Warm and cozy or gritty and dark?
In one of my blogs I discussed what novel writers can learn from screenwriters. Well, it hit a nerve with all writers and I got many comments. One comment referred to Broadchurch, the television series I mentioned as an example of good screen writing. The reader who commented agreed that the series was excellent but stopped watching it after three episodes because it was so dark.
This started me thinking about other TV series as well as mystery novels that fit into that “dark” category. And they are legion. Let me name a few you might be familiar with: Happy Valley, Hinterland, The Killing, The Missing, Dexter, The Escape Artist. Then there are those I haven’t seen, mainly being turned off by the title: Killer Couples, Murder on the Social Network, Married Single Dead, Slasher, I am Not a Serial Killer. (Really?)
So what is about today’s mysteries (many of these series were books first) that compels authors to write such grisly, black, and freaky-scary scenarios? I believe that the transition from book to film has demanded heightened “grimness” for dramatic effect. When a book becomes a movie, the dark elements are often played up. And the villains are getting meaner and nastier all the time.
Don’t get me wrong. The villains in novels can be just as rotten. However, when you actually see the character in the flesh, so to speak, the villainy is enhanced. Take a series called Happy Valley, a British psychological cop thriller. Excellent series. The villain, however, left such a lasting impression with me, that I have difficulty watching the actor in any other series. Believe it or not, he’s the priest in Grantchester and I now find him hard to believe (as a good guy) after seeing him in Happy Valley.
But back to point. There are still many series and books that have all the great attributes of a good mystery, both book and film, and are not as dark. See if you agree: Inspector Lewis, Sherlock, Endeavour, The Bletchley Circle, Foyle’s War, Bosch, Midsomer Murders (okay, a little fluffy here.) The Wallender mysteries and Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley. Agatha Christie’s stories are also in this category.
To be a good mystery, must it make you throw up, weep, shake in your boots, or cause insomnia? Or should it make you ponder, riddle-solve, and give you ingenious plot and character ideas for your next book?
I welcome your thoughts and ideas.
Well, the 3rd from the last paragraph list all my favorites! I find that I actually prefer British mysteries novels to American ones. I’m an American but I grew up reading Christy, Sayers, and a New Zealand author Ngaio Marsh. So, my tastes were influenced by brilliant mystery writers. As a result, I also prefer British television mysteries as well. I liked Broadchurch a lot but it was dark. I don’t like gore and excessive violence. I don’t think it is necessary. I love a great puzzle that keeps me thinking without tossing my cookies.
I agree, Cynthia! Thanks.
Glad to see you have identified so many great long-running mystery series on PBS from across the “Great Pond.”
They are some of my favorites!. Thanks!
Lynne:
In order to be a mystery, it must contain at least one death or theft and the background must be murky, otherwise the butler did it in the dining room with a candle stick- boring.Basically there is no way to kill somebody nicely, even if euthanasia – you still offed them. How do you steal the hope diamond and not have that affect somebody adversely? If you don’t like the blood, the gore, the illegality or the language you should read/write cozies or romances or stick to Peter Rabbit. I agree that British mysteries are better, because they work at it harder. It is not about the amount of blood you spill, but the way you spill it. Broad Church was an excellent series and died not because it was unpopular, but because a main character jumped ship to Doctor Who.It is greatly missed because you could get inside the characters.
All good points, Art. In the third season of Broadchurch, the plot revolved around rape not murder. This gave me pause. I felt they almost pulled it off, but, frankly, I missed a good, gory murder!
Well, I love reading Agatha Christie’s mysteries.Warm,cozy and a lot of character depth! But of course, it lacks the action element of Holmes! But Christie stories are food for the brain!
Thanks for reading, Prajakta!