Choice of covers...Which says Dectective in Space better? (Complete)

[Spin52]

Same here. Like the background (especially the left one), hate the guy. He looks more like a criminal than a detective, which I assume he's meant to be. I like the concept of a space detective, but he'd put me off buying the book.

[KBoards.com]

[Annelie]

The left works better, because the darker background isn't as distracting as the lighter of the left cover. But the face is weird. There's too much light on it. It looks too much pasted on top of the background. Same goes for the guy's toupee. But as a fist cover draft, the left works

[Steve Margolis]

I like the one on the right, but it doesn't say detective to me. If anything, it says time traveler.

[m123xyz]

agree w left and I don't get sense of detective.

[DaniO]

Yes, it's freaking me out.

Also, neither of these say 'detective in space' to me. The background is irrelevant either way.

Why is the background irrelevant?

I actually like both backgrounds. My preference is the one on the left.

I really don't think you need to add a long coat and a magnifying glass or anything like that.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

To be honest, it was a case of 'spot the difference' to me. But I agree that the guy looked more like a felon than a detective  .

[AltMe]

Oddly enough, the artist just had a 'technical difficulty' which means she has to start from scratch again.
So the feedback is all welcome.
Thanks.

New cover when it comes.

[C. Gold]

Here's hoping the artist 'misplaced' the male model somewhere in a circular file.

[AltMe]

New covers:

[Jena H]

Definitely more detective-looking     (although the trenchcoat seems a little 'much' in a spaceship).  And I like the version without the 'stache.  And preferably with the blue background, rather than the bluish-green.

[ThirdWish]

Piggybacking on other suggestions -- what about using either a silhouette that reads "detective" or a shadowy figure that gives the same impression. Something along the lines of:



Or use a full body shot in a similar look. Then add space with a stars/space/city on another planet background?

That way you're signaling character and genre and skimming over distracting or off-putting detail.

[jb1111]

I'll be blunt here, so please forgive me. Obviously, I haven't read your books, but unless they're steampunk, having Sherlock Holmes minus the pipe, or one of the guys from Dragnet in a space vehicle just doesn't seem to say "it's the future, and it's outer space" to me.

The earlier coat looked more like something a street cop would wear in the future. It looked bleak, which I think was cool. It just didn't say "law enforcement" or "detective".

The new guy does look like a detective. Maybe he just needs the clothing adjusted somehow.

How do you describe him in your books? If he is described the way that he appears on the new covers, well, then go with it.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Piggybacking on other suggestions -- what about using either a silhouette that reads "detective" or a shadowy figure that gives the same impression. Something along the lines of:



Or use a full body shot in a similar look. Then add space with a stars/space/city on another planet background?

That way you're signaling character and genre and skimming over distracting or off-putting detail.

This sounds like a good idea. 

I like no.2 in your new covers, but does he resemble the actual character for age etc?.

[AltMe]

I like no.2 in your new covers, but does he resemble the actual character for age etc?.

More or less. He's a retired cop, so 60ish, but at a time when people live longer.

How do you describe him in your books?

I actually haven't. It's first person, so he doesn't describe himself. Not steampunk either. Space Opera set in the future. I can actually see him looking this way, about to get off the ship at the station in the distance.

And if need be, we can adjust clothing in the book, so at some point, he is wearing a suit under a trench coat and hat.

[TromboneAl]

It's a big step in the right direction, but the guy could still be just an effete Englishman rather than a detective.

Can you add a tagline with the word "detective" or "PI" in it?

[DCRWrites]

The new guy reminds me way too much of Clarence Beeks from Trading Places to think of anything else. The title placement also makes me think he's the killer, not the detective.

I think you may want to go back to first principles and try to work out how your image connects both the idea of a detective in space and your title.

[Tim C. Taylor]

The darker background on the left and the guy without the moustache. He does look like detective and I like the contrast of his dress style with the space environment. Is the character described as dressing in an antique style in the text? If you've not written it yet, that could give him a quirk to make him memorable.

[C. Gold]

He's an improvement over bad Photoshop dude, but the guy still looks out of place and not visually appealing. He looks like he has a stick up his hiney and the black gloves make him look more like the killer.

Oooh, speaking of the killer, maybe you should go with the killer since that's what the title says the book is about. He could be a younger dude, scar or other intriguing look, and more appropriate space age clothes, maybe.

Ultimately, the cover isn't really about what the character looks like, but more what will sell. That guy's look isn't saying 'buy me'.

[geronl]

More or less. He's a retired cop, so 60ish, but at a time when people live longer.

I think #2 works best. Though he doesn't look futuristic, which I guess could be a theme.

[TromboneAl]

More or less. He's a retired cop, so 60ish, but at a time when people live longer.

Do not be constrained by the truth of the story. Here's a detective from Pixabay.com:

[AltMe]

Would any of these be a better model to use?
Or can you suggest a better one. Dress can be explained.

https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/retro-detective-man-with-mustache-and-hat-wearing-raincoat-gm465464135-33343084
https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/silhouette-of-detective-with-mustache-and-hat-holding-gun-gm465641573-33342132
https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/mysterious-man-waiting-in-the-fog-gm589959012-101334117
https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/confident-agent-in-trench-coat-film-noir-gm589958812-101333865
https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/portrait-of-a-police-detective-gm457796521-30871864

[Cactus Lady]

Would any of these be a better model to use?
Or can you suggest a better one. Dress can be explained.

https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/retro-detective-man-with-mustache-and-hat-wearing-raincoat-gm465464135-33343084
https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/silhouette-of-detective-with-mustache-and-hat-holding-gun-gm465641573-33342132
https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/mysterious-man-waiting-in-the-fog-gm589959012-101334117
https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/confident-agent-in-trench-coat-film-noir-gm589958812-101333865
https://www.istockphoto.com/au/photo/portrait-of-a-police-detective-gm457796521-30871864

Silhouette (#2) or mysterious man in fog (#3)

[bookcover4u]

New cover is good. I like it. 

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

1 or 3 for me. The one with the gun might be problematic for some ads.

[C. Gold]

I like mysterious man in the fog the best.

I don't think the one with the gun would be an issue with ads since it's not pointed at anyone or the reader, but the gun seems weird for scifi in space.

[KBoards.com]