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| Sandra Nikolai, Author FALSE IMPRESSIONS FATAL WHISPERS TIMELY ESCAPE |
Sandra Nikolai writes mysteries described by reviewers as “urbane,
witty and enjoyable” and “action-packed…with characters who grow as they come
to grips with what is happening.” She’s published more than a dozen on-line or
printed short stories and two novels (FALSE IMPRESSIONS and FATAL WHISPERS) and a short story (TIMELY ESCAPE) featuring Megan Scott and
Michael Elliott as a romantic pair solving crimes.
A mystery reader since her first Nancy Drew story, Nikolai experienced
true crime in real life facing a series of armed bank robberies
while working at a bank. Both influenced her to write her own stories.
In the following article, published earlier on this blog, Nikolai
outlines the elements of a good mystery.
What Makes a Mystery?
By
Sandra Nikolai
Fans
of the genre will agree that nothing beats the thrill of reading a mystery and
trying to solve it.
But
what exactly makes a mystery?
To
put a spin on what Sherlock Holmes might have said, “The elements must come
together, my dear Watson.”
In a
mystery, the
plot is the element that weaves events together to create a dramatic and
engaging story. The
solution to a murder or another crime is gradually revealed by a detective or
amateur sleuth through the logical interpretation of evidence and a bit of
luck. A mystery is similar to a
jigsaw puzzle in that all the pieces of information, or clues, needed to solve
the mystery are presented. These clues connect so that the solution or true
picture reveals itself by the end of the story.
To
continue with the analogy, a piece of a jigsaw puzzle might look as if it
connects to another at first glance but then doesn’t, as with certain clues
scattered throughout a mystery novel. Clues that mislead, or red herrings, are
the ultimate challenge to readers of whodunits. Red herrings raise doubts about
characters linked to the victim and expose them as potential suspects, making
it harder to determine which one is the real perpetrator.
The
investigator is the protagonist or main character, the element with which we
form a “human” connection from the onset. Secrecy and danger surround the
crime, so it’s normal to fear for the safety of the investigator who gets
pulled into the case. If the investigator’s private life is affected by the
incident, it can bring into play inner struggles with personal issues and
generate more conflict—a situation that keeps us turning the pages.
Suspense
is intensified when an amateur sleuth plays the role of investigator because we
identify more easily with a protagonist who is inexperienced in solving crimes.
Feelings of surprise and fear are heightened each time our hero or heroine
experiences a setback or encounters danger. Regardless, we cheer them on,
knowing that the end of their journey will bring worthwhile results. Family,
friends, and other secondary characters complete the protagonist’s life with
their comments, emotions, and actions, and add a realistic feel to the
unfolding story.
The
perpetrator is the character we love to hate. However, no one is one hundred
percent evil, so he or she needs at least one redeeming quality. He might be a
family man who takes his kids to baseball games or a part-time volunteer at a
hospital. She might be a reliable employee at the office or someone who helps
an elderly neighbor with the groceries. A pleasant characteristic in a criminal
generates surprise—even horror—when the real perpetrator is exposed. Who?
The butler?
No
mystery is complete without the element of setting. Forget the “dark and stormy
night.” Nothing is more shocking than finding out that your neighbor down the
street is a serial killer or that a young woman in the hotel room next to yours
was murdered the night before. Extraordinary events that happen to ordinary
people in everyday places incite more terror because we can’t possibly imagine
such terrible things happening in our little corner of the world.
Whether
real or imaginary, the setting adds visual layers to a story by zooming in on
small locales, such as a room, and zooming out of larger places, for example, a
city landscape. The setting can include a period in time, local news events,
the weather, the culture of the population, and natural disasters. These
aspects also affect how a character feels and reacts, and intensifies the mood
of the story.
Like
the pieces of a puzzle, the elements that make a mystery can vary in countless
ways. What’s important is that they all fall into place at the end.
About Sandra
Nikolai
Sandra
Nikolai has published more than a dozen short
stories online and in print, garnering Honorable Mentions along the way. She is also the
author of a mystery series featuring ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative
reporter Michael Elliott. FALSE IMPRESSIONS and FATAL WHISPERS are the first
two books in the series.
When
Sandra isn’t weaving ordinary characters into
extraordinary, life-threatening situations, she shares her writing experiences
on her blog and has been a frequent guest writer on other blogs. She has
recently published TIMELY ESCAPE, a short story and prequel to ICY SILENCE, the
third novel in her mystery series (expected publication: 2015).
About FATAL WHISPERS
A millionaire’s beautiful young wife.
A homeless woman.
A parish priest.
Three baffling deaths within days. No sign of
foul play. No police leads. Even medical authorities can’t explain the cause of
death. An unprecedented occurrence in Portland, Maine.
Megan Scott and Michael Elliott look for answers
when their trip to this alluring New England town coincides with the mysterious
deaths. As they probe deeper, they discover ominous secrets buried decades ago
and ruthless killers who won’t let anyone get in the way of revenge.
About TIMELY ESCAPE (a short story)
Megan
Scott’s car takes a hit—literally—when a pedestrian is shoved onto the hood.
Even worse, the man is one of two notorious prison escapees on the loose in
Montreal. Megan chases the felon through the Old Port, convinced that her
photographic evidence will lead to his capture.
Just
as the escapee disappears aboard a yacht in the marina, another man forces
Megan aboard the same yacht at knifepoint. Gagged, tied, and terrified, she
witnesses a murder.
Will
she be next?
About FALSE IMPRESSIONS
Montreal
ghostwriter Megan Scott falls under police suspicion when her husband and a
female friend are found murdered. In what a Québec detective calls a crime of
passion, startling evidence surfaces to implicate Michael Elliott, a young
investigative reporter who’d rather rub elbows with scumbags than live the posh
lifestyle he inherited.
Clutched
out of her comfort zone, Megan is flung into Michael’s dark world of criminal
investigation. As they make a last-ditch attempt to prove their innocence, an
elusive enemy closes in and threatens their lives. Who wants them out of the way and
why?
Their
only path to freedom is to catch the twisted killer before they become the next
victims. But
not knowing who to trust or where to turn can have consequences that are just
as lethal…
Links
To
learn more about Sandra and upcoming events, visit her website at http://sandranikolai.com
For
links to Sandra’s books, visit her Amazon page here
or visit other major online retailer sites.
How to contact
Sandra:
Twitter:
@SandraNikolai
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