Part 1: Write a 200 word précis for YOUR story in a collection of short stories which employ the genre you have studied in class

Expect the unexpected in this short story. This story will be interesting to all audiences. Unsuspected by David Chen is about a story of a crime. In this short story, the author turns around the cliché of the usual amount of killers. Dr Hugh is the main character who solves the crime. There are five other characters: the receptionist, a scientist, a businessman, a drug seller and an elderly man. All except for the receptionist are clear suspects to the case of the death of Mr Smith. A man is found dead one night. Dr Hugh chats with the receptionist. The next day, the characters gather and talk about themselves and their personalities. Each one is as suspicious as the last. Dr Hugh inspects the dead man. Dr Hugh identifies their motives and pieces the puzzles pieces together. Dr Hugh solves the crime.

Part 2: Write a 500 word statement for a publisher that provides a rationale for your collection

The Short Stories of David Chen will leave you in amazement and awe. The genre of crime fiction fits perfectly into these stories. Crime fiction is the genre which deals with murder, criminals and their motives, and the breaking of the law. Crime fiction includes many sub genres including Private Eye and Cozys. Each with their own specific, for instance, Private Eye involves an investigator often being invited by individuals such as locals or groups such as the police to solve the crimes. 

Crime fiction involves a protagonist such as detectives, a villain such as the murderer and suspects such as people with motives.

Crime fiction began around the time of Edgar Allan Poe when he introduced the main conventions and requirements of crime fiction. As a result, of his introduction of crime fiction to society, it became more and more popular. They included a disguise to the story which made it mysterious so readers would continue to find out more. Characters in the story were cleverly disguised to help the main character along the way and solve the crime. Soon, people were experimenting and started involving new forms of solving crimes including science into it.

During the Golden Age, that was when crime fiction really began to bloom in popularity. New writers joined the society of crime fiction writers with their new approaches to the genre. During this age, the Intuitionists and the Realists sub-genres emerged having its own characteristics.  After World War 1, the “hard-boiled” sub-genre emerged. It proved interesting to many readers taking over American crime fiction.

In Unsuspected by David Chen, characters are shown to all have a somewhat motive to have killed a character. The elements of unknown and uncertainty make the reader wonder who the killer could be. The protagonist doesn’t have an accomplice to help him solve the crime instead he pieces evidence together. He listens to the people’s stories and then figures out their motives. He then comes to a conclusion and reveals the culprit(s).

The story is relevant to a contemporary audience, as it is suspenseful and really indulges the reader to find out more. It shows the difficulty of solving crimes and how they are solved. In modern society, people are still interested in crime fiction as it is still a popular genre to read about.

Part 3: Write a 1000 - 1200 word short story in your genre from your collection.

Late at night, I suddenly woke up to the sound of a bloodcurdling scream coming from the lobby. I got up and raced down the hallway. To my delight, there was a dead man with bullet holes all over him lying on the floor. This was the start of another case to solve.

“Hello, Dr Hugh. What brings you hear?” asked the receptionist.

“Good evening, Madam. It seems to me that there is a case to solve here and I’m the most qualified man around here. I myself have solved numerous cases of murder” I replied.

“Well then let’s begin this mysterious case” said the receptionist.

“I would first like to ask how many people are currently living in this hotel apart from the dead man”

“As you know, being in the country side of London, we don’t have much guests but I would say around four people not including the staff, of course. Their loyal to this hotel and would never do anything to harm the guests.”

“Well, that settles that. Gather up all the guests in the morning and we’ll see what they have to see about this. By the way, how may I ask did you come to find this body?”

“I just went to the bathroom, and when I arrived back I saw the body on the floor. Now that I think about it, I did hear some faint gunshot fires.”

“Goodnight to you, Madam. I’ll see you in the morning with all the other guests at 9 o’clock sharp.”

“Goodnight.”

I went back to my room and just as I stepped in, I felt a shiver down my spine as if someone was looking right at me from behind. I turned around only to find no one. I shrugged my shoulders and went to sleep.

The next day, as I woke up I noticed a note slipped underneath my door. It said “I congratulate you on your keen ears last night. Nobody else seemed to wake up but I would like to confess now. I am the killer.”  Somehow this message seemed to disturb me. I put on a change of clothes and walked down to the lobby.  Four gentlemen awaited me there.                                  

“Morning, Dr Hugh. I have discovered this body to be of Mr Smith of Room 4. His room is perfectly in order with no signs of struggle.” said the receptionist.

“That’s very interesting. Well, who do we have here?” I asked.

A short man with glasses was the first to reply.

“The name’s Owen. Donald Owen. I’m a scientist travelling to the city. I’m just staying here for another week until I finish my experiments around here. I study plants and wildlife you see but I don’t like being disturbed. I like my experimenting at night where it’s all quiet.”

The next one to speak up was a big man with a cigar in his mouth.

“You can call me Willy. I’m a businessman. I came here to take a break from the city. You know, with all that smoke in the air. It pisses me off.”

I could see the irony there. To the left of Willy, there stood a young looking fellow.

“Hi, I’m Johnny. I sell drugs you see. I sell them at a good price. I sell ecstasy, heroin, cocaine and anything you need. That’s how I earn a living. Sometimes people get a little cocky and I take them down but I’m not saying I killed this guy.”

The last guy was an elderly man, probably in his seventies. He was wearing a bowler hat and was wearing a fancy suit.

“All you people just make yourself sound more and more suspicious to the crime. If I were investigating this, I would say all of you did it. Yes, all of you. You all have some weird things coming out of your mouth. Ah, yes the name’s Albert. Albert Lockington. I’m a hip old fellow. I could beat you all up blind folded. I got a black belt in karate you know. I was International champion once. I –

“Okay, Okay, we get the picture. No need for a life story. I’m going to have to investigate the body a bit further. You may all continue on with the day. If anyone, would like to confess, now would be the time.”

Silence filled the room and then everyone just walked off. The body was still on the floor rotting away. On closer inspection, it seemed there were gunshots on both sides of his body. I checked the man’s pockets. I found numerous items including a lighter, a wallet and a packet of what seemed to be drugs. This still didn’t cross out any suspects.

The scientist could have been studying out at night and could’ve been attacked by Mr Smith but he quickly whipped around a gun and shot him several times. However, unlikely it seemed it was still possible.

On the other hand, Willy may have noticed Mr Smith smoking around and shot him a couple of times. He did say he didn’t like smoke and even if Mr Smith struggled Willy was a big fellow and could have easily knocked out Mr Smith with a swift blow.

The young lad, Johnny could also have been the culprit. Mr Smith may have scammed Johnny and tried to flee. Johnny being a drug dealer would have known the risks and probably had a gun by his side. Mr Smith might not have enough time to escape and result in dying from gunshots.

Albert didn’t seem like the kind of guy to really know karate and probably would have been easily defeated by Mr Smith because of his fragility.

Even if it was one of them, it couldn’t have been possible Then, I realised who it was. I quickly raced to receptionist and ordered him to gather everyone.  I even made sure he called the police.

Minutes later, everyone arrived.

“Gentlemen, I have figured out who the killer was. You see gathering evidence was not really required. Sending the note, made it seem like it was one person who committed the crime, however it was two people. It was Johnny and Willy. Before you two move, I would like to inform you that the police are on their way. Mr Smith must’ve been smoking Johnny’s drugs after scamming him and then Willy would have noticed the smoke. Being at opposite ends of the hallway, they must’ve both shot Mr Smith from both sides causing him to die. So, as you see the pieces fit.” I said with a slight grin.

“You got us Dr Hugh. It was somewhat an accident in our eyes but you have overlooked that. Nevertheless, I congratulate you.”