If you are not a mystery fan, you might not be interested in this blog. I’m not too fond of mystery novels or mystery shows that do not play fair with the reader or viewer. The worst case of that would be a killer introduced at the very conclusion of the mystery who was never present before that moment. I like a mystery where when you reach the end, you say, “I never thought that person was the killer, but now I see all the little clues I missed along the way.” However, I don’t see anything wrong with revealing a few things a reader might think are clues, but they are not.
As you might remember, I just finished the first draft of a mystery novel. I have titled it, For the Love of a Woman. The title is a way to mislead the reader, but it’s also a clue as to who the murder is in the novel. I love it when I can do something that can lead the reader astray while also providing an excellent clue. The protagonist, Jim, is looking for the killer of his brother, Alex. In the course of the novel, Jim finds the woman he wants to marry. That seems to agree with the title.
On the other hand, Jim finds out that his brother, Alex, has not only divorced his wife but has been sleeping with several different women. I hope the reader might think an angry husband or an angry boyfriend might’ve been the one who killed Alex. But, it is all misdirection. In the last scene of the novel, the title will make perfect sense as to who the killer was. I’m hoping the reader will say, “I should’ve seen that. It was right in front of my face, and I missed it.”
Here’s your chance to tell me what you like to see in a mystery novel. Don’t be shy. I want to be able to satisfy all my readers. Knowing what you like and what you don’t will help me with future novels. Thanks in advance!
