Guest post for Death by Leprechaun by Jennifer S. Alderson

Who-dunnit Is More Important Than Why

Characters are the heart of the Travel Can Be Murder novels, a series of cozy mysteries that follow tour guide Lana Hansen to intriguing locations around Europe. They come alive for readers – according to many Amazon and Goodreads reviews – something I am very proud of.

That is why I like to murder my victim later in the book, instead of in the first chapter, so readers can see him or her interacting with Lana’s tour group before the proverbial shot is fired. It also gives me a chance to introduce several storylines that intersect and collide as the tour progresses.

I also think it is important to spend so much time developing the characters because this is not a typical cozy mystery series, in the sense that there is no small town where a cast of reoccurring characters live and interact. I do have some characters that pop in and out of each book, such as Lana’s best friend, her boss, and her boyfriend. But the majority change with each story and tour.

This changing cast allows me to give the characters a profession or background that relates the place they are visiting. For example, in Death by Leprechaun, music and genealogy are important themes in the book. Dublin is famous for its musical traditions – not only the big-name bands like U2, but also the lively busking tradition on Grafton Street. Genealogy is one of the most important reasons for Americans to visit Ireland – travelers want to rediscover their roots. So several of my characters are in Ireland to visit their ancestral homes or trace their family’s lineage during the trip. Two others are musicians interested in exploring Dublin’s lively nightlife. Thanks to their interests, readers also get to learn more about Irish music and genealogical research.

When writing these stories, I spend most of my “thinking time” working out each character’s backgrounds and motivations, long before I consider which places and attractions Lana’s group will visit. It is fun for me to give them a profession I know very little about so that I also have a chance to learn something new.

I do hope readers enjoy the tours of the European cities Lana visits, as well as getting to know the characters in my book!

About the Author

Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, raised in Seattle, and currently lives in the Netherlands. Jennifer’s love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning Zelda Richardson Mystery series, Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries, and standalone stories. When not writing, she can be found in a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.

Learn more about Jennifer S. Alderson ant Death by Leprechaun at JenniferSAlderson.com. Want more author news? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.