Mystery vs. Suspense – Immediately
related or twelve-times removed?
The answer requires defining the
two genres. Although the two are related, they are more like shirttail cousins
than brother and sister. The main difference is perspective. Both deal with a
crisis event to hook the reader and keep the plot moving, but the storytelling
approach is completely different.
A famous actor is murdered in
Chapter One. In a mystery the rest of the story would center on two things: discovering
who committed the act and the person or persons responsible for solving the
crime. A good mystery writer often spends his time setting up suspects and
clues, revealing little until the end of the story.
A suspense story creates drama before the crisis event occurs.
For a good suspense story to work, what’s at stake is generally stated at the
beginning of the story, and often the reader knows important details such as
the who, why, and when, early on. The suspense writer must create tension by
inserting a strong protagonist and developing inventive story paths that avert
a certain outcome. Unlike a mystery writer, he can write from the point-of-view
of the antagonist, pitting him against the protagonist throughout the story.
While the above outlines the
traditional confines of the two genres, as an avid suspense reader I have to
say not all books categorized as suspense fit the definition exactly, as do
their mystery counterparts; there is frequently a lot of overlap between the
two genres.
Today’s Indie writers have a whole
new realm of genre freedoms not always available to the author who chooses a
more traditional publishing route. And we are seeing the birth of more and more
cross-genre novels, which gives readers a much wider selection of
novels to choose from, and has the added bonus for writers of seducing a new
generation of readers to their stories.
Dear readers,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I love
reading suspense. My first novel, She’s Not There was written as suspense but
also has elements of mystery. Which do you prefer? I find the traditional mystery
plot not as satisfying as suspense or a combination thereof, but that is what
makes the new wave of crossover genres so compelling—it offers so much more
variety to readers.
Please take time to let us know
your preferences! I’d love to hear from you.
Marla
Note – Some of the above is taken
from Simon Wood’s article, “9 Tricks to Writing Suspense Fiction."
I read mystery and suspense and that hybrid that lies between the two.
ReplyDeleteI describe my book, Deadly Legacy, as a mystery. My publisher calls it suspense. I suspect we're both right. It won't be the first time I've crossed genres. My first book, Under A Texas Star is a mystery/western/romantic suspense novel.
Sounds like we both enjoy the same reading genre! I'm glad to hear a publisher welcomed a "hybrid." Good term for them! Hope it's wildly successful for you.
DeleteGuess my book is a mystery/suspense with a dash of romantic and human interest! Another hybrid.
Thanks for visiting, Alison!
Writer Dave Here,
ReplyDeleteIn my novel, Web of Guilt, soon to be out in ebook on Kindle, I write in the first person for each of the three main characters. The protagonist, the antagonist, and the catharsis character. I call it a suspense story, which I prefer reading. The three characters all have extreme guilt, each trying to exonerate themselves by different means, and they all get tangled up with a gangster!
Sounds like what Alison called a hybrid. We'll be anxiously waiting to read it Dave!
DeleteNice to hear from you,
Marla
I had always called my series a "traditional mystery" but my agent labeled it suspense. Sometimes I think the deciding factor in determining genre- mystery, suspense, and thriller- has as much to do with commmercialism as anything else. Not everyone understands the inherent differences; more importantly, not everyone cares. :)
ReplyDeleteI like your definitions, Marla. Nice post.
Carolyn Wheat has an excellent resource book on the subject, How To Write Killer Fiction: The Funhouse of Mystery & The Rollercoaster of Suspense.
I think Alison (above) would say your is a hybrid, like mine. And I think you're right--no one really cares. And I think the article that inspired my blog was one I got from you!
DeleteThanks for visiting, Donna.
I lean more towards suspense, but I enjoy a good mystery as well. Sometimes the who-done-it aspect can be a real page-turner.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your novel "She's Not There." Left a review on Amazon. Clever twists right up till the end. :)
Many thanks, Crubin! It's so wonderful that you left a review, so often people forget. Suspense is my favorite too. Glad you visited! Your kind words have improved my day!
DeleteMarla
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm writing a book that is probably both romantic mystery and suspense. It is suspense in that external events keep happening that keep our hero and heroine on edge and on the defensive. But it is mystery in that they have to figure out who is behind it. It probably leans more toward suspense, but has elements of mystery because the reader has to figure out the villain.
ReplyDeleteYour novel sounds unique, Rachelle. Do you plan to self publish? I think the great thing about it is the freedom you
ReplyDeletehave to do something original and not be restricted by what is expected. Good luck with it! Keep us posted of your
progress!
Happy fourth,
Marla