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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
Taking us way beyond a simplistic battle between supernatural forces of good and evil Barr tells the story of Conor Archer with darkly brooding seriousness to give us an exhilarating story that follows Conor as he rediscovers his family’s mythical past to unleash the power within him.
The current state of world politics and the relentless pace of change continues to prove a rich source of inspiration for authors writing political satire.
Ian King’s narrative displays his usual excellently executed dark humour interlaced with a far-reaching understanding of human nature as his hapless characters move through the pages, their lives complicated by both greed and the need for redemption.
Whether it be a spine-tingling ghost story, the sighting of a UFO, stories of Gods and Deities, or the fascination of the occult, most of us are curious in one way or another about the supernatural.
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.