Murder & Mayhem Recommendation: First Cut by Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell

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Hello!


I hope you're doing well and staying healthy during these crazy times! Because so many of us find ourselves sheltering in place right now, I thought I'd try to step up my recommendations a little to spread the word about some murder-&-mayhem-related awesomeness that I'm enjoying lately.


Today I'm gonna talk about First Cut, by Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell:

What made me want to read this: A while back, I recommended Working Stiff by these same authors; Working Stiff is a non-fiction memoir about Dr. Melinek's work as a medical examiner, and covers, among other things, her work in NYC in the days after 9/11. I found that book to be a fascinating, approachable read that I couldn't put down, so when I found out the authors were trying their hand at fiction, I had to read it. Because, in a nutshell, First Cut is a novel about a fictional medical examiner who helps solve crimes, written by a real-life medical examiner who helps solve crimes, writing together with her husband.


Plot basics: Jessie Teska, a medical examiner, moves to San Francisco to escape a painful past. She's barely into her new digs when a very odd case crosses her path: a man shot to death because he snatch-and-grabbed a laptop in a cafe. As she look into the case, a woman she caught crying in the rain turns up on her table, dead of a drug overdose. As she investigates, she begins to suspect the cases are related; when she tries to pursue her line of inquiry, she smashes up against bureaucratic resistance that undercuts her ability to do her job and puts her in danger.


Why I love this: Because one of the two authors is a medical examiner, this book is as authentic as it gets, but is an easy, compelling read. The insight into what medical examiners do and how vital it can be is fascinating, but in the wrong hands could become dense and dry--but the writing here is fresh, inviting and down-to-earth. I also love Jessie Teska as a character; she's tenacious, she's empathetic, she's a little bit grumpy, and she's a lot real. She's the sort of person I'd love to hang out with (at least, after she washes the smell of decomposing corpses off of her). And, because I'm a Bay Area resident, I love that the book is set in San Francisco and manages to celebrate the city I love even if Jessie's not yet sure it's her cup of tea. She lives in a converted cable car, a detail taken from real San Francisco history--how cool is that?


You can find First Cut in bookstores now, and of course you can find it on Amazon if you prefer to order that way.


I purchased First Cut myself, and this review reflects my honest opinion of the book.


Happy reading!

M.M.

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An Unhealthy Obsession?

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Hello!


I recently started listening to the popular podcast My Favorite Murder. Several times in the first few episodes, the hosts joke about people possibly finding the concept of a 'favorite murder' strange, or a general obsession interest in true crime a bit odd (or downright disturbing). This topic is something I've thought a lot about: What does an interest in true crime and/or crime fiction say about a person? And what does it say when that interest is paired with comedy?


My interest in true crime started in grammar school when I first heard about Jack the Ripper. My mother didn't think true crime was an appropriate interest for a young lady, and periodically throughout my life, I've see that expression on people's faces when the topic comes up. I've also had people make comments when I read certain of my flash pieces at open mics, and tell me I 'should read less horror.' I've even seen my fellow crime writers accused of being 'sick' because of the contents of their books--including a review that claimed the author of a novel that included a child-molester villain "should be put on a registry."


It's macabre subject matter, to be sure. But does it signal something unhealthy? Something sick and twisted?


I'd argue it signals the exact opposite. I can't speak for everyone, of course. But I know in my case, as a psychologist with a fascination for human behavior, my interest in true crime and crime fiction comes from two places: one, a desire to understand what goes wrong in the human psyche that creates people who commit such atrocities, and two, a deep-seated need to see such people brought to justice.


In fact, there's nothing that irks my soul more than unsolved murders. I completely understand the obsession that caused Michelle McNamara to work late into the night for years trying to catch the Golden State Killer, and I've spent far too many hours of my life poring over such cases coming up with theories someone might have missed. Part of why I write crime fiction is I get huge satisfaction from bringing killers to justice in my books, something that fails to happen all too often in real life. In essence, I think those of us who have these interests are trying to gain some measure of control, or at least understanding, of the uncontrollable and the horrific.


Maybe you're thinking: But surely it's odd to have a 'favorite' murder? And surely laughing during such subject matter--about people who've been viciously murdered--is wrong? Doesn't a podcast that combines humor with such things cross a line?


I can see how some people might consider laughing at such things distasteful, or even disrespectful. But while the notion of 'gallows humor' isn't new, its psychology is widely misunderstood. Laughter is a part of the human condition that helps us cope with things we otherwise couldn't--laughing at horrific acts gives us a measure of power over how those acts impact us. In the words of this article (an excellent read, by the way), humor is a weapon, a shield, and a psychological salve. The article quotes Antonin Obrdlik as saying 'Gallows humor is an index of strength or morale on the part of oppressed people.' I don't think it's a coincidence that my two favorite true-crime-slash-comedy podcasts (Wine & Crime and My Favorite Murder) are hosted by women: the victims of such crimes are overwhelmingly women and self-protection is a constant part of every woman's day. But I also think it's fair to say that everyone is oppressed to some degree by the specter of violent crime that hangs over society.


Of course, I'm probably preaching to the choir here--if you're reading this, you're most likely a fan of true crime or crime fiction. But, if so, I'm also sure you've had people give you that look and say "how can you read stuff like that?" or "I can't watch those things, they'd give me nightmares." There's nothing wrong with that approach: avoidance is a perfectly healthy psychological mechanism for dealing with dark realities, and one that works very well for many, many people. But the way true-crime and crime-fiction fans deal with those dark realities is perfectly healthy, too.


And in some cases, our way of coping even helps bring criminals to justice.


Thanks for reading,

Michelle

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Murder & Mayhem: Exhibit A

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Hello!


Time for this week's Murder & Mayhem recommendation: Exhibit A, a Netflix true-crime documentary.

Exhibit A is an intriguing twist on true crime shows--it's kinda like the flip side of Forensics Files. Each episode examines a type of forensic evidence and, through a target case, questions to what degree we can really trust that evidence.


By now most people have heard of the CSI Effect: the expectation juries have that all cases should have conclusive scientific forensic evidence, particularly DNA. Failing that, the juries will refuse to convict. Exhibit A looks at the other side of this coin: the assumption that evidence is more conclusive than it really is.


No evidence, not even DNA, is a clear-cut slam-dunk; it all involves interpretation, statistical analysis, and human error. Recently hair and fiber analyses have come under attack, and before that, bite-mark analyses were cast into doubt. My particular pet peeve is this arena is "touch DNA." At first glimpse, touch DNA seems like a godsend for identifying perpetrators--all you need is a few skin cells. But it's far more complicated than it seems on the surface (I talk about this very briefly in The Dancing Girls).


Part of understanding what a DNA profile means is knowing where the sample came from, and what type of sample it is. For example, if you get a DNA profile from a victim's underwear, it makes a huge difference whether that DNA comes from semen, blood, or epithelial cells. If there's visible semen or blood on the underwear, you can be fairly certain the sample came from someone who was in the physical presence of the victim. But even that doesn't tell  you for certain you have your perpetrator. Say the victim had relations with her boyfriend before being attacked later in the day; in that case, assuming the semen came from a rapist would be a huge error.


The problem becomes more complex if we're looking at sweat or saliva, and far more complex when we move into epithelial cells (the source of touch DNA). For example, researchers testing new underwear directly out of their original packaging have found DNA profiles, most likely from the factory workers who made or packaged the underwear. So if a victim's underwear gives a DNA profile from epithelial cells, it's difficult (or impossible) to tell where that profile actually originated.
And that's just one issue among many with touch DNA. Exhibit A has an episode that goes into another potential problem with the tiny sample sizes touch DNA often involves.


Does that mean we can't trust touch DNA, or other types of evidence? Not at all. But we do need to understand what we can really take away from any source of evidence, and weight it accordingly when people's lives are at stake. Exhibit A puts these issues squarely out on the table for consideration.


Have you seen Exhibit A? What did you think?


Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Forensics fashion? Crime-fiction couture?

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Hello!


You all know I'm a fan of all things crime friction and true crime. An evening spent watching Forensics Files followed by reading a thriller late into the night? Sign me up. But what you might not know about me is that I also love retro 50's and 40's inspired fashion. So you can imagine my pure, unadulterated joy when I discovered that these two things actually overlap in the real world...


I recently went to a 'curiosities' faire, which is like an arts & wine festival put on by creatures of the night. I was excited to go see what inspirations popped up for future stories, and just because I love that kind of stuff. There was quite a line to get in, but that was okay--because the line itself was an awakening. A large number of people were wearing 'dark' outfits--either literally or thematically. And a reasonable percentage of the ladies were wearing retro styles--but rather than the typical cherries, polka dots and gingham you'd find on those fashions, they were covered in skulls, spider webs, and implements of death.


I was like a child who'd never heard of princesses or fairytales walking into Disneyland for the first time.


The ultimate for me was a halter dress made from Edgar Allen Poe fabric based on The Raven. I instantly jumped on my phone and tried to hunt down the dress. I couldn't find it.


But I found the fabric.

Seriously, how cool is this?!

Growing up, I learned the basics of sewing. And only the basics--the last thing I wanted to do as a teenager was sacrifice any of my precious Agatha-Christie reading time to sew a garment I could buy for far cheaper at the mall. As an adult I've pulled out the sewing machine a few times, mostly to make Halloween costumes or alter a few ready-to-wear items. But I've never really been motivated to sew my own clothes.


Until I saw that fabric.


As I poked around the site, my eyes grew bigger and bigger. Skulls. Skeletons. Atmospheric brocades. Bloody handprints. Everything a crime-fiction obsessed author could ever want--and stuff I definitely can't get at the mall.


I bought the fabric and I found a close-enough pattern for a dress. But I'm not crazy enough to think I'd just bust out a perfectly fitted dress on the first try. So I bought a couple of other fabrics and patterns and set about refreshing my sewing memory with a large dose of help from the internet. The first couple of items I made were a regular, easy pencil skirt and top. But finally I took my first step into what I've come to think of as "crime-fiction couture"--a cute, fifties-inspired top covered in (subtle?) skulls:

Cute and Creepy!

I'm particularly proud of the buttons:

If you care about these sorts of things, the pattern I used is Simplicity S8882, and these are the buttons I used. The fabric is currently out of stock in red, but is available in slate and black. I cut one size too large, and had to fiddle with the fit, so the neckline isn't as cute as the pattern shape--but I'm thinking about making another one in the black, so maybe I'll get it right the next time.


I realize I'm one of only a handful of people on the planet who'd wear this shirt--and that's when I think sewing is very cool, when you're creating something you just can't find anywhere else. And I have to admit, I really love the idea of crime-fiction couture...What about you? Do you think it's fun, or just silly? If you could make your own themed wardrobe, what theme what you pick?


Stay tuned for the 'Nevermore' dress...I'm not sure how long it'll take or how it'll come out, but I'm gonna make it happen!


Hugs,
M.

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Introducing my new Murder & Mayhem feature...

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Hello!

So, I've been doing a little something on my Facebook page and Twitter that I've been calling M.M.'s Mayhem & Murder feature, and decided it was time to bring it over here to the blog, too.


The idea is this: I love true crime and fictional crime, and a whole range of odd things that touch onto one or both of those areas. Not surprising considering I write crime fiction, I know! But I figured since I'm constantly on the lookout for new things to read and watch and learn about, I might as well share my finds with you.


So, first a recap of the features so far, to catch the blog up:


Week one: I kicked things off with one of the most bizarre (in my opinion) true-crime cases of all times, Anatoly Moskvin. This guy didn't kill anybody, but...let's just say he had philosophical issues with burying young women.



Week two: I recommended one of my favorite true-crime podcasts, Wine And Crime, which mixes true-crime cases with a healthy dose of humor. Three life-long friends work their way through three bottles of wine while discussing a true-crime topic. Fascinating and funny, and I love it.






Week three: I recommended Working Stiff, by Judy Melinek and TJ Mitchell. This is an excellent look at how Medical examiners help determine questionable causes of death, among other things. I found this just fascinating! 







Which brings us to my current recommendation: Since people seemed to respond to Working Stiff, I thought I'd recommend Autopsy: Confessions of a Medical Examiner, a series of HBO documentaries about how autopsy evidence has helped solve cases. This is an oldie (especially the earlier episodes), but definitely a goodie. HBO appears to have released one episode per year for twelve years, and each goes into around 6-10 cases per episode, so each is brief and packs a punch. About half the episodes are available on Amazon, free if you're a Prime member, and you can find most of them on YouTube, too. 


Have you read/watched/listened to any of these? What do you think? Do you know of any related media I should check out?


Thanks for dropping by!

M.M.

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Guest Post: I am a Dreamer: Gearing up to Self-Publish

Hello everyone!

I'm doing something a little different today, sharing a post by another writer, one I know and admire: D.K. Dailey. Many are the times she's been a cheerleader in my corner, making sure I'm never tempted to give up my dreams of being a writer--so I thought I'd share a little of that cheerleading with you. :)

M. xoxoxox

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I Am a Dreamer: Gearing up to Self-Publish

Being a writer is the essence of being a dreamer. Writers have superpowers and the license, after growing up, to imagine the impossible without being called crazy. We see imaginary people and make up lives and worlds for them to live in. Our made-up stories, people, things, connections, events and worlds continue to entertain long after the book is closed, the e-reader is shut down, or the audio-file narrator speaks the last word. Readers revisit our worlds and characters time and time again. In this way, the power of words is astronomical. Writing is a power we wield, one that keeps us up at night and keeps ideas running through our heads.

When I look over all the characteristics writers need in their toolbox in order to navigate the world of writing, it starts reading like a magical potion for a person with an indestructible spirit. I imagine that if being a writer was summarized as a series of bumper stickers, they would say:

Never stop. Never give up. Passion moves mountains.
Believe in yourself first or no one else will believe in you.
Wear your armor, you're gonna need it.
Must be imaginative and a little crazy.

Now when that dreamer starts down the path to taking writing more seriously and starts striving to be a published author they are met with rejections and ups and downs. We get our feelings hurt and grow thick skin because being critiqued causes us to doubt ourselves and our work. The road is full of learning and humbling experiences. No shortcuts or secrets exist, especially if reaching an audience and being taken seriously is the goal. Although there aren't any secrets to it, there are tips and facts I wish I would've known about the industry that I've stumbled on or found out the hard way. But that's another blog post.

I have always loved writing and reading but never thought until 2009 that I could become a writer or ever call myself a published author. And then I took a class on the art of writing a dramatic play. During those months, I became engrossed in my plot and characters and although I had a career I loved in advertising, I realized I needed to write to feel fully fulfilled. Now if I could only find a career that merges my love for advertising and writing, I’d be a happy woman!

Flash forward to 2017 and thirteen books and counting later, here I am still without an agent or publisher. I assure you, it's not for lack of trying. To date, I've sent out nearly two-hundred queries to agents and publishers. I've had one revise-and-resubmit request from an agent, several partial manuscript requests and seven full manuscript requests. I've participated in at least six Twitter pitch parties which place authors in front of industry people who favorite our pitches, inviting us to send them a query. I have also won two writing contests and placed in six others. Officially, I'm a seasoned amateur writer and professional dreamer.

Since I have written many books without publishing, I have a unique vantage point on the adage “Just Keep Writing,” that a lot of writers have given as advice. And it reminds me of Dori's words, “Just Keep Swimming,” in the movie Finding Nemo. I have learned that most people don't sell or publish their first books. And if they do it's many drafts later. One very successful author I met said it was draft twenty that was published of her first book and it was only halfway through at draft ten when she felt she knew her characters and the fantasy world they inhabited. In general, it takes the process and experience of writing several books to feel grounded enough to venture out of our writer (hobbit) holes to pursue our dream.

And even when we venture out and experience the world as a writer, growing thick skins and filling our toolbox with tools of our craft, we still stumble, we fall and we fail. But hopefully we get up and learn and grow. We carry the dreamer mentality with us, but reality sets in.

From my experience in the writing world, I, the dreamer, have to face reality. As far as my advertising career is concerned, I’d love to hold a job with a mission where I can learn and grow. For my writing career, I’d like to be a hybrid author because I’d like to publish traditionally, with a small press and I’d like to self-publish. Over time, I have come to realize that I might have to switch up the order of how I’d like to be published.

With this in mind, I still querying, but am also gearing up to self-publish. Here are the steps I have taken to make this dream a reality:

1. Plan a full series of books
2. Write books
3. Find and work with beta and critique groups to improve books
4. Hire and work with editors
5. Create a marketing plan and execute it.

Although I'm still writing and editing I am now only one book away from writing the last book in the series. And now that I see the end in sight, I'm saving money to make it happen. In the end, I will not sell my books short, I will invest everything I can in them. Choosing to self-publish doesn't mean I skimp on quality.

So from one dreamer to the next, keep writing and keep pushing forward despite rejections and setbacks because everyone has their own path. This business is subjective and no path is the “right” one. Figure out what your goals are and go forth, step out of your writer hole and share your worlds.

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You can find more from D.K. Dailey on her website, and on Twitter. :)