MYSTERY

Mysteries are puzzles. The author provides clues to the solution but attempts to obscure some information so that the puzzle cannot be solved too easily. Along with the detective, readers are drawn into that puzzle in an attempt to solve it.

This puzzle involves a crime, usually murder, and the resulting body. An investigator, whether professional or amateur, solves the question "who-dun-it", and the culprit is brought to justice. The Mystery tracks this investigation, with its concomitant exploration of the victim's, the murderer's, and the detective's lives.

"Detectives" run the gamut from snoops (á la Agatha Christie's Miss Marple) to seasoned police detectives and hard-boiled private investigators with much in between. In addition to distinctions among the types of detectives, there are other differences. Some readers prefer historical settings for their Mysteries; others seek paranormal elements — vampire detectives for example. International settings abound — from Scandinavia to Australia and beyond. (NoveList)

Mystery authors include:

 and more...

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