  Mystery
This week: Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading  
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All that I see or seem is but a dream within a dream. - Edgar Alan Poe.
  
Life is a mystery - living is finding and solving the clues.
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Greetings! Welcome to this week’s Mystery Newsletter. Okay, what makes a story or poem a ‘mystery’ and not a romance, for example, or an essay on criminology? What does the ‘mystery’ have that sets it apart, in its myriad forms and sub-genres today, from the historical novel, or science fiction, assuming the same research and knowledge by the writer of each?
My reason for this query is posed by comments from several of our readers, who have asked if there must be a crime to open the mystery, or is the threat of a crime, or an underlying sense of criminal intent, sufficient to make the story a ‘mystery’ for the reader?
Mysteries prosaic and poetic pose and answer several questions for the reader – ‘WhoDoneIt? How? Why?’ – with varying degree of emphasis on the questions and the varying emphasis placed on answering each of the questions. For example, in a police procedural, the first question would drive the reader to solve a puzzle, with clues, along with the protagonist. But, in a mystery that focuses on suspense, the third question would drive the story; perhaps the crime itself not uncovered until late in the story, once the reader is immersed in the mystery of ‘why’ the events did or would unfold to lead to the necessity of committing the crime.
Suspense stories are those which are often written in multiple voices, including that of the apparent antagonist (note I say ‘apparent’ as sometimes in a suspense story, one is not quite certain who the ‘good guys’ are – another ‘mystery’ to solve
Two main types of suspense mysteries, where ‘why’ drives the story rather than ‘how or whodoneit’ are ‘psychological suspense’ and ‘romantic suspense,’ each of which probes with more depth the character of the protagonist, possible antagonist, and their interaction with ancillary characters. They each feel at home with a 'cozy' type theme, with amateur sleuths joining to answer questions, solve a clue, as they get to know each other and become more involved in each other's lives. The crime or event itself may not be revealed until the characters reveal it either through intent (committing a crime) or happenstance (stumbling across or compelled to commit a crime).
In a psychological suspense mystery, the character’s motivations and background are integral to the unfolding story. In a romantic suspense mystery, a relationship develops along with the mystery, interwoven with the story and, at times, more vital to development of the story, with the characters finding clues to each other’s motivations (and their own) as they work to solve an impending or existing mystery crime or plot. From the beginning of the story, the reader is drawn into the lives of the protagonists who may already know ‘whodoneit’ and have to prove it to others, or follow relevant leads so that a crime is not repeated (or, perhaps, prevent the criminal from committing the really dastardly crime – if the initial discovery is a red herring, perhaps?)
So, in response to the question, it’s a mystery if any of the three questions remain to be answered – ‘whodoneit’ ‘why’ or ‘how’ – and the writer provides clues and leads for the reader to solve along with the characters in his/her literary ‘otherworld.’
Thank you for inviting me into your virtual home, and I know you will enjoy some of the stories of mystery and suspense penned by writers in our Community.
Until we next meet,
Keep Writing
Kate - Writing & Reading
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Check out the following respondents to my challenge last month ~ for our reading (and reviewing) pleasure
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And for your suspenseful sleuthing
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Now that you're inspired, perhaps try your hand at a little suspenseful sleuthing here 
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Is it a 'mystery' if one knows 'who done it' and must prove the postulate by uncovering clues as well as solving them?
Next month I will focus on another 'cozy' type mystery - we'll be 'cooking up' something intriguing - and responding to comments and queries.
Until then, keep writing!
Kate - Writing & Reading
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Mystery: June 25, 2008 Issue [#2465]
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