I love a good mystery. One of my favorite things is to try to figure out the culprit before the characters in the book do. I'm already a notetaker when it comes to reading, so whenever I read a mystery I am prepared for my notes to end up looking like a conspiracy board, with arrows everywhere to show how clues connect. It's a fun way to test my ability to notice clues while following along with a story that always captivates me. There are three types of mysteries I've found that thrill me the most.
1. Cozy Mystery
If you're looking to solve a murder, but you want it to happen off the page with no swearing, sex, or violence? Well, then a cozy mystery is for you! I prefer these over most other mysteries because they let me focus on trying to figure out the murderer without having to process overly intense themes in the process.
Notable Example: Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters
2. Whodunit
This type of mystery story is probably the most common we see. Typically they will have a private or amateur detective, and the story is about them solving the mystery. We watch as they collect clues, interview suspects, and discover the different twists the story always will have. The reader works together with the investigator, and by the end has either figured out the whodunit or is shocked by an unexpected twist.
Notable Example: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
3. Locked-Room
Locked-room mysteries are all about what seems impossible: a crime committed within a locked room. Sometimes something is stolen from a guarded room where nobody could have gotten in or out. Sometimes a crime is committed that nobody can explain, but everyone who witnessed it is a suspect! No matter what, this mystery is all about figuring out how the impossible is logical - and takes you on a wild adventure as the suspects have to dodge suspicion.
Notable Example: One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus