Magnificent Mindblowing "Moonflower"

HALLIE EPHRON: I’m happy to report that I’ve just finished watching MOONFLOWER MURDERS. It’s absolutely magically mind-boggling, the way the author Anthony Horowitz (he wrote the novel, a sequel to his MAGPIE MURDER) and the screenplay, braids together two (or is it three?) different narratives – a murder in the past, a novel inspired by that murder, and a murder in the present.

The present day sleuth is the brilliant Lesley Manville, and her “guide” to solving the present-day murder is the sleuth from the *novel* Atticus Pund, played by Tim McMullan, with an assist from the dead author of the novel. With a great ensemble cast, some of whom show up in the multiple time streams.

For those of us who write murder mysteries, it's utterly engrossing. A tour de force. Not something I’d ever attempt but I enjoyed watching (and reading the novel) it. And CHEWING on it after.

So what’s the most complicated plot “braiding” you’ve ever attempted, and how did you keep track??

LUCY BURDETTE: Hallie, John and I have this on our list to watch! (So late to the party.)

I think A POISONOUS PALATE was the most complicated so far because it involved a disappearance/murder in the past, more murders in the present, and two points of view. My usual first person narrator Hayley Snow was there of course, but there was another voice from the past interwoven.

I knew Debs had done this so I asked her advice. And I kept thinking about how Rhys had described printing out the two pieces of a story and laying them out along her hallway to see how they fit together. I think I was trying to do that mentally! It was fun and I’m sure I’ll do something like that again.

RHYS BOWEN: I’ve done several novels that jump between past and present, requiring a lot of thought. But I think the most complicated was my new book, The Rose Arbor.

So many stories intertwined. A young g reporter in the trail of one missing girl finds links to other girls and to her own history. In the book every fact she finds about one missing girl has repercussions to other crimes and to her own life.

Plus I have scenes from WW2 and the voices of all the missing girls. It was like creating a jigsaw puzzle! But so worth it in the end

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, I am so with you… I have loved Magpie Murders from moment one, I was just ecstatic over it, a relentless proselytizer, and could not wait for Moonflower. Which I love as well.

When I was in the UK some months ago, to be on a panel with Anthony Horowitz,(I know, swooning) I had a long talk with him, and his wonderful wife, Jill Green, the producer of the shows about it(also I am still swooning. ) Anthony credits her as the brains behind the production.

They were just in the planning stage for how to create Moonflower, and we had a long talk about how that would be presented – – Magpie was so gorgeous and innovative, and as we always say, they wanted to do the same thing, but differently. Which I think they wildly succeeded in!

As for me, I have done very complicated structures—well, let’s say complex, instead of complicated. It’s still very linear when I write it, it’s just that each timeline has its parallel events. The key, I think, is to decide whether you want the parallel points of view to be serial or simultaneous. In other words, does the next point of view continue the story, or show the story you've already heard at the same time.

And I always label the chapters with POV and time:
ELLIE
Now

Because the key is make sure readers are never confused, and that is much more complicated when you consider the limitations of audiobooks.

Hilariously, I have learned that it is much harder for me to write a single point of view with one timeline than it is to write multiple points of view with multiple timelines.

JENN McKINLAY: What a fabulous event, Hank! I’d swoon, too.

I’ve never done multiple timelines but I did braid all three of the ensemble casts from the Cupcake Bakery, London Hat Shop, and Library Lovers mysteries in DEATH IN THE STACKS. Never again. 

But I do remember reading SLEEPING MURDER by Christie (published posthumously) when I was just starting to read mysteries and Miss Marple solves a case from decades before and it made such an impression on me, I still remember the twist. I thought that was some very clever braiding. 

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I am so behind on my watching! I started The Magpie Murders but got distracted--story of my life--and didn't finish it. So naturally I didn't want to start Moonflower until I've seen Magpie.

It's fascinating reading how others handle these braided plots. Hank, I don't think it ever occurred to me to differentiate between serial and simultaneous. On reflecting now, I'd say I use both, but lean towards serial as it moves the plot along. I've done more than a few multiple timeline novels, but I think the most complicated thing I've done is the continuation of a plot thread through four novels--No Mark Upon Her through Garden of Lamentations. That one nearly made me pull my hair out!

HALLIE: So anyone else out there watching MOONFLOWER MURDERS and have you been delighted or perhaps a bit befuddled? I found it a real hang-on-and-enjoy-the-ride.

Or do you have any favorite books that mash up timelines? In different genres, even, since our friends the fantasy writers excel at it.