Murder vs. Sex

By
Thomasnovels

Recently, a young man approached me inquiring about the type of books I write. I gave my standard answer of mysteries. “That’s perfect,” he said, explaining he wanted to surprise his mystery-buff mom with original, autographed books. “Murder mysteries?” he asked. I assured him one if not more people would be knocked off. “Even better. She loves a good murder.” I gave him a business card, provided him with a list of my published works and offered him a discount. As he started to leave, he turned back and shyly asked, “They’re not racy are they?” Apparently, he had caught sight of one of my covers but hadn’t read the blurb.

Racy? The word brought a picture of my mother to mind. She’s a great reader and has even read some of my books. Racy? I remember being at a family gathering right before my first novel came out. I think she was proud of the fact I was going to be published but she leaned over and whispered in the ear of a lady of her age range, “But it’s a little racy.” She wasn’t worried that I was thinking up ways and means to kill characters. She was worried because I was letting them have sex.

Racy? The young man took my business card but I knew I had lost the sale when he said, “My mom won’t read something that has anything remotely racy in it.” Okay, I get it and won’t be the first writer to say it. It’s all right to kill them in ever expanding gory techniques but just don’t let them fall down together on the bed, floor, table, ground (you get the picture) in the throes of passion. Naked body on the autopsy table, good. Naked body glistening in afterglow, bad.

Racy? As a reader, I find it aggravating when characters shut the bedroom door and the chapter ends. Next scene, they’re back, fully clothed and sharing the symbolic cigarette. Wait. What happened? How characters (and we real people) relate to one another during sex influences how they relate to one another in the rest of the story. Was it satisfying? Were there problems? Was it standard or inventive? Was there noise and conversation or was it so silent you could hear the zipper drop? Yet, numerous popular novels switch from third to first person just so the killers can describe their feelings and actions in great detail.

Racy? And it’s not just an age thing. Women of my own age (don’t ask) wouldn’t buy the second one. They said they didn’t realize I knew so many positions … knew so many ways … knew so many … they did not allow that sort of thing in their houses. Makes me wonder where they got their kids from. But these same women enjoyed the murders and never figured out who done it right up until the end. Cheers to the woman who told me she read excerpts to her husband … in their bedroom … naked. I don’t think they ever found out who the guilty person was.

Racy? “If only you’d leave out the sex, they’d be such great reads.” And really short books. I tried once to write a novel without sex. The characters got really grumpy and frustrated right along with the author. And no one has ever asked me to leave out the murder.

Anyone want to race?