The Mystery of Writing a Mystery

I love reading mysteries almost as much as I love writing them. But the process of creating a believable and surprising mystery novel is often as shifty and elusive as the criminal your protagonist is trying to reveal.  Here’s what some famous authors found out about the subject:

At least half the  mystery novels published violate the law that the solution, once revealed, must seem to be inevitable.

Raymond Chandler
American novelist and screenwriter

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The mystery story is two stories in one: the story of what happened and the story of what appeared to happen.

Mary Roberts Rinehart
Often called the American Agatha Christie

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There certainly does seem a possibility that the detective story will come to an end, simply because the public will have learnt all the tricks.

Dorothy Sayers
English crime writer, poet, playwright, and essayist

 

I hope not, Dorothy, I hope not!