 Mystery: February 01, 2006 Issue [#859] |
  Mystery
This week: Edited by: MaryLou  
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| Mystery stories are so popular because they fulfill one of humans' deepest instincts - the need to explore, to question, to find out. Humans are incessantly searching for answers to life's greatest mysteries. Since those mysteries are so difficult to unravel, we can find comfort in reading and writing mystery novels and short stories. Thus, our need to discover is satisfied...until the hunger strikes again. |
| ASIN: B07YJZZGW4 |
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The mysteries of the "Golden Age" featured amateur detectives who became embroiled in solving crimes accidentally, meaning they just happened to be 'on the spot' at the time the crime occurred.
In modern mystery novels, however, there seems to be a trend towards making the protagonist/amateur detective become involved with the mystery through his or her profession or hobby. One of my favorites of this type is Vicky Bliss, an assistant curator of the Munich National Museum in the series penned by Elizabeth Peters. Vicky's adventures revolve around missing antiquities or stolen art.
Recently, I began reading The Blue Rose: An English Garden Mystery by Anthony Eglin. In this novel, two amateur gardeners experience crime and mayhem when they discover blue roses growing in the garden of the home they'd just purchased.
I believe, very strongly, that one should study the current market of one's chosen genre to learn what is being published because, naturally, those are the novels that are being purchased. And it seems to me these types of novels are in much more demand than the usual "house party" mystery novels, in which the motives are purely personal.
Luckily for us, any type of profession or hobby can be used as the plot for a mystery. Below are a few suggestions.
1) A stockbroker uncovers an insider trading plot.
2) An English professor learns of a missing "Tale" written by Chaucer.
3) A fashion designer stumbles upon a gang of knock-off artists, when it's revealed her Gucci bag is a fake.
4) A homemaker finds out unscrupulous people will do anything to obtain her great-grandmother's recipes.
5) An amateur genealogist discovers an infamous branch on a family tree that someone will go to great lengths to conceal.
I appreciate these types of novels, rather than ones starring professional detectives, because they help me to imagine that ordinary people, like myself, can still achieve a little mystery and adventure in their lives. 
See ya next month,
MaryLou
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Here's a few items for your reading pleasure. This issue's selections all come from entrants in my mystery contest. I hope you enjoy and don't forget to rate and review!
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#1061667 by Not Available. |
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#1062078 by Not Available. |
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schipperke: That used to be my favorite part of the Poirot movies!
Still is for me!
Mini Mystery
1000 GPs for your correct answer.
Sherlock Holmes' Present
from Great Book of Whodunit Puzzles
Sherlock Holmes had received two telegrams from the infamous Professor Moriarty within a space of three hours. The first was a threat against the famous detective's life, while the second said that he, the professor, had organized a present for Holmes. The remainder of the second telegram contained the following riddle:
He who makes it, makes it to sell,
He who buys it, does not use it,
He who uses it, does not know it.
Watson read both telegrams. "It doesn't make sense to me, Holmes," said Watson. "First he threatens your life and then he organizes a present for you."
"Solve the riddle, Watson. Then you'll see that it makes sense," replied Holmes.
What was it Moriarty intended to send Holmes?
Answers to the last mini-mystery:
nomlet  : Driver: Archie. Bev and Ed both have criminal records longer than two years and Charlayne is an only child. Douglas doesn't drive.
Thieves: Charlayne and Bev. Bev must be Ed's sister. Lookout: I'll guess Doug, but from the facts given, there's no logical reason it can't be Ed. (Not that I can see anyway.)
Silver is 2 to the 5th Power : Mini-Mystery: The thieves are Beverly and Charlayne, the driver is Archie, and the lookout is Douglas. Ed was not involved.
Louve : One of the thieves is the sister of Ed - woman, so Charlayne or Bev. Charlayne is an only child, so Beverly Cuttle is thief 1.
The driver can't be Beverly ; it can't be douglas (did not learn to drive), can't be Ed (decade long record), can't be Charlayne (only child), so it must be Archie McOrr
So thief number two must be Charlayne trumpbull
And the lookout with a history Ph.D. is probably Douglas
drifter46: Mary Lou
The thieves are Bettie and Charlayne. The look out is Douglas and the driver is Archie. Ed isn't involved. I'd be happy to mail my deductions to you if you like.
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| ASIN: B083RZ37SZ |
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