Crime novelist Peter James (“Dead Like You”) told Books Quarterly, "I have a theory that the common denominator between all the most vibrant cities in the world is a dark undertow of criminal activity.”
James sets his Roy Grace novels in Brighton. He says, “In the UK we have plenty of pleasant seaside resorts—but only one, Brighton, known for 70 years as the ‘crime capital of England’—has global iconic status. Graham Greene put it on the map [with “Brighton Rock”]. I guess I’m doing my best to keep it there!”
This underlines the fact that the best settings bring to your novel a history, a reputation, a tone. I like setting stories in Los Angeles because on the surface it’s such a bright, sunny place, yet intrigue, back-stabbing, and jockeying for position are all not very deep under the surface, at least in the world of show business.
What’s the best setting for what you are writing? It can be interesting to think about how your story would be different if you set it somewhere else.
(for more tips on settings, characterization and lots more, see my book, "Your Writing Coach," available from Amazon and other online and offline booksellers.)
