What is a Mystery?

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 14 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #724 in Books, #57,276 overall

Understanding the Mystery Genre

In years past defining a mystery was easy. A mystery was a riddle or a puzzle. The reader and the protagonist had to determine the secret, solve the crime, usually a murder, and find the guilty party. The clues were buried within the story allowing the reader to put the pieces together before the protagonist identified the culprit.

The mystery genre was divided into three sub-genres, the cozy, soft boiled mysteries, and hard boiled mysteries. The classification was based on the degree of violence and little else.

That's not the case today. Depending on which source you read, the mystery genre has been divided up into six to twelve different sub-genres. The purpose of this lens is to clarify the sub-genre confusion for the reader as well as the novice writer.

The Cozy 

The Cozy Mystery is full of clues and had an intriguing plot, but it's short on action. It is an intellectual mind game between the criminal and the detective. They are the English Country House Mysteries of the 1920's and 30's.

The classical cozy involves a closed group of people such as guests at an inn trapped together by a raging storm. All of the suspects have motive and opportunity. It's up to the investigator and the reader to pinpoint the culprit.

It is a clean book with little or no foul language or violence. The death or murder takes place off stage. The murder weapon is often a blunt instrument such as a candlestick, knitting needles, paperweight, or fire poker, and the sleuth is usually an amateur. And we can't forget the cat. Almost all cozies have at least one cat lurking around.

Arson and Old Lace by Patricia Harwin is a great example of a Modern Day Cozy.

Cozies 

Recipe for Murder: Cozy Crumb Mystery Series #1 (Heartsong Presents Mysteries #5)

Amazon Price: $4.97 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Something's Fishy in Palm Springs: An Aggie Underhill Mystery

Amazon Price: $19.98 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Murder by Mushroom (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #63) (A Cozy Mystery)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Antiques Maul: A Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery (Trash 'n' Treasures Mysteries)

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Arson and Old Lace (Far Wychwood Mysteries, No. 1)

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Amateur Sleuth 

The Amateur Sleuth novels are similar to cozies but are usually a little more violent. The murder is solved by someone close to the victim. Although they don't have the necessary skills, they are determined to find the culprit. They are usually stand alones and once the crime is solved, the protagonist goes back to their normal life.

My Mother's Shoes is a great example of an Amature Sleuth Mystery.

Amateur Sleuth Novels 

Antiques Roadkill: A Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery (Trash N Treasures Mysteries)

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

April Fool Dead (Death on Demand Mysteries, No. 13)

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Alpine Pursuit: An Emma Lord Mystery (Emma Lord Mysteries)

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Access Denied (A Turing Hopper Mystery)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

My Mother's Shoes

Amazon Price: $12.44 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Professional Sleuth 

The sleuth in a Professional Sleuth is an amateur detective, but a professional in something else. They may be a judge, medical examiner, jockey, sculptor...the list is endless. The setting is within the sleuth's professional circle and usually involves people they know. It is the Professional "amateur" sleuth that restores order to the cloistered world they live in. They are often turned into a series. The number of times the Professional-amateur stumbles across a body doesn't seem to be an issue.

Bloodlines: An Irene Kelly Novel by Jan Burke is an excellent example of a Professional Sleuth Novel.

Professional Sleuth 

Death's Half Acre

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Book of the Dead (Scarpetta)

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Devil Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels)

Amazon Price: $18.68 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Countdown (An Eve Duncan Forensics Thriller)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Winter Study (Anna Pigeon)

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Police Procedural 

Police Procedurals have been around forever. They focus on the work of a team of police officers, and are usually investigating several cases at once. The technical aspects of the investigation is a big part of it. To write a Police Procedural, an in-depth understanding of the inner workings of a police station is essential.

Heat Lightning by John Sanford is an excellent example of a Police Procedural.

Police Procedurals 

Killer View

Amazon Price: $16.06 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Scarecrow

Amazon Price: $18.47 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Wicked Prey

Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Rough Country (Virgil Flowers)

Amazon Price: $15.75 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Heat Lightning

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Medical/Legal Mystery 

Extreme Measures: A Thriller (Mitch Rapp Novels)

Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 12/24/2009)Buy Now

Vince Flynn's thrillers, featuring counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp, have dominated the imagination of readers everywhere. In them, Flynn has captured the secretive world of the fearless men and women, who, bound by duty, risk their lives in a covert war they must hide from even their own political leaders. Editorial Review (Amazon)

Legal/Medical Mystery 

Legal/Medical Mysteries are just what the name implies. The protagonist is either a doctor or a lawyer. If the suspense is intense, they may be classified as suspense novels as well. They are immensely popular and are often on the best sellers list.

The Keepsake: A Novel by Tess Gerritsen is an excellent example of a Legal/Medical Mystery.

Medical/Legal Mysteries 

Foreign Body

Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Appeal

Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Capitol Murder: A Novel of Suspense

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Partner

Amazon Price: $10.40 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Apprentice (Jane Rizzoli, Book 2)

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Thriller/Suspense Novels 

In a Suspense/Thriller the tables are turned. The sleuth is being pursued by the villain. The reader usually knows who the villain is if not right from the beginning, shortly there after. They are intense and the violence is graphically portrayed. Some thrillers are so intense that you may have trouble sleeping and get up a dozen times to recheck your doors. The villains are often fodder for nightmares.

As The Twig Is Bent by Joe Perrone, Jr. is an excellent example of a Thriller/Suspense Novel.

Thriller/Suspense Novels 

The Assassin: A Novel

Amazon Price: $16.34 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Chasing Darkness: An Elvis Cole Novel

Amazon Price: $19.72 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Rescue Me: A Novel

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Consent to Kill: A Thriller (Mitch Rapp Novels)

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

As The Twig Is Bent

Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Romantic Suspense 

Romantic Suspense Novels are extremely popular. It is the mystery/suspense that forces the couple to work together to solve the problem. Love blooms and together they bring down the villain. The ending is a given. Justice always prevails and love conquers all.

Black Hills by Nora Roberts is an excellent example of a Romantic Suspense.

Romantic Suspense 

Private Eye 

The Private Eye Mysteries are an American classic. The protagonist is often an old grizzly PI with a strong code of honor. Unfortunately that code doesn't always mesh with the law. While the story line is important, much of the story hinges on the character. The readers get to know the PI well.

U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton is an excellent example of a Private Eye Mystery.

Private Eye 

T is for Trespass (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)

Amazon Price: $17.79 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Bleeding Kansas

Amazon Price: $18.94 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Rough Weather

Amazon Price: $17.79 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Hit and Run (John Keller Mysteries)

Amazon Price: $18.96 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Hit Man (John Keller Mysteries)

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Noir (Dark) 

Noir Mysteries are from the other side of the fence. The villains are supernatural beings with powers so great that you wonder how the protagonist will ever manage it. They are bleak, dark and gritty. The good guy prevails---sort of.

White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7) by Kim Harrison is an excellent example of a Noir Mystery.

Noir 

The Goliath Bone (Mike Hammer)

Amazon Price: $8.61 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Given Day: A Novel

Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9)

Amazon Price: $15.17 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Rain Gods: A Novel

Amazon Price: $17.15 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Dreamfever

Amazon Price: $17.16 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Caper 

The Caper is a comic crime story. The protagonist is a lovable bungler that manages to get the job done in spite of his shortcomings. The ones that are written are very popular. Unfortunately few are written. Janet Evanovich leads the pack with her extremely popular Stephanie Plum Series.

The Caper 

Finger Lickin' Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)

Amazon Price: $16.34 (as of 12/24/2009)Buy Now

Stephanie Plum is at it again.

Mystery Novels Poll 

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Final Words 

I hope this lens clears up the mystery in mysteries. As with most fiction these days, genres are overlapping, mixing, merging, and diverging. This is how I see mysteries today but how they will look tomorrow is a mystery.

Writing Mysteries 

Don't Murder Your Mystery [Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction Book]

Amazon Price: $15.34 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Writing Mysteries

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Weekend Novelist Writes A Mystery

Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Hardy Boys 

Where my love of mysteries started.

Have you read any good books lately? 

submit
  • Reply
    myowncupoftea myowncupoftea Nov 9, 2009 @ 12:23 am
    I used to spend my summer vacations reading Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, Midnight Louie, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.... It never occurred to me that there are various sub-genres in the mystery genre itself -- until I stumbled upon your refreshing and informative lens! Five stars for you!
  • Reply
    superbookdepot superbookdepot Oct 26, 2009 @ 5:36 am
    Nice and very beautifully laid out lens. I would really appreciate it if you visit my Best Mystery & Thrillers Books lens and put your views there. Hope you will take out some time to rate it too.
    http://www.squidoo.com/mystery-and-thrillers-best-sellings-books
  • Reply
    Mountainside-Crochet Mountainside-Crochet Aug 18, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
    I LOVE mysteries -- probably 75% of my personal library is made up of mystery books, including complete collections of certain favorite authors. My mystery books are read and re-read and well loved. My favorites are police procedurals, followed by PI's like Kinsey Milhone, then suspense. I'm currently reading Jonathan Kellerman's "Bones". Wonderful lens. 5* and fav'd.
  • Reply
    AndyPo AndyPo Jul 30, 2009 @ 7:54 am
    Great lens. I do like a good mystery.
  • Reply
    JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Apr 25, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
    I was an avid reader of mysteries -- Nancy Drew Mysteries -- in grade school. Today, I enjoy mystery movies. Some cool books.
  • Load More

About the Author 

Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 4,015 lenses, favorited 445, and has created 200 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "2009 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments". See all my lenses

Resources used to construct this page. 

Roerden, C. Don't Murder Your Mystery. 2006. BellaRosaBooks, Rock Hill, SC.

Types of Mysteries
What is a Mystery?

Love This Lens? 

If you would like to rate this lens, then you can do so here (Squidoo members only)

Add this to your lens »

by ElizabethJeanAllen

I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
(more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!