Trail-Mix Readers discussion

We were talking horror over the last few days, let's discuss another genre...

What thrills you about suspense/mystery/thrillers? What makes you ask the right questions and come to insane or even insanely correct answers?

What tropes do you see that work or annoy you? Where do you find unique mysteries?

A good thriller must be well-structured. The author should have figured out the key elements and plugged the holes so the reader doesn't go, but what about? That structure must be realistic and can't loop back on itself. Nor can the rules change (as sometimes happens. For instance, a suspect clearly ruled out, cannot suddenly re-emerge as the villain).

If the structure is established, it also needs one of two additional things: pacing or language.

If it's well paced. it should never drag, either in dialogue or description. No extraneous elements, no padding.

Or, the language should be lean and delicious. Something the reader can relish, roll on the tongue, savor like a Pinot Noir.

I like mysteries, whether they are straight up or thriller or susupense. I find the stalker trope over-used. I prefer conspiracy or like Jessica's book, staight up, where the hell and what the hell and why the hell?

You would think serial killer books would be wearing thin, but people keep buying them and they keep getting more and more over the top. Another trope that may start wearing thin is the gnostic mystery thriller. How many lost ancient manuscripts are left that will lead to world apocalypses and how many experts are left before we get to the ones who made Bs and Cs in college and will screw up the translation anyway?

Actually that might make a fun thriller, the lost manuscript and the hero is the professor from the state college who really isn't qualified to save the world. Plus he gets caught up between Homeland Security, FBI and NSA turf wars, Oh, during a campaign year. So Trump weighs in too. I've got it the James Ossuary was a fake to throw the Sahnedrin off the scent, but this guy stumbles across the real Ossuary of Jesus' half brother James who had half his powers and actually wrote the recipes down.

Phillip wrote: "You would think serial killer books would be wearing thin, but people keep buying them and they keep getting more and more over the top. Another trope that may start wearing thin is the gnostic mys..."

Haha, I read the whole 'serial killer books keep getting more and more over the top' and first thing that pops into my head: Friday the 13th. You can't help but laugh when someone sees Jason standing there, screams, and starts running through the woods. Jason casually walks along... stops to pick some flowers, maybe waters his garden... and then somehow Paul Bunyan steps in FRONT of the (still running!) person and summarily ends their Olympic medal winning race in some grisly fashion. Hahahaha.

People keep buying them and writers keep writing them. The trick is to find a different angle. I wrote one with a slightly different plot line where the killer actually loses his memory. How about if you started to like the guy? That would mess with your head.

Try it - Love You To Death - I would love some comments.

I love it when thrillers have things happen from way out in left field, something you would never suspect. I also like it when the characters are nothing like you figured when you first meet them.

Margaret wrote: "I love it when thrillers have things happen from way out in left field, something you would never suspect. I also like it when the characters are nothing like you figured when you first meet them."
Same here Margaret.
I think that is the skill that makes a writer. To be able to take any idea and turn it into great words that wind the reader down a road where they can't always guess the turnings.
I try not to plan every plot in every detail as once a character is born they often discover aspects of their character which changes the reactions within the story. That is the adventure!