Murder by Pen

Murder by Pen

Dr. Pepper is a guilty pleasure of mine but it HAS to be mixed just right. Nothing tastes better than a fountain drink of Dr. Pepper where the mix of syrup and carbonated water is just perfect, but if the mix is bad or has gone flat... yuck! Mystery novels are also a guilty pleasure of mine but a flat plot or a bad mix of characters can ruin a mystery. As a writer of live mysteries, I actively notice what makes a good mystery, well... good. I've pinpointed 4 things that make a mystery worth reading and have included authors that do an amazing job within these specifications.

#1: Strong and Interesting Characters

I want to relate to the main character. The character can't be too perfect or too evil(or if they are, I want it to surprise me after I already "know" them). I do enjoy characters that seem to be able to rise above their circumstances. I don't enjoy characters that are whiny or superfluous. I think a main reason that I enjoy Mysteries so much is because the characters keep going through extraordinary circumstances, usually Murder, but get through it. I like smart and tough characters. I also like characters whose motivations are based on a moral code (whether it be good or bad) and a good mystery can make you believe that the morals acted upon in the book are real for that book. You can understand why the characters do what they do... even if you would never accept it in "real life."

#2: Suspense

There needs to be an urgent timeline... a bomb will go off...the killer will strike again...someone has been kidnapped! Something! I hate when the novel has the main character find the body and then they leisurely go about finding clues and having tea. It is boring and it is tedious. Also, the book needs to "up the stakes". This is bad....how could it get worse? And then, it does...!

#3: A Twist

I love it when the author gives you an insight into the criminal mind. Some authors write entire chapters from the criminals' point of view but don't reveal who it is. It is exciting to try and figure out who it is that they are talking about before it is revealed and a good author is really good at hiding it. I love when the bad guys end up being good guys! I love when an author can make us believe a fact that turns out to be false, especially when the twist catches you off guard. Predictable twists are no fun... (I saw that coming from a mile away...she was really his daughter the whole time...well, duh.)

#4: Satisfactorily Wrapped Up

All and I mean, ALL of the loose ends need to be tied up. I think that this is so important because in real life, things rarely (if ever) are. All questions have been answered and everyone got what they deserved. Fictional reading is for pleasure and justice brings pleasure. We want to believe that things will be ok in the end. Books that leave open ended questions do appeal to some people, but for me, I just feel cheated. Did the author just give up? Come on... I need closure (yep, I'm a woman.)

Authors that provide these things (and so much more) are talented and interesting. If you agree with my assessment of what makes a mystery great, then I recommend reading books by the following authors:

Dean Koontz

Lisa Gardner

Agatha Christie

Stephen King

Arthur Conan Doyle

Michael Connely

Janet Evanovich

Issac Asimov

Harlan Coben

Sue Grafton

And after you get done reading, come see a Poison Ivy Mysteries show! We promise crisp entertainment with the perfect blend of fizz and pop!

Let us know about your favorite mystery authors in the comment section below.