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Guest Blog: One Sleuth’s Bottom Line by Rosemary McCracken

Please welcome author Rosemary McCracken to the blog today as she explains why she writes financial mysteries.

 

One Sleuth’s Bottom Line by Rosemary McCracken

 

When I decided to write my first mystery novel, I had been writing articles about personal finance for a number of years. As a financial journalist, I had interviewed scores of financial planners and investment managers. I’d attended their conferences. I understood the issues they faced. There was, and still is, a huge concern about the bad apples in their industry: the bent advisors and investment managers. The financial services industry revolves around money, so it provides opportunities for those clever and greedy enough to challenge the system.

Those issues certainly got a reaction from me. I was horrified when I heard about Bernie Madoff, the New York money manager who swindled his clients out of $65 billion in a massive Ponzi scheme. And we had scumbags in Toronto, the city where I live. One of them, a Bay Street advisor, operated a classic confidence scam. He’d get close to his older, wealthier clients, dazzle them with his interest and concern. Then he’d sell them bogus stocks and drain their bank accounts. I knew how I’d feel if I had been one of his victims.

This was the fuel I needed as an author. A topic that would resonate with me for the months—and years—it takes to complete a novel. I decided to make the central character of my mystery novel a financial planner. Before long, my protagonist, Pat Tierney, took shape in my mind. She believes convicted financial scamsters get off too easily. She wants to see tougher penalties, prison terms and hefty fines. And what really makes her blood boil is the crooks who go after decent, ordinary people who’ve worked hard to pay off their mortgages and put away money for their retirement. When these folks get ripped off, Pat gets hopping mad.

So I started to write a financial thriller, although at the time I’d never heard of financial thrillers. But I soon discovered a number of authors who were writing in this sub-genre. Their books are popular because everyone understands the lure of easy money: we’re all attracted by it and some people will do anything to get it. Most of us have fantasized about what our lives would be like if we won a big lottery or received a surprise inheritance. Easy money. Money we didn’t have to work hard for.

Most of us are content to keep our money fantasies as fantasies. The few of us who aren’t go on to commit financial crimes. Rob banks. Skim money from clients’ investment accounts. Steal personal information in order to write cheques and take out mortgages and credit cards in another person’s name.

Some people will even murder for money.

As an amateur sleuth with a financial background, Pat Tierney recognizes the red flags for fraud, money laundering and other financial crimes. Not surprisingly, they turn up in her mystery novels, and they’re all crimes that you and I can fall prey to. Uncharted Waters, her most recent adventure, features a nasty scam to defraud homeowners.

I’ve heard readers say, “Oh, financial stuff is boring. I don’t understand it, and I don’t want to.” Well, some financial thriller writers get into the nitty-gritty of market trades and insider details, but the best writers make their characters’ worlds accessible to all readers. They make their stories human with colorful, relatable characters with distinct voices. I stay away from too much financial jargon and the dry details of investing. Financial planning is Pat Tierney’s work, but I keep it on the back burner. Pat knows that money isn’t about figures on a spreadsheet or the intricacies of an investment portfolio. Money is about people—the young couple saving to buy their first home, the older couple worried that they may outlive their savings. And, of course, Pat knows that some people can never have enough money.

As a journalist, I wrote articles about many of the financial crimes that Pat encounters. Now, I often look up the people I interviewed for these articles, and ask them more questions. But my research largely tends to be in other areas. I’ve attended refugee hearings to find out what happens when displaced people apply for asylum in Canada. I’ve talked to scene-of-the-crime officers to learn what police do at different types of crime scenes. I’ve talked to forensic cleaners—people who clean up crime scenes.

Welcome to the world of Pat Tierney.

Rosemary McCracken ©2020

Rosemary McCracken lives, writes and teaches writing in Toronto, Canada. Her four Pat Tierney mysteries—Safe Harbor, Black Water, Raven Lake and Uncharted Waters—are available on Amazon. “The Sweetheart Scamster,” a Pat Tierney short story published in Thirteen, was a Derringer Award finalist in 2014.

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Still An Amazon Associate

Been awhile since I mentioned this, but I am an Amazon Associate. So, every time you click through one of my links and buy something, I get a few cents added to my account. I used to use those small funds to help purchase medical supplies Sandi needed that were way cheaper on Amazon or pick up a book or two to keep me sane. These days it is some medical stuff I need and the occasional book.

By buying through one of my links, it does not cost you one cent extra. I just get a few cents my way as a referral fee. So, if you are inclined, please keep doing what you have been doing and buy through my links. It was and still is very much appreciated.

Thank you.

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The Amazon Associate Thing

I have noticed folks have continued to shop at Amazon via the Amazon Associate links here on the blog. This helps funnel a few pennies on every sale back to me as I am an Amazon Associate. I mainly use the monies to buy medical supplies for Sandi at lower cost than what I can get for her locally. I also occasionally indulge in a book or two for myself.

We are right on the edge money wise in so many ways and every little bit helps us a lot. Thank you!

Thank You For Shopping At Amazon Through Me

Though I have not said anything in awhile I have noticed folks have continued to shop at Amazon via the Amazon Associate links here on the blog. This helps funnel a few pennies on every sale back to me as I am an Amazon Associate. I mainly use the monies to buy medical supplies for Sandi at lower cost than what I can get for her locally. I also occasionally indulge in a book or two for myself.

I just wanted to say thank you as I really appreciate it. 

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I'm certainly in the 85 percent and it is depressing.....

How to Make a Damn Good Living as a Writer

I Need To Start A Life Of Crime

as there is a lot....

Sandi Tonight

Sandi is doing okay. She does tire very easily, but says she does not hurt all over like she used to before the transplant. She is incredibly pale and seems pretty weak to me. After every meal she gets body wracking chills just like she did before the transplant.

Quite honestly, she seems to me to be just as weak and sick now as before she left for the transplant and that worries me. A lot.

Her patience for stupidity is pretty low right now and it does not take much to annoy her. Like the stupidity of a certain local medical service company who ignored the reality of our situation and turned her over to a collection agency over a $33 bill we have been making installment payments on. As she pointed out while cussing them to me--if we didn't have the money to pay it it all off in one shot to the original creditor, why in the heck would they think we suddenly would if some worthless collection agency hassles us?

Makes one wonder....

Donations Desperately Needed

I truly hate asking but we desperately need your help. As you can see by the donation widget over to the left we are coming up way short this month.  Please know that I am only asking for enough to pay our rent, keep the local phone service on so we have access to the internet, and pay for Sandi’s monthly insurance premiums to keep her cancer treatment going.

Obviously, we don’t know what Sandi’s cancer situation is as everything has now been pushed back thanks to the setback with Sandi’s PET SCAN last Friday.  Hopefully on May 1 when they try again her diabetes numbers will be much lower and they can actually do the scan. If they can, we should know on May 4 after the doctor appointment where she is and what the treatment plan will be the next several months.

Please know that we are not wasting your donations. We are only doing what we absolutely have to do in order to hold things together here as long as we can. We are truly grateful for your help and it means so much to all of us.

Thank you.

 

Kevin