https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---articleen-USTelligent Community 10https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---articleThu, 16 May 2019 15:10:08 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:1c656d30-8913-439b-a8a6-4ec7f25ea651Author Learning Centerhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---article#commentsCurrent Revision posted to Choosing Your Topic by Author Learning Center on 5/16/2019 3:10:08 PM<br /> <h2>What is a Mystery Novel?</h2> <p>Going as far back to the <em>Sherlock Holmes </em>series in the late 1800s, the mystery novel has been a popular <a href="/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1777/genre-basics---what-is-a-genre---article">genre</a> for a long time. These novels are centered around a crime (usually a murder) where the <span><a href="/writing/fiction/w/character-development/1941/characters-101-what-is-a-protagonist-and-antagonist---article">protagonist</a></span> is an investigator who must uncover and follow various clues, find suspects, and ultimately identify the criminal and bring justice.</p> <p>Mystery stories do not normally involve a lot of violent conflict, but rather create intrigue and suspense by discovering suspects and eliminating potential clues until the shocking truth is revealed. Various &ldquo;reveals&rdquo; that take place throughout the story are a hallmark of the genre.</p> <p>Mystery novels can be very difficult to write because they require a delicate balance between surprising the reader while still being realistic. Your reveal can&rsquo;t come out of nowhere just for the shock effect&mdash;it must tie-in with everything the reader has learned up to that point. All the clues must <span><a href="/writing/fiction/w/ending-a-story/7225/appealing-to-readers-with-surprise-endings-and-universal-themes">come together perfectly at the end</a></span> for a satisfying reveal where the strings are tied and the criminal is caught.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Mystery vs. Thriller</h2> <p>In a mystery, the plot normally centers on a protagonist trying to get to the bottom of a crime. Readers are following a detective as he/she uncovers clues and works toward solving a puzzle. The majority of <span><a href="/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1946/genre-basics---suspense---article">suspense</a></span> in mystery novels comes from clues that mislead readers and the anticipation for solving the mystery, rather than a fast-paced plot with extended scenes of violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a <span><a href="/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/2890/genre-basics---thrillers---article">thriller</a></span>, the protagonist is suspended in an almost constant state of danger. These stories create excitement more because of their quick-pace than the building of plot. Unlike mystery, thrillers are not about solving a puzzle, but rather about the pressure of high-stakes scenarios.&nbsp;</p> <p>Occasionally books will blur the lines between these two genres, but your story will likely fall more into one than another.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Types of Mystery Novels</h2> <p>Mysteries form a broad genre with multiple sub-genres, with novels often fitting into more than one at a time. Here are four of its most popular categories.</p> <h4>Cozy Mystery</h4> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Cozy mysteries are set in a confined setting such as a small village or home. They often feature minimal violence, sex, social relevance, and they often solve the crime using intellect or intuition rather than procedure.</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Popular cozy mysteries include <em>Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder </em>by Joanne Fluke and <em>Death by Darjeeling </em>by Laura Childs.</p> <h4>Classic Detective Mystery</h4> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Detective mysteries generally feature a mysterious death, a closed circle of suspects, and a central character who is a detective. The protagonist is able to solve the mystery using logical deduction from the facts in evidence.</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Popular detective mysteries include <em>And Then There Were None </em>by Agatha Christie and <em>Sherlock Holmes </em>by Arthur Conan Doyle.</p> <h4>Police Procedural</h4> <p style="padding-left:30px;">In a police procedural mystery, the detective follows police protocol to catch a criminal. These stories normally require a strong understanding of the ins and outs of how the police force runs.</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Popular police procedurals include <em>The Black Echo </em>by Michael Donnelly and <em>Naked in Death </em>by J.D. Robb.</p> <h4>Hard-Boiled Mystery</h4> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Hard-boiled mysteries are generally defined as more realistic fiction with an objective viewpoint, fast-paced and slang-filled dialogue, and graphic violence.</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Popular hard-boiled mysteries include <em>The Big Sleep </em>by Raymond Chandler and <em>Killing Floor </em>by Lee Child.</p> <blockquote> <p>To learn more about genres, whether you need them, and how to choose the right one, make sure to check out our comprehensive article on <a href="/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1777/genre-basics---what-is-a-genre---article">The Basics of Genre</a>.</p> </blockquote><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: Mystery – Thriller – Suspense, article, fiction</div> https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---article/revision/4Fri, 10 May 2019 11:59:59 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:1c656d30-8913-439b-a8a6-4ec7f25ea651Author Learning Centerhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---article#commentsRevision 4 posted to Choosing Your Topic by Author Learning Center on 5/10/2019 11:59:59 AM<br /> <h2>What is a Mystery Novel?</h2> <p>Going as far back to the <em>Sherlock Holmes </em>series in the late 1800s, the mystery novel has been a popular <a href="/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1777/genre-basics---what-is-a-genre---article">genre</a> for a long time. These novels are centered around a crime (usually a murder) where the <span><a href="/writing/fiction/w/character-development/1941/characters-101-what-is-a-protagonist-and-antagonist---article">protagonist</a></span> is an investigator who must uncover and follow various clues, find suspects, and ultimately identify the criminal and bring justice.</p> <p>Mystery stories do not normally involve a lot of violent conflict, but rather create intrigue and suspense by discovering suspects and eliminating potential clues until the shocking truth is revealed. Various &ldquo;reveals&rdquo; that take place throughout the story are a hallmark of the genre.</p> <p>Mystery novels can be very difficult to write because they require a delicate balance between surprising the reader while still being realistic. Your reveal can&rsquo;t come out of nowhere just for the shock effect&mdash;it must tie-in with everything the reader has learned up to that point. All the clues must <span><a href="/writing/fiction/w/ending-a-story/7225/appealing-to-readers-with-surprise-endings-and-universal-themes">come together perfectly at the end</a></span> for a satisfying reveal where the strings are tied and the criminal is caught.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Mystery vs. Thriller</h2> <p>In a mystery, the plot normally centers on a protagonist trying to get to the bottom of a crime. Readers are following a detective as he/she uncovers clues and works toward solving a puzzle. The majority of <span><a href="/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1946/genre-basics---suspense---article">suspense</a></span> in mystery novels comes from clues that mislead readers and the anticipation for solving the mystery, rather than a fast-paced plot with extended scenes of violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a <span><a href="/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/2890/genre-basics---thrillers---article">thriller</a></span>, the protagonist is suspended in an almost constant state of danger. These stories create excitement more because of their quick-pace than the building of plot. Unlike mystery, thrillers are not about solving a puzzle, but rather about the pressure of high-stakes scenarios.&nbsp;</p> <p>Occasionally books will blur the lines between these two genres, but your story will likely fall more into one than another.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Types of Mystery Novels</h2> <p>Mysteries form a broad genre with multiple sub-genres, with novels often fitting into more than one at a time. Here are four of its most popular categories.</p> <h4>Cozy Mystery</h4> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Cozy mysteries are set in a confined setting such as a small village or home. They often feature minimal violence, sex, social relevance, and they often solve the crime using intellect or intuition rather than procedure.</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Popular cozy mysteries include <em>Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder </em>by Joanne Fluke and <em>Death by Darjeeling </em>by Laura Childs.</p> <h4>Classic Detective Mystery</h4> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Detective mysteries generally feature a mysterious death, a closed circle of suspects, and a central character who is a detective. The protagonist is able to solve the mystery using logical deduction from the facts in evidence.</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Popular detective mysteries include <em>And Then There Were None </em>by Agatha Christie and <em>Sherlock Holmes </em>by Arthur Conan Doyle.</p> <h4>Police Procedural</h4> <p style="padding-left:30px;">In a police procedural mystery, the detective follows police protocol to catch a criminal. These stories normally require a strong understanding of the ins and outs of how the police force runs.</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Popular police procedurals include <em>The Black Echo </em>by Michael Donnelly and <em>Naked in Death </em>by J.D. Robb.</p> <h4>Hard-Boiled Mystery</h4> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Hard-boiled mysteries are generally defined as more realistic fiction with an objective viewpoint, fast-paced and slang-filled dialogue, and graphic violence.</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Popular hard-boiled mysteries include <em>The Big Sleep </em>by Raymond Chandler and <em>Killing Floor </em>by Lee Child.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: Mystery – Thriller – Suspense, article, fiction</div> https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---article/revision/3Tue, 27 Mar 2018 12:34:32 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:1c656d30-8913-439b-a8a6-4ec7f25ea651Author Learning Centerhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---article#commentsRevision 3 posted to Choosing Your Topic by Author Learning Center on 3/27/2018 12:34:32 PM<br /> <p>Mysteries are a very reliable genre because they have been popular for a long, long time. You can go as far back as the Sherlock Holmes series in the late 1800s. The mystery novel is typically between 65-90K words and appeals to both men and women. It used to be a more traditional masculine genre but there are a plethora of strong female protagonists out there now, so the books have become more popular with women.</p> <p>The main sub-genre of the mystery genre is the cozy mystery, which typically caters to women and uses non-professional sleuths to solve crimes. The majority of traditional mystery protagonists solve crimes professionally.&nbsp;</p> <p>The mystery genre is similar to the suspense genre in some ways, because they are both about solving crime and triumphing over some villain, but they are presented in very different ways. In the suspense novel the crime has already been committed, and the protagonist will go about solving the crime and finding out who did it. In the mystery genre, however, the action leads up to the event and doesn&rsquo;t start with it, if that distinction makes sense.</p> <p>Thinking about successful mystery authors, James Patterson and Dan Brown come to mind, but so do Tess Gerritsen and Kathy Reichs, who are notable not only because their series were both adapted for television (Rizzoli &amp; Isles and Bones, respectively), but also because their protagonists are women who are professional crime solvers. The popularity of their television programs have helped them become more popular in the print world, and have also drawn attention to the female mystery protagonist, someone who had been somewhat neglected or relegated to the cozy mystery, amateur sleuth category.</p> <p>As a mystery writer you might be interested in the national organization that supports this genre, the Mystery Writers of America.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: Mystery – Thriller – Suspense, article, fiction</div> https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---article/revision/2Fri, 10 Mar 2017 15:08:48 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:1c656d30-8913-439b-a8a6-4ec7f25ea651Nicole Lindensteinhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---article#commentsRevision 2 posted to Choosing Your Topic by Nicole Lindenstein on 3/10/2017 3:08:48 PM<br /> <p>Mysteries are a very reliable genre because they have been popular for a long, long time. You can go as far back&mdash;maybe further--as the Sherlock Holmes series in the late 1800s. The mystery novel is typically between 65-90K words and appeals to both men and women. It used to be a more traditional masculine genre but there are a plethora of strong female protagonists out there now, so the books have become more popular with women. <br />The main sub-genre of the mystery genre is the cozy mystery, which typically caters to women and uses non-professional sleuths to solve crimes. The majority of traditional mystery protagonists solve crimes professionally.&nbsp;</p> <p>The mystery genre is similar to the suspense genre in some ways, because they are both about solving crime and triumphing over some villain, but they are presented in very different ways. In the suspense novel the crime has already been committed, and the protagonist will go about solving the crime and finding out who did it. In the mystery genre, however, the action leads up to the event and doesn&rsquo;t start with it, if that distinction makes sense.</p> <p>Thinking about successful mystery authors, James Patterson and Dan Brown come to mind, but so do Tess Gerritsen and Kathy Reichs, who are notable not only because their series were both adapted for television (Rizzoli &amp; Isles and Bones, respectively), but also because their protagonists are women who are professional crime solvers. The popularity of their television programs have helped them become more popular in the print world, and have also drawn attention to the female mystery protagonist, someone who had been somewhat neglected or relegated to the cozy mystery, amateur sleuth category.<br />As a mystery writer you might be interested in the national organization that supports this genre, the Mystery Writers of America.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: Mystery – Thriller – Suspense, article, fiction</div> https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---article/revision/1Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:1c656d30-8913-439b-a8a6-4ec7f25ea651Nicole Lindensteinhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/i-have-an-idea/w/choosing-your-topic/1980/genre-basics---mystery---article#commentsRevision 1 posted to Choosing Your Topic by Nicole Lindenstein on 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM<br /> <p>Mysteries are a very reliable genre because they have been popular for a long, long time. You can go as far back—maybe further--as the Sherlock Holmes series in the late 1800s. The mystery novel is typically between 65-90K words and appeals to both men and women. It used to be a more traditional masculine genre but there are a plethora of strong female protagonists out there now, so the books have become more popular with women. <br />The main sub-genre of the mystery genre is the cozy mystery, which typically caters to women and uses non-professional sleuths to solve crimes. The majority of traditional mystery protagonists solve crimes professionally.&#160;</p> <p>The mystery genre is similar to the suspense genre in some ways, because they are both about solving crime and triumphing over some villain, but they are presented in very different ways. In the suspense novel the crime has already been committed, and the protagonist will go about solving the crime and finding out who did it. In the mystery genre, however, the action leads up to the event and doesn’t start with it, if that distinction makes sense.</p> <p>Thinking about successful mystery authors, James Patterson and Dan Brown come to mind, but so do Tess Gerritsen and Kathy Reichs, who are notable not only because their series were both adapted for television (Rizzoli &amp; Isles and Bones, respectively), but also because their protagonists are women who are professional crime solvers. The popularity of their television programs have helped them become more popular in the print world, and have also drawn attention to the female mystery protagonist, someone who had been somewhat neglected or relegated to the cozy mystery, amateur sleuth category.<br />As a mystery writer you might be interested in the national organization that supports this genre, the Mystery Writers of America.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: Mystery – Thriller – Suspense, article, fiction</div>