When Setting is Memorable

There are books that stay with you long after you read them. Books that immerse the reader directly into the plot, allowing them to experience the emotions of the main character as they navigate their way through the fictional world created by the author.
Is it the characters, setting, plot, or something more elusive that makes certain books so memorable?

Take one of my favorite classics, Wuthering Heights. Why is it so unforgettable decades after I read it? Wuthering Heights brings to mind the moors, the manor, unrequited love, tragedy, and revenge. But more than that, there is an eerie feel to it that leaves me haunted. It’s the haunting that stays with me. What specifically caused that response?
Perhaps the atmosphere?

How does an author achieve a particular ambiance? For me as both a reader and writer, the setting and the natural environment, along with the main character’s response to it, is integral to the atmosphere of a novel. Deliberate description of the setting, imagery connecting it to the theme of the novel, and the character’s inner thoughts as their surroundings impact them, along with dialogue, creates that atmosphere.

The interaction between characters and the time and space they inhabit brings the setting to life, as though it were a character in its own right. In Wuthering Heights, the desolate moors reflect Heathcliff’s gloomy disposition, and the societal expectations of the times result in a tragic outcome. The moors and this historical slice of society form a character as much as do Cathy and Heathcliff. Without this character we call ‘setting’, the book simply wouldn’t be as remarkable. Emily Bronte was very familiar with both the moors and Victorian society. It was her life. An author’s, and subsequently, the character’s immersion in a particular time and place elevates the plot off the page and into the life of the reader.

Like Emily Bronte, I set my characters into a location I know. Somewhere I’ve lived, a place I’ve visited and loved, a spot similar to one I know, a locale I have researched. The characters themselves are true to the setting, a blend of people I have known, met, or know of. And then there’s the fictionalization of it all where my writer’s imagination takes over from the reality.

In my latest mystery novel, Cold Query, the setting evokes an atmosphere of serenity. Port Ripley is a safe community—a small town set on the shores of Blue Water Lake with beautiful sunsets over the water. The residents are friendly, nodding and waving to passersby. People generally know each other. It’s so different from the bustling cities that are situated more than an hour away. Even the busy summer season attracts families looking for a peaceful day at the beach or unique shops in the downtown core. It’s a place I know well, inspired by a real lakeside town.

But that cozy feeling is threatened when a series of unexplained deaths occur, one on the heels of the other. A sense of unease builds into fear as police caution residents to be wary. When it becomes evident that there’s a serial killer in town, no one wants to believe it could be one of the locals. Because things like this simply don’t happen in the charming town of Port Ripley.

Ivy Rose, who moved to Port Ripley eleven years ago, lives an idyllic life, having escaped a traumatic past that still haunts her. As a respected highschool teacher and emergent writer, she is well-known in the community. The dangers that once pursued her are a distant memory replaced by pleasant thoughts of times spent on the beach, splashing in the water with her kids and soaking up the sun. Walks on the boardwalk and views of the gorgeous sunsets define her life. Calm, peaceful, like the lapping waves of Blue Water Lake. Familiar, safe, like the neighbors and townspeople she encounters on a regular basis.

Explicit description of a setting is crucial to a novel, and yet shouldn’t bog down the plot. And so, the reader sees the lake and town through the eyes of the characters. Their surroundings come to life through their inner thoughts, dialogue with other characters, and the effect of their surroundings on their lives set the scene in the reader’s mind. Ivy’s daily walks on the boardwalk, her weekly book club meetings, her school community, and the writing community in Blue Water Lake form the setting. So does her former friend, Detective Scott Evan’s view of the town and lake as he gets to know the business area, the lakeside, and the townspeople.

Character and setting become intertwined as Ivy’s safe haven transitions to a threatening environment where a murderer may be just down the street. Her past mixes with the present as Ivy realizes that no matter where she lives, danger follows. No matter how beautiful the setting, in Ivy’s world, it takes on a menacing stance. Unlike Wuthering Heights, there is no gothic-like mansion or eerie wind on the moors to define the atmosphere. Cold Query creates a feeling of fear by placing an unexpected danger—a serial killer—in the most beautiful and welcoming of backdrops. And as the threats escalate, the once calm and caressing waves become deep and dangerous undertows. Imagery plays a crucial role in the setting. As with the natural environment, the nature of people can be two-sided. A darkness lies beneath the surface.

Setting greatly impacts the story, leaving behind an aura long after the book is closed. The paradisiacal setting of Cold Query forms a contrast to the community’s terror with a serial killer at large. A fuzzy warm feeling mixes with the revelation that appearances can be deceiving, creating an atmosphere which may leave the reader wondering whether any place or any one can be a safe haven. Welcome to Blue Water. Take the plunge. And immerse yourself in the small-town atmosphere with the autumn chill of the lake that will seep into your bones and stay there.

Ivanka Fear is a Slovenian-born Canadian author. She lives in Ontario with her family and feline companions. Ivanka earned her B.A. and B.Ed. in English and French at Western University. After retiring from teaching, she wrote poetry and short stories for various literary journals. Ivanka is the author of the Blue Water Mystery series and the Jake and Mallory Thriller series. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Canada, and Vocamus Writers Community. When not reading and writing, Ivanka enjoys watching mystery series and romance movies, gardening, going for walks, and watching the waves roll in at the lake.