Uncovering the mystery of truth behind a crime novel requires acute investigative skills. Together, the riddles and puzzles embedded in each story form the irresistible recipe enticing the reader – turning them into the metaphorical ly on the wall.’ Along with the protagonist, the reader begins an overwhelmingly thrilling quest to solve the secret. That’s where several inevitable questions arise, like:
* Who’s the killer?
* What was their motive?
* Will they strike again?
* When will the evil perpetrator be crushed?
Crime novels are addicting! And the authors know it. That’s why they make their stories so engaging and challenging for readers. One of the first things we (readers) do when selecting a new mystery novel is to search for clues within the puzzle’s theme. Among a multitude of topics, we find greed, power, money, and love.
Which of these focuses front and center?
Once the reader has figured that out, they’re one step closer to unraveling the puzzle. Therein lies the hook! By blending intrigue and detective work, we’ve now set up a virtual ALLIANCE with the book’s hero. And everyone knows what that means – the crime novelist has lured us in. There is no turning back!
Now that the reader has unequivocally accepted the challenge, it’s time to pursue those initial clues. Scouring line after line, page after page in hopes of uncovering further details to the mystery’s puzzle, the reader must use their discerning eyes to avoid getting thrown off. For example, did the author’s description of the hero’s childhood penchant for playing hide-and-seek in the forest really mean something? Or was it just a distracting element – an irrelevant tangent taking us nowhere?
It’s crucial the reader be well-versed in recognizing the difference. When analyzing the puzzle, staying focused on the key parts offers a certain amount of control over the story. A strongly crafted crime novel uses these puzzles to its advantage. Lacing together elements of intrigue and inquiry, the reader could very easily find themselves going in circles. By knowing how to take a serious deep dive into the story’s nuanced language, the reader has a real chance at Sherlock Holmes-like results.
Another angle to consider when picking up one of these books is to comprehend they are pattern-less puzzles. Unlike newspapers (usually following a particular path), crime novels are designed differently, making the reader sift through a virtual _mountain of debris_ to uncover the truth. Comparing it to a crime scene, where an investigator fervently dissects every ounce of evidence, it goes with this popular literary genre. Each piece of information must be scrutinized to get to the truth. All of it matters – hints, suspicions, intuition, hunches and general mistrust must be closely examined.
A perfect example of this is Nero Blanc’s 12-book Crossword Mystery series. In the first book, Detective Rosco Polycrates joins Crossword Creator, Annabella Graham to uncover the mystery behind a man’s death. This sets the stage for the remaining stories in the series. It is via these types of crime novels that readers like me get to feel that we’re playing a key role in solving the mystery.
On why these novels are so gripping. Do you remember Rubik’s cube? People would spend hours on end attempting to figure out how to align the color scheme, intensely turning the toy’s faces and evaluating which move to make next. Puzzles like these are grand mysteries. It’s the same concept with crime novels. The author’s prime motive is to keep readers so attached that they can’t possibly set the book down. Just like with Rubik’s cube, you can’t let go of the novel until you’ve gone through each phase of the investigation with the protagonist.
Sometimes that means you’re going to re-read several pages, perhaps even a chapter or two. Heck, it might even mean going back to the initial opening to take side notes. Whatever it takes, the reader is in it for the long haul. And that’s another reason why crime novel series do so well. Imagine this: you’ve started Nero Blanc’s 12-book series. As mentioned earlier, you already know the mystery stage is set. You’re already familiar with the main characters. You might start to anticipate who the players will be in the next story. From there, you begin to draw into your memory bank – hhhh, I remember what Detective Rosco discovered in the first book!’
When going through a series, you won’t want to skip any of the parts. And that’s because each book ties into the next – the mystery keeps you coming back for more. This is how authors ensure their readership, and it’s how readers like you and me continue to feel like we’re part of solving the puzzle.
All of this makes crime novel reading one of my favorite hobbies. What about you…..why are you hooked?