Mystery and

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Mystery and Suspense
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Basis Definition

• Subgenre of narrative fiction often thought of
  as detective fiction
• Usually involves a mysterious death or crime to
  be solved
• Each suspect must have a credible motive
• Central character must be a detective who
  solves the crime

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Tip-Offs to Mystery Genre

• Mystery, crime or puzzle to be solved
• Main character who is detective and sets out to
  solve crime
• Suspects and motives must be weighed and
  evaluated
• Overt clues presented
• Hidden evidence (may seem unimportant)
• Suspense
• Foreshadowing
• Red herringskind of foreshadowing clue that
  leads readers to false conclusions

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Elements Common to Most Mysteries

• Law enforcement
• Crime
• Weapon(s)
• Settings (i.e. haunted houses, city streets,
  deserted areas, dark streets, alleys, warehouses,
  etc.)
• Mood setters (foggy nights, cemeteries, creaking
  gates, footsteps, thunder, wind, screams, blood,
  etc.)
• Key words (alibi, motive, clues, evidence,
  victim, sleuth, witness, suspect, red herring,
  etc.)

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Mystery vs. Suspense

• Mystery stories focus on the question of
  whodunit?
• Suspense stories focus on the how and if it will
  be figured out by the protagonist (reader may
  know from the beginning)

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Sub-Genres

• Amateur detective