Explain mysteries/thrillers/suspense to me

[Anonymous]

I usually don’t read mysteries or domestic thrillers because I can’t seem to follow them, but I picked up two books by Aggie Blum Thompson based on a DCUM mention and had so much fun reading them over the holidays. She writes such fun books and I loved thinking back to the hints and clues dropped along the way and realizing how she put the story fit together.

I decided that maybe I’ve been missing out on an entire genre, so I grabbed a few random bestsellers to try.

I just read Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney and I’m so mad. I don’t understand this book, I couldn’t follow the plot twists, and I’m still confused by some of the clues dropped by the author that never seemed to mean anything in the end. I’m going back and reading reviews of the book to see if I’m dumb or just missing something or if this is not a genre for me.

I’m generally an indiscriminating reader who doesn’t mind mixing up literature, non-fiction, junky novels, etc., but this book and the genre have thrown me and my identity as a reader for a loop.

Am I supposed to solve the mystery and know what the plot twists will be before they happen? Are some clues just pointless details? Did I encounter bad writing and plotting or am I a bad reader?

[Anonymous]

I think a good mystery or thriller is when you can't quite solve the ending, but when you learn it feels like it all makes sense.

If plot twists don't make sense and there are red herrings that go nowhere, that's just bad writing. It's very annoying to invest in a thriller and then find out that all the clues and suspects end up being dead ends and not explained at all. OTOH it's so satisfying when the author ties things up. Glad you found an author you like.

[Anonymous]

Do you watch shows like Poirot or Inspector Morse? Same deal. You watch/read and try and guess the ending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I usually don’t read mysteries or domestic thrillers because I can’t seem to follow them, but I picked up two books by Aggie Blum Thompson based on a DCUM mention and had so much fun reading them over the holidays. She writes such fun books and I loved thinking back to the hints and clues dropped along the way and realizing how she put the story fit together.

I decided that maybe I’ve been missing out on an entire genre, so I grabbed a few random bestsellers to try.

I just read Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney and I’m so mad. I don’t understand this book, I couldn’t follow the plot twists, and I’m still confused by some of the clues dropped by the author that never seemed to mean anything in the end. I’m going back and reading reviews of the book to see if I’m dumb or just missing something or if this is not a genre for me.

I’m generally an indiscriminating reader who doesn’t mind mixing up literature, non-fiction, junky novels, etc., but this book and the genre have thrown me and my identity as a reader for a loop.

Am I supposed to solve the mystery and know what the plot twists will be before they happen? Are some clues just pointless details? Did I encounter bad writing and plotting or am I a bad reader?

Look up red herrings.

[Anonymous]

I think you might like different books from the same genre it sounds like that was cluttered with too much detail.

[Anonymous]

OP - I think it's like any genre where you'll gravitate more towards specific authors/styles.

I am not a big mystery reader, but I really love Louise Penny's & William Kent Kreuger's series because they're pretty linear, they're well written, and I like the characters and setting.

[Anonymous]

If you liked Aggie Blum Thompson try Louise Candlish and Lisa Jewel. They are both English and write "smart" thrillers/suspense.

[Anonymous]

Like any genre, it depends on the quality of the writing and the quality of the the plot formation and world-building.

The gold standard of modern thrillers is “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like any genre, it depends on the quality of the writing and the quality of the the plot formation and world-building.

The gold standard of modern thrillers is “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn.

Why is that the gold standard? Because it was a huge bestseller? I really enjoyed it but I have also enjoyed many other psychological suspense novels that are nothing like it, nor are they trying to be.

There's no gold standard.

Within the genre, and I read a lot in this genre, there are subgenres and books with varying levels of literary-ness. It just depends on what you like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like any genre, it depends on the quality of the writing and the quality of the the plot formation and world-building.

The gold standard of modern thrillers is “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn.

Why is that the gold standard? Because it was a huge bestseller? I really enjoyed it but I have also enjoyed many other psychological suspense novels that are nothing like it, nor are they trying to be.

There's no gold standard.

Within the genre, and I read a lot in this genre, there are subgenres and books with varying levels of literary-ness. It just depends on what you like.

Name ‘em.

[Anonymous]

Read I AM PILGRIM. If you don’t like it then you don’t like thrillers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like any genre, it depends on the quality of the writing and the quality of the the plot formation and world-building.

The gold standard of modern thrillers is “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn.

Why is that the gold standard? Because it was a huge bestseller? I really enjoyed it but I have also enjoyed many other psychological suspense novels that are nothing like it, nor are they trying to be.

There's no gold standard.

Within the genre, and I read a lot in this genre, there are subgenres and books with varying levels of literary-ness. It just depends on what you like.

Name ‘em.

Name what? Good sychological suspense that isn't trying to be Gone Girl?

Start with anything by Peter Swanson, early Sophie Hannah like Little Face and the Dead Lie Down, most of Linwood Barclay -- try A Noise Downstairs. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a good mystery or thriller is when you can't quite solve the ending, but when you learn it feels like it all makes sense.

If plot twists don't make sense and there are red herrings that go nowhere, that's just bad writing. It's very annoying to invest in a thriller and then find out that all the clues and suspects end up being dead ends and not explained at all. OTOH it's so satisfying when the author ties things up. Glad you found an author you like.

I felt this way after reading “Gone Girl.”

I so wanted to throw the book against the wall since I invested so much time reading it and the ending was so bad!!

[Anonymous]

I am a casual reader of mysteries/thriller/suspense. There are a bunch of subcategories, so maybe reading more will help oyu decide which books fit you better.

I read Rock Paper Scissors and really disliked it - it was too convoluted and weird. Too many "that's not how this works" moments.

I don't know the author you mentioned, so can't suggest other authors that are similar. But read reviews and look for ones that strike your fancy.

Some thrillers I read last year I liked:
Listen for the Lie Amy Tintera
First Lie Wins Ashley Elston (this was a mega best seller - might be worth checking this out).

I Like classic mysteries, too - Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes. I love BRitish mysteries - The Thursday Murder Club series is fun. The Slow Horses series (more of a spy thriller).

To your question - sometimes I puzzle out the mystery. Sometimes I don't.

[Anonymous]

This was an especially bad book: did not finish it, and I love mysteries! You might want something like The Plot which is a better book. If you want solid, modern domestic thriller, Freida McFadden plots are very tidy. For cozy mysteries Louise Penny books though they get repetitive at times. I find that often in mysteries, if they are well written, I am fine just being along for the ride and being surprised by a twist...But the twist does have to make sense.