I recently –
and wonderfully – completed my first mystery novel, then tentatively titled So,
A Psychopath walked into a bar. I quickly discovered that the novel would
not stand alone. A synopsis was required. As a freelance journalist and
communications specialist, I’ve put together a lifetime of pitches and
proposals. Still, I spent some time reading up on what makes a successful
synopsis. Then I wrote my own.
My synopsis
does not follow the traditional pattern, but most of the required elements are
there. I wondered if this would pass muster. Overall, the people I shared the
synopsis with liked it. One person didn’t like it at all and said it would
never pass muster with publishers. I took a long hard look and, respectfully,
disagreed.
This was
nerve-wracking. I knew it would be easier to simply follow the path well taken,
but I felt I needed to branch out. I entered a shorter version of my synopsis
in the Synopsis Skirmish contest – and won. The judge (one of my favorite
people) had this to say: The author’s handling of voice in this synopsis is so
powerful, it made me want to read the novel right away. The synopsis is unusual
and intriguing—a winning combination.
When the
acquisitions editor at BWL (another of my favorite people) reached out to me
requesting a full copy of my manuscript, she noted, “We
were quite taken with your synopsis.”
The synopsis issue has driven home to me the need to listen
to yourself, that inner voice that knows you better than anyone. At the same
time, it has taught me more about flexibility and being open to feedback. There
is nothing as helpful as constructive criticism (whether accepted or not) and
editors are worth their weight in gold.
I thought I’d share my synopsis – my very first – with you.
I’d love to know what you think.
Synopsis
So, A psychopath walked into a bar: A
Riel Brava Mystery
By donalee Moulton
Let’s start with
the obvious.
Meet Riel Brava.
Attractive. Razor-sharp. Ambitious.
Riel, born and bred in Santa Barbara,
California, has been transplanted to Nova Scotia where he is CEO of the
Canadian Cannabis Corporation (CCC). It’s business as usual until Riel finds
the company’s comptroller hanging by a thread. Actually, several threads. It
doesn’t take the police long to determine all is not as it appears.
Let’s dive
beneath the surface.
Meet Riel Brava. Observant. Cautious. Psychopathic.
Not the Dexter-Hannibal Lecter-Norman
Bates kind of psychopath. The kind who live and work among us, mostly
unnoticed, often successful, always on full alert their differences will be
uncovered. Riel is personable, even charming. He’s keen to understand how the
human mind works, so he’ll blend in. After all, his goal is to be president of
the United States. (An aspiration that will feature in future books.)
Let’s talk plot.
So Norm Bedwell has apparently hanged
himself in his office at CCC. Emphasis on apparently. It takes Detective Lin
Raynes mere minutes to suspect the obvious is deceiving and what appears to be
death by suicide is actually a murder. Over the course of 13 chapters (there is
also an introductory chapter), he works to uncover and discover who would want
Bedwell dead and how they could have pulled the murder off.
He’s not alone. In an unusual pairing,
Raynes and Riel work together to chase down leads – the bully who tortured
Bedwell’s son at school, the mysterious orange truck that belongs to no CCC
employee but was parked in the company lot the night Bedwell was murdered, the
employee, who despite stringent security measures, has managed to steal weed
from CCC and start a healthy little illegal business.
Raynes manages to engage Riel, albeit
reluctantly, in the hunt for Bedwell’s killer, and in the process, the seeds of
an unexpected and unusual friendship are sown. (These seeds will blossom in
subsequent books.)
Various motives are explored through a
number of suspects – revenge, fear, greed – but ultimately, it’s love that becomes
the reason Norm Bedwell no longer lives. Unfortunately, the evidence is
circumstantial. Raynes and Riel concoct a scheme to draw a confession out of
the killer, but that plan is never put into place. Instead, Riel finds himself
on the receiving end of a rifle in the ribs and a long drive to the middle of
Nowhere, Nova Scotia.
Let’s look at the
core cast of returning characters. You’ll like them all.
Tiffany Brava. Riel’s wife and loyal
supporter. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, Tiffany knows Riel is not
quite like everyone else – and why. For now, that door is closed. What’s openly
obvious is her affection for her husband, her loyalty, and her acumen. Don’t
count Tiffany out as the dumb blonde. Oh yes, she’s vegan.
Franklin Raynes. The Halifax Police
Department’s lead detective on this case is Black, quintessentially Nova
Scotian, and a consummate charmer. He can read the room and respond accordingly.
He takes a shine to Riel, and also realizes how helpful the psychopath can be
in solving this case. (Yes, Lin Raynes is privy to Riel’s deepest secret, but
he doesn’t admit it to his new friend – just yet.) Oh yeah, Raynes also does
this thing with his left eyebrow.
Senator John Williams. Tiffany’s dad |
Riel’s father-in-law is the Democratic Senator for District 19. A seasoned and
senior politician, Williams is a co-owner of CCC, although it’s not an asset he
talks about with constituents. He’s brusque, except where his daughter is
concerned, and well connected, even in Canada.
Zahra
Bashir. A practising Muslim and savvy TV
reporter who’s always on the lookout for the inside scoop. Bashir makes many of
the other characters very nervous despite her friendly demeanor.
David Clements. The recreational
cannabis sector in Canada is heavily regulated. Clements is the federal DOJ’s
contact for Riel. Their relationship is one of power and powerful expectations.
Clements holds that power. A minor character, Clements plays an important role.
He’s the first person to use a special word.
There are other characters introduced
in this book who will also return but play a smaller role in this mystery.
Let’s look at the
cast of characters in the book. You won’t like them all.
Faye Bedwell, distraught and
disrespected wife of Norm Bedwell
Bran Bedwell, the Bedwell’s
12-year-old son who takes a liking to Riel. Good grief.
Thorne, media consultant and very
protective of Riel
The bully and his parents.
The poor sod who owns the orange
truck.
The killer.
What’s familiar
about So, A psychopath walked into a bar to make mystery fans feel at
home
·
It’s fast-paced.
·
It lays out a path of breadcrumbs that lead, ultimately, to the
killer. First, of course, the path branches off in several misdirections.
·
It creates suspense.
·
It builds understanding and affection for key characters.
·
It leaves readers wanting more.
What’s novel
about the book to make the mystery stand apart and readers turning pages
·
It introduces a unique character that, ironically, we empathize
with
·
It’s funny as hell
·
It’s written by an award-winning journalist who knows both how to
tell a story and how to use words to maximum effect
Riel Brava: Vital
Statistics
Height: 6’1
Weight: 165 pounds
Waist: 35 inches
Age: 37
Spouse: Tiffany, the vegan
Job: CEO, Canadian Cannabis Corp.
Location: Elmsdale, Nova Scotia,
Canada
Ambition: President of the United
States of America
Favorite food: Donairs (definitely not
vegan)
Top personality trait: Psychopath
Burning question: What the hell’s a
chunderf**k
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