This week: MY MYSTERY HISTORY Edited by: Carol St.Ann  
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| The Mystery is an intricate entity, easily done in by the smallest detail. Let’s investigate how it works, shall we? And while we’re at it, let’s compare battle scars and have a laugh or two at one another’s expense. |
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The first mystery novel I ever read was The Secret of the Old Clock a Nancy Drew Mystery by Carolyn Keene. It was my first introduction to mysteries and, boy-Howdy, did I love that book!
Of course, as time went on my tastes in mysteries matured. But the heart of what makes a good mystery remains, and if I can’t feel that beating heart, I’ll toss that story or book like it’s a hot cinder.
What I look for in a mystery is a great opener that grabs and a plot that confounds. If I can figure out who did it, and why, in the first couple of chapters, there really isn't a reason for me to keep reading. I want to wonder who did it; I need to be led astray by those blasted red herrings! Confound, confuse, and delight me. Keep me guessing; keep me riveted until the bitter end. I can take it. Indeed, I need it!
I also look for characters to love or hate; there, I’ve said it! Good guy or bad, I want characters that I simply must know more about. Let me in on their dirty little secrets; make me part of their world. Part of what drew (yeah, it’s a pun) me to the Nancy Drew series was, of course, Nancy. She was smart and always willing to take a chance. And she never gave up! Those traits alone made her someone I knew I’d want in my budding universe as a friend or role model or mentor.
There are plenty of other things I look for, but the three biggest are always the Opener, ThePlot, and Characters that have depth. If the story doesn't have these, there is little chance it won’t be tossed.
Thank you for reading!
Carol
Oh! One Last Thing
When you read a great Mystery…
Remember to nominate great work!
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If you’ve got a mystery in your head:
Try out your mystery chops here:
Flesh it out here:
Workshop it here with dedicated, in-depth reviews:
In the meantime, enjoy these two great short stories:
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| What’s your Mystery History? |
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Mystery: July 13, 2022 Issue [#11459]
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