One of the challenges of writing historic fiction is
keeping anachronisms out of the story. Simply put, an anachronism is the act of
attributing a custom, event, or object to a period to which it doesn’t belong.
When writing a historic mystery, it is especially tempting to give characters knowledge
or access to technology they shouldn’t have to solve the crime.
During my research for both Under Fire and Murder of
Convenience, I was surprised to discover that the field of forensics was
both further ahead and behind than I thought. For example, the first FBI crime
lab was not set up until 1932, and the first British forensics lab in 1935,
eleven years later than the first U.S. lab was created.
Here are some of the milestones in forensics history:
1447: Teeth are
used to identify remains in Duke of Burgundy
1810: First
chemical test of ink in Germany
1835: First
bullet comparison catches murderer Scotland Yard
1830: “Time
since death” temperature experiments with dead British soldiers
1849: Odontology,
the study of teeth for the investigation of identity is used in court
1880: First
elimination of suspect by fingerprints in Scotland
1937: Luminol
invented in Germany to identify blood
Which of these surprised you as to when they were
discovered?
May 1942: Geneva Alexander flees Philadelphia and
joins the USO to escape the engagement her parents have arranged for her, only
to wind up as the number one suspect in her betrothed’s murder investigation. Diagnosed
with Retinitis Pigmentosa, she must find the real killer before she loses her
sight…or is convicted for a crime she didn’t commit.
Set in the early days of America’s entry into WWII and
featuring cameo appearances from Hollywood stars, Murder of Convenience is a tribute to individuals who served on the
home front, especially those who did so in spite of personal difficulties,
reminding us that service always comes as a result of sacrifice. Betrayal,
blackmail, and a barrage of unanswered questions… Murder of Convenience is the
first in the exciting new “Women of Courage” series.
Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JVT42FW
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