Chapter 16: Method of Murder

What's the best one for your book?

After I figure out the plot twists I want to use in my novel, my next step is to decide on the method of murder that makes most sense for my Villain to use.

There are two kinds of murders your Villain can commit: a narrative murder, or a non-narrative murder.

A narrative murder is one in which the villain has constructed a false story that explains how the death occurred. We’ve all seen a mystery where a car careens down a steep road and crashes, due to the fact that the Villain has cut the brake lines. This is a narrative murder, and the narrative is, “This death was caused by a car accident.” Some common narratives include:

• The death was an accident

• The death was due to a heart attack, stroke, or other medical event

• The death was suicide

• The death was the result of an animal attack

• The victim is still alive