tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post8827782960917804282..comments2024-03-26T17:48:56.627+00:00Comments on 'Do You Write Under Your Own Name?': Planting CluesMartin Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-31919455546969597152011-05-19T01:03:52.757+01:002011-05-19T01:03:52.757+01:00Honestly, I never look for clues.
The way the stor...Honestly, I never look for clues.<br />The way the story unfolds is much more fun for me. <br />I will have to go back to my Reginald Hill books and take a look, though....Alistair Macfarlanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-64755655385747818012011-05-18T22:36:50.741+01:002011-05-18T22:36:50.741+01:00Uriah, do email me and tell me more. Please!Uriah, do email me and tell me more. Please!Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-24726395785302285202011-05-18T22:36:24.390+01:002011-05-18T22:36:24.390+01:00Deb, I quite agree. I am a huge Rendell fan. And I...Deb, I quite agree. I am a huge Rendell fan. And I'm just reading an unpublished story by Bob Barnard for a possible anthology.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-47088109797622493882011-05-18T22:35:32.575+01:002011-05-18T22:35:32.575+01:00Elizabeth, I'm sure you will enjoy it. Great f...Elizabeth, I'm sure you will enjoy it. Great fun.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-20273704110677112612011-05-18T22:35:12.888+01:002011-05-18T22:35:12.888+01:00John, you have really made me want to read the Car...John, you have really made me want to read the Carr book!Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-37789984432797789382011-05-18T13:59:22.705+01:002011-05-18T13:59:22.705+01:00Jo Nesbo plants a thumping great clue in one of hi...Jo Nesbo plants a thumping great clue in one of his Harry Hole books. When you reach the end only then do you remember that snippet of extra information that solves the case. His tribute to Agatha Christie?Uriah Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02046023583067265187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-3398160638375623802011-05-18T12:03:24.075+01:002011-05-18T12:03:24.075+01:00Ruth Rendell is also very good--not only with plan...Ruth Rendell is also very good--not only with planting clues, but with turning them on their heads at the very end (they're still viable clues, but they point to something completely different than we first thought). Robert Barnard plants the clues and then adds a fabulous twist in the last sentence. And, of course, Agatha Christie is the Queen of clue planting. I still remember how stunned I was by the ending of DEATH IN THE CLOUDS when I went back and saw that she had very clearly planted a huge clue and I had completely overlooked it.Debnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-83976439127469241762011-05-18T10:57:58.658+01:002011-05-18T10:57:58.658+01:00Ah, I must read Stagestruck at some point. I also ...Ah, I must read Stagestruck at some point. I also enjoy a clever mystery.Dorte Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535044092722418173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-88664218892302266732011-05-18T10:30:58.347+01:002011-05-18T10:30:58.347+01:00I'll have to read "Stagestruck." I l...I'll have to read "Stagestruck." I love it when an author can slip in clues without my noticing. :)Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-33248590729841895762011-05-18T09:53:59.474+01:002011-05-18T09:53:59.474+01:00There are very few contemporary authors who are go...There are very few contemporary authors who are good at this sort of thing. I picked up <i>Arsenic Labyrinth</i> at a local book sale a few weeks ago. I'll see if I can spot your clues, Martin!<br /><br />I nominate John Dickson Carr. I just finished <i>The Reader Is Warned</i> with a wheelbarrow full of clues. Carr (or in this case his Carter Dickson guise) is one of the best at planting clues. He always baffles me. I know what I'm supposed to pay attention to but it is always for the wrong reason. Not exactly a red herring - more like a clue that is ambiguous and can be interpreted in a variety of ways. The real mystery in this book is the murder method. I got it at the very last minute, but I sort of stumbled upon it. Didn't really figure it all out with all the proper clueing.<br /><br />I devote one paragraph in my <a href="http://prettysinister.blogspot.com/2011/05/reader-is-warned-carter-dickson.html" rel="nofollow">latest post on the book</a> to this very topic. More synchronicity at work in the crime blogs.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-47537646973101457872011-05-18T09:18:17.324+01:002011-05-18T09:18:17.324+01:00Ed, you are absolutely right. Millar was a clue pl...Ed, you are absolutely right. Millar was a clue planting genius!Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-69681907227832169662011-05-18T05:40:45.597+01:002011-05-18T05:40:45.597+01:00Nice piece, and thanks for not giving away the clu...Nice piece, and thanks for not giving away the clues in the other works in the process.seana grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03774794086733027289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-86132307108160213392011-05-18T03:06:45.748+01:002011-05-18T03:06:45.748+01:00I'd add Margaret Millar to your list of extrao...I'd add Margaret Millar to your list of extraordinary clue planters. At least three of her novels are turned around on the last page.Ed Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126267358266480356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-14561945695001686472011-05-18T00:23:49.167+01:002011-05-18T00:23:49.167+01:00Martin - Planting clues well really does take a de...Martin - Planting clues well really does take a deft hand. I agree with you that Christie was the best at that, too. I'm glad you mentioned that it can be fun to figure out how to let clues out without giving away too much. It takes work, but it can be a good game, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com