The Mystery Starts Here

I bought "Howdunit Forensics" from Writer’s Digest Books to use as a reference tool when writing my own mysteries. No one was more surprised than me when I wound up reading it like a novel. Why? Because it’s fascinating. The book is broken down into three large categories: The Forensics System, The Coroner and the Body, The Crime Scene and the Crime Lab. There are numerous sub-categories under each main heading and believe me, Lyle covers everything you would ever need to know when writing a mystery. Even if you’re not a writer, but simply a lover of good mysteries, you’ll enjoy this book.

Lyle writes in a style that is easy for anyone to understand and not too technical. Who else but a mystery writer or reader would enjoy reading the steps in doing an autopsy? You can in this book, Chapter 3, The Autopsy: A look Inside the Body. Want information on trace evidence? Chapter 15: Trace Evidence: Sweating the Small Stuff. I especially liked the blue-back grounded side bars citing real cases and telling how forensics helped solve the crime and convict the bad guys.

Lyle writes in a style that is easy to read and not too technical  Besides being a working doctor, he has published mysteries, and worked as a consultant to several television crime shows including Law & Order, CSI:Miami, Women’s Murder Club and Homicide,

If you write mysteries this is the one reference tool you must have on your shelf.

Yesterday the temperature at my house reached a staggering 109 degrees! Yes, too damn hot. Just what do you do when the weather reaches triple digits? If you’re like me, you turn on the air-conditioning, grab a dog, curl up and read a book. Of course even I can’t read ALL day. So, what do you do?

I’m a writer, so I record how I feel in weather like this. I’m working on a book that takes place in Oklahoma, so this weather is perfect for using my senses. I woke in the night to a burning sensation in my throat. If felt like I’d swallowed sand. My skin is dry and tight from too many showers and not enough moisture in the air. Then my skin becomes sticky from slathering lotion on my body and I jump in the shower and start the process all over again. My eyes burn, blur and water. The hot dry air blows junk my orbs irritating them. My nose runs constantly. I look like a coke addict. It’s kind of hard to write notes in my little book when I can’t see, but I try.

Did you go to the beach this weekend? How does that blazing hot sand feel on your winter-soft feet? Is the ocean warm yet? Or does it snatch the breath out of your chest when you dive in because it’s so frigid. Is your hair a tangled mess caked with salt from the ocean? Can you feel it bleaching while your ends split? Can you feel the burn of the blistering sun on your poor proboscis? Write it all down. You may never use any of these feelings, but if you need them some day you’ll have them recorded.

How about a swimming pool? Are you lucky enough to have one in the back yard? I lust after a pool when the weather is this hot. Then I sober up and remember what a huge pain in the butt a pool can be. Yes, it’s a lot of work and … I have two labs. If I had a pool, my house would always smell of Eau de dog – not nice.

It’s 10:00 A.M. and 97 degrees outside so I turned on the air-conditioner. That’s how I beat the summer heat. I just hope I won’t faint when the electric bill arrives.