This is distilled wisdom from many many years of reading in the genre, lol. I didn't go back to what's on my shelves to prep for the post. Although... I have an essay on Simenon coming out in a few weeks and I did a deep dive in the early books of the Maigret series for it, some I had not read before. Mind you, the books are short. "Romans de gare", right? People read them during a single train trip! You can absorb them in one sitting.
What would Nick be without Nora? Or for that matter, Asta? Not sure if comedy fits this but the Seinfeld backstory has Jerry and Elaine dating prior to the first episode, so we don't see what went on between them but get glimpses into their relationship throughout the series. But, early on during the series, they try a "friends with benefits" and "no strings" arrangement. That ends badly, but the series survived another seven years.
Great post, Martine! Sexual tension is always better, but as you say, "something's got to give," one way or the other. What about The Thin Man series with Nick and Nora Charles? They drank together and solved mysteries together, all while trading quips!
I excluded them on purpose because it's not a book series, there's only one. There were multiple films but the post was on books not movies/TV even if I used them for the intro.
Great discussion of the subject of romance, Martine - and as always, I'm so impressed by your prolific publication list. Congrats on Drop Dead Gorgeous!
Declan and Daisy has a nice ring to it but I like the tension between them. Especially her jealousy! Love happens in real life but in prose it needs a deft touch to pull it off. Lots to chew on in this post!
A couple of modern authors come to mind in the challenging Steady Regulars bucket: Deborah Crombie with her Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James mystery series, nineteen books strong last I checked, and the protagonists committed to each other through many of them. Edwin Hill's Hester Thursby protagonist has a happy romantic life with her partner Morgan, but Hill keeps things dynamic in an ingenious way. Morgan is a veterinarian, and the cast of rescued animals in their home continues to grow. It has a kind of entropy-as-the-arrow-of-time feeling.
If anyone’s reading the Cormoran Strike books, this is that exact scenario. I keep waiting for Cormoran and Robin to get together, but if they do, I fear it’s the end of the series. Great post!
In the very earliest Perry Mason books, Perry and Della clearly have a romance going. In one book they discuss getting married and decide they shouldn't, because if they do Della would have to be a housewife and he'd have to hire someone else as a secretary. But in subsequent books that entanglement was completely dropped.
I think I'm in the minority here, but I LOVE mysteries in which the two investigators fall in love. Some of my favorites that do this are Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, Andrea Penrose's Wrexford & Sloane Mysteries, Sherry Thomas's Lady Sherlock Mysteries, Dianne Freeman's Countess of Harleigh Mysteries, Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries, Kate Beli's Gilded Gotham Mysteries, Kate Khavari's Saffron Everleigh Mysteries, and Jenny Adams's Deadly Twenties Mysteries. If you too enjoy the romantic tingle with your mystery solving, you might enjoy reading some of these ( ;
I'm definitely into classic crime, noir, and all flavors of hardboiled. When I dip into Victorian mysteries I lean towards Caleb Carr and Alex Grecian. I find that most period mysteries are flirting too much with romance for my tastebuds. There is so much out there, can't do them all!
I think this holds true for love plots in any genre. I think that's why "happily ever after" has to be the end of the story. It all goes downhill from there! I want Robin and Cormoran to get together in the Strike series, but I guess if / when that happens, it's the last book.
I HATE the junior high level romantic tease plot WITH A PASSION! Mainly because I've seen too many series get off to great starts, quickly run out of ideas, and settle into a tired "will they or won't they" shaggy dog story that becomes the main focus of the series. Boring! Do it or don't, but get on with it already! (Incidentally, I was done with Moonlighting after about two episodes. The joke got old fast.)
So true! I hate "will they/won't they" when it goes on for too long though I guess "too long" is subjective and probably connects to your genre preferences :)
But how many crime novels did you read to be able to write this? Impressive… Or is it just a form of COD ;-)
This is distilled wisdom from many many years of reading in the genre, lol. I didn't go back to what's on my shelves to prep for the post. Although... I have an essay on Simenon coming out in a few weeks and I did a deep dive in the early books of the Maigret series for it, some I had not read before. Mind you, the books are short. "Romans de gare", right? People read them during a single train trip! You can absorb them in one sitting.
What would Nick be without Nora? Or for that matter, Asta? Not sure if comedy fits this but the Seinfeld backstory has Jerry and Elaine dating prior to the first episode, so we don't see what went on between them but get glimpses into their relationship throughout the series. But, early on during the series, they try a "friends with benefits" and "no strings" arrangement. That ends badly, but the series survived another seven years.
That's another way to do it. Break up! The entire series was about doomed relationships... and when George is about to marry, they kill her!
We do see in the final two episodes that they were a crime gang all along.
Great post, Martine! Sexual tension is always better, but as you say, "something's got to give," one way or the other. What about The Thin Man series with Nick and Nora Charles? They drank together and solved mysteries together, all while trading quips!
I excluded them on purpose because it's not a book series, there's only one. There were multiple films but the post was on books not movies/TV even if I used them for the intro.
Great discussion of the subject of romance, Martine - and as always, I'm so impressed by your prolific publication list. Congrats on Drop Dead Gorgeous!
Thank you, Troy!
Declan and Daisy has a nice ring to it but I like the tension between them. Especially her jealousy! Love happens in real life but in prose it needs a deft touch to pull it off. Lots to chew on in this post!
It's a good thing Daisy doesn't know everything, she'd go ballistic!
🤣
A couple of modern authors come to mind in the challenging Steady Regulars bucket: Deborah Crombie with her Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James mystery series, nineteen books strong last I checked, and the protagonists committed to each other through many of them. Edwin Hill's Hester Thursby protagonist has a happy romantic life with her partner Morgan, but Hill keeps things dynamic in an ingenious way. Morgan is a veterinarian, and the cast of rescued animals in their home continues to grow. It has a kind of entropy-as-the-arrow-of-time feeling.
I knew you all would come with examples for my hare-brained categories!
If anyone’s reading the Cormoran Strike books, this is that exact scenario. I keep waiting for Cormoran and Robin to get together, but if they do, I fear it’s the end of the series. Great post!
Thanks for reading, Joel!
In the very earliest Perry Mason books, Perry and Della clearly have a romance going. In one book they discuss getting married and decide they shouldn't, because if they do Della would have to be a housewife and he'd have to hire someone else as a secretary. But in subsequent books that entanglement was completely dropped.
Interesting. I haven't read these. I took the series, at random, further on. I guess Gardner realized he was getting himself in a bind.
I think I'm in the minority here, but I LOVE mysteries in which the two investigators fall in love. Some of my favorites that do this are Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, Andrea Penrose's Wrexford & Sloane Mysteries, Sherry Thomas's Lady Sherlock Mysteries, Dianne Freeman's Countess of Harleigh Mysteries, Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries, Kate Beli's Gilded Gotham Mysteries, Kate Khavari's Saffron Everleigh Mysteries, and Jenny Adams's Deadly Twenties Mysteries. If you too enjoy the romantic tingle with your mystery solving, you might enjoy reading some of these ( ;
I'm definitely into classic crime, noir, and all flavors of hardboiled. When I dip into Victorian mysteries I lean towards Caleb Carr and Alex Grecian. I find that most period mysteries are flirting too much with romance for my tastebuds. There is so much out there, can't do them all!
Different strokes and all that. Thanks for this post--it was fun to delve with you and your readers ( ;
I think this holds true for love plots in any genre. I think that's why "happily ever after" has to be the end of the story. It all goes downhill from there! I want Robin and Cormoran to get together in the Strike series, but I guess if / when that happens, it's the last book.
You could pull an Agatha Christie and keep going. It isn't easy but it can be done!
Wow Martine this is an excellent examination. You've done some thinking!
Ahahaha! That stuff comes soooo naturally to me ...
I HATE the junior high level romantic tease plot WITH A PASSION! Mainly because I've seen too many series get off to great starts, quickly run out of ideas, and settle into a tired "will they or won't they" shaggy dog story that becomes the main focus of the series. Boring! Do it or don't, but get on with it already! (Incidentally, I was done with Moonlighting after about two episodes. The joke got old fast.)
Considering how many times that trope has been wheeled out, you must be in the minority, Douglas!
Wouldn’t be the first time.
So true! I hate "will they/won't they" when it goes on for too long though I guess "too long" is subjective and probably connects to your genre preferences :)
If it extends beyond one book or one episode, then it’s too long for me. If it’s the main focus of the story, I won’t even start it.
You can add Castle and The Mentalist to the list of TV shows that went south after the two leads got together.
Ah yes, forgot those! Deadly snuggles....
Great insight. I’ll never read a bodice ripper the same way again.
I only brushed the topic, ahah!