The ARRT Genre Study Group studied the Mystery genre from 1996-1997. 
Compiled by Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove Public Library.

Mystery Characteristics
There is a body or some crime has been committed.
There is a puzzle of some sort for the investigator to solve.
There are suspects.
There are clues.
There is an investigator.
There is a solution or resolution to the mystery.
Order has been restored or justice has been served.

Questions to consider when working with readers:
How much violence will the reader tolerate?
Is the reader looking for humor or a light touch?
Does the reader like to follow police procedures with details of forensic evidence?
Does the reader like a specific frame (cooking, academic, Native American, etc.)?
If so which one? Does the reader enjoy learning about a new subject?
Does the reader prefer an amateur or a professional detective?
Does the reader prefer a male or a female protagonist?
Does the reader like historical or contemporary mysteries? If historical, which time period?
Does the reader like leisurely or fast paced books?
Does the reader like books with psychological feel?
Does the reader have a preference for, or a dislike of, books set in certain countries?
Does the reader like/dislike books written in the first person?
Does the reader prefer well-developed characters or a book that is plot driven?
Does the reader enjoy a book with a good sense of place?
Does the reader enjoy books that are a part of a series?
Does the reader enjoy books seen from both the detective’s and the murderer’s points of view?
Does the reader prefer a book with some resolution at the end or a book that is open-ended?

Mystery Subgenre Characteristics/Appeal Elements
Classic Authors
Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon)
    Layers of deceit; truths and half truths present
    Symbolism important
    Dark division of the world and the people in it
    Characters seemed cliched because they have been limited so much
    Set in time period it was written in
    Can pick up prejudices of the time
    Similar to Jim Thompson

Raymond Chandler (The Long Goodbye)
    Writer allows the reader to see more of the main character’s thoughts
    First-person more immediate
    Chandler uses similes and metaphors--elegantly written
    Set in the time it was written
    Can pick up the prejudices of the time
    Agatha Christie (Murder on the Orient Express)
    Poirot--great detective type
    Stories do not have a strong sense of the time period in which they were written
    Plots have a timelessness
    Can pick up the prejudices of the time

Dorothy Sayers (The Nine Tailors)
    Great detective type
    Took a long time to get into book
    Character does not seem to grow or change as much as they do in modern series
    Subtle British wit present
    Definite code of honor present-villain given a chance to commit suicide before police are called
    Strong sense of morality

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Hound of the Baskervilles)
    Great detective type
    Story still popular and reads well

Female Private Detectives
Story Line
    Protagonists have a strong desire to find the truth
    Focus on step-by-step investigation; don’t just rely on intuition
    Usually only investigate one step at a time
    No authority to interview to suspects
    Will bend rules; break and enter if necessary to solve crime
    Brand of justice meted out, but not necessarily within the law
    Less violent than those with male detectives. Threatening situations, but less graphic violence
    Better titles have equal parts character development and mystery; readers enjoy following
    characters’ lives

Setting/Background/Tone
    Character not domestic; apartment a mess, refrigerator empty
    Often a bleak tone; but also contain humor-often wisecracking
    Deal with urban crimes, nastier
    Real sense of place

Characterization
    First person or from detectives point of view
    Protagonists are independent, self-reliant, but are still feminine
    Code of honor not as evident as with male detectives
    Family is important; it may be an extended family created by detective who is a loner otherwise
    Lack of significant other. If there is someone to relate to, she doesn’t relate as well to reader
    Heroine affected when she needs to kill criminal
    Takes steps not to be in "macho" situations; always carry a gun
    Women Pl’s live by their wits
    Likable characters; series follow secondary characters as well, characters grow and change
    over the course of the series

Pacing
    Fast-paced

Working With Readers
   Does the patron only like female protagonists?
    These books are often harder edged.
    Does the patron like/dislike first person books?
    Does the patron enjoy fast-paced books?

Read Alikes
    Sue Grafton--Marcia Muller; Karen Kijewski; Linda Barnes; Janet Dawson;  
    Janet Evanovich; (perhaps Robert Parker, James Lee Burke, and Jeremiah Healy)
  
    Sara Paretsky--Liza Cody; Dana Stabenow

Police Procedurals--Women
Story Line
    Often investigate multiple cases
    Interplay between levels of police; more office dialogue
    Have authority to question suspects

Setting/Background/Tone
    Involve urban settings
    Less humor
    See police procedure in solving multiple crimes
    See women dealing with being professionals in a man’s world; need to show they belong there;   
    so less humor

Characterization
    Written in the third person

Working With Readers
   Does the patron enjoy books following multiple cases and seeing the inner workings of a police
    station?
    Does he enjoy Ed McBain, Hill Street Blues or Prime Suspect?

Read Alikes
    Prime Suspect; Dorothy Uhnak; and male police procedurals

Male Private Detectives
Story Line
    Often more violent than private detectives. Assaulted or beaten up
    Crimes they solve are often violent
    Usually work only one case at a time
    Step-by-step investigations
    No authority to interview suspects-may allow suspects to think they are the police
    Usually series books
    Always a bad guy in the story; PI deals with crooks, underworld, etc.

Setting/Background/Tone
    Bleak
    Wisecracking humor often directed at themselves
    Sense of place

Characterization
    Detective is a loner, independent, self-reliant
    Has own code of honor
    Willing to bend/break the law to solve a case
    Will continue to work a case without a paying client-must know the answer
    Often a relationship with a woman; men are sensitive, caring about relationships;
    Women seemed to stay on the edge of a relationship, men do not seem to have this problem
    Often have a friend with the police or reasonably good relations
    More likely than females to carry and use a gun
    May have a physical problem-alcoholism, nervous stomach
    Feel protective of client especially if a woman or a child
    Often first person point of view
    Character grows and changes through the series; develops relationships; solve personal problems
    Likable characters
    Male characters are not as well described as female--physical description and clothes
    Heavy macho side
    Often live on the edge financially
    Many male PI’s have sidekicks, not usually true with women who have more of a support system
    of secondary characters

Pacing
   Fast-paced

Read Alikes
   Robert B. Parker; Robert Crais
   
    Lawrence Block; Ed McBain (Mathew Hope series); Robert Crais; Stephen Greenleaf
   
    Walter Mosley; Raymond Chandler
   
    Female private detectives

Police Procedurals
Story Line
    Information about policemen and they day to day activities
    Show details of working as a cop and police in danger
    May focus on social issues
    Police work as a team
    Police have authority amateur or private detective does not have
    Police may use brute force
    Usually working on multiple cases, some of them may be minor-cases may not be solved
    British police procedurals are much more like cozies
    British police procedurals--the threads seem to come together. There is a lot of set-up for what is   
    to follow
    Rely on technology (American)

Setting/Background/Tone
    Police procedures may be small town (cozy or humorous)

Characterization
   Some read police procedural for characters
    Policemen stick together and protect on another
    Cop can be detached or not

Pacing
    Varies

Working with Readers
    Some may be humorous--more like a cozy then police procedural--even though they take
    place in a police department.
    Examples include Julie Smith, M.C Beaton (Hamish Macbeth), and Joan Hess (Maggody series)
    Police procedurals can have very different feels. Both Julie Smith and James Lee Burke
    set their books in New Orleans, but they are very different books.

Read Alikes
    Police Procedural
    Ed McBain; Del Shannon; William Caunitz; Stuart Kaminsky; Eleanor Taylor Bland;
    Lillian O’Donnell, R. Hill ; Magdalen Nabb; Tony Hillerman
   
    Ed McBain--Peter Turnbull stories of "P" Division
   
    Humorous/Cozy
    Julie Smith; Joan Hess; M.C Beaton; Susannah Stacey

Great Detective
Story Line
    Readers see more of the detective’s personal life
    The great detective gives the solution at the end
    Often British   

Characterization
    One person solves the crime
    The sidekick is usually a flunky
    Great detective is more literate, more of a gentleman
    May be more ethical

Pacing
    Leisurely

 Working With Readers
    Must they meet the detective right away?
    Does the patron enjoy bigger, leisurely paced books with a wealth of detail?
    One character often works alone with a sidekick

Read Alikes
    Frances Fyfield; P.D James; Martha Grimes; Elizabeth George; Colin Dexter;
    James Lee Burke; Faye Kellerman; Ruth Rendell (Chief Inspector Wexford)

Serial Killers
Story Line
    Don’t often see the rest of the police department
    Get the point of view of both the police and the killer
    Solve the case using forensic evidence that is explained in detail
    Usually solve one case at a time

Setting/Background/Tone
    Violent
    Sense of place
    Often psychological
    Suspenseful--Cat and mouse situation

Characterization
    Also follow the personal life of the detective

Pacing
    Fast-paced

Working With Readers
   For readers who like fast-paced, suspenseful books and don’t mind violence.

Read Alikes
   Michael Connelly; Ridley Pearson; John Sandford; Jonathan Kellerman; James Patterson;
    Patricia Cornwell; Andrew Klavan; Thomas Harris

Historical Mysteries
Story Line
    Set in past (over 50 years ago?)--or what patron thinks is historical
    Author is not writing about his times. For example Raymond Chandler is not historical.
    Two types
    1.  Lots of historical detail
    2.  Mystery set in time but story is more important than historical detail
    (Carola Dunn; Kate Kingsbury)
    Mysteries are solved differently. There is not the scientific detail we find in modern mysteries.
    Less actual detecting and more intuitive solving of the problem.
    More amateurs and fewer actual detectives since police didn’t appear until mid-19^th century.

Setting/ Background/Tone
    Evoke a good sense of the time and place, lots of historical detail
    Author must research time and place
    Mystery must be consistent with time; characters must act in character, has to be of the
    time in speech and manner as well as moral/social issues
    Some historical mysteries. Usually not enough historical detail (Carola Dunn or Kate Kingsbury)
    Readers read for time period, characters and their relationships
    Social/moral issues appropriate for the time.

Characterization
    Protagonist mostly amateur
    Some feature real people and these have a different appeal. There’s a different feel if the
    character is treated humorously. For example, contrast Davis’ humorous Roman mysteries
    vs. Saylor’s more serious series.

Pacing
    Slower paced.
    Pacing slower because of wealth of detail.

Working With Readers
    Mystery is not as important as characters and historical fact; read for the picture of and insight
    into the times and a sympathetic series character
    Readers choose by historical period
    Historical detail is most important aspect
    Series character may be as important as time period; a good character who fits in.
    Character development is important.
    Most popular historical time periods: Medieval, Victorian, 1930’s

Read Alikes
    Carola Dunn’s journalist is similar to K.K. Beck’s 1920’s flapper Iris Cooper (feminist, slightly
    quirky character, story has a light romance, cozy feel)

    Margaret Frazer is written in the Anne Perry/Ellis Peter’s tradition (character one readily relates
    to, lots of historical detail).

    Laurie King readers may like Gillian Linscott

    P.C. Doherty’s non-series mysteries are for fans that like the detail of Kate Ross and Anne Perry;
    his series’ are for Ellis Peter’s readers (Brother Cadfael).

    Fans of Kate Ross would probably like Anne Perry, although the latter are set in Victorian rather
    than Regency times.

Cozy Mysteries
Story Line
    Body is offstage; death and any violence are not graphically described
    No graphic violence, sex or language (but not old-fashioned)
    Although there may be surprises, they aren’t ugly surprises, cozies are not meant to be disturb
    readers
    Protagonists solves mystery through intuition and knowledge of human nature
    Gossipy details from neighbors replace forensic evidence as protagonist solve crime
    Necessary suspension of disbelief-how many deaths could realistically occur in these small
    communities?

Setting/Background/Tone
    Importance of setting/frame. Protagonist involved in catering academia or something else. Details of
    this frame are important to the appeal of the mystery.
    Lots of detail-description of lives, careers as well as physical description of people and places.
    Sense of community usually small town; cozies unlikely to have an urban setting (if they do it’s
    some sort of closed community)
    Often humorous, or at least light-hearted in tone. Cozies are upbeat.
    Great sense of property in British cozies

Characterizations
    Characters are not loners--relationships among characters are important
    There must be some connection to the police department. Often police person is a friend or lover
    of the protagonist
    Almost always have series characters. For some readers, the characters and the developments
    in their lives are more important than the mystery
    Characters may be quirkier than in other subgenres.
    This may be related to their profession and the setting/frame
    Animals often feature prominently
    Reader doesn’t know and/or like the victim
    Eccentric characters, amusing dialogue; reveal human foibles

Pacing
    Shorter books that are fast reads
    Lots of dialogue
    Books have an immediacy
    Conversational tone

Working With Readers
    Questions to consider:
    Do they want humor or not?
    Is geographical setting (or English vs. American) important?
    Do they prefer a subject frame or profession? If so, which one?
    How much tolerance do they have for "cute"?
    Do readers know what we mean by cozy?
    Listen to clues about what they don’t want as well as what they like
    Readers who ask for funny mysteries usually want cozies
    Possible cozy mysteries for men (with male protagonists): Lilian Jackson Braun,
    Lawrence Block, Simon Brett, Jeff Abbott, Lawrence Sander’s McNally series, or Charlotte
    MacLeod’s Peter Shandy mysteries
    Read for humor not much frame: M.C. Beaton, Dorothy Cannell

Read Alikes
    More difficult than in other subgenres. The books tend to have the same feel.

    Gillian Roberts--perhaps Sarah Shankman and Nancy Pickard

    John Sherwood--perhaps Susan Wittig Albert (herbs) and some of Sharyn McCrumb

    Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity--perhaps Sheila Allen’s Reluctant Ghost (mystery and romance)

    Harry Kemelman’s mysteries are intellectual.

    Ralph McInerny deals with issues in the Catholic Church.

    Kate Charles (Anglican) and Harry Kemelman are for readers who want to learn about religion.

    Mystery Writers (some cozy for young adults)
    Lilian Jackson Braun
    Robert B. Parker
    Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason
    Maybe Rex Stout (too reflective?)
    Maybe Aaron Elkins, John D. MacDonald, Tony Hillerman

Amateur Detectives
    No police or private investigator though usually trained investigator in another field
    Have some connection to law enforcement or they are experts brought in because of expertise
    Need connection to police; married or dating a police officer
    Amateurs don’t get paid for their investigation; not their real job
   Fall into case as part of their job; come in contact with victim because of job--don’t
   necessarily know the victim as in many cozies
    Not licensed detectives or cozy snoops
    Many have professions that give them reason to interview people
    More violence, harder edged
    More often urban setting; not small town
    Mostly women protagonists (is this true?)
    Amateurs draw reader into their world. Interesting things happen there.

Story Line
    Some humorous but there is a range
    Solve crime through investigation, more puzzle-solving than in cozies (which feature solving
    through knowledge of human nature and sometimes blundering)

Setting/Background/Tone
    More descriptive details; feel of place and profession
    Often a crossover to other subgenres with tone (may like some police)
    Procedurals that focus on characters and police investigation like P.D. James or Elizabeth George)
    Amount of violence is key to moving from one subgenre to another

Characterization
    Patrons read for characters and their changing lives
    Readers don’t mind a greater amount of violence than present in cozies
    Characterizations more sophisticated than in cozies, where they are more prescribed and
    predictable
    Characters have individual, interesting professions that attract readers; a life outside of crime
    Contain accurate details of professions and professional life
    May be more realistic; we see them more as real people
    More to relate to in these-real job, true lives, less police involvement; intelligent
    Investigation we can relate to
    Not as many eccentric characters as in cozies
    Not as many secondary characters, less likely to have sidekicks. Work independently
    Americans are more free-wheeling, British more restrained or reserved
    Relationships among characters are not so important-not much focus of book

Pacing
    Fast-paced

Working With Readers
    Is the reader interested in a particular profession?
    How much violence will they tolerate; bodies not offstage
    Protagonist may be in serious danger or badly hurt
    May also enjoy P.D James, Elizabeth George or P.I. novels (amount of violence is the key)

Read Alikes
    Amanda Cross/Veronica Stallwood/Jill Paton-Walsh--same flavor, academic (on campus) feel of
    place, tough, intellectual characters, sense of profession

    Nevada Barr/Barbara D’Amato/Sue Grafton/maybe Janet Evanovich tough single women;
    sarcastic; harder-edged; adventuresome, same feel and characterizations

    William X. Kienzle/Harry Kemelman/Kate Charles
    Information on religion; subject appeal

    Aaron Elkins/Elizabeth Peters Same tone; archaeology as theme

    John Grisham
    Jonathan Kellerman (similar pacing but his characters are richer because series characters);
    maybe P.I.; Steve Martini, Michael Crichton; Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

    Gail Bowen-Saskachewan, academic; balance personal and professional lives with murder;
    Intimate more like P.D. James

    Aubert, Rosemary (Free Reign)--Ellis Portals, Toronto disbarred, homeless judge; lives in
    homeless subculture; lots of subplots; strong sense of place, details; appeal for men and women

    Sarah Shankman/Sharyn McCrumb’s Elizabeth MacPherson series/Gillian Roberts--move to cozies

Non-Series Mysteries
Story Line
    Bigger books that share more characteristics with novels
    May be psychological but don’t have to be
    Murderer could be anyone in book-no recurring characters
    Maybe open-ended

Working With Readers
    Dick Francis and Robert Barnard fit our criteria for a mystery
    Ruth Rendell, Margaret Yorke, and Minette Walters do not fit our mystery criteria--more
    psychological
    Series books are popular because if readers enjoy one in a series, they will probably enjoy others.
    Readers also enjoy seeing series characters grow and change

Read Alikes
    Ruth Rendell, Minette Walters, Margaret Yorke, and Minette Walters do not fit our mystery
    criteria--more psychological

    Series books are popular because if readers enjoy one in series, they will probably enjoy others.   
    Readers also enjoy seeing characters grow and change

Read Alikes
    Ruth Rendell, Minette Walters, Margaret Yorke

Crime Novels
Story Line
    Storyteller type with multiple characters and multiple plot lines
    Reader observes a cast of characters
    Books are violent, but violence is not looked upon as horrible
    There is not really a mystery to be solved
    Don’t have all our mystery characters-usually a body, but no sense of justice, (crime does not pay).
    No puzzle, no detective

Setting/Tone/Background
    Set in a different world (underside of life)
    Appeal of books is to see a different way of life

Characterizations
    Lots of characters in these books have a criminal background; often not likable

Pacing
    Fast-paced

Read Alikes
    Ross Thomas, Elmore Leonard, Timothy Watts, and Jim Hall are similar though Thomas may
    fit better in Comic/Caper category

    Stuart Woods books are fast-paced and read like a screenplay

    Jim Thompson’s books have humor but are bleaker and darker

Comic/Caper
Story Line
    Unusual, outrageous books
    Violence offstage--reader knows what happened, but doesn’t see it happening
    Caper--an adventure, a crime to be accomplished, not solved
    Suspense--will they get away with the crime?
    Humor
    Warped justice
    See execution of the plan

Setting/Tone/Background
    Suspense
    Revenge

Characterizations
    Bungling or slick criminals
    Eccentric characters
    Bad guys deal with other bad guys

Pacing
    Fast-paced

Working With Readers
    As long as patrons don’t read Comic/Caper only for the humor, crime books might appeal

Read Alike
    Joe Gores, Donald E. Westlake, Carl Hiaasen, and Lawrence Shames--dark comedy

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