Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Short synopsis - Digging for Gold

I've been trying to draft a short synopsis (less then 150 words) for the next McEvoy book, Digging for Gold.  I'm not sure about the title or the synopsis.  I'm trying to get something reasonably snappy, that'll make people want to read on.  I don't know how long I've spent drafting and tweaking it, but I'm at the stage where I'm too close and need some independent feedback.  What do you think?  Okay?  Any suggested edits (or back to the drawing board)?


Detective Superintendent Colm McEvoy has got himself ensnared in a tangle of work and women.  Marianne Haas, a Dutch national and estate agent, is found hanging in a client’s house.  Nearby, the remains of a young woman are discovered in a bog.  Along the Irish border, rivalry between fuel smuggling gangs has led to murder and collaboration with a fiery superintendent.  None of the three cases are straightforward and are little helped by the attention of an ambitious journalist and the resistance of local officers to outside help.  To add spice to the mix, McEvoy finds himself flirting with one of his subordinates whilst relying on his lodger to look after his increasingly distant daughter.  Undertaking one case is stressful, managing three and an evermore complex personal life is a potential nightmare.  Rural Ireland is proving to be anything but an idyll.

6 comments:

Uriah Robinson said...

It seems very good to me
Is Colm McEvoy the most overworked policeman in Ireland's history? I can't wait for this one. Well done.

Dorte H said...

It sounds good! But you take care of that daughter of his; she is a good kid!

I have no idea whether the title Gold Digger or gold Diggers would suit your story, but I think I would find that more interesting.

kathy d. said...

This beginning is great. I want to read on already, and find out what is going to happen.

Hope that McEvoy does progress in his personal life, even with worries and trepidation.

And I agree that his daughter should be okay, although teenagehood is tough.

Rob Kitchin said...

Thanks. At least it wasn't a 'back to the drawing board' verdict. I'll think about the title. I'm trying to link together the gold digger theme with building and property development, which is the dominant context throughout the book.

P.S. Don't worry, daughter is fine (and so's McEvoy even if he does go through the ringer again).

kathy d. said...

And hope that Hannah improves and can go on to whatever type of "normal" life she can have. Maybe some milestones for her could be included.

Building and property development can be interesting, especially when combined with a little murder and mayhem. The "bad" guys can be very "bad" guys whom the readers can really dislike.

Rob Kitchin said...

Yes, Hannah is in this one as well (the lodger in the blurb)