Good Mystery Stories
Good mystery stories are a favorite for most readers. They are addictive from the beginning to the end. During the story, we want to know who, where, how, and why, and we fill in the blanks with our imagination along the way. The fact that all of us spend more time in imaginary worlds than our own, in our lifetime, says a lot about the love affair between the reader and story. There are four main elements to any good mystery story. Without them, the story would not be an exciting mystery.
Characters in Mystery StoriesÂ
Not many people would keep reading a mystery story if the characters were boring. The best characters are ones who are engaging and entertaining, and possibly, seem as though they could be the
secret villain in the book. It is always surprising to love a character and then find out that they were the antagonist all along.
Also, it is necessary to have leading characters in the story, as well as a few minor characters. The minor characters, such as a friend, co-worker, or detective in town, can all become suspects in the reader’s mind, which makes the story more appealing and compelling. It is essential that these minor characters are captivating and unique so that they stand out, and stay, in the reader’s mind.
Mystery Stories, an Intriguing Plot
A boring plot would never gain a reader’s interest. All mystery stories need a ‘hook’ that gains the reader’s interest and pulls them along with the story. If the plot is good enough, then a reader should not be able to put down the book because they need to know what is going to happen next!
An intriguing plot builds slowly to keep the reader in the story. If too much is thrown at the reader at once, then it may become overwhelming rather than intriguing. For instance, too many characters entering the story at once will not help build a relationship between the character and the reader. Also, killing too many people at once during the story will end up looking gruesome and could scare the reader off. A well thought out, and consistent plot helps to keep the reader turning the pages.
A mystery story would be boring if the story took place in a living room where all the elements stayed the same. This is why most mystery stories take place on the go, out of the house, where there is a lot of movement, running and escaping in the story. Action and adventure keep the story interesting, which keeps the reader interested.
Mystery Stories Must Have Suspense
A mystery story without suspense would make the story dull and unexciting. Suspense gives the story dimensions and layers, and it makes it exciting. It allows the characters to go through some crazy situations, and it gives the reader a thrill as they take the ride with the characters.
Suspense also allows the reader to connect more with the characters in the story. Worrying about what is going to happen next to their favorite character, and if they are going to make it through the situation alive, is a part of all good mystery stories.
In the end, good mystery stories are made up of four essential elements. Exciting characters, intriguing plot, action and adventure, and a healthy dose of suspense are all essential to keep the book intriguing and the reader interested.
