Debra H. Goldstein: Balancing Humor in Murder Mysteries

Blood, gore, sex, violence, shady characters, and, of course, a dead body, are givens for murder mysteries – except when the mystery is a cozy. Then, the blood, sex, gore, and violence are left off the page. Instead, the plot and characters must be complex enough to engage the reader in wanting to know whodunit and it helps to add a bit of humor.

Usually, a cozy mystery involves a small town or confined setting, an amateur sleuth, quirky sidekick characters, a job or interest that is craft or cooking/baking related, a cat or occasionally a dog, and the aforementioned lack of blood, gore, sex, and violence on the page. Unlike the building sense of tension in suspense or thrillers, humor is used as a means of easing the reader from high pitched moments. It also often helps readers identify the characters.

 

When one thinks of humor, one thinks funny; however, in a cozy mystery rather than being an “ha, ha” moment, the humor may come across softly from the way a character uses a phrase, dresses, gives another character “that look,” or behaves. In my Sarah Blair books, I incorporate humor in several diverse ways.

 

Sarah Blair is not an expert at cooking, baking, or crafts. She is a woman who is more frightened of the kitchen than she is of murder. When pressed to prepare a recipe (something all cozy mysteries must include), she uses premade ingredients. In One Taste Too Many, the first in the series, Sarah prepares Jell-O in a Can from Jell-O and Dole pineapple rings. Even though the end product is quite nice to look at, the name and concept of the recipe provokes a chuckle.

In newly released Five Belles Too Many, the craziness that occurs behind the scenes of a reality TV show, where contestants are vying to win the perfect Southern Wedding, provides a framework for laughable moments. Because the show’s taping is being done in Alabama, Southern stereotypes are a basis for various aspects of humor.

 

The characters create the first dimension of humor. Of the five finalist couples, two represent the famous football rivalry between the University of Alabama and Auburn University; one matches the stereotypical thoughts often expressed about the South (think Jethro and Elly Mae from The Beverly Hillbillies); one, simply to mix up expectations, is humorous because they want a Day of the Dead wedding; and, the final couple, Sarah’s mother, Maybelle, and her beau, George, represent those over sixty who are unfiltered but wise. Maybelle’s observations and understanding of why George and she are finalists create several outright and occasionally bittersweet instances of humor.

 

The idea that Sarah, who is twenty-eight, must be her mother’s chaperone twists the expected dynamic of chaperoning. The fact that the TV show is forcing the contestants and chaperones to stay at the bed and breakfast owned by Sarah’s greatest nemesis, Jane, establishes conflict for the characters but humor for the readers. Although it isn’t funny when the show’s producer is killed and Sarah finds Jane leaning over the body, Sarah’s inner conflict between whether to help Jane or not goes to the root of her characterization, but also offers me the ability to put funny thoughts in Sarah’s head.

 

While the cozy set-up provides numerous moments for humor, it is important that these scenes not over-shadow the whodunit. Cozy readers want a fast paced, fun book, but too many “funny” scenes can easily become monotonous and dull. That’s why there must be a balance between how much of the book is devoted to set-up, the crime, the investigation, serious moments, and things that make the reader chuckle.

 

For a chance to win a copy of Five Belles Too Many, tell me, what makes you laugh when you read a cozy and whether the Five Belles cover telegraphs that there will be humor in the book?

Five Belles Too Many

When Sarah Blair’s mother is a finalist to win the perfect Southern Wedding in a reality TV show competition, Sarah is pressed into service as Mother Maybelle’s chaperone. After the show’s producer is found dead, with Sarah’s greatest nemesis kneeling by the body, Sarah must find the true killer before any other contestants or crew are permanently eliminated 

Buy or gift a copy of Five Belles Too Many from: 

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

Your favorite indie bookstore.

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Judge Debra H. Goldstein writes Kensington’s Sarah Blair mystery series (Four Cuts Too Many, Three Treats Too Many, Two Bites Too Many, and One Taste Too Many). Her short stories, which have been named Agatha, Anthony, and Derringer finalists, have appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies including Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly, Malice Domestic Murder Most Edible, Masthead, and Jukes & Tonks. Debra served on the national boards of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and was president of the Guppy and SEMWA chapters. Find out more about Debra at https://www.DebraHGoldstein.com .

You can also connect with Debra at:  

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Twitter: @DebraHGoldstein 

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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debra-h-goldstein