It’s JJ today, reviewing the caper mystery, a sub-genre which can fall in the same category as a cozy. There are differences, however. Unlike a cozy, capers incorporate humor and cheek. A caper can lean toward the whimsical or capricious, as well as the comedic/comical. Main characters aren’t generally sophisticated or analytical and can lean toward blundering bunglers.
Capers also frequently incorporate more crimes than the typical murder found in the other categories—such as robberies and thefts, scams and hoaxes, and abductions. Main characters, our lovely lawbreakers, generally commit the offences up front, so the reader’s aware from the get-go. Moreover, these folks are often oddballs, yet manage to successfully pull off the, uh, caper. As such, the emphasis isn’t so much on solving the mystery or mysteries, but on the crime or crimes.
The offenders are usually likable and get into hot water and crimes/deeds way over their heads. They’ll argue and clash, but this will normally add to the comedy and capriciousness. And given you’ll have a few folks engaged in the caper(s), you’ll likely want to have one of them serve as “the brains”, a team leader as it were. Maybe the POV will come from this character? It’s up to you as to how you wish to present your capering caper.
So, what should you consider when writing one? The plot, of course. Are the lawbreakers-to-be out to steal money or jewels? If so, for selfish reasons or benevolent ones? Are they out to commit more than one crime? How many? What is the purpose behind each one? Committing a crime on a lark may not cut it with readers, but there might be justification for it being a lark . . . to prove something perhaps? And, if there is more than one crime, how does each one tie into the other?
Give thought as to how each caper will be developed and carried out. How will our “caperers” pull them off? Who exactly are these people? Give backgrounds. Do some have questionable pasts? Are they all shifty, or just a couple? Do they have goals, dreams? Are they in relationships? What qualities might you provide so they are likable, witty or humorous, maybe even sympathetic?
Think about how to best build tension and conflict and humor in your story. What could transpire during the course of the caper(s) that would make readers laugh? Don’t forget your dialogue; in addition to it moving the story, it should contain both friction and wittiness now and again.
Besides humor, tone and mood are important to capers; as such, they can be more tricky to write. But who doesn’t enjoy or relish a challenge? Have fun!
The Writer's Grab-Bag 