tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post7246646680919538499..comments2024-03-29T11:29:56.764-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: True Crime Tuesday: The Randomness of it AllJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68642910019663830842011-02-22T16:15:37.559-05:002011-02-22T16:15:37.559-05:00Julia-
How lovely to see you here! So glad you dec...Julia-<br />How lovely to see you here! So glad you decided to join the charming and interesting band at Jungle Red. <br /><br />As a huge control freak, I definitely can't stand the idea of a random murder happening to me or someone I love. It sometimes helps to think about how small our chances are to have something so horrible happen to us--but not always. And you're right, randomness just wouldn't work in traditional mysteries.Meredith Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00694011653129019961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83368650791170856792011-02-22T16:05:42.385-05:002011-02-22T16:05:42.385-05:00Hank, I think it would be wonderful if you could a...Hank, I think it would be wonderful if you could ask the authors for a visit. I thought <i>Judgment Ridge</i> was one of the best true crime books I've ever read--especially since they had the challenge of presenting a senseless, motiveless crime in a logical and suspenseful way.<br /><br />I have a theory that we deal with random crime in fiction through the slasher/serial killer genre. But I'll save that for another True Crime Friday!Julia Spencer-Fleminghttp://www.juliaspencerfleming.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7521122844132846252011-02-22T14:52:13.154-05:002011-02-22T14:52:13.154-05:00Reading this, I realized that in my mind I differe...Reading this, I realized that in my mind I differentiate between somebody being 'murdered' and somebody being 'killed'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45557936295975102822011-02-22T14:22:13.788-05:002011-02-22T14:22:13.788-05:00You are so right, Silver. And, as you say, it'...You are so right, Silver. And, as you say, it's an illusion.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-12783982450212974232011-02-22T13:43:03.887-05:002011-02-22T13:43:03.887-05:00I think that may be why people read mysteries. We ...I think that may be why people read mysteries. We watch the news and realize random violence is all around us. A well-crafted mystery lets us pretend for awhile that murderers have a reason for their crimes--and that we will never be victims.Silver Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15606837105470988646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58638795569000744992011-02-22T13:29:17.284-05:002011-02-22T13:29:17.284-05:00Julia,
i LOVED Judgement Ridge - it was a terrific...Julia,<br />i LOVED Judgement Ridge - it was a terrific book. And yes, it makes you think... especially the part where these kids tried another house first. <br /><br />A whole lot of readers love serial killer books - and pretty much all serial killers attack randomly. But I'm not sure those are the same readers of mysteries.Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68178099495970136692011-02-22T13:11:50.061-05:002011-02-22T13:11:50.061-05:00There's news today that a couple sailing aroun...There's news today that a couple sailing around the world and captured by pirates have been murdered. Horrifying, random. It's a combination that makes us all feel so powerless.<br /><br />On random events in a mystery novel - I remember reading one where a woman is standing in a parking lot and a car drives by and shoots the woman standing next to her dead. I stopped reading. TOO random... I guess because the character/bystander is the series sleuth. Crimes she gets involved in have to meet a higher standard of credibilityHallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23842630628916071142011-02-22T11:39:09.772-05:002011-02-22T11:39:09.772-05:00This is so true, Julia.
Most true crimes are rando...This is so true, Julia.<br />Most true crimes are random, mindless, petty, sordid.<br /><br />We work hard to create fascinating villains, competting motives and crimes that stump the police.<br /><br />A local homicide detective said that they solve most murders--they are such simple crimes--husband bashes wife, gang member shoots rival gang member, youth shoots convenience store clerk. No glamor about them.<br />That's why people read our books!Rhys Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663634889908752121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7162032739406847002011-02-22T11:00:10.313-05:002011-02-22T11:00:10.313-05:00Julia, I think about his EVERY DAY. The randomness...Julia, I think about his EVERY DAY. The randomness. What if I cross the street now? What if I hurry and make the light--or don't? Ah. If you think about it too much, it's so overwhelming.<br /><br />Mitch and Dick are pals of mine--they're both terrific, personally, and quite devoted journalists. Maybe we should invite them to visit JR! They'll be thrilled that you like their book. <br /><br />And Roberta, that's the thing too. The randomness of real life doesn't work at all in a mystery novel. (I saw the same old friend in the grocery store for the first time in ages about a month ago, then he was also there the very next time I shopped. And then--never again. It really happened. But in a mystery? No way.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-24334303248104364582011-02-22T07:50:18.483-05:002011-02-22T07:50:18.483-05:00Julia, I remember reading about those murders with...Julia, I remember reading about those murders with absolute horror. Terrifying to think of people in the world who simply don't value the life of other humans...<br /><br />I don't know about readers of mystery fiction, but I suspect randomness would not make it past our editors!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.com