Guest Blogger - Terri Micene

Thank you for inviting me onto Murder and Mayhem. I’m the author of two mystery series. The Quilting Mystery series includes WILD GOOSE CHASE, OLD MAID’S PUZZLE and OCEAN WAVES. The latest in the Stamping Sisters series, FALSE IMPRESSIONS, will be out in July from Berkley Prime Crime, following STAMPED OUT and INKED UP.

Please make a comment to be eligible for an autographed copy of one of my books.

The topic is Why Did My Victim Have to Die? Oh, there are so many reasons and I don’t want to give away any spoilers so without being real specific. So here we go.

Gavin de Becker, author of The Gift of Fear, tells us that women are in the most danger from those closest to them. Not from terrorists or nuclear attack or stranger abduction, but from those who profess to love us.

Because I write craft mysteries, a lot of my victims and murderers are women. I like to explore what would drive a woman to kill. And be killed. Domestic violence with a small “d.” What is chilling to me is ordinary people who are pushed to the edge and then do unspeakable things.

It seems to be that women are slow to kill but when they are driven far enough, by love, lust, greed, or anger, they will.

With six books behind me, I have fictionally done away with at least a dozen people. A few were innocent bystanders or done in because the killer wanted what they had. Most of my victims, however, had a hand in their demise. They treated people in an abusive manner. They flaunted their wealth or power. They took advantage of others. They took part in illegal activities, exposing themselves and the people around them to risk.

The killers tell themselves they have no choice. That this person has to be stopped. That the ends justify the means. Is that ever true? Every book I write explores that question.

What do you think? Can an ordinary person be driven to kill?