Are Actresses Smarter Today?

After my first Mackenzie Griffin mystery (amzn.to/1cRBRDx) was published in the U. S., a London U.K. publisher offered a three book contract, thus happily allowing me to continue conjuring up stories and situations for the next few years.  

This was in the mid-to-late 90s, and from time to time (okay, it was actually pretty frequent on my part) I would allow myself to fantasize about the film rights being snatched up by some grateful producer.  Actually, it wasn’t so much film rights, it was television rights I was thinking of.  A limited series that would recur, or the once-a-year, twice-a-year TV movie.  (As you can see, I was already anticipating the programming patterns that were still a few years down the road. Quite the visionary, eh?)

Television was also a better option because I somehow envisioned the Mackenzie Griffin series as a possible updating to Murder, She Wrote with one advantage over that esteemed series:  Mackenzie Griffin, as a consultant to the NYPD, would have legitimate access to police cases.  This would help avoid what a few of us at various mystery writers’ conventions at the time referred to as the ‘dead guest at every dinner party’ problem. 

But one thing that stumped me, even in my fantasies about the series/TV movies, I couldn’t think of a pool of actresses of the appropriate age (late 20s to mid-30s) who would be believable in the role of a criminal psychologist/police consultant.  (Remember, this was around the time Denise Richards was cast as a nuclear physicist…)  

It became somewhat of a parlor game, and few of my friends or family could detect any young female stars with enough going on behind their eyes to make them believable as holding a doctorate in psychology and a specialty in criminal psychology.  

The first one who came to mind was Jennifer Garner, when she shot to fame with her starring role in Alias.  Lots going on behind her eyes, that’s for sure.  Callista Flockhart and Gillian Anderson were two other possible candidates, but they had good TV gigs going even before Ms. Garner did.

But in the current crop of actresses in that age range, there is a substantial supply of bright young women: Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Blunt, Keira Knightley, Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain, and Michelle Williams all give evidence that there are wheels turning in their brains.

I don’t what know what the difference is.  Better pre-natal nutrition 35 years ago?  Better casting agents and more women in the process in the last 20 years?  Who knows?  All I can say is it’s noticeable.  Any thoughts?

Celebrating the Arts through Mystery and Mayhem

The Mackenzie Griffin Arts Mysteries

Earlier this year, my Mackenzie Griffin mysteries – Star Gazer, Artist Unknown, and Finales and Overtures, all originally published in the 90s – made their eBook debut on Kindle.  I’m happy to announce a special week-long Kindle Countdown promotion.  If you act fast, you can get each book for as little as 99¢!  

A brief description for you: Dr. Mackenzie Griffin is a criminal psychologist on faculty at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She occasionally serves as a consultant the NYPD where she’s a favorite of Lieutenant Mario Buratti.  The first mystery, Star Gazer (amzn.to/1cRBRDx), involves a rising pop music star and someone who appears to be patterning murders after scenes from his music videos.

Artist Unknown, the second in the series,  (amzn.to/1bo5jwx) begins when the body of the local art gallery owner washes up on the beach not far from the home of Mac’s parents. This investigation becomes personal, since her brother Chad had purchased the gallery only days before, and now he appears to be a target as well. 

The third, Finales and Overtures (amzn.to/1k8FgSn) is set in the company of a new musical about to open in New York.  The show is the big break Sylvie Morgan, Mackenzie’s long-time friend from college days, has been waiting for. But when the musical’s director is found dead, Sylvie immediately becomes the prime suspect. Buratti alerts Mac to her friend’s predicament – and impending arrest.

Hmmm…mysteries about music, about art, and about theatre.  Any wonder why I’m calling them The Mackenzie Griffin Arts Mysteries?  

I hope you’ll look for them on Amazon with the handy links I’ve included, and remember, you don’t need to have a Kindle to read Kindle editions.  You can get the Kindle app for your iPad, your iPhone or iPod touch, your Mac or PC, your Android device – phone, tablet, power toothbrush or whatever. 

Thanks so much – and happy reading!