Donna Huston Murray's eight cozy mysteries feature a woman much
like herself, a DIY headmaster's wife with a troubling interest in
crime. FINAL ARRANGEMENTS, set at Philadelphia’s world famous flower
show, achieved #1 on the Kindle store lists for Mysteries and Female
Sleuths. Murray’s mystery/crime debut, WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU, won
Honorable Mention in the 23rd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book
Awards. Donna Huston Murray:
A Cozy Mystery Tackles a National Epidemic: FOR BETTER OR WORSE
It seemed simple enough. Just give my cozy series character, Ginger Barnes, a couple of her daughter’s neighbors to adopt—perhaps an unemployed singer living with his slightly dotty grandmother, whom he may or may not push down the stairs. Practical sort that she is, Gin will ask Eric to help move a dresser for the woman two doors down, a young mother with an abusive husband. Sparks will fly, followed by fists…
The idea required me to research spousal abuse, and what I learned astonished me. The Huffington Post’s 2015 article “30 Shocking Domestic Violence Statistics” labeled the problem “a national epidemic,” stating that 1 in 4 women will be severely injured by an intimate partner in their lifetime. That statistic hasn’t budged. For women, domestic violence remains the leading cause of injury.
The topic is also rife with myths. Who would guess that alcohol and drugs don’t prompt the loss of control? They may make the violence worse, but mostly they serve as an excuse to do what the abuser intended to do all along. Turns out most abusive behavior is deliberate, designed to secure the privileged life the perpetrator believes he deserves.
Why does any woman stay? Long-term undermining of her confidence, threat of physical retribution, and fear of losing her children are common reasons, but financial abuse is reported to be the most effective. With no access to money the victim simply can’t afford to leave.“It’s a cozy mystery,” I reminded myself, but I kept looking for a way to sneak in some of those illuminating facts. If I could bring that off, FOR BETTER OR WORSE might stand a chance of making a difference to someone.
In the end my goal wasn’t so difficult. I channeled Agatha Christie and kept the unpleasant bits offstage. I gave Gin a women’s shelter manager to quiz and the same reference books I read myself. Then I sent her to Kentucky Fried Chicken to have lunch with a psychologist.
Beta reader Elissa Strati assured me I brought off the mystery, but her review’s final remark? “Plan on exercising those gray cells with this one.”
Today is FOR BETTER OR WORSE’s pre-order launch day. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076DCGPWZ (Pub date: January, 2018)
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