Today’s bookish talk is about mysteries. I don’t really like graphic blood or guts, so I tend to lean more on the side of cozies or historical mysteries. But, I do like an occasional thriller, if it focuses on the psychological aspect. No matter what subgenre, here are the things I look for in a good mystery.
Twists
It goes without saying that you should not be able to solve a good mystery within the first few chapters. I want unexpected twists along the way. Just when the reader thinks they have something figured out, new information should let them know that they must be wrong. I want to gasp at least once during a mystery.
Entertaining, Intelligent Detectives
Whether it’s a real detective or an amateur sleuth, the crime solber should add to the story. I want someone who has interesting quirks. It can be something that helps them or hinders them. I just don’t want them to be a crime solving machine. I want a smart but flawed detective that’s going to add layers to the story beyond solving the mystery. If it’s an amateur sleuth, I want them to show some intelligence, and not just make a bunch of dumb decisions that results in them solving a crime while all of the trained detectives miss the clues.
Realistic Motive
If someone’s going to be murdered, the stakes have to be high, or the killer is insane enough that they think they are. I want to believe that the motive would really drive somebody to commit murder.
Show Me the Clues
Once the culprit is revealed, I should be able to look back and see that all the clues were there. I hate it when there’s an important piece of information that was never hinted at until the reveal at the end.
Some of my favorite mysteries
I only listed first in series or stand alones. Click on the books for their description.
I also prefer to have the clues ahead of time. I don’t like when I didn’t get it because they didn’t give us enough information. And Vera Wong was so good! Great list!