Crime Writer Margot Kinberg

Not all criminal investigations move along quickly. In real life and in crime fiction, it can sometimes take a while to get answers. The stress of an investigation that drags on can be difficult for anyone, whether it’s the team of investigators or the families who are waiting for answers. This stress is a fact of life, and it can add tension to a crime novel, so long as it doesn’t bog down a story.

For example, in Agatha Christie’s Lord Edgware Dies, Hercule Poirot is approached by famous actress Jane Wilkinson. She wants to be rid of her husband, the 4^th Baron Edgeware, but she says he won’t grant her a divorce. She asks Poirot to intercede on her behalf, and he reluctantly agrees. To Poirot’s surprise, Edgware tells him that he has no objection to the divorce and had already informed his wife of that. The next night, though, Edgware is stabbed. Chief Inspector Japp investigates with Poirot’s help, but they soon run into a snag. Although Jane Wilkinson is the primary suspect, she claims that she was at a dinner in another part of London. Twelve people are ready to swear that she was there, so Poirot and Japp look elsewhere for the culprit. It’s not an easy case, though, and it takes quite some time to solve. In fact, it’s not until Poirot hears a chance remark from a stranger that he gets the vital clue to the mystery. I see you, fans of The ABC Murders.

In Frédérique Molay’s The 7^th Woman, Chief Nico Sirsky, Head of the Paris CID La Crim’ and his team are called in when the body of Marie-Hélène Jory is found in her home. There are no real clues, so the investigation gets off to a slow start. Then, another woman’s body is discovered, and she’s been killed in the same way. This time, the killer leaves a cryptic message, but there are still no clear pieces of evidence. Then there’s another death. By this time, the investigation team is exhausted and frustrated, as you can imagine. The murderer has targeted Sirsky with various messages, but there seems to be no motive for that. The case wears on everyone, but finally, there’s a breakthrough. Once that vital link is established, Sirsky discovers who’s behind the murders and what the motive is.

Paul Doiron’s Massacre Pond features Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch. One day, he’s alerted to the discovery of ten dead moose on the property of environmental activist Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Morse. Bowditch begins an investigation, focusing first on those who oppose Morse’s activism. There are plenty of people who fall into that category, too. Some people depend for their livelihood on hunting and fishing. Others want to bring in more tourist dollars, and don’t want activists to interfere. There are other possibilities, too. Then, there’s a murder. Now, the investigation ramps up, but there’s still no clear evidence to suggest who is responsible for what’s going on. It takes time, and Bowditch gets increasingly frustrated (and falls under considerable scrutiny) as the pieces don’t fall into place. Finally, though, there’s a breakthrough, and Bowditch gets the answers he needs.

In Liam McIllvanney’s The Quaker, it’s 1969, and Glasgow is on edge because of a killer who’s been dubbed the Quaker. So far, the Quaker has murdered three women, but there isn’t much to go on at first. The police do their best, but without clear evidence, the case hasn’t gotten very far, and there are other cases demanding attention. The press and the public are fed up with what they perceive as lack of action, so the police are under a lot of pressure. That’s when DI (Detective Inspector) Duncan McCormack is sent to join the Quaker Squad. As you can imagine, he’s not welcomed with open arms. In fact, some of the local police refuse to co-operate with him at all. But he gets started and sifts through what’s known about the case. In the end, the police team and McCormack do learn to work together, and the case is solved. But it’s a long, frustrating case that leaves everyone drained.

There’s also Rod Reynolds’ Black Reed Bay. In it. The Hampstead, Long Island police are faced with a difficult case. A young woman named Tina Grace calls, saying someone is trying to kill her. Detective Casey Wray and her police partner, David Cullen, respond to the call, but by the time they get there, Tina has disappeared. Interviews with the homeowners in the area don’t offer much. A few saw Tina and noticed that she was visibly distressed, but they don’t know where she went. Others didn’t see anything. She did visit one resident, but he says he has no idea where she went after she left his house. A thorough search of his property doesn’t yield any evidence. Now, Tina is considered a missing person, and a larger search begins. It doesn’t go very far, though, and it’s quite possible that Tine disappeared on purpose. Wray and her team are under increasing pressure, since the longer Tina remains missing, the more likely it is that she is in danger or worse. Time goes on, though, and nothing surfaces. Then, Wray learns that there could be more than one missing person connected to Tina’s disappearance. Even more frustrated, Wray keeps searching for answers, and in the end, we learn what’s behind it all.

It would be ideal if each case were solved quickly, and in some instances, they are. But sometimes, that doesn’t happen. Cases can drag on and wear everyone down. That stress isn’t pleasant, but it can make for solid suspense in a crime story if it doesn’t drag the story out (Right, fans of Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö’s Rosanna?).

*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from Chet Kelley and Thomas R King’s Time Won’t Let Me.