I just received this letter from Charlotte, a site reader who will be writing a Cozy Mystery. She has “a great character in the bag, ready to go.” Charlotte would like to know the following:
“What I’m doing at the moment is deciding whether to approach the stories in 1st person or 3rd person. I’ve read both and have no problem with either, in general.
The question I’m hoping you may have an answer to… is this:
Naturally, 1st person requires everything to be told via the protagonist’s point of view. Obviously. But I can’t, for the life of me, remember how 3rd person POV books handle other characters — do you know… if it is permissible in a cozy to allow other characters to take center stage once in a while, when the book is written in 3rd person? Giving background details to the reader that the protagonist still has to work to find out? Or is it imperative, even in 3rd person, that the protagonist’s be the only viewpoint?
… If you have any suggestions of 3rd-person POV books you think I’d enjoy, that might illuminate my question, please free free to share.”
If you have an opinions or preferences, please post a comment. (I am telling Charlotte about the entry so she can use your input.) Thank you!
Angela says
I would suggest that you take a look at Susan Wittig Albert’s “Nightshade” from the China Bayles series. Usually she writes in 1st person from China’s view but for that one book she switched it up and had China’s Husband narrate a few chapters.
Personally I prefer a first person narrative only because it makes me feel a little closer to the characters when I’m in their head. That doesn’t mean I won’t read a 3rd person perspective though. I also don’t know that I would suggest the “Nightshade” approach for a whole series. Too much character jumping could get confusing or distracting. In my opinion S.W. Albert did it just enough in that book so it wasn’t a distraction at all and kind of nice to hear from the other character for a change.
That’s my 2 cents. Good Luck with your book. 🙂
Charlotte says
Thanks, Angela. I will check out SW Albert’s series, and “Nightshade” in particular. 🙂 Another writer I like, Elizabeth Peters (not exactly cozies, but not exactly not cozies, if that makes sense) manages to get other points of view in by having the characters make journal entries. Otherwise, she writes in 1st person with the main protagonist’s POV (any time anyone else’s POV is used, it is 3rd person or, as I mentioned, a journal or letter or some such device). Sometimes a “device” can be quite helpful to get info across, but I’m just not sure yet if it is appropriate for the story I have in mind. Maybe “Nightshade” will give me some clues.
Kay Elam says
I had the same problem when I started my cozy. I wrote the 1st 3 chapters in 1st and 3rd person, let several people read it and the vote was unanimous–3rd person. With 3rd person you can be omniscient where you can use the POV of many characters or limited where you stay closer to one or two characters. I write in limited and have to be careful not to head hop from one to another. I try to not use more than one pov per chapter, the first character mentioned, to make it easier for the reader.
I’m not saying this is right. It’s how I do it. Good luck. I hope it helps.
Charlotte says
Hi, Kay. Your way sounds like how I’d LIKE to do it … I was just feeling uncertain as to whether, even in 3rd person, changing POV was acceptable to readers of cozies. Part of my story wants to be told in 1st person, but there is definitely some info that it would be easier to impart from other POVs … as long as I don’t go crazy, of course — keep it limited, as you say. I’m glad to hear from you! You confirm what I’m thinking of doing. Thanks!
Gamma says
Dorothy Gilman’s Mrs. Pollifax series is almost all told from the POV of Mrs. P, but sometimes Gilman moves the action to CIA headquarters to impart info that only Carstairs and Bishop have. Not even a full chapter, maybe just a page or two at the end of a chapter now and then. It also gives the reader a chance to see how Mrs. P is perceived by her CIA handlers. If you’re not familiar with this series, start with The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax.
Ann says
I started in 3rd person but didn’t feel it was personal enough and I wanted to develop my protag. more so I changed to 1st. It’s all a matter of choice. Find a book or two that you like and study it/them. I’ve found that’s the best way to get a grasp on how to handle your story.
Ann
Charlotte says
Gamma and Ann,
Thanks for the replies. The “Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax” is familiar to me — that is, the title is, but I honestly don’t remember if I’ve ever read any of the Mrs. Pollifax series. We have a brand-new library that I’ve been intending to investigate; that will give me a reason to go. — And Ann, yes, I feel somewhat the same way … I want my story told from a personal POV … but there are just some items I’m not sure my protagonist can get across. I do plan to do as you suggest and read a few more cozies — the thing is, it isn’t that I don’t read cozies. It’s just that I read SO MANY kinds of books (mainly mystery, but some thriller and suspense and historical), and I haven’t concentrated on cozies in so long that I think I’m just out of the habit of thinking “cozy” when it comes to writing style. All the writing advice out there eventually says to “read, read, read” the type of book you want to write. And that’s what you’re suggesting. So obviously, it’s a good bit of universal advice that I will do well to take up again!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Charlotte, I knew that you would get some helpful tips. It looks like you are in for a lot of Cozy Mystery reading!
MJ says
What happened to all my favorites? Valerie Wolzien, Lee Harris, Jill Churchill’s Jane Jeffy’s series? I’ve been in withdrawal!
MJ says
I forgot to mention Jonnie Jacobs in my previous withdrawal post. Missing them for years.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I’ll ask in a future entry to see if anyone knows…
Sheila says
Hi Charlotte, you could add to your reading list the Chet and Bernie stories by Spencer Quinn. They switch between 1st and 3rd POV and between the POV’s of Chet and Bernie, who learn different things at different times or even at the same time, given that Chet is a dog and so has a different perspective of the same scene! Despite the switching, they are very easy to read and follow. Also, the Culinary mystery series by Nancy Fairbanks has at least one book where the POV switches between Caroline and her husband Jason.
Personally, I have no preference over 1st and 3rd person and, so long as the switch is clear and makes sense, don’t mind POV switching.
Good luck with the novel!
Ann P. says
Charlotte –
In answer to your question I think it is fine in a cozy to have another character take center stage. Because when a reader finds out things that the protagonist doesn’t, it adds to the tension.
Here are a few suggestions on 3rd person books:
Agatha Christie’s Dead Man’s Folly, most of the book is from the point of view of Hercule Poirot, but she’s put in a few chapters where the POV shifts to another inspector. In Died in the Wool, Mary Kruger shifts POV by separating them with a break. Another author you may want to check out is Carl Hiaasen: Lucky You, Stormy Weather. Even though his aren’t cozies, he does a great job of shifting POV from chapter to chapter. In P.D. James’ book The Lighthouse, which is more mystery that cozy, she jumps from character to character so we get a taste of each suspect before the murder even happens.
Good luck to you!
Ann P.
Ann says
Oops, my comment is backwards. I started in 1st person and changed to 3rd. In my first two books I also added point of view from secondary characters.
Ann
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, ALL, for helping Charlotte figure out this dilemma…
Charlotte says
Yes, thanks everyone. You all have been wonderfully generous with your responses and suggestions. I now have a great list of what sound like the perfect books for me to read to sort my thoughts. Thanks, Danna, for giving up the blog space to me for a few days. And now, everyone … back to your cozies!! 🙂
Sean says
@thetrustnovel
I’ve been thinking about this a good bit. I’ve read a lot on what other writers have to say and I’ve decided that people are all over the board.
That being said for my current market value “two cents” here is what I’ve found works for me.
I find that 1st person works best for me. First and foremost it lets the reader know what is happening in my main character’s head which I think really helps them develop for the reader. I’ve also started using what I call a “hybrid 1st person.” I have the main character still providing the narration, but in more of an analytical or almost as a commentary fashion. This allows for a a different point of view with a degree of consistency in the story.
I was a bit concerned as I was working through this novel that I might write myself into a situation that I couldn’t get out of, but this point of view provided sufficient ambiguity to allow the mystery/suspense tale to work.
Hope this helps!
Charlotte says
Sean, thanks for the input. I’m curious about your “hybrid 1st person.” This sounds a little like a “someone telling the tale” kind of approach. Is this what you mean?
I have the same concerns about painting myself into a corner. How does your method/hybrid POV provide enough ambiguity … is it because the narrator is learning the facts as they go? Because if it is as if they are “telling the tale” of something they’ve already gone through, rather than telling the story (from their POV) of the events as they unfold, then one might be tempted to have them say things like “Little did I know that, by the next day …” so forth and so on. I’m really curious as to how you approach your story-telling with this method. I am not even exactly sure how to phrase my question, but hopefully you can figure me out! I will check back here again in a day or two, in case you have a chance to respond. Thanks so much for your input!
Andrea D says
Hi Danna!
Speaking of first person point of view, I would love to see a section on the theme page showing cozies that are in first person. I particularly love Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series as well as Patricia Sprinkle’s Mac Yarbrough series for this exact reason. I agree that it helps you feel closer to the main character. (This isn’t a cozy, but I was really upset when Patricia Cornwell changed her POV from 1st to 3rd and stopped reading the Kay Scarpetta series for that very reason).
I love this website! I am really enjoying reading everyone’s comments :).
Andrea
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Andrea, I’m glad you’re enjoying the site’s comments. I do, too!
While it is easier to hear the first-person sleuth’s thoughts, I think that the majority of the Cozy Mystery series that I follow are third person >>> seems easier to pick up on red herrings.