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Writing Mysteries Paperback – April 22, 2002

by Sue Grafton (Editor)
See all formats and editions
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Here's your ticket to the greatest mystery-writing workshop ever!

In this extraordinary compilation, more than three dozen members of the Mystery Writers of America share insights and advice that can help make your writing dreams a reality.

You'll learn how to:

   • Develop unique ideas
   • Construct an airtight plot packed with intrigue and suspense
   • Create compelling characters and atmospheric settings
   • Develop a writing style all your own
   • Write convincing dialogue
   • Choose the appropriate point of view
   • Work with an agent
   • Conduct accurate research
   • and much, much more!


You'll also find special guidelines for creating clues, dropping red herrings, and writing medical, legal, historical, true crime, and young adult mysteries. It's all the information you need to solve the mystery-writing riddle!
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    April 22, 2002
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.81 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1582971021
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1582971025
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The mystery, like other stories, relies on believable characters, a strong narrative, and crisp prose. But it is also "a way of examining the dark side of human nature," says Writing Mysteries editor Sue Grafton. The book's 37 contributors ponder everything from brainstorming ideas to dealing with editors. Jeremiah Healy jump-starts the book with a piece that considers the unwritten "rules" of mystery writing. Stuart Kaminsky discusses research--experts, it turns out, are just waiting for you to contact them--and Sandra Scoppettone discusses vivid villains. Sara Paretsky contemplates the pitfalls of using a recurring hero, and Michael Connelly contributes a fine piece on characterization. "The best crime novels," Connelly says, "are not about how a detective works on a case; they are about how a case works on a detective." Other chapters focus on amateur sleuths, convincing dialogue, depiction of violence, and specialty genres. The book's short chapters form a sort of mystery writer's antipasti plate. Some won't resonate, while others will leave you wishing you had a larger serving. An ideal primer for mystery writers. --Jane Steinberg

About the Author

Sue Grafton is the best-selling author of the Kinsey Millhone series. She lives in Southern California.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Publishing Group; Second edition (April 22, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1582971021
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1582971025
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.81 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the authors

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Previous page
  1. Jan Burke

    Jan Burke

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    I'm the author of crime fiction novels and short stories. You can find out more about my writing on my Web site.

    I'm also the founder of The Crime Lab Project, which works to increase awareness of the problems facing public forensic science labs in the U.S.

    I live in Southern California with my husband, Tim, and our two dogs, Cappy (in the photo above) and Britches.

    I want my epitaph to read, "Had a great time, thanks for inviting me." I hope not to be in need of that any time soon.

    Oh yeah -- I'm a lifelong night owl. As another night owl once said, don't go to bed on the same day you've awakened.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Angela Zeman

    Angela Zeman

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Angela Zeman writes mystery fiction, from cozy to noir. Her first novel, THE WITCH AND THE BORSCHT PEARL, developed from the ensemble-rich Mrs. Risk (the witch) story series first published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. The Mrs. Risk novel, THE BORSCHT PEARL, and the later compiled companion book of Mrs. Risk stories, TALES OF THE WITCH, are newly available from Crossroad Press (formerly from Otto Penzler's Mysterious Press) in every venue and format. More collections of her short fiction are planned.

    "The First Tale of Roxanne," her latest new series debut, centered on Ancient Rome, appears in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, as the May 2013 issue's Cover Story. "The Second Tale of Roxanne" can be expected soon.

    Several of her stories are created using ensembles, although sometimes she writes stand-alones. Many can be found in Nelson DeMille's anthology, THE RICH AND THE DEAD; Jeffery Deaver's A HOT AND SULTRY NIGHT FOR CRIME; Stuart Kaminsky's ON A RAVEN'S WING and another: SHOW BUSINESS IS MURDER; Linda Fairstein's anthology: THE PROSECUTION RESTS; Nancy Pickard's MOM, APPLE PIE, AND MURDER; Mary Higgins Clark's THE NIGHT AWAKENS, and others. A new series (Murphy's Law) debuted in Robert J. Randisi's noir anthology: CRIME SQUARE. Her second in the Trueden Falls series can be found in Dennis Webster's annual ADIRONDACK MYSTERIES anthology. Her short fiction can be found in several anthologies and publications edited by Mary Higgins Clark, Stuart M. Kaminsky, . Visit her author page here, and her website at www.AngelaZeman.com to learn more.

    Read a multi-author blog called "Murphy's Blog--if anything can go wrong, it will happen here!" (Email via url onsite if interested in contributing.) Also within the website is planned a webzine: Risk AZ Art magazine, displaying works from various types of story tellers. Author and editor Dennis Webster--in Graphic and Ghost--details the graphic novel scene.

    Her current project is a suspense thriller novel: ECHO. That protagonist first appeared in "Green Heat", a story from Jeffery Deaver's anthology that Otto Penzler and Nelson DeMille chose for Nelson's collection of Best American Mystery Stories of the Year (Houghton Mifflin).

    She is a long standing member of MWA, PWA, ICWA/NA, and the New York Friars Club. She invites readers to follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
96 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book helpful, informative, and a solid compendium of professional advice for mystery writing. They also appreciate the great writing tips and variety of authors. Readers describe the book as a pure pleasure of learning about writing craft.

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Information qualityWriting advice
7 customers mention "Information quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's information quality excellent. They say it provides a helpful review of everything from the unwritten rules of writing to a solid compendium of professional advice for the genre. Readers also mention the content is very informative and a good source.

"Helped to finish my written piece. Good advice. Wish classes by author were nearby." Read more

"I found the book to a helpful review of everything from the unwritten rules of writing a mystery through the submission process...." Read more

"Good solid compendium of professional advice for the genre. HIghly recommended." Read more

"...It was also in excellent shape, and its contents was very informative." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing advice"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing advice in the book great and insightful. They say it's a solid book for any new writer and a pleasure to learn about the writing craft. Readers also mention the book has a nice variety of authors.

"...As a writer, the book was a pure pleasure of learning about writing craft. Definitely not just for mystery writers...." Read more

"...the same old thing but, it has a wide variety of authors and many great writing tips. Each author brings something different to the table." Read more

"...Each chapter is a different topic and each is written by an accomplished mystery writer...." Read more

"...Despite the dated technology and submission issues, the writing advice is fairly solid, and I do recommend this as a basic craft book to new writers..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Nancy Raven Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Writing Craft Classes in a Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2013
Verified Purchase
I just read Sue Grafton's book, "Writing Mysteries." Grafton edited the book and chapters are by many great, current mystery writers. As a writer, the book was a pure pleasure of learning about writing craft. Definitely not just for mystery writers. Think of all those classes you paid for and attended on specific writing subjects you were very interested in, and then someone else in the class asks a question at the begining "like how do I get an agent," and the teacher spends the class time discussing getting an agent. You leave frustrated and annoyed because that's not why you attended and you just wasted your time and money. Or the times you've attended an advanced class, only to have the teacher have to explain beginner things, because some people are in the wrong class. This is a pet peeve for me. Reading "Writing Mysteries" is like taking those classes without the veering off topic you find in classes. It's table of contents follows a nice progression from beginning to end of the book writing process. Yes, it does respond to "How do I get an agent," but only at the end in it's own chapter where it belongs. I highly recommend this book for fellow writers.
10 people found this helpful
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Lyndon Rudolph
4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful survey of key issues for the striving mystery author
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
Varied expertise from authors who’ve walked the walk
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S. Swearingin
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what you need to know!
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2018
Verified Purchase
Really thought this might be the same old thing but, it has a wide variety of authors and many great writing tips. Each author brings something different to the table.
One person found this helpful
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Retired Professor C
5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful advice
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
Helped to finish my written piece. Good advice. Wish classes by author were nearby.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars how to write afresh
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2013
Verified Purchase
Easy to read advise makes you think there is a book in everyone. this book i plan to read a few times
i think it will be my sounding board for greatness.
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Patti Underwood
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book seems to cover all the topics you need to know when writing a mystery. Each chapter is a different topic and each is written by an accomplished mystery writer. The book not only gives you tips on what to do but also on what not to do.
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J. L. Gribble
3.0 out of 5 stars Dated tech/submission info, but writing basics are solid. Recommended for new writers rather than experienced.
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
So far I've written a female coming-of-age novel, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, a time-travel book...and those are all in the same series. What's next? I think a murder mystery is on the horizon, and as a newcomer to this genre, I needed to get back to basics.

Writing Mysteries is a solid book for any new writer, though I ended up skimming certain sections that either didn't apply to me as an experience writer or didn't apply to me because I'm won't be writing, say, a medical mystery or true crime novel. Note also that this book was released in 2002, so plenty of the seasoned veterans contributing chapters make frequent mentions of typewriters and that new-fangled Internet (I might exaggerate a bit, there). Despite the dated technology and submission issues, the writing advice is fairly solid, and I do recommend this as a basic craft book to new writers who know they'll be specializing in the mystery genre.

In conclusion: I got the basics I came for, I did a good bit of highlighting, and I certainly have a much better idea of some of the dos and don'ts for this new journey I'm undertaking.
8 people found this helpful
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R. BULL
5.0 out of 5 stars Wide ranging and helpful
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2004
Verified Purchase
I found the book to a helpful review of everything from the unwritten rules of writing a mystery through the submission process. Personally, I enjoyed having different people present their views. I can see that it might be annoying if you want just one point of view. My advise is to read whatever section you are interested in and skip sections that you do not care about. Good job!
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Schneekatze
4.0 out of 5 stars Gute Grundlage...
Reviewed in Germany on February 19, 2009
Verified Purchase
Für alle Krimifans eine lohnende Lektüre. Bekannte Krimi- und Thrillerautoren schreiben über verschiedene Punkte und Themen des Genres und wie eine gute Story entsteht. Es gibt ein Kapitel über den Villain, eins über Anfang und Ende, eins über Setting etc.
Auch wenn man nicht selber schreiben möchte, ist es interessant.
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Mike Gorman
4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable perspectives on the process of writing and publishing mystery stories
Reviewed in Canada on December 29, 2020
Verified Purchase
A number of highly successful mystery writers, plus others involved in the process of getting works published, write tips laden articles, laced together for a mystery writer's roadmap. The credentials of the contributors are embellished not only with mini-bios, but also with their own picks of major contributors over the years to the genre. The main limitation is that the volume hasn't been updated since 2002, which affects some perspectives' applicability to our age.
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CatsAndBooks
3.0 out of 5 stars Too basic and generic to be of much use
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book contains chapters by some of the finest contemporary authors of crime fiction: Sue Grafton (the editor), Linda Fairstein, Sara Paretzky, Lawrence Block, Faye Kellerman, Jonathan Kellerman, John Lutz, Tony Hillerman, Barry Zeman, Nancy Pickard, Jan Burke, Margeret Maron, Loren D. Estleman, Laurie R. King. Each tackles a different topic.

This should produce an outstanding book. Alas, it's only ok. The advice these great authors give is often vague and generic. I had hoped to learn 'trade secrets' from great thriller/mystery authors. Instead, I got the same basic how-to-write advice found in every other writing book and free on many sites online. And little about these contributions is specific to the mystery genre, and very little is in depth.

The book would be suitable for someone currently taking first steps in fiction writing, perhaps trying to write a novel for the first time, and who has an interest in Mystery as a possible genre to explore. For someone who is serious about writing in the Mystery genre, or who already knows how to craft a novel, this book has little to offer.
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