Another great quote on good intentions this one by Iris Murdoch: “No good would come of all these fine intentions.” Wickeds have you written a character that fits this quote? Or do you have a favorite book that addresses this?
Julie: I do love this idea for character motivation. Someone who tries to lead with good intentions, but it all goes sideways. Are they really good, or are they busybodies who are bad with boundaries? Are they inept, or are they evil? It’s giving me a lot to think about. Amelia Peabody in Elizabeth Peters’ series personifies this quote. She tried to do good, but often causes trouble.
Liz: I think all three of my protags would say this fit their lives! Getting involved in murder investigations, even when it’s to help yourself or someone you love, always brings its issues. But I think despite the rocky middle, they usually find their way to a solution and growth as a person, so it usually all works out in the end.
Edith/Maddie: I agree with Julie and Liz. Something always goes sideways when an amateur sleuth starts poking into the who and why of a homicide. In my Cozy Capers Book Group series, the various members of the group also help out, which only complicates things. But they do mean well!
Barb: Bill and I have an expression, “It’s never about the dishes,” which means when I fight breaks out at a family party about doing the dishes, it is never, really, about the dishes. In Clammed Up, the first Maine Clambake Mystery, the protagonist, Julia Snowden returns to her hometown to save her family’s failing clambake business. Her brother-in-law, Sonny, fights her at every turn. It turns out that Julia’s white knight attitude doesn’t sit so well with Sonny, who has been there in town all along, dealing with her father’s illness, her mother’s long mourning, and keeping the clambake afloat. In Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door, Jane is desperately trying to find her missing neighbor and repair the broken relationships between her neighbor and her parents. Finally, Jane’s best friend points out that maybe it’s Jane’s estrangement from her own son that she should be putting her energy toward. It’s not that no good will come of them, but In both cases my heroine’s have fine intentions, but aren’t seeing the bigger picture.
Sherry: In the Chloe Jackson books, Chloe goes to Florida with good intentions to help her friend’s grandmother. Nothing goes as Chloe envisions it and she ends up lying to people. And while she thinks she’s there to help people, the end up helping her too.
Readers: How about you?
The Wickeds 
I have become a huge fan of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan books. If ever there was a character with good intentions gone awry, it’s Finlay!
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I agree.
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Good morning, Dru Ann!
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You are so right! She is an excellent example!
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OMG, Annette, I adore Finlay and Vero, challenges and all! 😂
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Think the good intentions gone awry are what adds greatly to a story. It makes it all more real life like. Don’t know about you, but most my plans usually take detours – while some may be smooth sailing others are bumpy rides. But in the end, the trip getting to the destination is often a lot of fun and full of adventures that I won’t take anything for.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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That’s an excellent example!
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I think things go awry when we don’t know enough about the situation to make good judgments. It’s the whole “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.”
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I love this, Ginny!
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Annette beat me to it – Finlay Donovan. She tries so hard to do it right and, well, it just gets worse and worse.
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They are such great books!
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Barb’s Jane Darrowfield came to mind immediately!
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I love Jane and she’s another great example.
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This conversation makes me think of Catriona McPherson’s Last Ditch mysteries. Nothing ever seems to go right for Lexy and her friends!
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That is so true! It’s a great series!
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All I can say is that I love your books. I am almost finished with Three Shots to the Wind and on to Rum and choke. I love these books. I always want to help people, but all of my grandparents and parents are gone. I miss them every day. We do take care of an 88-year-old neighbor that we shared a dog with. He has a significant other that is 15 years younger (a basically vegetarian), but she does not realize what he needs, I think. We take him dinners, salads, sweets, popcorn and other things. He is grateful but is too skinny. He is a great guy and neighbor.
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I’m so glad you love my books! And what a wonderful thing to take care of your neighbor. He is lucking to have you!
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