EyeAmTheI said:PeripheralVision said:That' is not really how it works, if I had to take a stab at it (Hah). You're mixing up genres, basically. Many murder mysteries are not necessarily psychological thrillers or have heavy psychological elements. I honestly do not see how murder can contribute to writing a mystery in the vein of Sherlock Holmes or
Knives Out anymore than being a soldier would help with a Michael Bay-esque action film. This is versus say being a stalker would would contribute to the narrative of
One-Hour Photo by Robin Williams or being a killer for something like
Psycho.
In addition, being able to translate that effectively would be better in the hands with someone with a degree in criminal psychology than the average murderer. Many people who murder are not the sharpest tools in the shed. Many prolific murderers are barely literate if we want to go into serial murder, and let's be real. Murder for many people isn't that complicated in terms of motive or mindset.
My comment was my own opinion, hence it is not a topic of discussion. However, since you spent the time to write, I'll give you an answer as well.
"
I honestly do not see how murder can contribute to writing a mystery in the vein of Sherlock Holmes"
Just because you don't see the added value in it, I can still see it in it... By the way Sherlock Holmes' father was a psychotic alcoholist...
" That' is not really how it works, if I had to take a stab at it (Hah). You're mixing up genres, basically."
I was expecting this... Though, I'm not mixing up anything, you've arbitrarily expanded the range of interpretation. You brought in things that my statement doesn't apply to. In addition, the OP pointed out that the book was about self-reflection, which requires a first person narrative.
" Many murder mysteries are not necessarily psychological thrillers or have heavy psychological elements."
Yes, not neccessarly, but they pretty often are. You have deliberately narrowed the range of interpretation so that your statement became true...
" Many people who murder are not the sharpest tools in the shed. Many prolific murderers are barely literate if we want to go into serial murder, and let's be real. "
Yeah, but they are not gonna write a book either (especially not a successful one)... Again, we can talk about marginally related topics and we can bend the argument until we get to an apparent counter-argument, but that still remains just self-deception.
" Murder for many people isn't that complicated in terms of motive or mindset."
I wouldn't say this to a criminal psychologist though...
All in all we are not talking about the same thing.
It is a public forum, why else would you be here if not to be annoyed by overly pedantic 20-something know-it-alls?