One Image, Two Story Ideas: Greek Island
Jen and Tina love writing prompts. Sometimes they turn into stories, sometimes they just get our creative juices flowing. Either way, they’re a lot of fun.
Jen’s Idea
Our prompts usually feature people, so it was fun to start with a location this time instead. And this photo from Greece is one that I was happy to dive into. I visited Athens and Aegina in 2019 and returning to that part of the world in my mind was a treat.
I immediately thought of all those wonderful Agatha Christie novels set in exotic locations: Egypt, Istanbul, the Caribbean... There were always groups of strangers thrown together that made for a closed-circle house-party style puzzle that I loved.
That got my brain going on a Golden Age track, so I jumped at the chance to bring back my detective from this back cover, the disgruntled secretary to the world’s leading detective. I can’t wait to see where she turns up next!
Tina’s Idea
When I saw this image, it gave me a feeling of serenity, and I knew that anyone vacationing here would feel the same. So how could I disturb this peaceful vista with a murder mystery? I decided a good ole Agatha Christie locked room mystery was in order. Something that never gets very messy and where vacations can continue after the case is closed.
Jen’s Back Cover
This whole private detective business was proving to be trickier than Miss Daisy Dupree expected. Here she was, a woman of a certain age who had spent more years than she cared to count as an under-appreciated secretary to the world’s leading detective, and she could not round up enough clients of her own to keep up with the rent at a modest Central London office.
Miss Dupree was not daunted. It would take time to make a name for herself, and she had simply underestimated the amount required. If clients did not flock to her, she would seek them out. So Miss Dupree put word out to her former fellow typists-in-arms that she was accepting all forms of discreet work, detecting or otherwise, and soon found herself in the dull labor of checking housekeeper references and snooping into the backgrounds of fiances.
Not exactly missing jewels and murder, but enough to keep the lights on. So when Mrs. Jamison’s inquiry comes in, it sounds like more of the same: a rich housewife wants to know about the houseparty of guests her husband has invited to stay at their villa in Greece.
But Miss Dupree finds the proposed guests have intertwined relationships and unsavory histories that promise to be a powderkeg just waiting to be ignited. She advises against the guestlist, but Mrs. Jamison can’t (or won’t) change her husband’s plans.
Instead she hires Miss Dupree to join the party and watch for trouble. Miss Dupree reluctantly agrees, and when a valuable gem goes missing and a guest disappears, Miss Dupree fears her hosts know more about these mysteries than they are telling.
Tina’s Back Cover
On a beautiful summer day, passengers on a luxurious cruise ship are enjoying the sights and sounds of the Aegean Sea. The ship is headed towards a small Greek Island, and everyone is looking forward to a day of sun and fun.
But things take a dark turn when a chambermaid finds a passenger dead in his cabin. The door had been locked from the inside, and there are no signs of a struggle. The ship is miles away from any land, and the ship’s captain is sure that there is no way that the killer could have escaped. He calls the mainland to have a detective helicoptered in.
The detective quickly discovers that everyone on the ship has a motive for the killing. The victim was a wealthy businessman who had evaded prosecution for his white-collar crimes again and again, making enemies every step of the way. The detective interrogates each of the passengers and realizes that the victim was not the only person onboard with dark secrets. The further he investigates, the more lies and deceit he uncovers. But one person has more to hide and the most at stake.
The ship is rocked by a storm, and as the winds howl and the waves crash against the hull, the killer makes a move. In a tense confrontation, the detective finally confronts the killer, and the unexpected truth is revealed.
As the ship pulls into the port, the passengers breathe a sigh of relief. The case is closed, and the ship sets sail once again, leaving the island and the murder behind.
Tina’s Response
Once again Jen and I find ourselves on a similar track with this photo prompt. I love how Jen has injected her Miss Dupree into this setting. And just like Jen, I can’t wait to see where she turns up next! I am hoping it will be in her own Miss Dupree series!
Jen’s Response
I love, love, love this! There’s a reason we all love those Agatha Christies: locked room set up, glamorous destinations, and suspects with secrets. With a storm to add drama, this is a story I want to read.
Photo by AXP Photography on Unsplash