Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, a reader discovers mysteries -- often we start with Nancy Drew, and work our way along, finding Agatha Christie and Phyllis Whitney, and being led to the action adventure mysteries popular today -- such writers as James Rollins, Lincoln Child, Doug Preston and others. It's as addictive as potato chips, but way better for us -- fat and cholesterol free and engaging. We have to stretch our minds, figure out the clues so cleverly placed, and then go back and see what we missed the first time around.

And then the bug bites -- I could write a mystery, too! That's when we discover just how hard it is to lay the framework, tuck in the clues and keep our reader entertained and distracted from who-dun-it. There have been many, many books written about how to construct a mystery, dissect a mystery, read between the lines, etc.

I think one of the best things mystery writers can do is read voraciously. Yes, read the how-to books, but also read the best mysteries you can find...which isn't necessarily what's on a best seller list either. Check out your favorite publisher for mysteries and figure out what makes them work.