Writing a Mystery: Chapter Titles/Playlist The Man in the Dam

In The Godfather of Dance, Jade Riley Mysteries Book 1, I used song titles to name each chapter, which suited a novel set in the ballroom dance world. Reader feedback about this was positive, so I continue the style for A Killer Among Friends, Jade Riley Mysteries Book 2. This also matched the story because the second point of view character is a drummer in a rock band. The Man in the Dam, Jade Riley Mysteries Book 3 completes the creative arts triple threat with a theatre focus, so I’ve maintained the tradition. Note: Jade Riley Mysteries Books 4 and 5 revert to straight chapter titles.

When the books first came out with Wings ePress, I didn’t mention in the book that the chapter titles were song titles, so many readers missed this nuance. In an in conversation at Ink Bookshop, the bookshop owner, Charlotte Lindsay suggested I create a Spotify list and put a QR code to it at the start of the book so readers can listen along. When the books were re-released with Next Chapter, I implemented this idea.

If you’d like to listen on Spotify, this is the link: The Man in the Dam on Spotify.
For The Godfather of Dance, this is the link: The Godfather of Dance on Spotify.
A Killer Among Friends is on A Killer Among Friends on Spotify.

My choice of songs has proved an interesting point for discussion on radio interviews, where I’m often asked to choose a song or two to play. I’ve discussed these ideas with the fabulous Marg Attley on her show Quiet Please There is a Lady Onstage on Radio Mansfield.

For reference, I’ve listed the songs I used here, so you can hear what I had in mind.

Chapter	Song Title	Artist
1	Water of Love	Dire Straits
2	Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)	INXS
3	I Will Remember You	Sarah McLachlan
4	Can I Get a Witness?	Marvin Gaye
5	We Didn’t Start the Fire	Billy Joel
6	Freeze Frame	The J. Geils Band
7	Stella by Starlight	Ella Fitzgerald
8	Jazz at the Bookstore	Ron Sexsmith
9	The Widow’s Song	Levi Weaver featuring Rachael Yamagata
10	Raiders March	John Williams
11	A Surprising Phone Call	Benjamin Scheuer
12	Rendezvous at Sunset	Stan Kenton
13	Bunburying	Paul Riley
14	Heartbreak Hotel	Elvis Presley
15	Here’s to the Farmer	Luke Bryan
16	Farmhouse	Phish
17	History Never Repeats	Split Enz
18	Complicated	Avril Lavigne
19	The Square of the Hypotenuse	Danny Kaye
20	Confessions	Destiny’s Child, featuring Missy Elliott
21	Prison Song	Graham Nash
22	The Curse	Josh Ritter
23	Pelican	The Maccabees
24	Graveyard	Feist
25	Diggin’ Up The Heart	Brandon Flowers
26	History Repeating	Propellerheads
27	Sunshine After the Rain	Berri
28	Skyfall	Adele
29	History	Joel Corry
30	If I Could Turn Back Time	Cher
31	Rock The Boat	Hues Corporation
32	Letter To You	Bruce Springsteen
33	Your Team Is Looking Good	The Black Keys
34	Trouble In Paradise	Huey Lewis & The News
35	Breathing Underwater	Emeli Sande
36	Lovers in a Dangerous Time	Bruce Cockburn
37	Treasure Hunt	Howling Bells
38	If I Were a Painting	Kenny Rogers
39	Interruptions	Rogue Wave
40	Torn Screen Door	David Francey
41	Nightfalls	Keith Urban
42	Creatures Of The Night	Kiss
43	Darkness and Light	John Legend
44	Eye of the Tiger	Survivor
45	Hopelessly Coping	Wilkinson
46	Aftermath	R.E.M.
47	Another Sad Love Song	Toni Braxton
48	The Importance of Being Earnest: Theme	Benjamin Frankel

I hope you enjoy this playlist. If you had to choose a song to represent your home town, what would it be?

You can find the Jade Riley Mysteries using these links Amazon Australia, Amazon US, Ink Bookshop, Avenue Bookshop, or go to my website for more options.

To see the playlist for The Godfather of Dance, see Writing a Mystery: Chapter Titles/Playlist The Godfather of Dance.
For A Killer Among Friends, see Writing a Mystery: Chapter Titles/Playlist A Killer Among Friends.