Many Santa Barbara mystery novels also incorporate the local culture. Whether it's the local festivals, traditions or the way of life in Santa Barbara, it all adds to the flavor of the mystery. It can be used as a backdrop for the story or even be directly related to the mystery itself. For instance, a mystery might revolve around a valuable artifact that is part of a local festival.
Well, 'The Santa Barbara Secret' is quite popular. It involves a complex web of secrets and lies in the beautiful backdrop of Santa Barbara. The mystery unfolds gradually, keeping the readers on the edge of their seats as they try to piece together the clues.
One unique feature is the setting. Dave Davis often chooses settings that are both ordinary and yet full of secrets. Like an old mansion that seems normal on the outside but has a dark history hidden within its walls. This creates a great contrast and adds to the overall mystery. Also, his use of red herrings is very clever. He'll introduce elements that seem important at first but turn out to be distractions, keeping the reader on their toes until the very end.
Marcia Clark's background as a prosecutor gives her novels an air of authenticity. In her books like 'Killer Ambition', the legal procedures are accurately depicted, which adds to the realism of the mystery. Also, the characters are usually multi - dimensional, not just simple good or bad guys, which makes the stories more interesting.
One of the popular 1985 murder mystery novels is 'Gorky Park' by Martin Cruz Smith. Its unique feature is the setting in the Soviet Union, which was not a common backdrop for murder mysteries at that time. It offers a vivid portrayal of the Soviet society and its political undercurrents while the main character tries to solve a triple murder case.
In the 'Truly Devious' series, the dual - time - line setting is really special. You get to see the events from the past related to the original murder and how they connect to the current happenings in the boarding school. The atmosphere of the old - fashioned boarding school also adds to the mystery.
Well, her mystery - like elements often involve nature. For example, in 'Flight Behavior', the mystery of the butterflies is deeply connected to the environment. So, nature plays a big role in creating the mystery.
One well - known Santa Barbara ghost story is about the ghosts in the Old Mission. People claim to have seen the apparitions of the early missionaries there. It's said that at certain times of the night, you can see shadowy figures moving around the old corridors as if they were still going about their daily tasks from centuries ago.
The sense of isolation in Santa Barbara settings can add to the horror. If characters are alone in a big, old house or in a desolate part of the forest, it makes them more vulnerable to the horror elements, whether they are natural or supernatural.
Well, in 2016, many murder mystery podcasts (fiction) had really strong character development. They would introduce complex characters with their own secrets and motives. For example, in some podcasts, the detective character might have a troubled past that affects how they approach the case.
One popular 'Santa Barbara' fan fiction could be about the romantic relationships of the main characters, exploring different 'what if' scenarios. For example, what if two characters who had a near - miss in the show actually got together. Another might focus on the backstories of the characters, like delving deeper into a character's childhood that was only hinted at in the original series.