There are many mystery subgenres, and, if you wish to write a mystery, you need to understand each of them.
Death by Candlelight and Small Town Secrets begin with a blaze—one a candle, one a house fire.
Are both amateur detective mysteries…or cozy or…?
Here are some of the more popular styles or mystery subgenres:
Classic Mystery
(Whodunit) A crime is solved.
The detective is the viewpoint character; the reader never knows any more or less about the crime than the detective, and all the clues to solving the crime are available to the reader.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Arthur Conan Doyle, Oakly M Hall, Dorothy L Sayers.
Amateur Detective
The detective is not a professional, but is almost always a professional something.
This professional association routinely involves the protagonist in criminal cases, giving him or her special advantages in a specific case, or provides the skills necessary to solve a particular crime.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Patricia Cornwell, Walt Bagley.
Cozy
A special class of amateur detective category that generally has a female protagonist and there is less violence on stage, the plot is often wrapped up in a final scene where the detective identifies the murderer and explains how the crime was solved.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Agatha Christie, Scott Saunders.
Private Investigator (PI)
Hard-boiled, this category takes a tough stance, violence is more prominent, characters are darker, and the detective operates on the fringes of the law. Contemporary females have bought new trends in this category.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Sue Grafton, Alexander McCall Smith.
Police Procedurals
The most realistic category, requires the most meticulous research.
A police procedural may have more than one protagonist since cops rarely work alone.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Ridley Pearson, PD James, Barbara Nadel.
Juvenile/Young Adult
The crime in these stories may or may not be murder, but it is serious.
The protagonist—kid or group of kids is of the same age range as the targeted reader.
There is no graphic violence depicted; stories are scary and villains realistic.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Mary Downing Hahn, Ron Roy and John Steven.
Suspense/Thriller
A suspense novel may deal more with the intricacies of the crime, what motivated it and how the villain is caught and brought to justice.
Typically these novels have multiple viewpoints and are broader in scope than the more traditional mystery.
Authors who write in this subgenre include James Patterson, John Connolly, Catherine Coulter.
Historical
An emphasis on setting, the details of which must be diligently researched, but beyond the historical details the plot develops along the lines of traditional mysteries.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Candace Robb, Robert W Walker, Steven Saylor.
Espionage
International spy novel, stories revolve around political intrigue in unstable regions.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Ken Follett, Alison Hart, Joan Hiatt Harlow.
Technothriller
These are replacing traditional espionage novels and feature technology as an integral part of plot and setting.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Tom Clancy, J.A. Konrath, Michael Crichton.
Medical Thriller
Medical threat, illegal or immoral use of medical technology is the focus of these novels.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Robin Cook, Sandra Glahn, Kathryn Fox.
Courtroom Drama
The action takes place primarily in the courtroom; the protagonist is a defense attorney out to prove the innocence of his or her client by finding the real culprit.
Authors who write in this subgenre include John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline.
Woman in Jeopardy
The focus is on the woman and or her children at risk, her struggle is to understand the nature of the danger and her eventual victory over her tormentor.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Mary Higgins Clark, Linda Feinstein, Gene Grossman.
Heists and Capers
The crime itself is the focus.
Its planning and execution are detailed and participants may be portrayed sympathetically.
They are portrayed as criminals though and the reader expects they will be caught and punished.
Usually is more light hearted or comedic.
Authors who write in this subgenre include Leslie Hollander, Donald Westlake, Elizabeth Peters, Clive Cussler.
If you want to write a mystery novel, decide what mystery subgenre or style to use for your story, then just get started.
Watch this for even more mystery subgenres and more details about each:
Read this for 5 Ways to Start a Mystery.
Try it!
Learn how to write your dark mystery by clicking HERE
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