How to Write a Dark Mystery - 5 Things to Keep in Mind

It’s that time of year when we rejoice in all things spooky and we love a good dark mystery.

The attraction of the Halloween season runs the gamut from returning to childhood play and acting out fantasies, to permitting ourselves a safe place to be frightened—after all, it’s not real.

The mystery writer intent on writing dark needs to make it as real as possible.

Readers are looking for thrills and chills and they look for authors who can deliver on that promise.

Here are 5 things to keep in mind when writing a dark mystery.

1. Setting

Abandoned buildings, basements and dark alleys are typical venues that automatically increase tension.

There is nothing wrong with using the stereotypical dark alley if it works for your story, but don’t overlook other possibilities.

A grisly murder that happens in a church or a school provides shock power.

Recall the Psycho bathroom scene.

After watching that movie, no one looked at a shower in the same way.

2. Weather

Storms, lightning, wind, rain, and so on, can and should be used to add to the suspense of the story.

A mystery thriller that takes place against a raging thunderstorm will add a dark dimension that sunshine and rainbows won’t.

Weaving the weather into your narrative and dialogue can be an effective method to darken the story’s tone.

3. Sounds

The five senses should be part of every writer’s toolbox.

Unexplained creaks, shattering screams, sudden explosions and a stranger’s footsteps all cause readers to sit up, take notice, and more importantly, turn the page to find out what it all means.

Sounds can be effective foreshadowing.

Think of the movie The Ring and what the sound of the telephone ringing meant for the person who picked up the receiver.

This story might fall into the horror genre, but the principle is the same.

Use sounds to raise your reader’s anxiety level.

4. Fears

Everyone has fears, including our characters.

The writer’s job is to dig down deep and not only bring out those fears, but also play on them.

Some fears are physical, for example, a character who is afraid of heights or water.

If you are going to give your character such a fear, use it.

Force your character to confront that fear.

Other fears are mental.

A character who fears going mad, who hears voices, or who fears the world around him, can make the reader wonder what is true and what is illusion.

5. Gore

Readers have expectations for particular stories.

A cozy mystery reader does not expect much violence to take place on the page.

On the other hand, a suspense thriller that is looking for a place on the shelves will want to consider the gore factor.

Readers who are put into the point of view of the serial killer as he commits his crime will be shocked and frightened, but these are expected in this subgenre.

A writer looking to darken the tone, should look at the amount and detail of violence they are including.

A good rule of thumb is to read extensively in the mystery sub genre you wish to write.

A cozy mystery might not seek a lot of descriptive violence in the story, but that doesn’t mean a judicious sprinkling of dark overtones cannot provide depth to the story.

By the same token, for writers who want to create a more ominous atmosphere and tone, try out these five tips.

Give your story a dark boost that keeps readers glued to the page.

Learn how to write your dark mystery by clicking HERE

About Zia Westfield
Zia Westfield (www.ziawestfield.com) has a penchant for the quirky and the zany, qualities that often show up in her paranormal romantic suspense stories. Her contemporary romantic suspense stories follow a more traditional path, but there’s always room for a dose of humor or a little snark.