“This is bad,” she opined.
I read a book last night that made me very sad. It was a mystery, part of a series, in a nice trade paperback format with a cute cover - all appearing pretty reputable. Is it wrong to expect a published book to have been edited? I mean there’s a reason I don’t read fanfic. Maybe it’s not wrong, just too optimistic. Some of the problems (and this is discounting the fact that it was ridiculously obvious “whodunnit”) that could have been addressed in the editing process: Blatant plot ripoff from The Thin Man, and a minor scene stolen from “Charade.” Lack of characterization - the “show don’t tell” concept not really in play. My personal favorite, the use of “elude” instead of “allude.” And to top it off, no one fixed the author’s obsession with the thesaurus. Why have your character “say” something when you can quip? Why “ask” when you can challenge? The editor needed to challenge the author’s understanding of the word quip. Someone “quipped” at least once a chapter, usually more. As a sample, here are the dialogue verbs used in chapter 21: complained reasoned insisted replied said challenged boasted asked said volunteered added frostily gloated sneered whispered replied grinned pardoned herself exclaimed cheered remarked shouted answered corrected implored quipped rasped announced objected spat back bellowed deemed welcomed whispered apologized agreed informed asked scoffed remarked suggested breathed challenged contradicted asked replied asked hypothesized cried sang screamed insisted declared some other choice verbs - I’ll have to remember these for next November’s novel! casually remarked eagerly followed up hesitated interjected brusquely averred pursued assured [not “assured him,” just “assured.”]
