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What's best?

TheButlerDidIT 21 Mar 10 at 5:20 p.m. GMT

I am now in the process of writing my new crime fiction book. I have been inspired by AC and Ian Rankin among others. There is certain things people like in a crim book that others don't like the soloution to a certain book that had the narrator as the murderer. So do you prefer a policeman or just a detective? What murder weapon is best? Is it better to set the book in a real or fictional place? I'm sorrry this might be a bit strange but I read on the internet an hour or so that market research was very helpful and I knew that I could rely on my good friends here to give me some good advice!

Thanks

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TheButlerDidIT 22 Mar 10 at 1:12 p.m. GMT

Well thanks for your relpy! Some good advice there! I think sometimes I'm a little to button happy when it comes to exlimtion marks!!

GKCfan 21 Mar 10 at 7:55 p.m. GMT

The problem with a police detective is that if you haven't done a lot of research on police procedure, you're better off using a non-professional detective (if you care about inaccuracies).  As for weapons, choose them carefully.  Depending on the plot of your story, if you feel comfortable using ballistics information, you can use a gun.  If you want there to be some ambiguity about it, pick a blunt instrument and have a subplot about locating the weapon.  If you want blood to be a clue (or not), weapons are a factor there.  Poison requires a lot of research too, so plan carefully.  If you set it in a real place, it may be easier to plan some aspects, but if you make something up you once again don't have to deal so much with inaccuracy.  It's all up to you.