There were too many characters. Too few clues. And the pacing left a lot to be desired. I was very, very lucky that the editor I'd made contact with so many years ago was still editing. And I was stupid not to keep writing, even a little bit, during the years before I decided to try again.
Writing is about sitting down and putting words on paper.
I'm better at it now that I was in the early years. But I'd be even better if I had kept working at my craft instead of becoming discouraged by rejection. FAQ Two of the questions I'm asked frequently are what mysteries do I read and where do I get the ideas for my books. There's always a reason why the sleuth must solve the murder in the short time period. This creates a sense of urgency and, not so incidentally, adds an appealing frenzy to her mysteries.