Genres of Fiction: Mystery

Everyone loves a good mystery, one that keeps you on your toes till the very end, that leaves you satisfied as you close the book, finally understanding how all the miscellaneous pieces actually fit together.

Simply put, a mystery novel, short story, poem, etc. is one in which the conflict is centered on the unknown. In other words, the main problem’s only solution is understanding.

For example, why did the eerily quiet yet sweet old man on Main Street murder his wife in cold blood on a warm, Sunday afternoon that could have otherwise been filled with joy? Could the woman have had a secret lover in her youth? Had she been irking the man since the day they married and finally he broke? Did the man truly kill her or was it all a setup?

OR why did Mr. Turner go missing the Friday after his last stunning show as a country singer? Did he willfully run away to escape the stress of fame? Did someone kidnap him as ransom, or due to a grudge? Maybe his daughter wanted him out of the picture so she could claim her rich inheritance.

Clearly, there are so many paths a story could take in any genre, BUT mysteries particularly allow you to establish intrigue. You are SUPPOSED to be ambiguous, leaving subtle details, hints, and clues that point to the conclusion without giving it away. This is a unique ability to interact with the reader that other genres don’t have. You can stir thoughts into the audience’s brains, making them ponder on their own the possible outcomes of such a conundrum. This gradual gain of knowledge and finally the pieces falling into place is something that draws readers. As humans, we naturally long for knowledge. In absolutely everything we do, we are taking in new information. It is a necessary means to survival. We learn to crawl, so we can walk. We learn to walk, so we can run. We learn to run for both safety and efficiency. And the list goes on. This natural desire to know goes beyond necessities, and THAT is where books come in handy, especially ones which encourage thought, such as mysteries.

Further mysteries introduce USEFUL thought, such as deductive reasoning, critical thinking, and attention to detail. All of which are important to everyday life. So, as you enjoy writing, or reading, a good mystery novel, you are also gaining/providing various benefits.

Another key theme in mysteries is right and wrong, which helps writers to establish a good moral foothold for their story, to get across beliefs that matter.

In conclusion, Mystery is a great genre of fiction, especially for those of you who enjoy thinking and making others think. It is most definitely for the more logically minded ones of us, but nevertheless, always an enjoyable past time for both reading and writing.