What is a mystery?
The 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 both the reader and the novice writer.
Mystery Genres
The Cozy
A cozy 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 all 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.
A cozy 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.
Death of the Cozy Writer
by G.M. Malliet
Death of a Cozy Writer: A St. Just Mystery
Amazon Price: $10.94 (as of 07/05/2009)
"Death of a Cozy Writer is a book anyone who cut their teeth on Agatha Christie's mysteries will treasure. I read it once for the story, and plan to read it a second time just to savor the language. It's that good." -- Cozy Library
Cozies
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. Amateur Sleuth Novels
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. Professional Sleuth
Police Procedural
Police Procedurals have been around forever. It focuses on the work of a team of police officers. They are usually investigating several cases at once and focus on the technical aspects of the investigation. To write a Police Procedural, an in-depth understanding of the inner workings of a police station is essential. Police Procedurals
Medical/Legal Mystery
Extreme Measures: A Thriller (Mitch Rapp Novels)
Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 07/05/2009)
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. Medical/Legal Mysteries
Suspense Novels
In a Suspense Novel 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. It is not uncommon for a suspense novel to also be classified as a Thriller. Suspense Novels
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. 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. Private Eye
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. Noir
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: $15.37 (as of 07/05/2009)
Stephanie Plum is at it again.
Mystery Novels Poll
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]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51W1yZbedRL._SL75_.jpg)
Have you read any good books lately?
JaguarJulie wrote...
I was an avid reader of mysteries -- Nancy Drew Mysteries -- in grade school. Today, I enjoy mystery movies. Some cool books.
Posted April 25, 2009
papawu wrote...
I lved mysteries, even as a kid. I think I first started with the Encyclopedia Brown, then to Lillian Jackson Braun with the "The Cat Who..." series,then onto Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes novels. Enjoyed your lens with a great selection of books.
Posted April 12, 2009
susannaduffy wrote...
This lovely clever lens inspired me to write about a couple of my favourite historical detectives (whodunnit-ancient-rome) . Now I can lensroll!
Posted December 17, 2008
About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,690 lenses, favorited 454, and has created 165 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
Resources used to construct this page.
Types of Mysteries
What is a Mystery?
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.
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