J is for Job
Oh, for the love of Hephaestus’ Hammer. Know how the job your are writing about works. Especially an occupation people are well aware of.
Yes, I know cozy mysteries give out belief coins which allow the non-police to interfere with a police investigation. This allows little old ladies, writers, chefs, scientists, and various assorted “normal” people to poke their nose into something without getting handcuffs slapped on. BUT THERE ARE LIMITS.
In this case, the line is crossed so, so hard into “interfering with an investigation” when the (male) romantic interest of the (female) police officer goes to the first possible suspect at the very beginning of the investigation and harasses the suspect AT THE SUSPECT’S WORK. The (female) police officer arrives to find the female suspect shouting at the not-yet-but-could-be-romantic-interest “I said get out!” …. and the suspect repeats it Three Times before the cop can get to the room. This is chapter two start.
Oh, it gets worse.
The cop then proceeds to tell the suspect how the murder occurred (which is fairly horrific and should not be public knowledge, especially during the initial parts of an investigation).
I did a quick jump to the book end to see if anything was redeemable. Nope – male-lead is still mangling the cop’s job and the cop is breaking basic, basic rules.
Yes, in the fiction romantic world, cops bend rules. In the mystery genre, the spunky civilian is allowed to help. But (1) don’t have a romantic lead in a situation smacking of stalker-level abuse and (2) don’t tell the suspect everything about the murder (until the end during the Reveal). Not only did this manuscript destroy any attractiveness of the male romantic lead by his aggressiveness early in the book, it broke mystery genre convention on when and how Reveals are done.
If you write about cops, know how cops work and how they work in your genres. If you write about librarians and researchers, the same. Computer techs. Politicians. Whatever the job is, make it real – and only edge into the fantastic according to the needs of the genre.
(Rant based on a book review, not a book edit)