Bookish Talk Archives -

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.

A few days ago, I posted about the little details that I enjoy in books. So, I thought I’d look at the other side and talk about the little things that annoy me when reading.

Condescending Narrators– I like a smart protagonist, but I hate it when they look down on others or talk aobut how much smarter they are then everyone else.

Anticlimatic Reveals- I hate it when an author keeps dropping hints about a big secret and then when it’s revealed it’s something that either doesn’t seem like a big deal or is predictable.

Characters that fall in love for no apparent reason- This could be instalove, or characters that just happen to have close proximity to each other.

Whiny/Entitled Protagonists– If I don’t like the main character, the book isn’t going to work for me.

Do any of these bother you? What are your book pet peeves?

We all have our favorite genres or topics we love to read. But, what makes a book our favorite is often in the little details that could appear in any genre, and draw you to the writing. Here are some of my favorite little details.

Great last line– there’s a lot of focus on first lines, but I love a book that leaves me with a memorable last line. It could be because it makes me smile, connects to an earlier line in the book, or because it changes the meaning of the book

Obscure information mixed into fiction- Obviously, you learn a lot when a story is based on a true story, but I also love when a character has an obscure job or interest that I know nothing about and the author sneaks in little facts I would never know.

Banter– I love when dialogue has humorous banter, whether it’s between romantic partners, friends or enemies

Clever Chapter Titles or Quotes: I know a lot of books don’t have chapter titles anymore, but I love a fun title or when authors start chapters with a quote, fact or recipe. It’s a nice extra touch.

What “little details” do you look for in writing? Comment here, facebook or instagram.

Fantasy is another of my favorite genres. Instead of sharing my favorite fantasy novels, I thought I’d talk about what I look for in a fantasy novel.

World Building

This is a term I didn’t really think about a lot until I started writing myself. For any book, I want to feel it is a complete universe. Even if it’s realistic fiction, I want I understand those characters world. It’s that much more important with fantasy. Hogwarts is not just a modern boarding school that teaches magic. It has a long history built on tradition. In order for fantasy to work for me, I need to understand how the it is different from our world. The rules of the world can be nonsensical, but a great writer will show us how they make sense. This makes fantasy perfect for the writer who is looking to escape into a book.

Retellings

I love books that put a twist on familar stories. Often this is a contemporary or mystery novel. But, my favorites are based in mythology and fairy tales. I love the combination of familiar mixed with new ideas. There are so many different approaches. These classic stories hold timeless themes that can hold true in many different settings. You can also take antiquated ideas and modify them to modern morals.

Good vs. Evil

We all want to see good prevail over evil. Fantasy lends itself to clear heros and villians. Even though it might take a few books, we know that in the end good will win. That being send, fantasy also lends itself to complex characters where good and evil isn’t obvious. In series like A Court of Thorn and Roses the outside appearance of characters is often decieving, making the reader change their mind about who is good and who is evil.

Deeper Meaning

Fantasy also lends itself to touching on controversial topics without feeling threatening. Fantasy worlds can make statements about society through metaphor and symbolism. It makes it more palatable for people to face their prejudices when it’s presented as a magical creature versus a person.

Fun

Not all fantasy has to be epic. Some of my favorites are fun chick lit or cozy series like Enchanted Inc. When you add an element of magic, there are so many possibilities to put the characters in crazy situations.

What do you look for in a fantasy?

Category: Bookish Talk

Let’s Talk About Mysteries