There’s something just irresistible about a good mystery. While I’ve loved to watch TV mysteries for as long as I can remember, I’ve only started reading mysteries within the last year or so. When I decided to try my hand at writing one, I had to learn how to write a mystery novel. True, a mystery novel is like any other novel and requires a lot of the same skills. But there are some parts of writing mystery that is unique to the genre.

I discovered that writing a mystery isn’t only about hiding clues and revealing a killer. It’s about weaving a story that invites readers to play detective, only to surprise them with how wrong (or right) they were all along. By the way, I’m writing this post for myself as much as for any other aspiring mystery writers out there. This way I can refer to this when I forget what I’m doing, which is frequently. 

Start with the Crime

Every mystery starts with a central question: Whodunnit? Usually, the mystery revolves around a murder, but it could also be a theft, a disappearance, or a long-buried secret. You should decide on your what and why early on. Even if your reader won’t know the full truth until the end, we as the author should know it from early in the writing process. Things about the story might change as you work your way through the writing process, and that’s okay, but I’ve found with writing a mystery that’s it’s better to have a clearer direction of what I’m doing.

Create a Sleuth Readers Can Root For

Whether it’s a seasoned detective, an amateur with a knack for puzzles, or someone reluctantly pulled into the mystery, your protagonist is our guide through the investigation. Make your detective smart, curious, and just flawed enough to feel real. If their personal stakes in solving the mystery is strong, that’s all the more reason for readers to become invested in the story. In my mystery, the protagonist is working to discover who the murderer is while also trying to save himself. What drives your sleuth? What do they stand to lose if they fail?

Plot with Precision

Mystery readers love to solve the puzzle alongside your characters. I know I do. Sometimes I guess correctly, and sometimes not, and it doesn’t even matter to me if I solve the crime or not. I enjoy the process of being involved in the story. There should be reader participation in a well-written mystery. 

To help readers along, plant clues throughout the story. This is called the “fair play” rule in mystery novels where the author is expected to provide the reader with all of the clues necessary to solve the crime. The clues shouldn’t be obvious, but they should be there. I’ve read mysteries where suddenly the detective had a breakthrough in his mind about how the mystery was solved based on evidence the reader didn’t know. Those mysteries weren’t as much fun to read, and that author didn’t care about fair play.

It shouldn’t be smooth sailing to solve the puzzle. Misdirection is part of the fun of reading and writing mysteries. Red herrings and conflicting motives should muddy the waters, but the solution to the mystery must hold up on a second read. I’ve said before about how I’ve become more of a pantster than a plotter over the years. However, I’ve found with this murder mystery I had to be more precise about the plot before I began so I’ve had to do more outlining than I normally would.

One tip I discovered that helped me a lot is writing the story backwards. When I begin a new novel, the first thing I always know is how the story ends. I’ve found that particularly helpful as I’m writing my mystery. Begin by outlining how the crime happened, then layer in how the truth is discovered. By doing this, I knew precisely what clues and red herrings I needed to work into the story.

Another tip I’ve read about is the “Three Clue Rule” where the author makes sure the solution is supported by at least three clues spread throughout the story.

Give Every Suspect a Motive

Pacing is key in a mystery. Introduce suspects gradually and show their motives for committing the crime. With every discovery, your sleuth should get closer to the truth but face new obstacles. Let tension simmer with secrets, lies, unreliable characters, and ticking clocks.

The best mysteries keep readers guessing because every character has something to hide and/or a reason to commit the crime. Even if they didn’t commit the crime, suspects should have secrets, lies, or motives that make them look guilty. If you think over your favorite mystery novels, often the detective is wrong about whodunnit at least once. A case that is too easy to solve isn’t going to be interesting to read. 

The Big Reveal

The final twist should feel both surprising and inevitable. There should be no last-minute solutions that come from nowhere. Readers want to be surprised and then realize the truth was there all along. Your job is to make the path to the answer both present and invisible until just the right moment.

A great mystery isn’t just about whodunnit, although that’s an important part of the puzzle. A great mystery is about how you lead readers step by step to the solution. A well-written mystery should challenge, surprise, and linger in the reader’s mind long after the last page.

Even though I insisted that my current WIP wasn’t going to be historical fiction, it is. I should have known better than to make such a declaration, but there we are. Since I have some historical elements in my mystery, I also had to learn how to write a historical mystery. I’ll share what I learned next week. 

Categories: Mysteries, Writing, Writing InspirationTags: creative writing inspiration, detective fiction writing tips, how to write a mystery, mystery writing for beginners, writing, writing inspiration, writing tips