Trust & Obey

When I think of mystery, I think of two people: Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. Sherlock Holmes is a character created by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle and has been recreated to continually fit the current culture. However, his skills in deduction still remain throughout the years and have kept him at the forefront of the mystery genre for a millenia.

Agatha Christie has remained the queen of mystery even after her death and her books continue to sell like hotcakes to this day. Her novel And Then There Were None still remains a favorite and a couple of her novels have made it to the big screen. A recent movie was “Murder on The Orient Express”. I wouldn’t say it was a smash hit but I thought it was good! The twist was fantastic and was what made it good, in my opinion.

What makes mystery such an intruiging genre? Well, I think the fact that it’s one big puzzle is a large part and the other part is the twists. There is something so entertaining about thinking you have it all figured out and then the twist comes and you were totally off!

I have so much fun with the puzzle that is mystery. Usually there’s a misdeed, like murder or thievery, and it’s up to someone to figure out who did it before it’s too late! The only reason I may dislike a mystery is if the author didn’t give me enough clues. I have read a few books and watched a few movies where we are kept from the key piece that reveals the bad guy. To me, that is so aggravating! I would like to solve the mystery along with the characters not be kept in the dark. So, when that happens, I’m usually a bit annoyed.

The other integral part is the twist. Most mysteries have a big twist at the end like the killer isn’t who we thought they would be. This twist matters so much and if it doesn’t fit perfectly with the plot it can ruin the entire story for a reader. I experienced that with Play Dead by Ted Dekker back in May. I was delighted with his latest novel up until the twist and it ruined it so much to the point I don’t really want to read Dekker’s works anymore. However, if the twist is done correctly, it flavors the storyline so much. Without it, the plot would be somewhat stale.

Horror, thriller, and mystery all somewhat intertwine in this way. These three don’t need a twist but it can add so much to the story and bring something unique. This plot twist factor is what can bring me back to mystery again and again, like an adrenaline junky wanting another nervous rush.

Mystery can be a hit or miss for a lot of people. It’s interesting but if the clues aren’t presented properly and the twist-if there is one- isn’t presented correctly the whole book can go from a winner to a loser. Because of this, I have no plans to ever write a mystery! I’d be more inclined towards a horror or satirical romance. If you were to write a book, what genre would you pick?