by William S. Shepard
I have
written the first four novels of my diplomatic mystery series, and am now
halfway through writing the fifth. The idea for the series itself came
naturally, as I was a career Foreign Service Officer, and I had noticed that
diplomats have access to all sorts of information – diplomatic reports of
course, but also intelligence matters and police records. They also work in two
cultures at the same time – the American, and the foreign nation where their
embassy of assignment is located.
That is
what the word “diplomacy” really means – “having two eyes,” one to watch out
where you came from, and the other to monitor where you are stationed. The
diplomat who can’t do both carefully at the same time is sure to be fired or
reassigned!
How do
characters evolve? It is not a one dimensional decision. They grow, of course,
and become more complicated. In Robbie’s case, his professional
responsibilities grow from those of an American Consul at an out-of-the-way
post, to those of a staff aide to the Secretary of State. But also, the back
stories of several people who are close to him are etched in, as they become
three dimensional.
My
protagonist is Robbie Cutler, a thirty-something career diplomat at the
beginning of the series. In Vintage
Murder he is on his second foreign assignment, as Consul at the American
Consulate General in Bordeaux, France. Here the reader meets several continuing
characters. Many people’s favorite character is Robbie’s Great Uncle Seth B.
Cutler, a nationally prominent educator whose shadowy background in the OSS
gives him an opening to high level decisions in Washington. Sylvie Marceau is a
reporter in Bordeaux who interviews Robbie in connection with the murder of a
celebrated American wine writer. Soon they are a twosome, sleuths in practice
who become romantically involved.
Now, Robbie
is bright, but for people smarts, Sylvie is the insightful one. She also passes
the test by making a favorable impression on Robbie’s sister, Evalyn. Robbie’s
parents, “Trip” and Lucille Cutler, were also a Foreign Service couple.
In Murder
On The Danube, Robbie is transferred to the American Embassy in Budapest. Here
the back stories begin. It seems that his father has been haunted for years by
the memory of a young Hungarian Freedom Fighter whom he failed to save as the
Russians crushed the Revolution. As murders start, Robbie’s task is to solve
them, while finding out what really happened to his father’s lost romance. At
the same time, his sister Evalyn visits him in Budapest and reads him the riot
act for teetering on the verge of a romance with an available married woman.
Chastened, he realizes the truth of what she says, and is relieved when Sylvie
accepts his proposal of marriage.
In The
Saladin Affair Robbie is working for the Secretary of State. He goes with him
on a six nation tour of Europe, dogged by Al Qaeda. There is also that matter
of the murder of the American Ambassador in Dublin. To surprise Robbie, Sylvie
meets him in Vienna. She soon worms out of him the fact of the Dublin murder
before it becomes public knowledge. Her insights prove crucial in solving the
case.
Robbie and
Sylvie have now evolved into a diplomatic couple, and their family is more
three dimensional, thanks to the evolution of their characters. As Uncle Seth
says, “It’s good to have two sleuths in the family!”
Former FSO William S. Shepard is the author of the Robbie Cutler diplomatic mystery series, available on Amazon at the following links:
Here are his websites and Facebook pages:
___
Istoria Books's "Mysterious
Monday" program features posts about mystery writing, reading, bookselling and
more by writers from beyond the Istoria stable. Stop back on Mondays for
insightful posts on the mystery genre. Check out Istoria Books's mystery offerings
here.
Mysterious Monday posts from the past:
Mysterious Monday posts from the past:
- Jenny Milchman writes about Putting the MIST in mystery: obscuring facts
- Carola Dunn writes about her experiences with a mysterious bookstore display: Downton Abbey, Barnes & Noble, and Carola Dunn
- Mystery writers and readers' mystery pet peeves, part one
- Mystery writers and readers' mystery pet peeves, part deux
- A President's Day Mystery
- Whither the Hit Person by Gary Alexander
- To Review or Not by Marlyn Beebe
- Common mistakes mystery writers make about the law...by Leslie Budewitz
Hello, William,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your essay. You demonstrate why series mysteries draw readers. We get to know and like the main characters and want to continue with their lives as they solve mysteries. I've done the same with my Kim Reynolds librarian sleuth series.
Many thanks, Jacqueline. I find it helpful to "plant" a characteristic, which opens the door to later development. For example, in the first book, "Vintage Murder," we learn that Uncle Seth is a lifelong bachelor. In the third book, "Murder In The Dordogne," we find out why - and what happened to his fiancee.
ReplyDeleteWilliam