Recaps in Mysteries

Apartment building with repetitive pattern of windows with two that stand out.

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Recently, I was looking over my customer reviews on Goodreads (I know…I rarely read my reviews there, although I always read them on Amazon) and one of them stood out to me.  A reader said that he especially appreciated the way that I handled recaps because he was able to catch back up when his Kindle malfunctioned and skipped ahead.

The Best Way to Recap:

I think the best way to handle recaps (especially in a cozy mystery) is to have them between the sidekick and the sleuth.  Otherwise, you end up in a situation where you have a lot of interior dialogue.  That makes your sleuth engage in too much thinking and not enough doing.  Even for the slower pace of a cozy mystery, that can slow the story’s pace down a little too much.

Although:

I find it’s also helpful for the sleuth to think private editorial comments  while interviewing suspects.  Especially if something a suspect says directly contradicts something that another suspect said. I keep it very brief and keep things moving in the interview. It’s the sleuth registering contradictions (which helps the reader notice them, too). 

How Often to Recap:

I don’t have my sleuth and sidekick together questioning every suspect because some of the interviews are impromptu.  Maybe the sleuth and a suspect ran into each other at the grocery store or at the park while walking their dogs. It makes it very natural for the sleuth to catch up his or her sidekick soon after.

I also recap at regular intervals whenever they sleuth and sidekick are just hanging out together, trying to relax from the stress of the case.  I feel as though it’s normal for them to hash the case out between the two of them.  I’ll frequently have the sidekick stuck on a particular suspect while the sleuth favors a different person.  Neither one will usually be the right killer, or, if they are the right one, it will be for a different reason, etc.

Always Being Careful Not To:

Draw too much attention to clues. And don’t beat the red herrings to death.

Don’t be too repetitive with the recaps.  Briefly state a reminder of old points and spend longer fleshing out newer bits of information.

As a Nice Bonus:

Recaps serve a great purpose for the writer, too…keeping it all straight in the writer’s mind.  Mysteries can be convoluted.

As a reader, do you like recaps? How do you handle them, as a writer?

Tips for better recaps in your murder mystery: Click To Tweet

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Elizabeth Spann Craig

View posts by Elizabeth Spann Craig
Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series (as Riley Adams) and the Southern Quilting mysteries for Penguin and writes the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently. She also has a blog, which was named by Writer’s Digest as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers. There she posts on the writing craft, finding inspiration in everyday life, and fitting writing into a busy schedule.

12 Comments

  1. Alex J. CavanaughApril 20, 2018

    I don’t think I do much in the way of recapping. Although it might not be as urgent a need in my genre.

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigApril 20, 2018

      It might be mostly a mystery thing. I’m not sure if I’ve even read it in other genres. If I did, it didn’t stick out to me.

  2. Margot KinbergApril 20, 2018

    You know, I hadn’t thought about recaps as such, Elizabeth. I think I do that, but haven’t really planned it. Hmmm…..And you’re right; I can see how recaps would help the author, too. I’d guess that’s especially true with whodunits. Interesting to think about – thanks.

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigApril 20, 2018

      It’s an important element for me as a reader and writer of mysteries, but I can’t think that I’ve ever read anything about *writing* mystery recaps. I guess it’s one of those unsaid things (until now, ha).

  3. L. Diane WolfeApril 20, 2018

    And don’t begin recaps with “Well, you know, Bob…” LOL

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigApril 20, 2018

      For sure, ha!!

  4. ChemistKenApril 20, 2018

    It’s been said that the best stories in other genres are those that contain an element of mystery that needs to be solved (usually by the main character). I could see recaps being worthwhile in those stories too. Thanks. Elizabeth.

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigApril 20, 2018

      Good point! Other genres do weave in mysteries in their stories. Hope you have a good weekend, Ken!

  5. HilaryApril 20, 2018

    Hi Elizabeth – what an interesting thought … but I do like to be reminded occasionally about things that have happened – I usually let my mind wander to ‘guess catch up’ … not sure I’ve noticed it before though … something else to consider at times – cheers Hilary

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigApril 20, 2018

      Thanks, Hilary! Hope you have a wonderful weekend. :)

  6. Teresa C.April 22, 2018

    I definitely benefit from recaps. Our brains are always thinking. My brain tries to solve everything, so recapping helps to pull me back to the reality of the story.

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigApril 22, 2018

      Good way of putting it! That’s exactly what it helps me to do, as a reader.

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