“Everything is ordered, good and bad clearly defined, the bad guy always gets what he deserves, the hero shines, no loose ends. It’s a refreshing antidote to the real world.”- Michael Connelly
--
What makes a mystery?
A crime (usually murder) has been committed, and there is a body.
An investigator tries to solve the crime. The investigator may be part of a series.
Secondary characters can be suspects or supporting characters in the investigation and they play an important role in the mystery’s appeal. They may also be part of the series.
The investigator follows clues to solve the puzzle. By the end of the story the reader will usually know who committed the crime and why. Order is restored, but justice is not always served.
The frame of the mystery – location, details, or tone – plays a crucial role in the appeal of the mystery.
--
The basic character types are:
Amateur detectives (traditional classic, eccentric, and amateur detectives)
Public detectives (lone wolf, lawyer, and police support detectives)
Private detectives (crime specialist, ex-cop, and rogue detectives or P.I.)
--
Appeal characteristics
Character
Setting
--
Traditional sub-genres used by publishers are:
“Cozy” or classical (author example – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Hard-boiled (author example – Sue Grafton)
Police procedurals (author example – Ed McBain)
Spy thrillers (not covered in this presentation)
--
Other sub-genres are:
Crime/caper (author example – Richard Stark)
Legal thriller (author example – William Bernhardt)
Postmodern crime (author example – Ken Bruen)
True crime (not covered in this presentation)
--
Categories within the genre:
Sub-genre
Location/setting
Time period
Choosing a genreblend
Character type
Featured hobby
Gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation etc.
--
Reasons we read mysteries:
The reader enjoys seeing justice served and social order restored.
The reader likes the challenge of solving the crime and testing their wits.
To read about the battle of good versus evil, integrity versus corruption.
To learn about a new hobby or an existing one.
The reader appreciates the patient, determined, investigative or scientific skills used to eventually solve the crime.
To read learn more about a favorite place or an exotic new one.
To explore social questions in a non-threatening way, as questions may be posed by more modern characters, such as gay, female or ethnic detectives.
--
A few age appropriate mystery series:
Age 3 and up > Scooby Doo, and Young Cam Jansen
Age 6-9 > Jigsaw Jones
Age 10-12 > Crime Through Time, and Dani and Caitlin Mysteries
Age 8-16 > Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys
--
The Mafia
originated in Sicily, made the jump to America with immigrants, mostly in New York and Chicago
made money through protection, extortion, gambling, blackmail, bootlegging, prostitution, and drugs
prohibition was a great thing for organized crime
labour unions were often accused of having ties to the Mafia (see Jimmy Hoffa, if you can find him)
--
Mob Wars
often started over control of territory
one gang (family) might run prostitution in Brooklyn, but another wants in, so they fight
killing the leaders of a family often got their soldiers to switch sides
Omertà : the code of silence; saying nothing to the authorities even if you have been a victim
vendettas: revenge killings
--
Mario Puzo
second generation Italian-American
wrote The Dark Arena and The Fortunate Pilgrim, which were critical (not commercial) successes
told Larry King he wrote The Godfather to make money
drew on things he had heard while working as a pulp journalist
not a mobster, not related to mobsters, never known to associate with the mob in any way (sorry)
also wrote Fools Die, The Sicilian, The Fourth K, The Last Don, Omertà , The Family, The Runaway Summer of Davie Shaw (a children's book), and the screenplay to Superman
--
The Godfather (novel)
published in 1969
critical and commercial success
introduced the popular image of the mob
filled with sex, violence, and terrific lines
not really about crime, more about family and destiny
some characters based on real people: Johnny Fontaine is supposed to be Frank Sinatra, who reportedly yelled at Puzo in a restaurant for making him look weak
--
The Godfather (film)
released in 1972
written by Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola
starred James Caan, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Al Pacino and Marlon Brando
won three Oscars, five Golden Globes and a Grammy
seen as one of the greatest movies of all time and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry
Brando's portrayal of Vito Corleone based on Frank Costello, a mobster who testified at Congressional hearings
--
Influences on Culture
Goodfellas, The Sopranos, The Departed, Analyze This!, The Simpsons (“...you have made this old Italian stereotype very happy,” pony head in Lisa's bed, Fat Tony)
“I'll make him an offer he can't refuse.”
self-image of mobsters: kissing the Don's ring didn't happen until after The Godfather was released
non-fiction about the mob is extremely popular: searching the HPL catalogue for the word “mafia” brings up as many non-fiction books as novels
