Crime Fiction: Contests with Morality

Interview: Merry Jones, Author of newly released thriller, Child's Play

Merry Jones

Merry Jones shares her thoughts on readers' expectations of plot and character in crime novels.

CQ: You’ve said that all of your novels, including the Zoe Hayes mysteries and Harper Jennings suspense novels, deal with inter-personal relationships, particularly their unanticipated aspects. Do you think those unanticipated aspects of relationships is what keeps readers coming back to these genres?

MJ: Only in part. Although my characters’ relationships go through unanticipated adjustments and phases, I think that the primary “unanticipated” thing that draws readers to mystery and thrillers doesn’t concern relationships. I think people come back to read about “unanticipated” contests with mortality.

These genres allow readers to face danger, threats, crime and death vicariously, and to survive. To me, the books reflect the reality that we humans never know what’s going to come at us or when. All we know is that something unexpected will come at us sometime. Readers follow the protagonist in the struggle against forces that threaten their relationships and/or survival. When the protagonist ultimately triumphs, I hope they share her sense of victory.

CQ: You are an extremely versatile writer. Your newest novel Child’s Play released this January is a thriller. What made you decide to move into yet another genre?

MJ: Well, it’s not really another genre. Thriller, suspense novels and mysteries have come to overlap. At one time, “thriller” applied to books about bigger crimes in broader worlds, like international spy stories. But lately, I suspect publishers might use the tag that they think will attract the most readers. The term “thriller” has become especially vague, encompassing books that may take place in a small arena, but are especially dark and chilling.

CHILD’S PLAY can be called a thriller, dark mystery or suspense novel. But its main characters are not spies, police or private detectives. They are mostly school teachers and students. I’m not sure when the labels got blurred between these related genres, but they did.

CQ: What do you think readers expect from each of these genres, mystery, suspense and thriller?

MJ: I think readers expect tensions to mount and their heart rates to quicken. These genres are all dark. They lead readers to face the underside of human nature and to confront drives/ambitions/choices/actions that society doesn’t tolerate. Antagonists or villains aren’t evil, per se. They are as human as the protagonists, but they’ve made choices that are incompatible with society and with the protagonist’s values. Seeing the “acceptable” overcome the “unacceptable” reinforces readers’ sense of stability. In a way, the books in these genres are like morality plays.

Also, as I said, the books help us face mortality. When the protagonist encounters death but survives, readers do, too, vicariously.

CQ: Who and what has most influenced your writing? Any influential authors?

MJ: Mostly my family and elementary school teachers. But also authors Sue Miller. Joy Fielding. Susan Isaacs.

CQ: When you’re not writing what do you enjoy doing?

MJ: My favorite thing is to be with family. But also I love sculling. Weather permitting, I’m on the river rowing my shell. Also, I do a bunch of writing-related stuff. I co-host a Liars Club Writers Coffeehouse, participate in a podcast, speak on panels or appear at conferences, etc.

CQ: What books are you reading?

MJ: Commonwealth by Ann Patchett and The Whistler by John Grisham.

CQ: Any new projects in the works that you can share with readers?

MJ: I’m trying to stretch and actually write something that isn’t a thriller/mystery/suspense novel, but that retains their dark flavor. I’m accustomed to the fast pace and grittiness of the thriller/mystery genres. So I’m trying to alter the pace and move more slowly, dig deeper. It’s a challenge. And it’s fun.

Thanks for asking me to your blog, Chris!



http://www.merryjones.com/
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