I began reading "Mastering the Process: From Idea to Novel" because it was one
of the textbooks of FICT 161 W - Mystery and Thriller Workshop: Misdirection,
Mayhem, and More (I found it by accident at a university Website). I decided
to read first "Careless in Red," by the same author Elizabeth George, the moment
I read that it was used in the above book as an example.
In sumary, Jon Parsons's brat son, after a party, was "sorted out," left in a
cove, caught by the incoming tide, and died. The police found no evidence
against anyone in particular. But Jon pinned it on one youth, Ben. After
wrecking the rest of his own life trying in vain to prove Ben guilty, he settled
the score by murdering Ben's 18-year-old boy, 20 years later. The way he did it
resembled the previous case: plenty of suspects, no evidence, and he walked away
free.
The story evolves around the lives of dozens of characters. Their own personal
tales, while interesting, slowed down progress. In addition, a lot of ink is
spent on sketching places. In the end, 600+ pages lead to no arrest. I would
have cut passages of red herrings and maybe even characters but again, the
author might get paid by the number of words.
As an English language buff, I enjoyed the idiomatic narration throughout the novel. I
was delighted to meet many expressions I learned from the past year and among
which are "Chickens come home to roost," "die with one's boots on," "All come
out in the wash," and "by hook or by crook," to list a few. This means I have
been on the right track.
I was acquainted with Cornwall, where it all happened, through popular British
dramas such as Doc Martin and Foyle's War. But I knew nothing about surfing or
rock-climbing. The author, I learned, read books, staked the area out, popped in
surf-shops, and called on police stations to glean the knowledge required. The
"Mastering" book sure will show me more on how it is done.
