Just Follow the Clues !

How Will You Find Your Way ?

The History of MysteryThe History of MysteryModern crime dramas owe a lot to Edgar Allan Poe- known as “the father of the mystery story”. Poe introduced mystery fiction's first fictional detective, Auguste C. Dupin, in his 1841 story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue."

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is the most famous example of a mystery style known as the locked room, in which "a murder victim is found inside an apparently sealed enclosure and the detective's challenge is to discover the murderer's modus operandi."

“M.O.” – the method of operation

Poe was one of the first to shift the focus of mystery stories from "a focus on the superficial trappings of eerie setting and shocking event to a study of the criminal's mind." (Crime Classics)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliant detective, Sherlock Holmes, arrived on the mystery scene in the late nineteenth century in "A Study in Scarlet" (1887).

Holmes had a style unlike any detective seen before. With his flair for deducing clues, Sherlock Holmes worked with his ever-reliable sidekick, Dr. Watson, to figure out the clues and solve the crime.The genius of Conan Doyle was reflected in his creation of a character whose intelligence was formidable, turning the solving of crimes into a science.

Current manifestations: Sherlock – BBC Elementary -- CBS

The 1920s was known as the Golden Age of mystery fiction. A time of growing prosperity in both England and America, the popularity of mystery fiction was at an all-time high.

Crime in these stories strictly adhered to a prescribed format with little or no variation.

A writer emerged during this time whose name became synonymous with Golden Age fiction.

Agatha Christie wrote more than 80 novels in 50-plus years, and is today probably the best-known female mystery writer in history.

“Murder on the Orient Express”

"Who knows what evil lurks "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? in the hearts of men?

One of the most popular radio shows in history One of the most popular radio shows in history debuted in August 1930 when "The Shadow" debuted in August 1930 when "The Shadow" went on the air.went on the air.

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"The Shadow knows!" The opening lines of the The opening lines of the "Detective Story" program captivated listeners "Detective Story" program captivated listeners and are instantly recognizable even today. and are instantly recognizable even today.

Originally the narrator of the series of macabre Originally the narrator of the series of macabre tales, the eerie voice known as The Shadow tales, the eerie voice known as The Shadow became so popular to listeners that "Detective became so popular to listeners that "Detective Story" was soon renamed "The Shadow," and Story" was soon renamed "The Shadow," and the narrator became the star of the old-time the narrator became the star of the old-time mystery radio series, which ran for 24 years, mystery radio series, which ran for 24 years, until 1954.until 1954.

A figure never seen, only heard, the Shadow was A figure never seen, only heard, the Shadow was an invincible crime fighter. He possessed many an invincible crime fighter. He possessed many gifts which enabled him to overcome any gifts which enabled him to overcome any enemy. Besides his tremendous strength, he enemy. Besides his tremendous strength, he could defy gravity, speak any language, could defy gravity, speak any language, unravel any code, and become invisible with unravel any code, and become invisible with his famous ability to "cloud men's minds."his famous ability to "cloud men's minds."

The Shadow knows!"The Shadow knows!"

Taking theTaking the

out of great

stories

Identifying Elements of Mystery Identifying Elements of Mystery WritingWriting

Setting and Setting and AtmosphereAtmosphere

SettingSetting – – the author designs a place and time the author designs a place and time

that seems mysterious or scarythat seems mysterious or scary

The setting fits the mood and atmosphere of the story.

the author uses words that make the setting the author uses words that make the setting seem scarier and more mysterious; the use of seem scarier and more mysterious; the use of details and description to set a feeling/mooddetails and description to set a feeling/mood

Atmosphere –Atmosphere –

What is Suspense ?What is Suspense ?SuspenseSuspense – – “when you’re dying to know what will happen

next even though you’re afraid to find out“

To build or develop suspense, the characters take To build or develop suspense, the characters take (sometimes foolish) chances or risks(sometimes foolish) chances or risks

that set up new that set up new obstaclesobstacles or situations or situations

Often the author has the main character makeOften the author has the main character make a a mistakemistake that puts them in greater danger that puts them in greater danger

or causes new problems to solveor causes new problems to solve

What is a What is a ““sleuthsleuth”” ? ?A A sleuthsleuth is a detective, employed or engaged in catching a criminal or is a detective, employed or engaged in catching a criminal or

getting information that is not easily available to solve a mystery.getting information that is not easily available to solve a mystery.

“Sidekick”-a character that assists the detective in solving the case

WhatWhat’’s a s a MysteryMystery without without Clues Clues ?? When reading a mystery, make a list of clues you

may use to solve the mystery.

ONE needs to be a CRUCIAL clue – the one piece of information that helps the “sleuth” finally solve the mystery

Consider “red herrings” – bits of information that are designed to misleadthe readers by making them suspect the wrong characters.

**Remember-Remember- an obstacle can be increased or an obstacle can be increased or complicated by a decision a character complicated by a decision a character makes under pressure/ in a panic makes under pressure/ in a panic Example- a Example- a ““bucket of waterbucket of water”” on the roof when there is a on the roof when there is a small fire . . small fire . . The reader may know the bucket actually contains The reader may know the bucket actually contains kerosene from the cleaning crew, but the character kerosene from the cleaning crew, but the character believes it is water and throws it on the fire to extinguish believes it is water and throws it on the fire to extinguish the flames , but it actually the flames , but it actually ““feeds the firefeeds the fire””

*this techniques helps increase the tension of the *this techniques helps increase the tension of the rising action*rising action*

Elements of Mystery and Suspense-

SettingSetting – – the author designs a place and time that seems the author designs a place and time that seems mysterious or scarymysterious or scary

Atmosphere Atmosphere – – the use of details and description to set a the use of details and description to set a feeling/moodfeeling/mood

SuspenseSuspense – – “when you’re dying to know what will happen next even though you’re afraid to find out”

Sleuthleuth -- -- a detective, employed or engaged in catching a criminal or a detective, employed or engaged in catching a criminal or getting information that is not easily available to solve a getting information that is not easily available to solve a

mystery.mystery.

Obstacles Obstacles -- problems for the character to solve; an obstacle can be problems for the character to solve; an obstacle can be increased or complicated by a decision a character makes under increased or complicated by a decision a character makes under pressure or in a panicpressure or in a panic

CRUCIAL clue CRUCIAL clue – – the one piece of information that helps the the one piece of information that helps the ““sleuthsleuth”” finally solve the mysteryfinally solve the mystery

““Red HerringsRed Herrings”” – bits of information that are designed to mislead – bits of information that are designed to mislead the readers by making them suspect the wrong the readers by making them suspect the wrong

characters.characters.

““SidekickSidekick””- - a character that assists the detective in solving the a character that assists the detective in solving the case case

Locked Room – Locked Room – victim is found in a room with no apparent victim is found in a room with no apparent entrance/entrance/ exit of perpetratorexit of perpetrator

Cherchez la femme – Cherchez la femme – look for the woman; the idea is that behind look for the woman; the idea is that behind every crime, a woman is, in some way, involvedevery crime, a woman is, in some way, involved

Ratiocination – Ratiocination – thinking things through; intellect, not brute forcethinking things through; intellect, not brute force