Murder in the Ballroom: The Puzzle of Shape-Defining Characters (Colonel Mustard Included)
In the world of mystery novels, the choice of setting is more than just a backdrop; it's a key element that can enhance the story and amplify tension. This is a principle that renowned author and editor, Michelle Barker, strongly advocates.
Michelle Barker, an award-winning author and editor, holds an MFA in creative writing from UBC and is a senior editor at The Darling Axe. Her works, spanning fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, have appeared in literary reviews worldwide. In her books, such as "My Long List of Impossible Things," which came out in 2020, and "The House of One Thousand Eyes," she masterfully uses setting to shape plot and immerses readers in the story.
One of the most iconic examples of a carefully chosen setting in a mystery novel is Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," where a closed-circle mystery unfolds on Soldier Island. Christie brilliantly uses weather to isolate the island, making it a perfect crime scene. Similarly, in "Murder on the Orient Express," another Christie masterpiece, the crime takes place on a stalled train, trapping the characters and the reader in a web of suspense.
However, the setting doesn't always have to be confined. In Patricia Cornwell's "Postmortem," the story unfolds in an open system, with a serial killer at large in Richmond, Virginia. The hot summer evenings make people more likely to leave windows open, adding an extra layer of tension to the story.
Incongruity in the setting can also work in favor of the story, as long as it is recognized and used effectively. For instance, noir mysteries, with their gritty urban settings, often feature corruption and distrust, while cozy mysteries, more likely to take place in a quaint village or small town, offer a stark contrast.
Authors looking to harness the power of setting can find guidance in resources like "The Rural Setting Thesaurus" and "The Urban Setting Thesaurus." These books can help immersing readers in the story, adding depth and mood, generating realistic conflict, and utilizing figurative language for powerful, layered descriptions.
While a search for authors who have set mysteries in a completely closed subway train route didn't yield specific results, it's clear that the potential for using setting creatively in mystery novels is vast and exciting. As readers, we eagerly anticipate the next masterpiece that will showcase the art of setting in a mystery novel.
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