But at the end of season five when they’re about to get married and have the happily-ever-after we’ve been waiting for … Castle disappears. This was an authentic, real conflict that tugged at our heartstrings because we could see both viewpoints, and we didn’t know how they could get through it. He had to earn her trust back … and it took time. But viewers knew that they belonged together … even if the characters didn’t! But keeping the tension high while also moving the relationship forward and providing authentic conflict isn’t easy.Ĭase in point: at the end of season three when Kate learns that Castle violated her trust by looking into her mother’s murder, that ended their budding relationship.

Remember the television series Castle? Rick Castle, writer, and Kate Beckett, detective, had plenty of sexual tension and “almost” moments, and for the first couple of seasons they had other love interests. Of course, we don’t want it to be easy getting there. But because we are human, we seek that one Right Person for our favorite characters. Relationships of all kinds deepen the story. Not just romantic relationships, but family (parents, siblings), best friends, colleagues, enemies.

In a crime series, relationships are a subplot. In fact, one of my favorite Lisa Gardner books, When You See Me, brings D.D., FBI Agent Kimberly Quincy, and consultant Flora Dane together to solve a case, and highlights how the men in their lives provide support - both at home and emotionally - so they can do their jobs. Warren from Lisa Gardner’s series is better with her husband Alex to bounce ideas around. Romantic entanglements also work well in all genres, because readers like characters who are human.

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