Did you ever wonder why you’re drawn to mystery stories? Why mysteries remain one of the popular genres in literature? Why TV shows and movies about crime and mystery proliferate?
Ed McBain, author of the “87th Precinct” series, once said in an interview that we love mysteries because they “reconfirm our faith that a society of laws can work.” How true! In our increasingly violent and out-of-control culture, it’s refreshing to read a book in which crimes are solved and criminals get what they deserve.
The reader is relieved to know the age-old paradigm of crime and punishment still works, at least on paper. There is great satisfaction in seeing the transgressor punished, particularly when we see crime, greed and all manner of corruption in high places where transgressors are not only not punished, they lead lives of privilege and luxury.
We also read (and write) mysteries because we enjoy the classic “who-done-it” archetype. The writer and her audience play a cat-and-mouse game of red herrings, false trails, hidden motives, and obscure clues to see who solves the mystery first. We all love the “aha!” moment. The successful mystery writer hides just enough clues in plain sight to make the resolution surprising, while still enabling the reader to say, “I should have known it.”
Mystery readers also enjoy a sense of identification with the hero/ine of the story, which is why the writer has to create a protagonist the reader can admire and root for. She or he doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, a flawed hero/ine is more relatable to us. But there are usually characteristics that endear them to us—they are courageous, resourceful, clever, and talented, while being “wounded” in some way.
The heroine of my Ryn Lowell Colorado Mysteries series is all of these things. While she uses her wits and reason to track down the killers, a difficult family life has made her unable to commit to long-term, stable relationships, even though they are exactly what she desperately needs. Her job as a travel writer which keeps her moving seems ideal, that is until she stumbles upon a tiny village in the Colorado Rockies called Trout Fork.
Mysteries satisfy our desire to live vicariously through our heroes, give us the opportunity to exercise our own wits as we watch the protagonist solve the puzzle, and assure us that virtue still triumphs over evil.
Long live the mystery genre!
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