Mystery novels have captivated readers for centuries, offering an exhilarating blend of suspense, puzzle-solving, and a quest for the truth. At the heart of every great mystery lies the question: “Whodunit?” Readers eagerly embark on a journey to unravel the enigma, piecing together clues and suspects in an attempt to solve the puzzle before the final reveal. In this blog post, we will explore the classic mystery structure and delve into the elements that make whodunit stories so compelling from a reader’s perspective. Setting the Stage A successful mystery novel begins by immersing readers in a vivid and atmospheric setting. Whether it’s a quaint English village, a sprawling city,…
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If you love mysteries/thrillers, you may also enjoy reading our Mystery/Thrillers and Suspense novels, found at Writers Exchange or directly from our Amazon Storefront! https://www.amazon.com/shop/writers_exchange?listId=135GZR7T0J6AK https://www.pinterest.com.au/pjcsjc/books-to-read/mysterythriller-novels/ Or go to the individual mystery book pages: Fudge Shop Mystery Series: Deadly Fudge Divas by Christine DeSmet http://www.writers-exchange.com/deadly-fudge-divas/ Katrina Ogden Mysteries, Book 2: KO’d in the Volcano by Victoria Heckman http://www.writers-exchange.com/KOd-In-The-Volcano/ Dead by the Sea by Dan Donoghue http://www.writers-exchange.com/Dead-By-The-Sea/ Bitter Tree by Frank Altobelli http://www.writers-exchange.com/Bitter-Tree/ And the Lucky Winner Is…by Cathan Shoniker http://www.writers-exchange.com/And-the-Lucky-Winner-Is/ Ghosts Dancing on Water byPatricia Bernard http://www.writers-exchange.com/Ghosts-Dancing-on-Water/ A Vince Torelli Mystery, Book 1: Retribution by John Schembra http://www.writers-exchange.com/Retribution/ Falcon’s…
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Either Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle was the first mystery writer I ever read… Can’t recall which now:) I found Agatha Christie because my mum was mad keen on them. How did you find your first mystery author?
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ALTOBELLI, Frank Thriller: Bitter Tree BARRIGER, Forrest Mystery: Dead Certain BERNARD, Patricia Psychological Thriller: Ghosts Dancing on Water Young Adult Thriller: Dinosaur Murder, The Mask BROWN, WALLACE F. Thriller: Jayapura, The Shepherd Sleeps Cathan Mystery (as Cathan Shoniker): And the Lucky Winner Is… DARLEY, Jim Action/Thriller: Sequestered (with Max Overton) DESMET, Christine Cozy Mystery: Fudge Shop Mystery Series DREXLER, Stella Young Adult Paranormal Mystery: Nightmare Island Series DUNCAN, Christine Mystery: The Kaye Berreano Mystery Series EVLIN, Frances Paranormal Mystery/Conspiracy: Circles of Deception Cozy Mystery: Who Wants Tyler Dead? GIFFORD, Lazette Young Adult Mystery: The Good People of Coralville GRIFFIN, Dennis N. Mystery (Serial Killer): Killer in Pair-a-Dice HECKMAN, Victoria Murder…
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February was a really busy month! We started the first of our “monthly themes” and most of our posts revolved around either that or books in general:) February’ Theme: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense Articles: What are Mystery, Thriller and Suspense Genres? http://www.writers-exchange.com/what-are-mystery-thriller-and-suspense-genres/ Police Mystery Thrillers: Getting it Right! By John Schembra http://www.writers-exchange.com/police-mystery-thrillers-getting-it-right-by-john-schembra/ Literary Style Courts Thrillers by Linda Kasten http://www.writers-exchange.com/literary-style-courts-thrillers-by-linda-kasten/ What is a “cozy” Mystery? By Christine DeSmet http://www.writers-exchange.com/what-is-a-cozy-mystery-by-christine-desmet/ We also posted Mystery author Quote Memes from Alfred Hitchcock, John Grisham, Agatha Christie: You can find them all here: http://www.writers-exchange.com/subjects-we-love/mystery-thriller-suspense/mystery-pics-memes/ We updated three of our book covers…
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The “cozy” mystery features an amateur sleuth who is usually a woman. The sleuth is likeable, smart and earnest, and they go about life with a good sense of humor. She’s rarely a detective or police officer, but she knows somebody who is. The mystery is set in a small town or village, though a neighborhood in a big city or a vacation spot somewhere in the world may also be a location. Readers often buy cozy mysteries to vicariously travel. Authors often mix in real locations with the fictional. The main character is a busy professional or business owner of almost any ilk attempting to make a go of…
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Upon browsing agents’ wish lists the other day, I was puzzled when I saw the request for “literary thrillers”. An interesting term, I thought. Truly contradictory. Right? From everything I know about literary fiction and thrillers, I failed to reconcile this term as a legitimate genre. Is this a new “buzzword”, a peculiar crossing of two opposite literary forms? And if so, how does that work? To see how the two might mix, I examined the elements found in both forms. By definition, a reader expects literary works to intellectually engage the reader on a much higher level of understanding than commercial fiction. It is riddled with thematic ideas and…
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Do you immediately think of a detective trying to solve a crime? Or a murderer chasing you in the dark? Is it a puzzle you want to figure out, or an emotional rollercoaster of fear, dread and adrenaline? For me, Mystery immediately conjures up Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes books. Suspense or Thriller I immediately think of movies I’ve seen, as it is usually less scary then what I think up in my head if I read a book about it:) What about you? http://www.writers-exchange.com/subjects-we-love/mystery-thriller-suspense/ #Mystery #Thriller #suspense #police #PoliceProcedural #detective #tv #movies #books #reading #bookstagram #bookworm #bookgram #instabooks #bookblogger #booklover #booknerd…
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Sherlock Holmes were the first mystery novels I ever read. Do you remember yours? #Mystery #SherlockHolmes #books #reading #bookstagram #bookworm #bookgram #instabooks #bookblogger #booklover #booknerd #ilovebooks #bibliophile #booktag #WritersExchangeEPublishing
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Mystery The essence of a mystery lies in the intellectual exercise of piecing together clues. The genre hinges on the ‘whodunit’ question, engaging the reader in a cerebral pursuit to solve the puzzle before the protagonist does–or at the climactic reveal. Mysteries often begin with a crime that seems initially inexplicable, requiring methodical deduction and savvy intuition to resolve. Historically, the genre has roots in works like Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”, which is often considered the first true detective story. Over the decades, the genre has diversified into sub-genres like cozy mysteries, historical mysteries, and legal mysteries, each bringing its unique flavor but retaining…
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Mary Higgins Clark, the famous and prolific mystery author, passed away this week. A great loss to the industry. #MaryHigginsClark #books #reading #bookstagram #bookworm #bookgram #instabooks #booklover #booknerd #ilovebooks #bibliophile #WritersExchangeEPublishing
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Max Overton has travelled extensively and lived in many places around the world–including Malaysia, India, Germany, England, Jamaica, New Zealand, USA and Australia. Trained in the biological sciences in New Zealand and Australia, he has worked within the scientific field for many years, but now concentrates on writing. While predominantly a writer of historical fiction (Scarab: Books 1 – 6 of the Amarnan Kings; the Scythian Trilogy; the Demon Series; Ascension), he also writes in other genres (A Cry of Shadows, the Glass Trilogy, Haunted Trail, Sequestered) and draws on true life (Adventures of a Small Game Hunter in Jamaica, We Came From Königsberg). Max also maintains an interest in…
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This month we start with massively prolific author, Karen Wiesner. With over 100 books published she is no novice at her craft, in fact she has even written books ABOUT writing. Now let’s learn a bit more about Karen… Interview with Award-winning AuthorYou’ve written over 150 books which include many different series and genres. Can you tell us if you have a favourite series, one that is particularly close to your heart or you personally identify with? I’m too much like a mother with my books and series to choose favorites. They’re all close and personal favorites. I love them, and each one has its own special merits…
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As one of the authors with Writers Exchange I would like to provide you with a brief background of myself, and explain how and why I began writing. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and in 1969 I was drafted into the U.S. Army. After completing basic training and military police school, I spent a year with the 557th MP Company at Long Binh, South Vietnam, in 1970. My time as a combat M.P. provided the basis for my first book, M.P., A Novel of Vietnam, a work of fiction based in part on my personal experiences during my tour of duty. Upon completing my military service,…
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Author Interview with Wallace Brown My name is Wallace Brown and I live and write in Pennsylvania. My first novel, “The Shepherd Sleeps” was published in 2008. It is a thriller set in New Orleans in 1969. I have written all my life but this was my first attempt at a novel. I have a degree in English and have read a lot great literature but for pure escape I like thrillers. The one thing that has always bothered me about the genre is that the heroes are often written as unemotional automatons without the ability to experience fear or pain. I am more interested in real flesh and…
