Genre Deep Dive: Murder Mystery

Hello All,

We're back this week with another genre deep dive. As we wrote in a previous blog, our next novel will be a murder mystery, so this week we're going to explore the genre. What makes something a murder mystery? What are the hallmarks of good murder mystery stories? 



The first thing to look for in a murder mystery is...a murder. 

That may sound obvious, but nevertheless, you can't have a murder mystery without a murder. Or, at least, a supposed murder. 

The next thing you need is a good puzzle that needs solving. The writer must leave clues for the reader, provide multiple believable suspects, and have a protagonist (or multiple protagonists) attempting to solve the crime. A good sidekick is a staple, too. Oh, and don't forget the murder weapon.


A compelling murder mystery is a carefully orchestrated dance between plot intricacy and engaging characters. The trick is to strike a balance between withholding and revealing crucial information and holding readers on the edge of their seats--offering just enough breadcrumbs to keep them invested and interested. Suspense, plot twists, and a well-constructed puzzle will challenge the reader to actively try to solve the crime. Ultimately, a good murder mystery immerses the reader in a world where every word and every detail matters, and every secret and motive will be revealed at the perfect moment. 

Some of the masters of the murder mystery genre include:

Agatha Christie - A trailblazer for women novelists, and probably the most famous. She created Detective Poirot and Miss Marple. If you've never read 'Murder on the Orient Express', it's worth your time!

Raymond Chandler - After losing his job as an oil executive during the great depression, Chandler turned to writing, publishing detective stories in pulp magazines. Before long, he created one of the most famous hard-boiled PIs ever, Philip Marlowe. Be sure and read 'The Long Goodbye' when you can. 

John D. Macdonald - We've already written about our love for John. He had a huge influence on us, and we've read every single novel he's ever published. Can't recommend him enough. Maybe we'll do a blog just about him one of these days.

Sue Grafton - Her father wrote detective fiction at night and always wanted Sue to be a writer. She created the incredibly popular alphabet series which featured Kinsey Millhone and started with 'A is for Alibi'. She got all the way to 'Y is for Yesterday' before passing away. 

We can't wait to share our murder mystery novel with you soon. 'An Educated Death' is almost ready for publication! 

Until next time,

~2authors




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