Crime Writer Margot Kinberg

Most parents love their children very much, and want them to be safe, well, and successful. That protectiveness and support can take a lot of forms, too. It could be monitoring schoolwork, restricting screen time, or setting strict curfews. Most of the time, that supervision is healthy for children. Sometimes, though, parents’ perceptions of ‘taking good care’ of their children include pushing them towards a career, a marriage choice, or some other life choice that might not be best for the child. It’s difficult to balance appropriate supervision with allowing the freedom to make independent life choices, and that challenge can make for an interesting source of tension in a crime novel plot or in character development.

For example, in Agatha Christie’s Lord Edgware Dies, famous American actress Jane Wilkinson asks Hercule Poirot to convince her husband, Lord Edgware, to grant her a divorce. She wants to marry the Duke of Merton and says that her husband won’t free her to do so. Poirot agrees, rather reluctantly, and speaks to Lord Edgware on the matter. To Poirot’s surprise, Merton says he’s already agreed to the divorce. That night, he is murdered, and Jane becomes the prime suspect. However, twelve people are prepared to swear that she was at a dinner party in another part of London at the time of the killing, so Poirot and the police have to look elsewhere for the murderer. In the course of the investigation, Poirot gets a visit from the Dowager Duchess of Merton. She’s violently opposed to the idea of a marriage between her son and Jane Wilkinson, and wants Poirot to prevent that marriage. On the one hand, she is pushy and insistent, and has no problem determining her adult son’s choices. On the other, Poirot can see that she loves her son and doesn’t want him to marry the wrong person. She’s an interesting character in that way.

In James Ellroy’s LA Confidential, we follow the stories of three LAPD police officers: first as they are involved in a Christmas Day attack on a group of civilians; then through a shooting at an all-night diner; then as their careers move on. One of these officers is Ed Exley. His father, Preston Exley, is a member of the ‘top brass’ in the LAPD. His oldest son followed in his footsteps and had started on a brilliant career, but he was killed. Now, Preston Exley is determined that his other son Ed will become his successor. He’s pushed Ed from a young age and monitors his career closely. In that sense, he is hard-edged and very hard on his son. As Preston sees it, though, he is looking out for Ed’s welfare, and ensuring that he’ll be successful. Part of the novel shows readers the impact of this on Ed Exley’s personality.

Laura Joh Rowland’s Shinjū takes place in 16^th Century Japan, in what is now Tokyo. Sano Ichirō is a yorichi, or police investigator. It’s normally an occupation restricted to those born in higher classes, but Sano’s family had a wealthy sponsor, so he was able to get the position. Sano’s parents, especially his father, worked to get him that sponsorship, so he feels a debt to them. They wanted him to do well, and he does have a position of respect. One day, he is asked to take on ‘a small matter.’ Two bodies have been pulled from the Sumida River. One is a ‘well-born’ young woman named Niu Yukiko. The other is an artist named Yoriyushi. On the surface, it looks like a shinjū – a double suicide. The two were in love, but unable to marry because of their different classes. And that’s the official explanation that Sano’s superiors want. But there seems to be more to this death than that, so Sano starts asking questions. In this novel, family expectations, and pressure on children to meet them, play an important role as Sano looks into the case. They also impact Sano on a personal level.

Susan Walter’s Good as Dead features Holly Kendrick and her daughter Savannah. When Holly’s husband Gabriel is killed in a hit-and-run incident, she is devastated. She was hurt in the accident, and saw what happened, though. Wealthy Jack Kimball, who owns the car involved, knows that. He also knows that if word gets out about what’s happened, his successful career as a Hollywood mogul will be over. So, he offers Holly a deal. If she and Savannah say nothing about what they know, Kimball will give them the luxurious lifestyle they’ve never been able to afford. There’ll be a posh house in an exclusive community, an elite college education for Savannah, and complete coverage of Holly’s medical bills. At first, Holly doesn’t want to take the offer, but she wants the best for Savannah, so she agrees. At first, it all seems fabulous. But Holly isn’t entirely comfortable in this new atmosphere, although she keeps the bargain for Savannah’s sake. It’s a difficult situation for both of them, especially when people in their new community start to get curious about who these two people are and where they come from.

One of the characters we meet in Samantha Downing’s For Your Own Good  is Ingrid Ross. Her daughter Courtney is a student at the ultra-exclusive Belmont Academy. Ingrid is heavily involved in school activities, and a member of the school’s parent group. Belmont is the kind of school where nearly all students are accepted at world-class universities, and where all of them are children of wealth and privilege. Ingrid wants Courtney to succeed, so she puts a great deal of pressure on her daughter. She texts her frequently and gets angry if her texts aren’t immediately returned. She supervises every moment possible of her daughter’s life, discouraging her from dating, friend groups, and so on. In Ingrid’s mind, she is supporting her daughter and helping her to be successful. But that’s not how Courtney sees it. When Ingrid is killed shortly after an argument with Courtney, the police naturally focus on Courtney as the main suspect. In fact, she’s arrested. Her friend Zach doesn’t believe she’s guilty, though, and starts asking questions. As the novel goes on, we see that Belmont is hiding more than one dark secret…

Most parents really do want their children to do well and be successful. That goal means different things to different parents and can mean different things to their children. So, sometimes, ‘I meant it for your own good’ can turn out disastrously.

*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from Simple Plan’s Perfect.