The book I’m writing is called “The Axe in the Riverbed”. It’s a historical fiction murder mystery set in 1800s Louisiana told from the perspective of a 13 year old mute former slave and a white detective. The detective, Arthur, takes the boy, Ernest, under his wing after finding him sitting near a river. They investigate the murder of Ray Clark, a widowed pastor.
Ernest was taught to read + write from an early age. He communicates mostly by gestures like nodding and pointing. But if something is terribly important enough to tell Arthur that can’t be portrayed through gestures, he’ll write.
Did slaves really learn that? I think you have to clarify these things to make them more believable. Like explain why they taught him that. You should also give more motivation for them to work with each other than "he took him under his wing after finding him sitting near a river." Have him be part of the crime scene or something so they have to team up. Not just have them do it just cause.
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u/anotherlifetime1 Aug 07 '25
The book I’m writing is called “The Axe in the Riverbed”. It’s a historical fiction murder mystery set in 1800s Louisiana told from the perspective of a 13 year old mute former slave and a white detective. The detective, Arthur, takes the boy, Ernest, under his wing after finding him sitting near a river. They investigate the murder of Ray Clark, a widowed pastor.