Detective ElementsDetective Elements

A Fair-Play MysteryA Fair-Play Mystery

Why?Why?• In order for people to want to read a mystery, the author must “play fair.”

• In order for a mystery to be considered fair, it must have certain elements.

• Otherwise, an author might be tempted to CHEAT, and that wouldn’t be fair at all, and NO ONE would want to read it.

• In order for people to want to read a mystery, the author must “play fair.”

• In order for a mystery to be considered fair, it must have certain elements.

• Otherwise, an author might be tempted to CHEAT, and that wouldn’t be fair at all, and NO ONE would want to read it.

#1 #1

•The DETECTIVE must be memorable.

•The DETECTIVE must be memorable.

#1#1

• Fictional detectives must have characteristics that set them apart from the crowd - something that makes them quirky or better than the others.

• Fictional detectives must have characteristics that set them apart from the crowd - something that makes them quirky or better than the others.

#2#2

• The CRIME must be SIGNIFICANT.

• The CRIME must be SIGNIFICANT.

#2#2

• The CRIME must be MURDER, BLACKMAIL, or a great THEFT.

• NOBODY cares who stole the cookies from the cookie jar…

• It must be worth the detective’s (AND the reader’s!) time.

• The CRIME must be MURDER, BLACKMAIL, or a great THEFT.

• NOBODY cares who stole the cookies from the cookie jar…

• It must be worth the detective’s (AND the reader’s!) time.

#3#3

• The CRIMINAL must be a WORTHY OPPONENT.

• The CRIMINAL must be a WORTHY OPPONENT.

#3#3

• Fictional detectives need to SHOW OFF their skills!

• In order to do this, they need a clever adversary, someone with whom to match wits, an intellectual equal.

• They engage in a battle of intellects that the readers can also enjoy.

• Fictional detectives need to SHOW OFF their skills!

• In order to do this, they need a clever adversary, someone with whom to match wits, an intellectual equal.

• They engage in a battle of intellects that the readers can also enjoy.

#4#4

• ALL SUSPECTS - including the criminal - MUST be introduced early in the story.

• ALL SUSPECTS - including the criminal - MUST be introduced early in the story.

#4#4

•Half the fun of reading a good detective story comes from the mental contest between the reader and the detective in a race to solve the crime.

•The perpetrator of the crime must be one of the main characters in the story.

•Half the fun of reading a good detective story comes from the mental contest between the reader and the detective in a race to solve the crime.

•The perpetrator of the crime must be one of the main characters in the story.

#5#5

•All CLUES discovered by the detective MUST be made available to the reader.

•All CLUES discovered by the detective MUST be made available to the reader.

#5#5

• FAIR PLAY• The reader must be given the same opportunity as the detective to solve the crime.

• Of course, RED HERRINGS are allowed, as long as the detective is similarly deceived.

• FAIR PLAY• The reader must be given the same opportunity as the detective to solve the crime.

• Of course, RED HERRINGS are allowed, as long as the detective is similarly deceived.

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#6#6

• The SOLUTION must be logical and obvious when the detective reveals how he solved the crime.

• The SOLUTION must be logical and obvious when the detective reveals how he solved the crime.

#6#6

•In the end, the reader must see how all the little tidbits of information fit together like so many pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. It is for this reason that detective stories are so appealing.

•In the end, the reader must see how all the little tidbits of information fit together like so many pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. It is for this reason that detective stories are so appealing.

The ELEMENTSThe ELEMENTS1. The detective must be

memorable.2. The crime must be significant.3. The criminal must be worthy.4. All suspects must be

available.5. All clues must be available.6. The ending must be logical.

1. The detective must be memorable.

2. The crime must be significant.3. The criminal must be worthy.4. All suspects must be

available.5. All clues must be available.6. The ending must be logical.