Death by.....

I've discovered since writing the Shandra Higheagle Mystery series that I try to find a way to kill someone with everything I see or come across. I'll read something and wonder, "Could a plant that is lethal to a chicken also be lethal to a human? If so, how would I go about using this information to kill someone?

My mind goes on all sorts of strange tangents when I get excited about a way that would be a different type of death. Most of my murder victims in my series have had not too unusual deaths, but I keep looking for one that would make a great story for my series.

I was watching Midsome Murders the other night and they had a victim who was struck in the head, knocking him out, and then put under a car lift and crushed. While it made me sick to my stomach thinking about it, I started wondering what other types of things could a murderer use to make it look like an accident? ?What other devices are in businesses or even homes and farms that could easily be an accident and not a murder?

I came up with several that I jotted down. No, I won't give them away here, because I want to use them in future books. ;)

Writing a mystery book takes more thought than writing a romance. Keeping the clues popping up without actually giving away the real killer is a problem. Then there's making sure there are red herrings to keep the reader occupied on someone else while you are showing the real killer.

This week I've contacted a police officer to get information on the correct wording for legal processes and I've contacted a Medical Examiner to make sure I have the right wording for the death and the correct marks on the victim for the "accident" that is really a murder.

While some consider writing a book hard work. I consider the first draft with the surprises at every scene and the characters actions fun. I enjoy the plotting, writing, and discovery.