How NOT to write a detective story by Rob Lloyd Jones

 As part of the Wild Boy blog tour, I am pleased to welcome Rob Lloyd Jones on the blog today, to tell us how not to write a detective story.

There are always rules aren’t there? 

Everything we do, everywhere we go: rules, rules, rules. Don’t talk with your mouth full. Don’t run in the corridor. Never juggle raw eggs. We are bound by mean spirited, fun-sapping rules. 

What’s worse is that I’ve always been a bit of a stickler for them. I’d love to describe myself as a law breaking, risk taking rebellious spirit. But the fact is I break out in cold sweats whenever the speedometer nudges 75 on a motorway.

That’s why I love writing. Sometimes - when it’s going well - I feel like the Incredible Hulk, tearing free of his shackles and smashing enemy soldiers away with mighty sweeps of his arms.

Sort of, anyway.

Fiction offers us a world without rules, with infinite possibilities. We can do anything, go anywhere, behave however we like. 

But I had a problem. 

I wanted my first novel - Wild Boy - to be a mystery story. The hero is both a freak show performer and a master detective. There are murders, clues, red herrings and a masked killer lurking in a fairground. I wanted it to be melodramatic, over the top, in the style of classic detective stories of the 1920s and 1930s; the so-called Golden Age of detective fiction. 

And those stories had rules.

There are lists of these things; commandments that fans of the genre insist you must follow. I wont guide you to them because I dislike them, but they aren’t hard to find with a little Googling. Mainly they are based on a single original list, set down in the 1928 by the mystery writer Willard Huntington Wright, but they’ve been refined, lengthened and debated ever since. They state things like:  

No secret passages are allowed!

Secret societies have no place in a detective story!

You may not include any ciphers or code letters!

Avoid any scenes not directly linked to the central mystery of the plot! 

Of course, as soon as I read these rules, I thought: 

Oh. 

Really?

I mean, didn’t realize. 

I’ll stop telling this story immediately. 

I’ll have the rules tattooed behind my eyelids, so that each time I blink I am reminded of them. 

I understand why these rules exist. Classic detective tales are presented as puzzles - brain games rather than stories. And all games need rules to keep them fair. The players need to know that, if they get involved, they stand a chance of winning. 

Also, some of these books are brilliant. I adore John Dickson Carr’s intricately devised ‘impossible crimes’ - murders in locked rooms, knifed or strangled corpses discovered in snow or on muddy tennis courts with no footprints. 

They are gripping, and often superbly written. But I don’t recommend them as stories. They are not stories, not really. Because they are not about people. I suspect - although I don’t know this for sure - that their authors began with the crime and the clues, and wove their characters around it. Every good detective story needs a fiendishly baffling mystery to drive its plot. But too often in classic detective fiction, the plot is all that matters. 

I wanted to write about someone. I wanted to let him guide the story, and see where it took him. So I chose to ignore the rules, and I wrote my detective story exactly the wrong way, according to the list makers. The puzzling crimes do not just happen for Wild Boy to solve - they happen because of him, although he doesn’t know why. That is the mystery he must solve, using his incredible detective skills and a lot of help from his circus-star friend

Clarissa. 

Did it work? I’m not sure. Some people have said they guessed the killer before it’s revealed, while others were surprised. To be honest I’m happy either way - as long as they were moved by Wild Boy’s story, and not just turning the pages only to find out whodunit. 

And those rules I listed as examples above? I can happily report that I broke every one of them.

Wild Boy by Rob Lloyd Jones is published by Walker Books in April. To read a review, please click here.

To find out more about Rob Lloyd Jones:

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Wild Boy by Rob Lloyd Jones

The master glanced at the showman. “We keep him in here. On account of the fighting.”

“Fighting?”

“Because of how he looks.”

The door opened with a groan, and they stepped inside. The room was musty and dusty and stank
of damp. A ragged crow was perched in a narrow window, its eyes gleaming like black diamonds in
the candlelight. Beside the window, another animal was nested among a bundle of sacks.

No, not an animal. It was a boy.

Published by Walker Books on the 4th April

Amazon Summary

BEHOLD THE SAVAGE SPECTACLE OF THE WILD BOY! London, 1841. A boy covered in hair, raised as a monster, condemned to life in a travelling freak show. A boy with an extraordinary power of observation and detection. A boy accused of murder; on the run; hungry for the truth. Behold the savage spectacle of Wild Boy. Ladies and Gentlemen, take your seats. The show is about to begin!

Reviewed by Caroline Hodges

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I was really enthused to read Wild Boy from the synopsis; I love underdog stories, and Wild Boy isn’t just one of those, he looks like one too!

The book ticks all the boxes for me; historical setting, circus freaks and monstrosities, and a mighty
fair share of Sherlock Holmes style detective work. The story is fast paced and inventive, revolving
around Wild Boy, a child covered in hair who starts his early years in an orphanage, rejected and
bullied by the other children. He then gets picked up by the owner of a circus freak show and
though performing under the banner of “THE SAVAGE SPECTACLE OF THE WILD BOY!” entails further embarrassment and humiliation, it allows him to engage in his favourite thing; watching
other people.

And so we discover the first hint of Sherlock Holmes in Wild Boy, his ability to ‘read’ a person just
by looking. But sadly, though ultimately his talent will lead him to salvation, his curiosity is also
the cause of his trials and tribulations throughout the book. As he is accused of a murder he didn’t
commit, we follow him on the run from the law and through fabulously described Victorian London.
Grime, smoke and sewers conspire against Wild Boy as much as the irate ‘coppers’ and though I
think if any of those policemen had a hint of good sense, they would have realised that no killer in
their right mind writes their name above the dead body, it’s sometimes fun to suspend disbelief and
just go with it.

I loved that the novel wasn’t clean cut; not only is the murderer not purely evil, but Wild Boy himself
is not wholeheartedly good either. He is subject to temptation and there are several instances
where he lashes out at the few friends he has. But his back story and the situations he finds himself
in ensure he is still a likeable character. Heroine Clarissa is a worthy “Watson” to Wild Boy, though I
would have liked to see her doing a bit more of the rescuing, less of this damsel in distress rubbish!

Though I guessed who the murderer was fairly early on, I’m not sure it was particularly obvious and
for those that don’t guess, the journey will be an exceedingly fun one.

An engaging tale unlike anything else out there at the moment.

The Big Break with Sharon Gosling

To celebrate the publication of the first book from the new publisher Curious Fox, I am really pleased to welcome debut author Sharon Gosling onto the blog to discuss her writing journey to publication of The Diamond Thief which is published today! *throws glitter at Sharon to celebrate*

I would love to know a little about your writing journey. What did you do before writing books?

I’m really lucky in that I’ve always made my living from writing in some form. I always knew I wanted to be an author, but I also knew I had to be able to support myself while I tried to make that happen. So while I was still at school I started doing interviews and articles for a local magazine. Then I started writing book and TV reviews for a national magazine. I did that all through university and when I left, the same company took me on as a staff writer. A couple of years later they gave me a couple of magazines to edit, and then I started writing non-fiction books about TV shows for them. About seven years ago I went freelance to try and pursue my fiction properly, and for a while I worked as a producer, writer and director on some audio drama series, which taught me a lot about dialogue and structure, and I was lucky enough to work on a couple of things for Random House that also gave me valuable experience. Now, in between writing, I also work as a sub-editor on various magazines like heat, Closer, Look and more!. 

Your debut book, The Diamond Thief, is about to be published. How are you feeling right now? 

It’s both exciting and nerve-wracking, to be honest. I’m far more excited about seeing this on shelves than any of the other books I’ve written, because it’s actually ‘mine’, but I’m also nervous. This is

what I’ve wanted to do for so long… but what if it turns out I’m no good at it and people don’t like the book? Terrifying!

Can you tell us a little bit about the book for my readers who have yet to set eyes on it?

It’s set in Victorian London and tells the story of Rémy Brunel, a French circus performer who also happens to be the world’s best gem thief. She’s brought to London by her evil master to steal a huge diamond, but runs up against a determined young detective called Thaddeus Rec. Together they discover dastardly deeds going in the city’s East End.

Where did you get your inspiration from for it?

I actually first began working on the idea as a plot of an adult science fiction novel that was different in almost every respect apart from the fact that it was set in London’s East End. Rémy slowly morphed into a younger character, and the setting became Victorian London. The key came when I realised that a circus would be the perfect place for Rémy to have learned and developed her skills. And I loved the idea of a gem thief and a young detective having to find some way to help each other despite their natural antipathy. Opposites, as they say, attract.

How long did it take you to write?

It took 11 weeks. I know that, because it was originally written as a choose-your-own adventure ebook for a great company called Fiction Express. The idea was that each week, I would write a chapter which would be posted on line for people to read. At the end of each chapter, there would be three choices of where the plot could go in the next chapter for readers could vote on. Then I’d go away and write the next chapter according to what they had chosen. For me, it was hard work but brilliant, because it meant that I had deadlines. I’ve worked to deadlines my whole life, but without them I struggle to ever finish anything. This way I didn’t have a choice! Were there times when you felt that it would never get published? If so, how did you work your way through them? To be honest, I never really expected the book to be picked up for print. For me, the writing of the book for Fiction Express was a massive learning curve, and a personal boost in itself because I actually had achieved what I’d always wanted to do, albeit in ebook form. So I kind of forgot about the possibility that it might somehow turn into a physical book until I got an email telling me that Curious Fox were interested in taking it on.

Were you given any good writing advice that you would like to share with my readers?

“Write tight” is always a good thing to remember. Less is always more. Also, I always say that you must write every day. It doesn’t matter what it is or even how much - some days you’ll only manage a sentence. But make it a habit, and don’t break it. It’s also good to remember that even if you only have time to write 200 words a day, if you do that every day for a year, you’ll have a pretty chunky manuscript at the end of it. Easier said than done, I know! 

What was your first reaction when you found out your book was to be published?

I think it was probably an email to my husband with the words ‘Squee!’ included in it somewhere!

Did you find it easy to get an agent?

I actually don’t have an agent, and never have done. I really should actively try to get one. I find the idea of the approaches daunting, though. It’s been said before that it’s harder to get an agent than it is to get a publisher, and I guess I’m proof of that.

How long did was it between the initial deal and publishing day?

Between Curious Fox taking an interest and publishing day was I guess about a year, perhaps a little more. 

What are you working on at the moment?

Curious Fox are interested in a sequel to The Diamond Thief, so I’m working on a synopsis for that at the moment. Fingers crossed I can come up with something they like! I’m also working on two graphic novels, which is a bit of a departure for me, but I’m really enjoying it. 

Who is the one person that cheered you on and supported you through your writing?

My husband, Adam. He encourages me to write every day - he even told me I should when we were on honeymoon. About four years ago, he found a novel I’d written online, formatted it and got it printed, to prove to me that I could do (and indeed had already done) it. He’s also the person who told me I should pitch Rémy to Fiction Express in the first place. He’s brilliant, and I don’t deserve him.

What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?

Perseverance is the key. It’s hard to retain faith in your ability when writing is an essentially lonely occupation, but just keep going. Every writer in the world hits the writer’s equivalent of the runner’s ‘wall’ at some point - that moment when you stare at what you’ve written and become disheartened and demoralised and wonder why you’re bothering. Published writers are generally the ones with enough experience to recognise that it’s just part of the process. You can write through it. Remember that if you’ve got something finished, it’s always going to be there. You can always go back and rework it. Just keep going!

The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling goes on sale today! I will be reviewing it in the next few days.

Book Summary

No one performs on the circus trapeze like sixteen-year-old Remy Brunel. But Remy also leads another life, prowling through the back streets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. Forced by the evil circus owner Gustave to attempt the theft of one of the world's most valuable diamonds, she discovers an underworld of treachery and fiendish plots.

Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Remy that he needs to save?

 

To find out more about Sharon Gosling:

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Pantomime by Laura Lam

Image from Goodreads

Pages 392

Published by Strange Chemistry on 5th February 2013

'Well, boy,' the ringmaster said.'What can you do?'

I swallowed. The clown who had found me eavesdropping tightened his grip on my shirt. 

'Pardon?' I asked. 

He chuckled.'don't tell me you're simple. What can you do? Are you a fire-eater? An acrobat? A freak?'

Goodreads Summary

R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.

But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

*********

This book is a gift wrapped mystery. The more you delve into the layers, the more surprises you discover. To the point, where on finishing the book, I just sat back feeling quite blown away. At first I was convinced I was reading a book to rival Night Circus, but this book is far too unique to be compared to any other. It is set in a circus, but one reminiscent of the grand circuses of the past, adding a hint of Water for Elephants to the flavour of it.

Circus life is hard and the author expresses that so well through her words. Even though the circus is set in a fantasy world reminiscent of our Victorian era, yet I believe it is set in the future, due to the magical qualities of certain coveted artifacts. It could almost be steam punk, but something I can't put my finger on stops me from labelling it that. 

This book contains a whopping secret that makes it really difficult to review. A secret that is not obvious at all until you trip over it, and yet on flicking back through the pages hints were there, I just didn't see them.

The characters are quirky, yet vibrant, each setting fire to the page as the somersaulted through the book.

Micah will astound you and grab your heart from the start. I don't think I have met a character so complex and unique as Micah. The relationship between Micah, Aenea and Drystan is extremely absorbing and very well written. Through the progression of time, you find yourself drawn into their lives in the circus as they revolve and circle each other through different situations.

At times the story leaves you breathless, as the plot twirls you through the air at top speed. Other times you are able to stand back and reflect on everything that occurs. 

Even though this book is high fantasy, it does deal with some strong themes. Sexuality and relationships play  huge part as the story unravels. 

This truly is an  awe inspiring read, that left me breathless and desperate for more.   A unique reading experience from a very talented debut author.