Thursday, April 28, 2016

X - X FACTOR

X IS FOR X FACTOR

The X factor

The X factor or what is known as a variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome.

Or in the case of my 'murder trilogy' certain clues play a significant part in the story of another book.

The story detailed in Murder & Obsession was hinted at in Murder, Madness & Love, the hints continued in the second book, Memories of Murder, but concluded in this, the third book.

Hints and certain happenings in both of the earlier books come to the forefront during this mystery. And while all three books are a stand-alone story, there were definite details shared early on - these X factors tied all three books together.







Here's a scene, from Murder, Madness & Love  
that demonstrates an X-factor . 


Inside the entry door, she breathed easy, then heard laughter. He was on the other side. The door was heavy and would not come down with just one kick, but solid wood still wasn't strong enough to keep a determined assailant from getting to her.
She should have realized when he'd stopped following her. He'd come straight here—hell, he probably had time to go back to the church and get his car. How did he know? How could he know? She was disappointed in herself, but only for a moment. Think, woman, think.
"I've been waiting for you, sweetheart. Predictable. So damn predictable. I can get in, but you can't get out."
"Then come in and get me." She ran up the steps to the master bedroom. Locking the door, she knew how easy the door would come down. She went into the bathroom. Locked that door too, knowing a fist could take the door off its hinges. Opening the window, she waited. Listening, to make sure he was in the house before she went outside.
She poured a bottle of shampoo on the floor. "See how well you can stand up after you hit this," she whispered.
A loud explosion told her the front door was down, and she scrambled through the window to the first-floor roof.
"Come out; come out, wherever you are!" A loud bang heralded the news that the bedroom door was down.
She quickly, but carefully, made her way across the wood shingles, to a point where she could shimmy down to the porch roof, and to the ground. She heard him kick in the bathroom door and allowed herself a smile when she realized the other sound was him falling on his ass. Curse words filled the air.

She smiled as she ran for safety.                      

***



Read All the Amazon Reviews
of Murder & Obsession
HERE!


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35 comments:

Sophie Duncan said...

X-Factors are really hard to get right - too many and it's too easy to guess what's coming next, or the plot feels too easy (we have to be careful an x-factor doesn't become a deus ex-machina), but too few and the plot can be stunted, or the reader feels cheated because they had no chance to make their own conclusions. Like the shampoo x-factor :)
Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles | Wittegen Press | FB3X

Pat Garcia said...

Oh yes. I enjoyed this and many more scenes in Murder, Madness & Love. One of the reasons, I stopped reading Murder & Obsession was because of these X factors that I had missed in the first two books. I will start on book 2 this weekend and knowing your style and finesse at capturing my attention, I will probably not be able to put it down.

Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

Pat Hatt said...

The x factors are always grand when you realize them while reading. Shows you the tidbits were there all along.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Smart woman! That slowed him down.

Nicola said...

Great extract, Yolanda. I love your take on the X Factor. Variables are tricky little critters but so important to get right. Thanks for the great post! I love that house!!

Christine Rains said...

And you nailed it! :) Awesome X day post.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Sophie, it's one of those things you want to place and then have the reader say, once the end is reached, "Damn, I should have seen that coming." Exactly!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Pat, thanks. I'm just thrilled you wanted to real all three. And I'm doubly thrilled with your review, thank you!

Yolanda Renée said...

Exactly, thanks, Pat!

Yolanda Renée said...

We hope it broke his back. LOL

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Nicola, I do too, have always wanted to live there. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Christine, thanks!

Tamara Narayan said...

Shampoo on the floor? Great idea. I've often wondered if it would be possible to exit my house from the upper floor without breaking all my bones. It doesn't look good. I should probably get one of those fire ladder things.

Susan A Eames said...

Ah, the X-Factor - that insubstantial but nevertheless 'something' which stands out from the mundane.

Susan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Tamara, it seemed like the right thing to do. If you don't have a window to crawl out of use a bottle of hairspray to disable the guy. :) But you're right that drop could be a long one.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Susan, you've got it!

Guilie Castillo said...

This is wonderful, Yolanda! Edge-of-your-seat tension, but a witty punch of foresight that lends not just vindication but a bit of comedic relief. Excellent craft here!
Guilie @ Life In Dogs

Bish Denham said...

Shampoo on the floor! An excellent delay tactic.

Guilie Castillo said...

Oh, P.S. — My X post is (or will be, when I get around to posting it...) also about the X factor :D

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Guilie, great minds think alike! I've seen it in several places. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Bish, thanks, but you're right, it only delayed him!

cleemckenzie said...

Clever girl! I'm remembering that shampoo trick just in case. Nicely tense scene, Yolanda! Bet the book has a lot of these.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Lee, thanks, just got your email. I tried to put one in every chapter. :)

Jeffrey Scott said...

I like to include hints in my own story. Sometimes it's very subtle. Something someone may only pick up if they reread. Which most won't do, so it's there to entertain myself, if no one else.
Love the shampoo trick. Very ingenious.

Deborah Weber said...

Oh the joys of the x factor! Love that excerpt. That's one way to wash that man right out of her hair.

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Jeffrey! That's fun too!

Yolanda Renée said...

Never thought of it that way! :)

Nilanjana Bose said...

She's smart! I hope he sprained his ankle when he fell :) You nailed both X and X factor.

Donna McDine said...

Spine tingeling! I'm hooked!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Nila! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Cool, thanks, Donna!

Elizabeth said...

Great excerpt! Had me on the edge of my seat hoping she would make it out.

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