People often ask where I get ideas for my mysteries and the answer is everywhere. A few weeks ago Ken and I went to Santa Cruz for a bit of brainstorming mixed in with some planning and of course some rest and relaxation. While we were there the watermain going out to the wharf broke closing it for several days. I was sitting on the balcony of my hotel room looking toward the wharf and the boardwalk beyond wondering how I could turn a broken watermain into a mystery. I actually came up with several ideas, but while I was pondering the believability of a body clogging the system creating a buildup of pressure, I happened across an even better idea.
As I studied the boardwalk it occurred to me that it would be pretty awesome if a body was found in the top chair of the Farris Wheel when the boardwalk opened in the morning. Of course the question remained, how would the killer get the body up there without anyone noticing?
Anyone who has been to the boardwalk knows that it opens onto the beach. I am going to go out on a limb and assume that a plot where the killer simply wanders onto the boardwalk, hotwires the Farris Wheel, puts the body inside and then revolves the body to the top in the middle of the night would be pretty unbelievable. I did some checking and I was right. That scenario would be pretty unlikely.
I continued to ponder the situation during our stay, considering and discarding several options that seemed unrealistic even to me. I was pretty much at a dead end until a fortuitous walk changed everything.
Ken and I decided to walk to the lighthouse which it located further down the beach. The path provides a view of the boardwalk from a different angle than I had been viewing to this point. While I stood gazing out over the beautiful landscape, I quite luckily saw a believable and doable solution to the dilemma of how to get the body into the bucket.
If you are curious as to the solution I came up with, you will have to wait until I use this plot in a book because it really is too perfect to share at this point. In the meantime, you can enter to win a gift card below.
Giveaway: Comment below and I will choose 1 winner to receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
Suggest a title for the story I just described and identify which of my series you think would best serve as the backdrop. If you aren’t familiar with my series you can still enter by suggesting a title.
Random Thoughts and Meaningless Musings 
I think Zoe and Zac need to go on vacation again(lucky them). Death by Amusement or The Final View
I can’t wait to read this plot, so hurry along with it!
I could see Zoe and Zac or TJ visiting Santa Cruz for a vacation. Death At the Top or Bird’s Eye View.
What Goes Up… Whatever the title, I want to read it!
Death At The Top in the Seacliff High series.
I love your books and look forward to reading about this in a future book. It sounds like something from the Seacliff High series, or it’s just crazy enough to be from the Zoe Donovan mysteries. How about Midway Mischief for a title?
Body in the Bucket from the Whales and Tails or Lighthouse and Midway from Seacliff High.
Being that I am reading Shamrock Shenanigans, I know i’m a bit behind, but what come to me is Ziplining at Midnight don’t ask my why. About a body plugging the water main I guess you didn’t watch CSI where a body actually plugged a sewer and a water main in Vegas. Can’t remember anything important but can remember things like that
A Beach, A Boardwalk, and a Body
The title could be, wheel of Death, Zoe and Zac
What a lovely place to escape to for some R&R. Although it’s kind of basic I think Murder in High Places would be a good title or The Turn of the Wheel. Can’t wait for this one to come out. robeader53@yahoo.com
Santa Cruisin’ into Murder? Santa Cruisin’ into Mayhem? Santa Cruisin’ into Malice?
Well, all these title suggestions are too clever for me to top this morning!
I think it’s a Zac and Zoe…
The Body on the Boardwalk ~
Wheel of Misfortune. I am not sure which series this would fitb
Looks like an adventure for Zac and Zoe. Bird’s Eye View of a Body
Hi Kathy!! Yep, probably Zoe and Zac. Wheel of Death? Last Ride? How Did They Do That? because it’s a running wonder through the book, like you were.
The Wicked Wheel? Homicide on High?
I will guess Zac and Zoe take a trip? Title, hmm, how about The Final Ride, or Death Wheel?
Catwalk and Waterworks, Whales and Tails Mystery Book!
What a way to go, a body in a bucket! That is too perfect to share, but it will definitely be a book worth waiting for, and you really do get your ideas from everywhere. Thanks for sharing this with us!
As The Wheel Turns!
Ferris Wheel Felines
I am not sure about a title, but Seacliff High or Zoe Donovan would be great! I will be waiting patiently.
For the title, I like “Murder-Go-Round”. I think either Seacliff High or possibly even Whales and Tales. Maybe Cait, Cody, and gang could go on a short vacation. Any of your series could work for this.
I think it seems like a Zoe story. A title would be, “Dying for a Ride”
The fair could come town to in a Zoe Donovan book and be called Farris Wheel Frenzy or Farris wheel of Fury, The Farris wheel Foray, or the Wheel of Wrath. The town he always having festivals so a fair fits right in that theme.
Wheel of Misfortune or The Big Wheel in Whales and Tales.
My first thought is a Zak and Zoe adventure, secondly Seacliff High, or how about Whales and Tales? As for a title, Bad Wheel Spinning comes to mind. Whenever and whichever series you write it in and no matter what the title is, can’t wait! I adore ALL your books, Kathi!!!
A Deadly Ride. I think TJ would be a good choice. Thank you for this chance!
Zoe and Zac’s books!
Carnival Murder
Since Zoe’s book titles are alliteration, FerrisFatality or Ferris Wheel Fatality if you did TJ. I can see either of them escaping the snow for a trip to Santa Cruz!
The Conundrum . . . a Seacliff High Mystery.
Cannot wait …
Already too many good suggestions for a title, and my ideas don’t hold a candle to them. But perhaps Midway Surprise in the Zoe series.
Zoe Donovan: Midway Murder
Seacliff High: The Fete
I can see Zoe & Zac taking the Zimmerman clan (kids) on vacation at the boardwalk or the gang from Seacliff High heading south to do some surfing and maybe catching the Titans of Mavericks surfing competition in a story titled “Doom(ed) With a View”
Perhaps “Sky High Suspense” for Zoe & Zac
Ferris Wheel to Death
Just FYI–
The Ferris Wheel is named for the creator of the original one, George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. It was constructed for the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Gale_Ferris_Jr.
Swinging At The Top — either Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery or Seacliff High