The Crime Writer's Reference Guide: 1001 Tips for Writing the Perfect Murder (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A complete reference source for writers of TV, film, mysteries, thrillers, action/adventure, romantic suspense, and psychological mysteries. This complete guide features accurate information about every aspect of crime, from weapons to police departments to crime jargon to standard operating procedures for criminals. Covers numerous aspects of crime and outlines general rules of thumb for writing. Also details specific policies and procedures of various law enforcement agencies.

KEY FEATURES: * The perfect companion book for all writers looking to add crackling accuracy and tension to their crime novels or scripts.

* Updated information and Foreword by Sgt Rey Verdugo, Top Criminal Investigator and Technical Consultant for Film and TV.

* An invaluable reference with practical material road-tested in crime writing workshops given by Roth and Verdugo.

About the Author

Martin Roth has been a solo professional book, television and screenwriter for over forty years. He has written countless television scripts for shows including Hawaii Five-O, Hart to Hart, Vegas, Mannix, I Dream of Jeannie and many others. He is also the author The Writer's Partner. Martin has taught creative writing at UCLA and the American Film Institute and has served as President of the Internet Crimewriting Network.

Product Details

• Paperback: 287 pages
• Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941188493
• ISBN-13: 978-0941188494
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,424 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #19 in	Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery
  #44 in	Books > Reference > Writing > Genre Fiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Save Your Money, April 23, 2004

By	John Kole (Longmeadow, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not sure what the other reviewers found so compelling. I found little here other than pages and pages of lists. Some examples: 6pp. of LAPD police radio codes, 3pp. of FBI case classifications, 16pp. of org charts for the LA County Sherrif's Dept. My favorite, however, is the full page devoted to a listing of "Weapons Used by Criminals" which begins "Acid, Air gun, Ax, Bayonet, Bazooka, Billy Club..." Well, you get the idea. The portions of the book not devoted to lists tend to be laughably superficial (e.g., "Street gangs now battle over who sells the drugs and where." Really, thanks.) Granted, there are suggestions for further reading, but my advice would be to save yourself some money and do your readers a favor -- do your own research.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Individual chapters cover what a writer most needs to know, March 9, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The Crime Writer's Reference Guide: 1001 Tips For Writing The Perfect Murder by Martin Roth is a detailed resource especially intended for aspiring authors of mysteries, suspense thrillers, action/adventure crime novels, true crime stories, and police procedurals novels. Individual chapters cover what a writer most needs to know in order to avoid common errors and misconceptions when writing about crime, criminals, police, courts, and prisons. A highly recommended basic primer, this edition of The Crime Writer's Reference Guide is enhanced with a new Foreword and updated information supplied by Rey Verdugo, a former police officer, a top criminal investigator, and a technical consultant for film and television projects.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What you need to know to write a crime drama, February 3, 2003

By	Chris Robertson (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews

The premise of this book appeals to every screenwriter that is ready to enter the world of crime and investigation, a book written for screenwriters regarding the world of crime. This book is the ultimate starting point for creating a believable world for thrillers, mysteries, and other related crime dramas.

Written by Martin Roth with adaptations from Sargeant Rey Verdugo, this book grabs hold of you at page 1 by offering the 10 most common mistakes writers will make regarding police work. So, Is "taking a suspect down to the precinct for questioning" an appropriate phrase to use in your screenplay?

Then, the Crime Writer Reference Book states the different types of crimes and possible motives for creating such crime. It allows you, the writer, to explore any possible scenario and making that scenario accurate.