Funny Ha Ha or Just an Improbable Premise?

How should I react when AW reviewers ask, "Is it a comedy?"

Why can't it just be a murder mystery with several classic stereotyical characters and a more-than-plausible number of coincidental happenings?

Maybe, I just answered my own question.

Really, it's not that bad.

My original premise was that a female police officer became a contract killer to make ends meet when her police lieutenant husband wasn't progressing through the ranks fast enough. After all, she had sacrificed her career (nepotism issue) for his. The contract killings serve two purposes: (1) she gets the extra money and (2) she leaves enough evidence behind so that her husband can make an open-and-shut case against the person she frames for the murder. Problem is, he sometimes needs a lot of help finding the clues and an FBI agent is becoming suspicious.

Now, does that sound like a comedy to you?

Mac

Your inner machinations must be as sharp as a machete.

Thanks

Mac

When I read "Fletch" I thought it was great--not saying that I'm anywhere close to that level. I can write serious for a chapter or two, but my desire to flip over to the lighter side always seeps through.

I'm sorry for not commenting on the recent responses. I had decided to do what Jeanne suggested and just fix all the cliches, etc.

I've got an even crustier problem. I've got this other WIP that's about a boy being killed by a dog whose mind jumps into the dogs body. that first chapter is pretty bloody and has very little humor. In the last chapter, the dog/boy is killing the bad guy when the bad guy's mind jumps into the same dog's body and the bad guy's henchmen shoot the dog dead. Some irony maybe, but not much humor. However, the rest of the book is pretty funny with the dog trying to warn his uncle, the governor, that the bad guy is planning to kill him. Dogs with human minds and strange motivations are just not that serious--especially when I write the story.

I can't call it 'humor' because the first chapter is too violent, bloody, and serious. I guess I could skip that chapter and let it filter in 'along' but the dog can't ever tell it--you see the problem.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to call both of them thrillers, I think.

Mac