin.

Broken Wing was the first one that popped into my mind.

[Jessica]

Yeah, it is the first in a series. I like your idea

[Anne Frasier]

have no idea why this popped into my head:
Girls in White Dresses

[Cormac Brown]

"Sudoku Sue?"

Naw, I'm sure "The Devil Is In The Details" is already taken, but I'm going to suggest that.

[I. J. Parker]

Hmm. I like this. It has a certain gory appeal.