Classic Whodunits Are Few And Far Between

Classic Whodunits And The Formula Crime Fiction Authors Use To Write Bestsellers.

 

Classic Whodunits are timeless reads.

Classic whodunits revolve around the mystery that shrouds the murderer’s identity and how the crime was committed. Their popularity has been an enduring genre presence in Crime Fiction but over time, they’ve become increasingly cliché ridden which sadly, more often than not, limits the element of surprise on the part of the reader, particularly when it comes to the reveal and the identity of the murderer.

Few Crime Fiction authors genuinely excel at successfully misleading their readers and revealing an unlikely suspect as the real villain of the story and those that do can invariably be found at the very top of Whodunit Bestseller lists. Of course, all genres evolve, conventions change but the classic whodunits remain and these days many Crime Writers lean towards the dysfunctional human relationships that orbit the murder victim. Playing to our fascination with serial killers, scalpel-wielding blood splatter pathologists, and cutting social commentary. Solving the Whodunit Mystery is still the heart of a detective story but authors are ever cognizant of the realities and uncertainties that plague the world around us and this creates an edgier sense of realism that comes through strongly in modern crime fiction.

List Of Classic Whodunits

Draw up a list of Classic Whodunit Novels and you’ll be hard pressed not to include the likes of On Beulah Height by Reginald Hill, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré or Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. They certainly set the bar for emerging authors and those who have their sights set on a Whodunit Bestseller need to do their homework before putting pen to paper. But the greats certainly have a lot to teach us about writing Whodunits and probably none better known than Raymond Chandler whose Ten Commandments still stand the test of time.

The Formula – Ten Things All Classic Whodunits Must Have!

1) It must be credibly motivated, both as to the original situation and the dénouement.
2) It must be technically sound as to the methods of murder and detection.
3) It must be realistic in character, setting and atmosphere. It must be about real people in a real world.
4) It must have a sound story value apart from the mystery element: i.e., the investigation itself must be an adventure worth reading.
5) It must have enough essential simplicity to be explained easily when the time comes.
6) It must baffle a reasonably intelligent reader.
7) The solution must seem inevitable once revealed.
8) It must not try to do everything at once. If it is a puzzle story operating in a rather cool, reasonable atmosphere, it cannot also be a violent adventure or a passionate romance.
9) It must punish the criminal in one way or another, not necessarily by operation of the law…. If the detective fails to resolve the consequences of the crime, the story is an unresolved chord and leaves irritation behind it.
10) It must be honest with the reader.

Following Chandlers guidelines will certainly get you off to a good start and help develop a compelling story and we hope we’ve given you something to reflect upon. Who knows yours may be the next classic whodunit! But whatever your thoughts we are always open to comments and ideas and if you have a book you’d like to submit for review you can do so HERE

LGBTQ+ Crime Fiction Reviews

LGBTQ+ Crime Fiction Reviews

Another deliciously over-the-top, debacle-drenched read from wordsmith Robin Anderson, ‘Pits, Privates and Feet’ will have you giggling and aghast in equal measure as your peruse its pages.

Read More »

Trusted Book Reviews

We work with both traditionally published and “indie” authors who have self or independently published books and our mission is simple. It’s to discover new and talented authors and help them give their work the attention and awareness it deserves. We do this by providing professional and credible reviews which are respected by our readers. Our primary focus is on fiction across all genres, non – fiction with broad appeal and selected poetry.

  • Over 16000 Book Reviews And Counting
  • All Book Genres Reviewed
  • Books Reviewed In As Little As 16 Days
  • The Only Book Review Site To Offer A Book Review Guarantee
LGBTQ+ Literature & Fiction

LGBTQ+ Literature & Fiction

Treyton Templeton makes a welcome return to his nefarious ways with a crime yarn that turns the air so blue you can swim in it in Anderson’s latest release Who Scares Wins!

Read More »
Zimbabwean Adventure Tales

Zimbabwean Adventure Tales

Enid Blyton meets Gerald Durrell in a joyous celebration of Zimbabwe in ‘Four Zimbabwean Adventure Tales’, penned by Robin Anderson. With his usual flawless writing and narrative flair, Anderson takes his young reader on four wonderfully immersive escapades, complete with talking animals, each with their own perfectly crafted disposition and temperament.

Read More »

Publishing Tips For Authors & Recommended Book Reviews

Space Opera Science Fiction
Book Reviews
Editorial Team

Space Opera Science Fiction

A gratifyingly graphic page-turner with depth, intrigue and nail-biting shocks, Williams leads his readers on an unforgettable journey into the heart of evil with Bon Voyage.

Read More »
Book Reviews
Editorial Team

Supernatural Graphic Novels

An evocatively powerful example of graphic storytelling using emerging media, multi multi-award-winning horror Novelist Gage has created a powerful and absorbing graphic novel using innovative AI-generated artwork.

Read More »
Financial planning books
Book Reviews
Editorial Team

Financial planning books

THE DOUGHERTY CODE Secrets of Financial Planning in Spain Revealed makes good on its promise to reveal the secrets of financial planning in Spain and is highly recommended!

Read More »
Book Reviews
Editorial Team

Psychological Thrillers

All the best psychological thrillers have an irreducible, inexplicable element, beyond their cleverness and craft and such is the hold Terror Bay has from its opening pages with Towles her flair for gripping twists with narrative style.

Read More »

Book Reviews That Readers Trust.

From humble beginnings in 2002 as a book review club BookViral has grown to become the first choice in book reviews for authors around the world and one of the biggest book review sites on the web. BookViral reaches millions of potential readers through best practice SEO and a trusted social media presence ensuring readers get unbiased, critical recommendations they can trust. 

BookViral also offers a full suite of author services, including, book editing services for unpublished and self-published authors, website design and bespoke SEO that help authors get discovered by more potential readers as well as industry influencers, such as publishers, agents and film executives. 

© Copyright 2019 BookViral Reviews. All Rights Reserved.