Appeal of the Mystery Genre
- Supriya Rajnish
- Jan 14, 2024
- 2 min read
Mystery Genre: Where plot twists are the detectives, and clues play hide-and-seek with logic ⁉️ 🌟
Alt Text: Image of various mystery books
Image Source: IGN
When it comes to reading, it has always been the appeal of what adventure awaits me. What incredible mystery or crime should I solve while reading the book? Perhaps this is the biggest reason why in recent times, I have picked up more books in the mystery genre than any other.
A Sense of Adventure
Alt Text: Image of some of the most popular mystery books
Image Source: Parade
One of the biggest reasons for it’s appeal for me is that I go on an adventure with them, I travel with the protagonist and their companions to their world and try to find the clues and hints in the story. The diegetic world that authors have creators in some of the mystery books I have read have been so easy to get lost into, that I have read these books in a matter of days and hours in order to solve them.
A Shot at Detective Work
Alt Text: Image of the some of most recommended mystery books
Image Source: GQ India
Another huge reason for me to consume mystery or detective books is the fact that I get a chance to act like an investigator. The countless number of books I have read where I try to solve the mystery before the detective or PI does is insane. It becomes a challenge for me, almost like a bet where I should try and gather the clues and verify the alibis so that I can find the culprit before they do.
Plot Twists
Alt Text: Image of books with incredible plot twist
Image Source: Celadon Books
There’s nothing like a good plot twist. In my opinion, if I couldn’t predict where the plot is going or who committed the crime, the author has succeeded beautifully. I still remember the first time I ever read a mystery book, which was one of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five Mysteries. When it was revealed who had stolen some important scientific documents at the end, it felt like a punch to the gut.
Hold on to your seats
Alt Text: Image of mystery books
Image Source: Penguin Random House
There is something about suspense that pulls in the audience and gets everybody on the edge of the seat. I have felt this constantly whenever I have watched an Alfred Hitchcock movie or read an Agatha Christie mystery. They manage to hold your attention till the last second and keep you waiting to hear the reveal. I personally love the last 100 pages in any Miss Marple or Poirot book, when the titular characters explain how the crime was carried out, and who committed the crime.
Conclusion
Alt Text: Image of mystery books written by Indian authors
Image Source: The Curious Reader
Whatever I have read and explored in the genre has deeply captivated me. I am recommending some books and linking them below. These are my personal favorites.
My list
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