MysteryMystery

The Game is Afoot.The Game is Afoot.---- Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes

What is a mystery?

A secret, a riddle, a puzzle.Essential ingredients are an element of crime mixed with an element of detection.You have to find out the secret, and solve the riddle or puzzle to find the criminal or enemy and crack the case.The hero or heroine appears in a series of adventures.

KEY ELEMENTS IN MYSTERIES

Introduction of the protagonistPresentation of the mysterious or criminal situation

Suspects, motives, clues are given, including “Red Herrings”Addition of the subplots

The denouement or discovery of the killer.

DetectivesDetectivesHardboiled Hardboiled –– Thrilling Thrilling action, danger, tough, action, danger, tough, often flawed, characters.often flawed, characters.Amateur Amateur –– Becomes Becomes involved in the crime by involved in the crime by accident or chance, accident or chance, someone with logical someone with logical mind and common sense.mind and common sense.Female P.I. Female P.I. –– Different Different POV, started taking the POV, started taking the lead role in the late lead role in the late 19701970’’s.s.

Mystery Sub-Genres

• Cozy Mystery• Detective Novel• Police Procedural• Historical Mystery• Private Eyes• Humorous Mystery

Cozy MysteryCozy Mystery

Little violence or action.Little violence or action.Focus is on the clues and the plot.Focus is on the clues and the plot.Mind game between criminal and the Mind game between criminal and the detective.detective.Features common folk with common Features common folk with common problems.problems.May use a gimmick, such as a quilting May use a gimmick, such as a quilting club, gardening, single mom, spinster, club, gardening, single mom, spinster, cats or dogs.cats or dogs.

Popular CoziesPopular Cozies

Lilian Jackson Braun Lilian Jackson Braun (Jim Qwilleran, (Jim Qwilleran, reporter and reporter and billionaire)billionaire)Simon Brett (Melita Simon Brett (Melita Pargeter, widow)Pargeter, widow)Agatha Christie (Miss Agatha Christie (Miss Marple, spinster)Marple, spinster)Diane Mott Davidson Diane Mott Davidson (Goldie Bear, caterer)(Goldie Bear, caterer)

Police ProceduralsPolice ProceduralsCharacters follow Characters follow standard procedures standard procedures within a structured within a structured institution, such as FBI, institution, such as FBI, Scotland Yard, NYPD.Scotland Yard, NYPD.Detective has more Detective has more resources at his/her resources at his/her disposal.disposal.Characters may act Characters may act independently of their independently of their departments or break the departments or break the rules.rules.

Popular Police ProceduralsPopular Police Procedurals

Michael Connelly (Harry Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch)Bosch)Elizabeth George Elizabeth George (Inspector Thomas (Inspector Thomas Lynley)Lynley)Tony Hillerman (Chee and Tony Hillerman (Chee and Leaphorn)Leaphorn)Carol OCarol O’’Connell (Kathleen Connell (Kathleen Mallory)Mallory)Colin Dexter (Inspector Colin Dexter (Inspector Morse)Morse)

Historical MysteriesHistorical MysteriesThe era or the location may appeal more to the reader The era or the location may appeal more to the reader than the mystery.than the mystery.Much more research and detail go into a period mystery.Much more research and detail go into a period mystery.May have more sinister plotting and political overtones.May have more sinister plotting and political overtones.

Popular Historical MysteriesLindsey Davis (Marcus Didius Falco)Ellis Peters (Brother Cadfael)Laura Joh Rowland (Ichiro Sano)Anne Perry (Thomas Pitt)

Private EyesPrivate EyesDeveloped from the Developed from the pulp magazines of the pulp magazines of the 19201920’’s.s.Continued popularity Continued popularity due to the appeal of due to the appeal of each detective.each detective.Usually a flawed Usually a flawed character or may be character or may be one who used to be a one who used to be a cop or a lawyer.cop or a lawyer.

First Rate Private EyesFirst Rate Private EyesSue Grafton (Kinsey Sue Grafton (Kinsey MillhoneMillhone))DashiellDashiell Hammett (Sam Hammett (Sam Spade)Spade)Lawrence Block (Matthew Lawrence Block (Matthew Scudder)Scudder)Bill Bill PronziniPronzini (Nameless (Nameless Detective)Detective)Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe)Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe)Sara Sara ParetskyParetsky (V.I. (V.I. WarshowskiWarshowski))Robert B. Parker (Spenser)Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

Humorous MysteriesHumorous Mysteries

Just when life canJust when life can’’t get t get any more complicated, any more complicated, murder happens.murder happens.The supporting The supporting characters are often characters are often sources of the humor.sources of the humor.Sometimes the Sometimes the relationships among the relationships among the players are equal in players are equal in importance to the importance to the mystery plot.mystery plot.

Popular Humorous MysteriesPopular Humorous Mysteries

Janet Evanovich Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum)(Stephanie Plum)Selma Eichler Selma Eichler (Desiree Sapiro)(Desiree Sapiro)Carl HiaasenCarl HiaasenSarah Strohmeyer Sarah Strohmeyer (Bubbles)(Bubbles)

Mystery Sites to Die For

• Who Dunnit www.who-dunnit.comReviews and synopses of old and new mysteries; author information.

• Murder by the Book www.murderbooks.comLocal mystery book store information.

• Stop You’re Killing Me www.stopyourekillingme.comAuthors, characters, new releases, fun newsletter.