Mystery Genre: information from our library science students
Overview of the Genre
Mystery is a genre that is both easy to define and difficult to nail down. On the one hand, it has several easily identifiable elements. There must be a mystery, and there must be a protagonist working to solve the mystery. Usually, the mystery represents a fracture or tear within a community. Only by uncovering the truth can the protagonist begin to mend what is broken. According to The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, “Mysteries are novels of disruption. The genre sets readers within a world that has been violently disordered and tracks how the protagonist uncovers the cause and reestablishes order” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 51). Because the central focus of the Mystery genre is on reestablishing order, mystery novels typically follow a straightforward progression. According to Wyatt and Saricks, “Pacing is compelling, sometimes slowed by details of time and place, but always moving inexorably toward the reestablishment of equilibrium” (2019, p. 52). However, mysteries are more than just their central question.
Although the unraveling of clues and information is certainly central to the mystery genre, it is not the only essential element. Setting is extremely important in the mystery genre. If the protagonist is trying to restore a community, it is essential for readers to understand exactly how that community was broken. Furthermore, the setting itself often provides key clues to unraveling the case and can serve as a core part of the appeal. Wyatt and Saricks state, “The frame in which the Mystery is set—whether a physical location or fascinating background details—plays a crucial role in its appeal” (2019, p. 52). Secondary characters are also vital. Whether they are suspects or allies, secondary characters give the protagonist people to work with and against. Mysteries may center around a titular protagonist, but the setting is essential for defining that protagonist. Titles within the mystery genre may vary in terms of tone, setting, and protagonist, but across the genre one truth remains the same: mysteries remain enduringly popular.
Wyatt, N. & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd ed). ALA Editions.
Common Tropes
Many tropes are common in mystery fiction, as much mystery fiction has common plotting and structure elements. Tropes are recurrent or expected things occurring across works in a genre. Mystery fiction is centered around righting an imbalance or wrong in the world (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019). “Tropes promise us an order and a joy that real life cannot always deliver” (Rosenfeld, 2023, p. 37).
Some mystery tropes include:
- “The stranger coming in to a small community” (Rosenfeld, 2023, p. 39). This can be seen in A Disappearance in Fiji where the main character, who is an outsider, comes into a small, insular community and must solve the mystery often overcoming resistance from the community.
- “The discovery that someone previously trusted has a secret” (Rosenfeld, 2023, p. 39). In this trope a figure, either an ally of the protagonist or another background character, is revealed to have a secret connected to the case the lead is investigating. Sometimes this ends with the person having some connection to the crime and sometimes it is a red herring.
- “The narrowing down of a wide field of suspects” (Rosenfeld, 2023, p. 39). It is rare that a single obvious suspect is the guilty party. Often a broad, diverse, and colorful set of characters are eliminated from the suspect list until only a narrow set remain, finally revealing the true perpetrator only at the end.
- “The pursuit of the wrong suspect” (Rosenfeld, 2023, p. 39). In this scenario, both the protagonist and the audience believe a highly likely suspect is guilty only to learn later that a different person altogether is guilty, and the first suspect is innocent.
- “The reveal of the how and why after the who” (Rosenfeld, 2023, p. 39). This trope often comes at the end of mysteries. Once the guilty party is shockingly revealed, the detective or investigator only then reveals the methods and the motives of the crime.
The use of tropes like these may at first seem derivative or unoriginal. On the contrary, tropes can act as framing devices and structures for stories' unique ideas and creative innovations. A Sikh police detective in Fiji, a private investigator in 1940s LA, and an elementary school-aged girl can navigate these same tropes in wildly different ways and in dramatically different places using disparate tones and frames (Rosenfeld, 2023).
Rosenfeld, J. (2023). Tropes and why we love them. Writer’s Digest, 103(1), 36-39.
Wyatt, N. & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd ed). ALA Editions.
Elements of Appeal
Mystery novels begin with crime and end with a criminal being brought to justice (through official or unofficial means). They begin with chaos and end when order is restored. Therefore, one of the core appeals of mystery fiction is the promise of stability. No matter how gritty or dark the world, justice will prevail. Furthermore, the stability of the genre allows for a great deal of reader expertise and participation. According to Dr. Jacqueline Burgess, “The genre invites the reader as a co-detective or rival detective in the race to find the murderer(s) or criminals. (Burgess & Williams, 2024, p. 47). This means that the information revealed throughout the story is of utmost importance. Mystery writers can use red herrings, false witnesses, and misleading clues to confound their protagonists and readers. However, they cannot cheat. The reader needs to have been given enough information to have solved the case by the end of the novel. Immersion is highly valued in the mystery genre. An engaging progression of information is essential, but it is not the only place where immersion matters. Setting is key to a good mystery novel. Whether that setting is a lush historical backdrop or a cozy small town, readers want to feel like they are stepping into the world alongside the protagonist. Finally, the characters are who readers will follow from book to book. Some readers may prefer a likable, morally upstanding detective; some may prefer a gritty, morally gray private eye. Whatever the case may be, mystery readers tend to be experts in their genre and are more than willing to have in-depth conversations in order to find their next read.
Burgess, D. J., & Williams, D. P. (2024). Rethinking crime fiction readers. Creative Industries Journal, 17(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/17510694.2022.2057063
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These lists and genre information are brought to you by the MLIS students in our Fiction Genres for Adult Readers class in the Master in Library and Information Science program. Thank you for sending in such good books, materials, and information. I hope you had a good time with this project!
If any material listed is problematic or you would like to suggest future recommendations and themes please contact Crystal Miller at crrichardson@valdosta.edu! They would love feedback, or just to talk about books!
