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Quote for the week: "The truth can create as thick a smoke screen as deceit."
~ DCI Tom Barnaby in "Midsomer Murders"
Since a mystery is a puzzle, mystery stories are full of questions. Here are a few types of questions that are part of any mystery story:
Questions investigators ask suspects and witnesses
"Where were you the night of the murder?"
"Did you get along with the victim?"
"Did the victim have any enemies?"
"What time did you hear the shot?"
"Who might benefit from the victim's death?"
These are just a few examples police might ask in order to put together a picture of events surrounding a crime. A good interrogator will learn as much from the way the questions are answered as they do from the answers themselves. Is the witness nervous, frightened, or defiant? Is he unwilling to give information or overly helpful?
If a detective asks a suspect outright whether or not he committed the crime, he probably does not expect him to answer truthfully if he is guilty. Instead he is looking for the suspect's reaction to the question.
Sometimes the investigator's attitude or tone when asking questions will determine whether the subject will open up to him or go silent. A skillful investigator will not use the same tone or mannerisms with everyone. He will evaluate each person and determine which tactic will work best.
Questions characters ask each other
Questions detectives ask each other as they investigate will help the reader follow the story. Conversations between characters are a great place to hide clues. A suspect might reveal that he was present at the crime scene by knowing details that were kept from the public.
Questions from reporters might also be important to the plot. Police will need to decide what they can tell the reporter and what they need to keep quiet about as the investigation progresses. A reporter might carry out her own investigation, and either get in the way or actually solve the case.
Questions characters ask themselves
Maybe your investigators second guess themselves, and wonder if they have arrested the right person. These internal questions might not be shared with other characters, but might give the reader a clue of what is to come.
Questions readers ask as they try to solve the puzzle
As you write the story, think of questions the readers might ask as they read. Ask reviewers to give you a list of questions they had as they went through the story. Their questions will tell you if you have accidentally withheld important information from readers. It will also tell you if the solution is too obvious.
Something to try: Write a mystery story that is made up of nothing but dialogue with questions and answers.
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Mystery: July 06, 2016 Issue [#7730]
