Crime Writer Margot Kinberg

When we read crime fiction, most of us know that there’s going to be, well, crime in the novel. Some novels are light and some are absolutely pitch-black dark, but most involve things that people do to each other. And yet, there’s also something else in a lot of crime novels. Sometimes, people are good to each other and help one another. And that can restore a person’s faith in humanity. It takes a bit of balance to include those moments, because most readers don’t want their crime fiction to be sugary-sweet. But those moments of human decency can add much to a novel.

For instance, in Agatha Christie’s The Hollow, Hercule Poirot has taken a cottage near the country home of Sir Henry and Lady Lucy Angkatell. When the Angkatells host a house party one weekend, they invite Poirot to lunch on the Sunday. When Poirot arrives, he finds that a man has been shot and his body found near the pool. At first, Poirot thinks that it’s a tableau staged for his dubious benefit. But soon enough, he sees that it’s all quite real. John Christow, one of the house guests, has been murdered and the apparent murderer is standing nearby holding the gun. Inspector Grange and his officers investigate, and it turns out that this isn’t as simple a case as it seemed. One of the house guests is David Angkatell, who’s down from Oxford for the weekend. He is uncomfortable with everyone and therefore, surly and uncommunicative. For quite a time no-one reaches out to include him. But then, Midge Hardcastle, another guest, takes the time to sit down and talk to him. That doesn’t make him suddenly an extrovert, but it is a connection that does David good.

As Dorothy L. Sayers’ The Nine Tailors begins, Lord Peter Wimsey and his valet Mervyn Munter are taking a road trip. They get involved in an accident and find themselves stranded near the town of Fenchurch St. Paul. Reverend Theodore Venables, who happens to be passing, rescues the stranded men and offers them lodging at the vicarage while the car is repaired. Wimsey and Bunter gratefully take Venables up on his offer and are soon settled in. By way of showing his gratitude, Wimsey takes the place of one of the town’s bell ringers when that man becomes ill. Little do Wimsey and Bunter know that they’re about to be drawn into a mysterious case of an unexpected corpse, a theft, and intrigue.

Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series features Mma Precious Ramotswe, who owns Botswana’s only female-owned private investigation agency. Fans of these stories know that in many of the cases, Mma Ramotswe extends kindness; it’s part of her philosophy. But she’s not the only one. Her husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, owns Tlokeng Road Speedy Motors. He’s a gifted mechanic who’s always ready to help a stranded motorist without trying to grift money. He’s also a good handyman who’s very helpful to Mma Sylvia Potokwane, who runs a local ‘Orphan Farm.’ Mma Potokwane is on a very tight budget and cannot usually afford to make repairs to the orphanage or its equipment. So Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni spends his share of time at the orphanage making whatever repairs are needed – at no charge. He even goes so far as to take in two of the orphans, who later become part of his family.

Even in darker novels, there are those acts of kindness that can make a difference. For example, in Jean-Claude Izzo’s Total Chaos, we meet Marseilles police officer Fabian Montale. He’s recently returned to the city after a time away. He grew up impoverished and got himself into trouble more than once. In fact, one incident ended in a tragic death, although it wasn’t intended. That’s when Montale decided to get his life together. He joined the army and later, the police force, and now, his old haunts have become his patrol area. He hasn’t forgotten his background, and he has real compassion for people who are caught in poverty. He does what he can to reach out and help the young people (in whom he sometimes sees himself). For instance, he pays one or another of them to watch his car when he parks it, so nobody steals or damages it. To him, keeping these young people productively busy is better than letting them get involved in street gangs or worse. He’d rather support the people in his area than constantly be arresting them.

In Anthony Bidulka’s Going to Beautiful, Toronto celebrity chef Jake Hardy has what seems to be the perfect life. He’s got a solid marriage, a successful son, and quite a bit of fame. Then, his beloved husband, Eddie, dies from a fall off the balcony of their luxury condominium. When it’s established that this was murder, Jake is very much a person of interest. He’s able to clear his name, but the whole thing has devastated him as if the loss of Eddie hadn’t been terrible enough. Jake decides to take a break from it all and visit Eddie’s hometown of Beautiful, Saskatchewan. He wants to learn more about Eddie’s past, and he’s hoping to start the grieving and healing process. From the moment he and his friend Baz arrive at Beautiful, everyone shows the two of them unexpected kindness. They’re warmly welcomed, amply fed, and comfortably lodged. It’s not long before they’re almost considered part of the community. As Jake spends time there, he forms bonds with these people. He also finds out the truth behind Eddie’s murder. And later, we learn that he uses his skills as a star chef to give back to the community. It’s a real example of how, even when things are terrible, individuals can still be kind.

People really can show kindness and reach out to each other, even in terrible times. Sometimes it’s sharing food or lodging, sometimes it’s a listening ear, and sometimes it’s rescue. Those moments of decency can make life livable, and they can add warmth and depth to a novel. Even a crime novel.

*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from Bill Withers’ Lean on Me.