By Hallie Ephron
Writer's Digest Books, an Imprint of F+W Publications
Paperback

At the heart of every mystery novel lies a puzzle for the story’s hero, and the reader, to solve. In the beginning the mystery seems to be about one thing but in the end it turns out to be about something else.

To make it work, the writer develops a string of events and presents them in a series of twists and turns. The main story is tangled with sub plots and complicated by characters that may or may not have something to hide.

Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel Excerpt Page-turning suspense. Rich characterization. A credible surprise ending. Sounds pretty simple, but writing a mystery novel is not for the faint of heart. Juggler, conjurer, and herder of cats -- those are all in the job description. Be prepared to keep three or four intertwined plots spinning. Get ready to master the art of misdirection so readers will ogle those red herrings you’ve sprinkled while ignoring the real clues in plain sight. Don’t be surprised when you find yourself riding herd on a load of characters who won’t go where you want them to. On top of that, you need dogged determination and intestinal fortitude to stick with it, through first draft and endless revisions, until your words are polished to lapidary perfection. © Hallie Ephron Published with permission from Writer's Digest Books

Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel takes you from planning a mystery novel to targeting potential markets and agents.

Beginning with the premise and continuing through to title selection, Part I provides a step-by-step guide to the process of planning a mystery novel. At the end of each Chapter, the writer is instructed to add to the blueprint at the end of the section. The blueprint is the basic framework for a novel. By the end of the planning section the writer has a completed blueprint and is ready to write.

From the mystery novel’s opening scene to its coda, Part II provides a guide to the writing process. It discusses crafting scenes, introducing characters, creating mystery and maintaining suspense. This is where the real work begins -- writing the first draft.

Part III suggests a range of techniques for polishing a novel. No one writes a publishable first draft. This section guides the reader through revision, pacing and characterization.

The final section gives tips on finding an agent and a publisher. Part IV shows how to prepare a query packet and send a manuscript out into the world. If the mystery is a good one, it will find a home.

Bookworm's Briefing
Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel presents clear and detailed information. Examples and exercises throughout the book assist the writer in learning the material and integrating it into writing habits.