How I Named My Sleuth (Hint: It Was a Cat)

“Simba, ever watchful while I write a mystery…”

How I Named My Sleuth (Hint: It Was a Cat)
There’s a lot that goes into writing a mystery. Twists, clues, red herrings, suspects, but one of the first and most important decisions? Naming your sleuth.

When I began sketching out the world for my cozy mystery series, I knew I wanted a heroine who was smart, creative, a little scarred, and a lot determined. I didn’t want her to be a cop or detective. I wanted her to be someone like us. So I gave her a name that felt timeless and just a bit theatrical: Seraphina Beckett.

“Seraphina” has an old-world elegance. It’s not overly common, but it lingers. It says, this person might surprise you. And “Beckett”? That’s a nod to the theater. (You’ll find quite a few stage-inspired breadcrumbs in her backstory.)

But the truth? The very first name that stuck wasn’t hers. It was her cat’s.

Simba, her blue-eyed Siamese with a sixth sense for danger, came to me long before I figured out the murder. He’s the one who mirrors her moods, warns her of shady suspects, and occasionally steals the scene.

So, in a way, it was Simba who named the sleuth. Because I needed someone who could match that energy—who could be clever but vulnerable, curious but not jaded. Someone who, like Simba, could trust her instincts.

Naming a sleuth isn’t just about sound. It’s about spirit. And once I found hers, the rest of the story started to fall into place.

Do you have a favorite fictional sleuth (human or feline)? Let me know in the comments!

🖋️ Until next time,
Meg Ryder