Let’s Write a MysteryLet’s Write a Mystery

What is a Mystery?What is a Mystery?

A mystery is a secret, a riddle, or a puzzle. A mystery is a secret, a riddle, or a puzzle. You have to find out the secret, and solve You have to find out the secret, and solve the riddle or puzzle to find the criminal and the riddle or puzzle to find the criminal and crack the case!crack the case!

Webster’s DefinitionWebster’s Definition

MysteryMystery1. One that is not fully understood or 1. One that is not fully understood or

that baffles or eludes the that baffles or eludes the understanding: an enigma.understanding: an enigma.

2. A work of fiction, a drama, or a 2. A work of fiction, a drama, or a film dealing with a puzzling crime. film dealing with a puzzling crime.

Types Types of of

MysteriesMysteries

Cozy MysteryCozy Mystery

A cozy mystery is full of clues and plot, but A cozy mystery is full of clues and plot, but it is not loaded with action. It is an it is not loaded with action. It is an intelligent mind game between the criminal intelligent mind game between the criminal and the detective. The setting is usually and the detective. The setting is usually peaceful and lures the reader into a good peaceful and lures the reader into a good mood. The mood is usually broken by the mood. The mood is usually broken by the disturbance of the scene of the crime.disturbance of the scene of the crime.

Hardboiled Detective MysteryHardboiled Detective Mystery

A hardboiled detective mystery has a lot of A hardboiled detective mystery has a lot of nonstop thrilling action. In a hardboiled nonstop thrilling action. In a hardboiled detective mystery, the scene would take detective mystery, the scene would take place in a setting where the victim would place in a setting where the victim would have to go alone. Sometimes a have to go alone. Sometimes a hardboiled detective mystery is scary to hardboiled detective mystery is scary to read.read.

Police Procedural MysteryPolice Procedural Mystery

This kind of mystery includes a lot of This kind of mystery includes a lot of police department rules, like making sure police department rules, like making sure the accused has been read his/her rights. the accused has been read his/her rights. In a police procedural mystery, the In a police procedural mystery, the detective is a police officer.detective is a police officer.

Amateur Detective MysteryAmateur Detective Mystery

In an amateur detective mystery, the In an amateur detective mystery, the detective is someone who becomes detective is someone who becomes involved in the plot by accident. The involved in the plot by accident. The detective in these types of mysteries detective in these types of mysteries doesn’t follow the same rules as the doesn’t follow the same rules as the police. The detective in these mysteries police. The detective in these mysteries usually has good common sense. usually has good common sense.

Use the language of the EXPERT!Use the language of the EXPERT!

Alibi- an excuse of being elsewhere Alibi- an excuse of being elsewhere when the crime was committed when the crime was committed

Breakthrough- a discovery that helps Breakthrough- a discovery that helps solve the crime solve the crime

Clue-piece of evidence that helps Clue-piece of evidence that helps solve the problem solve the problem

Crime- an action that breaks the lawCrime- an action that breaks the law

Deduction- drawing a conclusionDeduction- drawing a conclusionDetective- An investigator looking for Detective- An investigator looking for

and gathering clues and gathering clues Evidence- something that helps prove Evidence- something that helps prove

who committed a crime who committed a crime Hunch- A guess or feeling not based Hunch- A guess or feeling not based

on facts on facts

Infer- to draw a conclusionInfer- to draw a conclusionInterrogate-to question the suspect of Interrogate-to question the suspect of

the crimethe crimeInvestigate- to closely examine a Investigate- to closely examine a

problem and track down clues that problem and track down clues that lead to the solutionlead to the solution

Motive- the reasoning behind a Motive- the reasoning behind a persons actionspersons actions

Mystery- Something that is unknownMystery- Something that is unknownRed Herring- a false clue that throws Red Herring- a false clue that throws

the investigator off trackthe investigator off trackSleuth- an investigatorSleuth- an investigatorSuspect- Person who has a motive to Suspect- Person who has a motive to

have committed a crimehave committed a crimeWitness- Person who has knowledge Witness- Person who has knowledge

about a crime about a crime

Elements Elements of a of a

MysteryMystery

Element 1:Element 1:CharactersCharacters

Suspects are characters who may have Suspects are characters who may have caused the problem the mystery is trying caused the problem the mystery is trying to solve. Detectives or investigators try to to solve. Detectives or investigators try to solve the mystery.solve the mystery.

Element 2: Element 2: SettingSetting

The location where the mystery The location where the mystery takes place.takes place.

Element 3: Element 3: PlotPlot

The plot is the story of the mystery. The plot is the story of the mystery. Usually there is:Usually there is:

A problem or puzzle to solveA problem or puzzle to solve Something that is missingSomething that is missing A secretA secret An event that is not explainedAn event that is not explained

Most mystery plots use Most mystery plots use suspensesuspense. This . This means that the reader does not know the means that the reader does not know the solution while reading the mystery.solution while reading the mystery.

Element 4: Element 4: CluesClues

Clues are hints that help the detectives Clues are hints that help the detectives and reader solve the mystery. They can and reader solve the mystery. They can be things people say or do, or objects that be things people say or do, or objects that are found.are found.

Element 5: Element 5: DistractionsDistractions

Distractions are things that lead an Distractions are things that lead an investigator off the path, including clues investigator off the path, including clues that do not add up to a solution but make that do not add up to a solution but make the search longer.the search longer.

Element 6: Element 6: StructureStructure

Structure refers to the way the story is set Structure refers to the way the story is set up. Most mysteries have a structure like up. Most mysteries have a structure like this:this:

Introduction- learn about the problem and Introduction- learn about the problem and meet the charactersmeet the characters

Body of story- someone is working to Body of story- someone is working to solve the mysterysolve the mystery

Conclusion- mystery is solvedConclusion- mystery is solved

So, do you have what it takes?So, do you have what it takes?

Do YOU want to Do YOU want to be a mystery be a mystery

author?author?

Reading a mystery is different Reading a mystery is different from writing one.from writing one.

When you are writing a mystery, you When you are writing a mystery, you have to work have to work backwardsbackwards. You must . You must have characters and a plot in mind have characters and a plot in mind beforebefore you even start writing. you even start writing.

Let’s get started writing!Let’s get started writing!

Mystery Graphic Mystery Graphic Organizer Organizer

CharactersCharacters

Set up the beginning of your mystery. Set up the beginning of your mystery. Decide on a Decide on a crimecrime and who has done it. and who has done it. Who are the Who are the suspectssuspects (characters)? Try (characters)? Try to keep the number of characters to a to keep the number of characters to a minimum; three or four. Who will work to minimum; three or four. Who will work to solve it? What do the characters do? solve it? What do the characters do? What are their What are their motivesmotives? Who has an ? Who has an alibialibi? Who doesn’t?? Who doesn’t?

SettingSetting

Where did the crime take place? Make it a Where did the crime take place? Make it a place you know well such as school, place you know well such as school, home, etc. home, etc.

CluesClues

List the List the cluesclues. Who reveals them? Who . Who reveals them? Who discovers them? For each event, is there discovers them? For each event, is there a clue? Do the clues help the reader a clue? Do the clues help the reader predict the predict the solutionsolution? Don’t hide any clues ? Don’t hide any clues from the reader…it’s not fair!from the reader…it’s not fair!

DistractionsDistractions

What things will lead the investigator off What things will lead the investigator off the path?the path?

PlotPlot

List the order of the plot- when does each clue or List the order of the plot- when does each clue or distraction appear? distraction appear?

What do we learn about the mystery in the What do we learn about the mystery in the introduction? What characters do we meet introduction? What characters do we meet here? here?

What happens in the middle of the story? What What happens in the middle of the story? What clues are shared with the reader and the clues are shared with the reader and the investigator? investigator?

Does the conclusion reveal the answer to the Does the conclusion reveal the answer to the mystery?mystery?

ConclusionConclusion

What is the conclusion of the mystery? It What is the conclusion of the mystery? It helps the reader if you review the facts helps the reader if you review the facts and clues that led up to this point.and clues that led up to this point.