I thought I’d do a post on mystery writing, since I haven’t for a while. If you’re a mystery writer, be sure to add your own random thoughts on mystery writing below. If you’re not, maybe you’ll consider reading a mystery (or writing one yourself?) :)
The structure of the books is really appealing to me, as both a reader and a writer. I think I like the comfort of having the victim and suspects introduced, motives uncovered, and red herrings and clues sprinkled throughout.
Petty motives for murder are sometimes more interesting than the big motives. And more believable. It’s eye-opening to read the local paper and discover what small things resulted in murder.
I love sidekicks. They keep my sleuth from having boring internal monologues mulling over whodunit.
I always seem to start my story with the victim. Who they were is what shapes the story.
I love, as a reader, being able to solve the mystery alongside the sleuth. I work hard to make sure that my readers are kept in the loop as the crime(s) are being investigated.
Suspects get confusing if there are too many of them or if there is more than one suspect with the same grievance against the victim. It’s also confusing if suspect names are too similar.
I’ve heard people say that it’s not as important that an amateur sleuth has a reason to investigate the crime. But, to me, their involvement needs to be plausible or else the reader is already feeling doubtful about the plot being credible. It’s so important to have the readers on board!
Having friends and family suspected of the murder, being a suspect themselves, and being a close friend of the victim are all believable reasons for a sleuth to be involved in the investigation.
Being surprised by the ending is incredibly satisfying as a reader. I try to make that happen for readers.
If the sleuth doesn’t already have a personal relationship with one or more of the suspects (if they’re all just guests at a resort, for instance), I think it’s nice if the sleuth develops a friendship or relationship with a suspect. It makes for great conflict.
I like the feeling of being unsure about whom to trust in a mystery—are some of the suspects lying? Are all of the suspects lying? Who is telling the truth and when?
Do you read mysteries? If you do, what do you enjoy about the genre? And—if you don’t—what’s your favorite thing about the genre that you read or write?
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I love being on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happens next–and often, I’m writing that way too! This last time (my third in a detective series set in Hawaii) I wrote from an outline for the first time- and was STILL surprised by twists that had me hopping up and going, “Genius!” (I like to encourage my muse with praise) I also ALWAYS have to have a spice of romance and chemistry in the air–both both in what I read and what I write.
Most of all, mysteries are FUN. Both the read, and even more, to write.
I love mysteries, but I like the kind I can re-read, which means heavy on the characters. “The Cat Who” books are a sweet take on cozies which I can re-read and love again, but my absolute favorites are Tony Hillerman’s books. Not classically considered mysteries by everyone, I know, but I love them.
I love mysteries. Especially when the author gives me the clues needed to solve the mystery before the sleuth but hides them well enough to make it a real challenge.
Elizabeth – I really enjoyed this post (well, I always love your posts, of course, but especially this one). I’m a mystery writer, too, and I can see why you like the way most mysteries are structured. There is something to the way they’re put together…
I agree 100% with you about there needing to be a plausible reason the sleuth gets involved in the case. That’s harder if the sleuth is an amateur than it is if she or he is a cop, but I tend to notice whether or not the sleuth’s involvement is really believable.
You also mentioned suspects. I generally don’t have more than four, for just the reasons you mentioned. Plus with fewer suspects, you can develop their characters just a little more.
And like you – I always start with the victim. Something about the victim is almost always the reason she or he was killed, so it makes sense, I think to start with the victim’s character.
I love mystery reading and watching. I keep up very well with mysteries and love it when I am surprised. That’s the type of writing I like to do as well.
I love losing myself in the story, trying to figure out who the killer is, the challenge of seperating clues from red herrings and the icing on the cake, being surprised at the end of book. Like someone else mentioned, I love mysteries that are worth re-reading.
Hi Elizabeth .. I’m just dusting (literally) off my mother’s Penguins from years ago .. so lots of sleuths in there .. I used to love these .. so I suspect I’ll be ‘at’ them again – enjoying their tales with twisty ends.
Mysteries to be re-read .. cheers Hilary
Elizabeth, I confess – mystery is a genre I just don’t read. I admire those who can write it well, though.
Even though I write romantic suspense (and I still hate that pigeonhole, because mine are NOT suspense), my love is mystery. And I totally agree that an amateur sleuth needs some serious motivation to get involved. The biggest challenge an author faces when they’re writing for “me” is to make me believe that the killer is actually going to confess the crime to the amateur sleuth. “Oh, sure, I killed Aunt Lucy, and I’m telling you because for some strange reason I don’t think you can possible turn me over to the cops” just won’t fly. I’ve got to believe, and that takes some good writing.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
I love reading mysteries and writing them, and for me the biggest test is ‘does it make sense?”. Do the characters act logically (even if it’s only logical to them)? Does the plot unfold in a way that makes sense? Are there any huge coincidences that make me squirm? And that ending…it *has* to make sense. I have no problem as a reader coming to the end and reading a solution I haven’t figured out, but I can’t stand last-minute revelations that didn’t give me a ghost of a chance.
I read everything. What I like about mysteries is the opportunity they provide for me to use my wits and see if I can beat the sleuth to the answer. I love figuring things out. Come to think of it, though, that’s probably the reason I like most books – there’s always some element of mystery in almost any genre. =o)
Great food for thought, Elizabeth! and that names thing… I’m currently reading a Swedish Mystery and all these names that start with H and end with son are making me nuts! I guess if I lived where that was more normal, it would be easier, but MAN!
Great post. I, too, am a mystery writer and have a terrible time trying to get my amateur sleuth credibly involved. I have a large cast of characters whom I MUST include each time (according to my editor and my readers)and each book gets harder, frankly. I did tentatively suggest a different series, but as I write two a year and the publishers wanted to keep the current series going too, I decided I’d better not!
I love a good mystery. It’s the first aisle I go to at a book store. I can’t resist them. I’m almost always fooled by a character or a red herring. The clues can be so subtle. I don’t think I can write one because I’m not a plotter, but, you never know.
Toby–Now that is an interesting observation about your outline! I’m writing a series with an outline, but I haven’t had quite the success with it as you have…although in some ways it made the writing of the book MUCH easier for me.
Suzi–Those are both great series!
Linda–And that is tricky! I try to leave clues that aren’t too obscure, but try to avoid the neon “here’s a clue!” sign. :)
Diane–It’s almost like the reader is solving the crime, too, isn’t it? It’s a great escape for a reader. :)
Hilary–Hope you’ll enjoy them! I love old mysteries.
Margot–It’s so much easier for folks who write police procedurals…their sleuth’s involvement is a given!
I have 5 suspects at the start, but then I always kill one of them off, so I’ll end up with 4.
Diane–I’ve found that a lot with the genre–there’s not a lot of gray area there…you read it or you don’t! I think there are some books that have had crossover appeal (like “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”)
Teresa–I LOVE the surprise. It’s just so much fun. :)
B.E.–Good point! Yes, each book has a mystery: will the guy get the girl? Will John get out of his perilous situation as the clock keeps ticking?
Hart–Yes! I must have read the same book as you, but I’ve run into that before with Swedish mysteries.
Lesley–That’s a tough one! And if you start making some of those recurring characters victims, you’ll really run into trouble with your readers! Can your sleuth become a real detective, a la Agatha Raisin and Mma Ramotswe? Is that too much of a stretch?
Mary–You should give it a try! There’s a real pattern to the books (not a formula, but a pattern) so writing them is fairly easy (I think.) I make my stories up as I go along (usually).
I haven’t tried to write a mystery though I have mystery elements sometimes. I grew up on Nancy Drew, but after a while, I got tired of her never growing up. I’m with Suzi on the Cat Who… books with Jim Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum. Jim’s mustache fascinates me. I also like the Mrs. Pollifax and Lord Peter Whimsy books. I loved how this 80 year old grandmother decides to volunteer as a spy for the CIA. The first four books are my favorites. And Lord Peter’s courting of Miss Harriet Vane the mystery writer is charming. They meet when she’s on trial for killing her lover.
I will consider writing a mystery. Promise!
I have just begun editing & translating an old Danish manuscript into English, and my protagonist is eleven years old. But don´t worry, no one will mix him up with Flavia de Luce. And it is the kind of book where the readers get all his clues (in code, but a VERY simple one). Promise!
Not exactly a cosy this time, but there won´t be a lot of blood, sex and gore. Promise!
I’ve always loved reading mysteries. From Encyclopedia Brown through Nancy & the Boys, to Agatha & beyond. So many good stories – I love when the clues are there, but the author does a good job of hiding most of them in plain sight :)
I am writing my first mystery novel and by everything you described is exactly how I am writing and constructing. I feel now I am doing everything right and do share the same sentiments.
I’d like to add that humanizing a character also helps. Giving him or her flaws or them being vulnerable such as divorce or having a special needs child or family member really brings that side many readers will connect with and really root ror him or her to solve this mystery.
Jaleh–I love Mrs. Pollifax! Great stories. I’ll admit to loving Nancy Drew, but I did end up moving to Trixie Belden after I got a little older (Trixie got in trouble more.)
Terry–Exactly. It’s got to be a real moment… a connection between the murderer and the sleuth that rings true.
Elspeth–Oh, I’m with you on that. It’s funny, because I’ve heard so much of the opposite lately: “Oh, the readers will understand…amateur sleuths investigate because that’s what they do.” But I don’t buy it.
Dorte–Ah…a mystery with an interesting child! Haven’t read one of those for a while–looking forward to it! And it’s not cozy? Can’t wait to read it, Dorte! Love your short stories. :)
Jonz–Very good point. If the reader doesn’t feel a connection to either the victim or the sleuth, then they won’t care if the crime is solved or not.
I adore reading mysteries and writing mysteries. I especially adore the sidekicks and secondary characters. I want the book to surprise me – to become friends with the characters and understand the antagonist. Fun, fun, fun. BTW, mine comes out from Bell Bridge Books the end of this year. Yay!
Hope Clark
http://www.fundsforwriters.com
Jemi–I’m trying to remember if “Encyclopedia Brown” was the first mystery I read, or if it was Nancy Drew. I loved them both. :)
Hope–Congratulations! Can’t wait to read it. Keep my blog in mind if you want to do a guest post or blog tour. :)