Mystery: April 01, 2009 Issue [#2977]
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Mystery


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  Edited by: Vivian Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

         Hey, it's your handy-dandy guest Mystery Newsletter editor. Since I'm such a lover of mysteries, and have one published, I enjoy writing about mysteries.

         All right, let's go with a guide to some mystery sub-genres and sub-sub-genres. Wow! Mysteries are everywhere.

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Letter from the editor


Mysteries, Mysteries Everywhere


         Mysteries come in all shapes, sizes, level of violence, and degree of suspense. Mysteries have had so manly titles or labels attached over the years. Many people have tried to classify the genre -- basically the mystery or crime story.

         Essentially, detective fiction, crime fiction, thrillers, mysteries all have been used to describe, or try to describe the genre.

         Let's look at some the sub-genres for mysteries (remember that all "experts" don't always agree on the classifications, but this give us an idea):

Straight Mysteries are character driven. Action happens to center around a crime.

Puzzle Mysteries or the classic detective involves a problem and the writer "toys" with reader, matching wits with clever detectives.

Novel of Pursuit often involves espionage. The protagonist getting out of a situation is the foundation of the writing. Action, terror, often technology, methods of pursuit, as well as entrapment or capture are more important than internal motivation and psychology of characters - plot driven, rather than character-driven. This sub-genre has several sub-genres:
                    Spy Novel
                    Man-on-the-Run Mystery
                    Metaphysical Mystery - Gothic or occult in nature
                    Doomsday Mystery - threat is global

Hard-boiled Mysteries are adventure stories focused on the exploits of the protagonist, such as a private detective of nearly super-hero status.

Whodunit Mysteries are character-driven mysteries where the solution of the crime comes as a surprise to the reader, but the detectives or more featured more than the deductive process.
Sub-genres of this mystery include the following:
                    Caper Mystery - reader is knows the perpetrator and all details of crime.
                    Cozy Mystery - an amateur detective solves a mystery, usually without graphic violence.
                    Romantic Suspense Mystery
                    Period Mystery - takes place in the past
                    Western Mystery - has a western setting
                    Police Procedural Mystery
                    Private Eye Mystery
                    Camp Mystery - of any sub-genre presenting in a comical way.

         Finally we have Thrillers, characterized by fast pace, frequent action, and resourceful heroes. Suspense, red herrings, and cliffhangers are found often. Sub-genres include many variations of the thriller concept.

         I hope you enjoyed our foray into types of mysteries.


Editor's Picks

Mysteries from W.Com


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Crystal Ball Open in new Window. [13+]
He said, "Go, then. There are other worlds than these."
by Starr* Rathburn Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 The Fog Open in new Window. [18+]
A small town is haunted by mysterious things...
by Theday Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Roadworks Open in new Window. [13+]
Roadworks - a technological thriller
by gre Author Icon

 
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Ask & Answer


A Few Words from Our Readers


Acme Author IconMail Icon
         Smashing advice *Thumbsup*


Just an Ordinary Boo! Author IconMail Icon
         Great points, about what you do NOT like in a mystery novel.
I like mysteries that are not obviously so, where the action is incidental, then unavoidable, as circumstances tangle and pull. Ordinary people in an extra-ordinary situation. Not super-deductive and athletic intrepid protagonists(and slightly idiotic too - always getting captured and imprisoned - hello, there are easier ways - just dial for help!). I used to just love the Miss Marple series by Agatha Christie.

         Thanks for the comments. As a guest editor, I don't often get any feedback, but it's good to know people are reading.

Thanks for joining me this issue. I hope I can return as a guest editor soon.

Viv

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