by Marilyn Meredith, author of the Rocky Bluff PD mysteries and the Deputy Crabtree series
Thonie asked me to write about what I do in the way of research for my writing.
Because I write police procedurals, I do have to do some research on the right way to do things. I often email police friends and ask them. I’ve even asked for one of them to share a particular type of crime—and I received lots of responses.
I like to read about certain crimes—especially murder—that might work for one of my Rocky Bluff P.D. mysteries. I often print out something I find online or clip a newspaper article that sounds like something I might use one day.
I’ve researched different ways to kill someone including poisons and unusual murder weapons.
Because my policeman son-in-law told me more than once, that it wasn’t like in movies and TV shows, in real life a police department is working on several crimes at a time, I like to collect different reports of unusual and mundane crimes that might work in one of my tales. (I’ve noticed TV shows are getting better at that, Blue Bloods is a good example.)
However, and I feel I must state this, I am writing fiction that I hope will entertain. You will not find a lot of forensic science in this series. Rocky Bluff is a small, underfunded and understaffed agency. Because of this, any forensic evidence is sent to the county. Most crimes that occur in Rocky Bluff are solved the old-fashioned way, by asking many questions, and putting the information together to come up with answers. The readers will learn right along with the characters and have a chance to see if they come up with the same solutions.
I have fun writing this series, creating the mystery, and I hope that my readers enjoy following along.
on left
F. M. aka Marilyn Meredith
Violent Departures:
College student, Veronica Randall, disappears from her car in her own driveway and everyone in the Rocky Bluff P.D. is looking for her. Detective Milligan and family move into a house that may be haunted. Officer Butler is assigned to train a new hire and faces several major challenges.
Bio:
F.M. Meredith, also known as Marilyn Meredith, is the author of over thirty published novels. Marilyn is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Besides having family members in law enforcement, she lived in a town much like Rocky Bluff with many police families as neighbors.
Contest:
Because it has been popular on my other blog tours, once again I’m offering the chance for the person who comments on the most blog posts during this tour to have a character named for him or her in the next Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery.
Or if that doesn’t appeal, the person may choose one of the earlier books in the series—either a print book or Kindle copy.
14 replies on “Guest Post, Research”
Thank you so much for hosting me today, Thonie. I’ve been having fun visiting everyone and seeing who leaves comments.
As always, Marilyn, it was my pleasure!
Marilyn,
I ordered “Violent Departures” yesterday and I can’t wait to read it!
Thank you, Patricia. I do hope you enjoy it.
Oh, how fun, you have family in the police business. It sounds like a solid bit of research goes into each of your novels. Thanks for the info.
Thanks for stopping by, Margaret. Yes and no about the research–sometimes I hope that the reader will forgive me for lapses.
Even though I don’t always post, Marilyn, enjoying following you around on your tour–and all the interesting aspects of writing you talk about–like this one on research! Like Patricia, looking forward to reading Violent Departures.
Madeline
Hi, Madeline, love that you are following me.
Love the way you do research. I tend to clip articles too. Nice to know you and other writers do this also. Looking forward to reading Violent Departures and catching up with the R.B.P.D. gang again
Thanks for stopping by, Dee. Always nice to touch base with you.
Clipping articles gives us all kinds of ideas. A little twist here and a little twist there, and we’ve got the crime we want our characters to solve. Another wonderful post, Marilyn!
Thank you, Marja. Mystery writing does certainly get into one’s blood.
Another really interesting article, Marilyn. I’m about half way through “Violent Departures” and love it, so far. I’m sure that isn’t going to change as I progress. I am always impressed with your police procedural knowledge and how accurate it is. Having my own veteran cop in-house, it amazes me how you do all of this.
Thank you, Jackie, your comments are nice to hear. I really am trying to make the police characters like all the police that I know–real people.